Movie The Needle

This week, we look back on the episodes released in December (Arthur Christmas, Jingle All The Way, Muppets Christmas Carol and Home Alone 2) and discuss anything we missed, some listener feedback and discuss some data.  Festive flashbacks and Noel nostalgia ensue - it's the Movie The Needle DECEMBER 2025 Retro!

We do a top 3 movie Santas , induct more movies into the Movie The Needle Classics Collection and open up our Director's Hall of Fame. Let us know your submissions!

Find Movie The Needle:

Letterboxd: CarlMTN / SiMTN

Bluesky: @mtnmoviepod.bsky.social

Facebook: mtnmoviepod

Instagram: @mtnmoviepod

Twitter/X: @mtnmoviepod

YouTube: @movietheneedle

Email: [email protected]

This week, we delve into the classics collection as Carl and Si discuss Groundhog day! This week, we delve into the classics collection as Carl and Si discuss Groundhog day! This week, we delve into the classics collection as Carl and Si discuss Groundhog day! This week, we delve into the classics collection as Carl and Si discuss Groundhog day! This week, we delve into the classics collection as Carl and Si discuss Groundhog day! This week, we delve into the classics collection as Carl and Si discuss Groundhog day!

Find Movie The Needle:

Letterboxd: CarlMTN / SiMTN

Bluesky: @mtnmoviepod.bsky.social

Facebook: mtnmoviepod

Instagram: @mtnmoviepod

Twitter/X: @mtnmoviepod

YouTube: @movietheneedle

Email: [email protected]

Give absolutely zero shits about the Golden Globes and treat it with the disdain it deserves? Well you've come to the right place!

Listen as Carl and Simon give their instant reactions to the Nominees and Winners from the major film awards...no TV...that's for someone else.

Find Movie The Needle:

Letterboxd: CarlMTN / SiMTN

Bluesky: @mtnmoviepod.bsky.social

Facebook: mtnmoviepod

Instagram: @mtnmoviepod

Twitter/X: @mtnmoviepod

YouTube: @movietheneedle

Email: [email protected]

As we all know Carl loves a musical and our guest this week Klarissa Beckstead has been kind enough to provide three, yes THREE of them for us!

So if you mash The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Phantom of the Opera together do you really get Brian De Palma's Phantom of the Paradise?

Klarissa and Carl face off in the game Overtures Ensemble, to see whether Carl can get one back over the guests.

There's also our rather fancy new theme song for you to feast your ears on.

(00:00:00) New theme song

(00:02:16) Welcome to Klarissa!

(00:11:13) Introducing the mashup - Initial thoughts on Rocky Horror and Phantom of the Opera

(00:33:54) Initial thoughts on Phantom of the Paradise

(00:38:18) Deep dive: Production

(00:57:28) Deep dive: Plot

(01:11:52) The Game: Overtures Ensemble!

(01:21:28) Dep Dive: The Cast including recasting

(01:44:45) Mashflix and Chill - Does the mashup work?

(01:54:45) Wrap-up and goodbye

You can find Klarissa on Instagram @iveseenthatone and catch her podcast "I've Seen That One" wherever you find podcasts or on Spotify here. You can also see her journal available to buy here.

Find Movie The Needle:

Letterboxd: CarlMTN / SiMTN

Bluesky: @mtnmoviepod.bsky.social

Facebook: mtnmoviepod

Instagram: @mtnmoviepod

Twitter/X: @mtnmoviepod

YouTube: @movietheneedle

Email: [email protected]

This week, we're back in Carl's happy place with the big TC as he partners up with Cameron Diaz in James Mangold's 2010 globetrotting action adventure comedy which sees a woman get mixed up with a disgraced spy trying to clear his name - Megawatt smiles and roof running ensues - it's Knight and Day!

We talk all things Cast, Production and Plot, and for our game this week it's a return of a favourite as Carl has to complete the gold run in Tom Cruise Blockbusters.

(00:00:00) Theme song and welcome

(00:02:00) Chit Chat

(00:06:30) Unveil the Ale!

(00:08:28) First impressions of Knight & Day

(00:12:10) The Production - Mangold, Stunts and a terrible title

(00:38:52) The Plot - McGuffin, a waste of Dano

(00:57:20) The Game - Tom Cruise Blockbusters

(01:01:30) The Cast - Shirtless TC, Cameron D, Father Ted

(01:11:14) Recasting

(01:18:25) Any Changes?

(01:22:47) This is why you're wrong

(01:27:50) Next Time and Goodbye

Find Movie The Needle:

Letterboxd: CarlMTN / SiMTN

Bluesky: @mtnmoviepod.bsky.social

Facebook: mtnmoviepod

Instagram: @mtnmoviepod

Twitter/X: @mtnmoviepod

YouTube: @movietheneedle

Email: [email protected]

It's the end of 2025 so we look back on our film watching from the year and talk favourites, disappointments, biggest movers and losers, plus we unveil, not just an ale, but our brand new theme tune!

