Reel Picks Podcast

We're kicking off a brand-new series on Reel Picks: Required Viewing!

For our first challenge, we forced Andrew to watch three horror movies just in time for Halloween. Since horror isn't typically his go-to genre, Christian, Ian, and Seth each picked a film to put him to the test.

Christian went with The Silence of the Lambs, Ian chose Barbarian, and Seth brought out the original Halloween (1978). From psychological thrills to unexpected twists and classic slasher scares, we've got three very different movies for Andrew to review.

We'll get his thoughts, ratings, biggest surprises, and final verdict on which movie came out on top. But the real question is: which host picked the best movie for Andrew?

Did we turn Andrew into a horror fan, or did we just confirm why he usually avoids the genre? Tune in to find out!

It’s time to assemble the ultimate superhero team!

This week on Reel Picks, we’re drafting superhero characters across a series of categories to build the ultimate squad. From the leader and powerhouse to the brains, best fighter, heart of the team, and even a villain, every pick has a role to play.

But with each character only available once, every decision matters. Who builds the most unstoppable team? Who reaches for the unexpected picks? And who makes a choice that has the rest of the group asking, “Why would you draft them?!”

And we’re not just arguing about who has the best team — at the end of the episode, we put every team to the ultimate test with an AI-simulated battle featuring all of our teams fighting at once. Who comes out on top? You’ll have to listen to find out!

The teams are set. The battle is on. Let the Superhero Draft begin!

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has finally arrived and is a box office hit—but was it actually worth all the hype?

For our first-ever solo movie review, we’re diving into Nolan’s latest epic and giving our thoughts on the film completely spoiler-free to start. We talk about our overall reactions, the story, the scale, and whether The Odyssey lives up to the massive expectations surrounding it.

Then, we’re getting into SPOILERS. We’ll let you know before we cross that line and dive deeper into the film, including our favorite shot, favorite scene, the score, performances, production, and the moments that stood out most to us.

Was Nolan able to pull off one of the most ambitious films of his career? Did the performances deliver? And most importantly… did Matt Damon finally make it home?

If you haven't seen The Odyssey yet, go see it in theaters while you still can—especially in IMAX, and if you can find a screening, IMAX 70mm. This is a movie built for the biggest screen possible.

🎬 The Odyssey — Reel Picks Movie Review
🎙️ Our first solo review
⚠️ Spoilers after the warning

Listen now and let us know what you thought of The Odyssey!

Ready to take your movie taste to the next level? This week on Reel Picks Podcast, we're building the ultimate Trust Us: Movie Starter Pack—a collection of movies we think every film fan should experience. These aren't the blockbuster hits everyone has already seen or the same recommendations that always make the rounds. They're the films that movie lovers constantly recommend and the ones we believe can expand your movie palate.

Across categories like thriller, crime, sci-fi, comedy, Oscar winners, international cinema, hidden gems, and more, we spotlight the movies that have left a lasting impression on us and explain why they deserve a place on your watchlist.

Whether you're just starting to branch out beyond mainstream movies or looking to discover your next favorite film, this episode is packed with recommendations to broaden your horizons and introduce you to some unforgettable cinema. Trust us—your watchlist is about to get a whole lot better.

The Reel Picks crew is putting their reputations on the line this week as they reveal their hottest movie takes.

From sci-fi giants like Dune and Star Wars to acclaimed favorites and modern blockbusters, no film is safe from scrutiny. Some opinions may be reasonable. Others may be friendship-ending. Either way, we're defending our most controversial movie beliefs and seeing which ones can survive the debate.

Grab your popcorn, prepare your rebuttals, and join us for an episode that might just break the group chat.

We’re back! After a long summer break the Reel Picks crew is finally back behind the mics—and what better way to return than with a draft full of pure nostalgia?

This week, we’re throwing it back to the decade of blockbusters, VHS tapes, and unforgettable soundtracks—the 1990’s! In this episode, the crew drafts their ultimate lineups of 90’s classics across ten fun categories. From action-packed thrillers to family favorites, cult comedies to iconic dramas, the 90’s gave us some of the most rewatchable and quotable films of all time.

