We’ve been pondering the question of the hive mind that is film criticism now. Are their tastes too homogenized? Do they think too much alike? Or does Rotten Tomatoes make it seem that way? How has that impacted films, the box office, and the Oscars? We get into it.

We also talk frontrunners and the scant few challengers. And we use the second half to talk about the most promising releases of 2026.

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