Happy New Year!

Find Movie The Needle:

Letterboxd: CarlMTN / SiMTN

Bluesky: @mtnmoviepod.bsky.social

Facebook: mtnmoviepod

Instagram: @mtnmoviepod

Twitter/X: @mtnmoviepod

YouTube: @movietheneedle

Email: [email protected]

We've only gone and got the kids on! Why? We're not sure. But it's here, there's a song, there's a game, and they had a good time, bless them.

We discuss the Mel Smith voiced Raymond Briggs story that is Father Christmas.

Find Movie The Needle:

Letterboxd: CarlMTN / SiMTN

Bluesky: @mtnmoviepod.bsky.social

Facebook: mtnmoviepod

Instagram: @mtnmoviepod

Twitter/X: @mtnmoviepod

YouTube: @movietheneedle

Email: [email protected]

It's Christmas week, and what better way to lead up to the big day itself than gather all our friends (traditional and podcast) to submit their top 5 Christmas movies and pull together the ultimate Top 5 Christmas movie list?

There are games, there are songs, plus the usual nonsense, before we end with the community top 5 Christmas movies.

A huge thanks to all those who submitted their lists and recordings to us:

Adam Richmond from Movies You Forgot You Forgot @errorofways

Heather @Heatherjstewart

Damon from The Neverending Watchlist @neverendingwl.bsky.social

Andrew Corns from The Revisionist Almanac@Revalmanac

John Rain from Smershpod @smershpod.com

Klarissa Beckstead from I've Seen That One @iveseenthatone

Kieran B and the gang from Best Picture Cast @bestpicturecast.bsky.social

Everett Mansur @watchthisfilmblog

Chris at Queerhorrorcove

Daragh @daraghnolan on Letterboxd

(00:00:00) Welcome!

(00:01:00) The return of Schindler's List and chit chat

(00:04:50) Unveil the Ale

(00:05:46) Top 5: Will, Niamh and Adam Richmond

(00:27:40) Top 5: Jess, Carl's Mum and Heather Stewart

(00:42:30) Game 1: Christmas Blockbusters

(00:47:54) Top 5: Martin, Sam, Johnny and Damon Carter

(01:05:51) Top 5: Everett, Jamie and Andrew Corns

(01:17:02) Top 5: Chris, Steve Z and John Rain

(01:24:42) Game 2: (Let's Come) Together at Christmas Time

(01:41:17) Top 5: Daragh Nolan, Owen and Klarissa Beckstead

(01:50:00) Top 5: Emma (the wife), Kate and Best Picture Cast gang

(02:04:30) Die Hard Know It's Christmas Time

(02:07:00) Carl and Simon's Top 5 Christmas Movies

(02:15:30) Reveal of the Community Top 5 Christmas Movies

(02:17:58) Goodbye and (Let's Rock) Together at Christmas Time song outro

Find Movie The Needle:

Letterboxd: CarlMTN / SiMTN

Bluesky: @mtnmoviepod.bsky.social

Facebook: mtnmoviepod

Instagram: @mtnmoviepod

Twitter/X: @mtnmoviepod

YouTube: @movietheneedle

Email: [email protected]

This week we have not one but two Christmas Classics to get you into a festive fervour. Next up is the magical Muppets, teaming up with Michael Caine to produce one of THE definitive Christmas movies.

We think it's a classic, but from two very different angles...do you agree?

We deep dive into production, plot and cast as well as detouring into another silly game to test Carl's Christmas knowledge, and Simon's humming skills.

Find Movie The Needle:

Letterboxd: CarlMTN / SiMTN

Bluesky: @mtnmoviepod.bsky.social

Facebook: mtnmoviepod

Instagram: @mtnmoviepod

Twitter/X: @mtnmoviepod

YouTube: @movietheneedle

Email: [email protected]

This week we have not one but two Christmas Classics to get you into a festive fervour. First up it's a Christmas sequel and one we think deserves the title of classic, even if it does expose us to Donald Trump - It's HOME ALONE 2 - Lost in New York.

We both love it, but does it top the original?

We deep dive into production, plot and cast as well as detouring into another silly game to test Carl's Christmas knowledge, with Home a Lower or Higher.

Find Movie The Needle:

Letterboxd: CarlMTN / SiMTN

Bluesky: @mtnmoviepod.bsky.social

Facebook: mtnmoviepod

Instagram: @mtnmoviepod

Twitter/X: @mtnmoviepod

YouTube: @movietheneedle

Email: [email protected]