Now Playing Podcast Presents: The Fast and Furious Retrospective Series

How cool would it have been if the alien chest-bursted out of a Bigfoot? We could have seen a sasqualien!

Paul W.S. Anderson's match-up between Aliens and Predators may have left many fans of both franchises out in the cold, but the box office tallies made a rematch inevitable; thus, 20th Century Fox gives us Aliens vs Predator: Requiem. Attempting to right past wrongs, the studio made this film with a "hard R" rating, including an unrated cut on DVD, and handed the directing reins to special-effects duo The Brothers Strause. Was the battle so much sweeter the second time around? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Brock to find out!

A pyramid under the Antarctic ice sounds like a James Bond villain's lair.

After Freddy vs. Jason proved that horror crossovers could rake in serious cash, 20th Century Fox fast-tracked another long-anticipated showdown: Alien vs. Predator. Having already clashed in comic books and video games, cinema’s most iconic extraterrestrials finally shared the screen in a battle set beneath the Antarctic ice. Blending the mythology of the Alien and Predator franchises, the film centers on an ancient Predator rite of passage, with a team of human explorers caught in the middle, including Charles Bishop Weyland, played by Lance Henriksen. But does this cinematic face-off deliver the ultimate fan fantasy, or does combining two distinct horror legacies dilute what made each great? Arnie, Brock, and Stuart enter the pyramid to decide whether this crossover earns its place in genre history or collapses under the weight of its own concept.

Arnold isn't available? Then get me Danny Glover!!

Remember 1997? The heat was 105 degrees, gangs ruled the streets of Los Angeles, and everyone was packing serious firepower. Relive those days along with Arnie, Stuart, and Brock as they review the period piece Predator 2. This sequel swaps jungle foliage for urban warfare as the alien hunter sets its sights on L.A., targeting what it sees as the city’s toughest prey: Danny Glover. With Bill Paxton and Gary Busey joining the cast, the film aims to escalate the action and expand the Predator mythology beyond the original’s jungle showdown. But does moving the hunt to the city streets make for a worthy follow-up, or does it prove that lightning rarely strikes twice? Arnie, Stuart, and Brock patrol the concrete jungle to decide whether Predator 2 is an underrated continuation or a sequel that misses its target.

Starring...Rich Little as the Predator!

An invisible alien hunter stalks a squad of elite commandos in the jungle in Predator. And it’s no lightweight prey. The creature takes on a lineup that includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, Richard Chaves, and Jesse Ventura in a showdown that blends macho action with sci-fi horror. What starts as a straightforward military mission turns into a survival thriller that introduces one of the most enduring monsters of the last few decades. The Predator would go on to headline sequels, comic books, video games, and even crossover franchises. But does the original film earn that legacy on its own merits, or is its reputation built more on the creature than the story? The hosts head into the jungle to decide whether this hunt still delivers the heat.

Let that be a lesson to you kids - always hang up your jacket!

More than 25 years after Daniel LaRusso swept the leg and crane-kicked his way into pop culture, The Karate Kid arrives as a new-generation reboot. This time, the story moves to China, trades karate for kung fu, and stars Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness) alongside Jackie Chan (Rush Hour) in the mentor role made famous by Pat Morita in the 1984 original. Filmed on location in Beijing and aiming for a broader international scale, the remake keeps the underdog framework but shifts the cultural backdrop and fighting style. Does this retelling capture the heart and emotional punch that made the original a classic, or is it another remake that understands the moves but not the meaning? The hosts step onto the mat to decide.

One, two, Arnie's interviewing you...

As part of our Nightmare on Elm Street retrospective, Arnie sits down with franchise icons Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund for two candid, revealing interviews that go far beyond boiler room scares. Heather reflects on stepping back into Nancy’s world as executive producer and star of the documentary I Am Nancy, what it meant to revisit New Nightmare and play a version of herself, and how the character of Nancy Thompson evolved from final girl to feminist horror icon. She also discusses her complicated relationship with horror, the responsibility of legacy, and why the Elm Street fanbase continues to matter decades later.

Then Robert Englund joins the show to talk Freddy’s cultural staying power, the tonal shift of the sequels, voice acting in projects like animated superhero series, and the strange, wonderful career that followed putting on the fedora and glove. From low-budget horror comedies to comic-con crowds, Englund is sharp, funny, and surprisingly reflective about what Freddy represents and whether the character should be reborn for a new generation.

Two legends. One franchise. And a look at how a dream demon turned into a cinematic institution.

Repeat after me - the sun is warm, the grass is green.

In 1994, The Karate Kid tried to be the comeback kid in this soft reboot of the series. Gone is Ralph Macchio's aging protagonist, replaced by future Academy Award-winning actress Hillary Swank (Boys Don't Cry) in her first starring role. And back is Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) with his wisdom and unlikely training methods. This film failed to catch on in theaters, but with a new reboot of The Karate Kid coming out next week, was The Next Karate Kid an unappreciated classic? Listen in and find out!

We will never be able to think about Mac and Cheese the same way again...

Three years after the release of The Karate Kid Part II, Daniel LaRusso (My Cousin Vinny's Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) were back in California, and in theaters with the aptly named The Karate Kid Part III. Now, Daniel must defend his Karate title against "Karate's Bad Boy" Mike Barnes, and when Mr. Miyagi refuses to help him train, Daniel turns to toxic waste dumper Terry Silver for help. With a subplot involving Mr. Miyagi's Little Trees, this film has been generally panned by critics. But is this movie as bad as everyone remembers? Listen in and find out!

Some drunk people think the drum technique is a great dance move!

In 1984, The Karate Kid crane-kicked the box office, and it didn't take Mr. Miyagi to realize a sequel would be fast-tracked. Released in the summer of 1986, The Karate Kid Part II took Daniel LaRusso (Outsiders' Ralph Macchio) from California to Okinawa. Mr. Miyagi (Happy Days' Pat Morita) faces his former rival Sat,o and Peter Cetera delivers a theme song that still monopolizes light-rock radio the world over. The sequel grossed even more than the original, but does that make The Karate Kid Part II the better film? Listen in and find out!