Who will walk away with the most stacked 90’s movie roster? Will your favorites make the draft board, or get left in the 90’s? Join us for the nostalgia and the laughs—then cast your vote on whose team reigns supreme!

90’s Draft Results

Christian

1. Action Blockbuster – The Matrix
2. Comedy – The Truman Show
3. Animated/Family – Hercules
4. Crime/Cop Movies – The Shawshank Redemption
5. Horror/Thriller – Silence of the Lambs
6. Sci-Fi/Fantasy – Jurassic Park
7. Drama – Saving Private Ryan
8. Sports Movie – The Sandlot
9. Cult Classic/Underrated Gem – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
10. Wild Card – Talented Mr Ripley

Steven

1. Action Blockbuster – Mission: Impossible
2. Comedy – Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
3. Animated/Family – South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
4. Crime/Cop Movies – Pulp Fiction
5. Horror/Thriller – The Sixth Sense
6. Sci-Fi/Fantasy – The Mummy
7. Drama – Apollo 13
8. Sports Movie – BASEketball
9. Cult Classic/Underrated Gem – Wayne’s World
10. Wild Card – Army of Darknesss

Aaron

1. Action Blockbuster – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
2. Comedy – The Waterboy
3. Animated/Family – Jumanji
4. Crime/Cop Movies – The Boondock Saints
5. Horror/Thriller – From Dusk Till Dawn
6. Sci-Fi/Fantasy – Men in Black
7. Drama – Forrest Gump
8. Sports Movie – Cool Runnings
9. Cult Classic/Underrated Gem – Hocus Pocus
10. Wild Card – Hook
    

Philip

1. Action Blockbuster – Face/Off
2. Comedy – Friday
3. Animated/Family – Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off
4. Crime/Cop Movies – Se7en
5. Horror/Thriller – Sleepy Hollow
6. Sci-Fi/Fantasy – Independence Day
7. Drama – A Few Good Men
8. Sports Movie – Varsity Blues
9. Cult Classic/Underrated Gem – Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
10. Wild Card – Enemy of the State

🎬 Episode 11 – Comedy Movie Draft | Reel Picks PodcastGet ready for a laugh-packed face-off! In Episode 11 of Reel Picks Podcast, Christian, Aaron, Steven, Philip, and Gehrig go head-to-head in the ultimate Comedy Movie Draft. From legendary slapstick to modern-day gut-busters, each host picks their dream comedy lineup across 10 hilarious categories.Expect hot takes, bold picks, and plenty of laughs as they battle it out for comedy supremacy. Which team nailed it? Which comedy classics got snubbed? 🎧 Tune in, draft along, and let us know who YOU think built the funniest team!
👇 Drop your votes in the comments or hit us up on socials, Spotify and Apple Podcast!🎙 Listen now – it's draft day, comedy edition!

Draft Results

Christian

1. GhostBusters
2. Step Brothers
3. Tropic Thunder
4. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
5. Rush Hour
6. Fantastic Mr. Fox
7. Pinapple Express
8. Old School
9. The Parent Trap
10. Hot Rod

Gehrig

1. The Goonies
2. The Dictator
3. Scary Movie
4. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
5. 21 Jump Street
6. Sausage Party
7. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
8. The Intership
9. Secondhand Lions
10. Grown Ups

Steven

1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
2. Grandma’s Boy
3. Kung Pow: Enter the Fist
4. Scott Pilgrim Vs the World
5. Kingsman
6. The Emperor’s New Groove
7. Private Eyes
8. Anchorman
9. Nacho Libre
10. UHF

Philip

1. Pink Panther
2. American Pie
3. Not Another Teen Movie
4. Anyone But You
5. The Losers
6. Princess and The Frog
7. Wedding Crashers
8. Office Space
9. Mrs. Doubtfire
10. The Ringer

Aaron

1. The Golden Child
2. Deadpool
3. Mars Attacks!
4. There’s Something about Mary
5. The Other Guys
6. Aladdin
7. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
8. Waiting…
9. Dr. Doolittle

10. Ace Ventura When Nature Calls

Episode 10 – Our Top 10 Movies of All Time!

🎥(First Video Episode!) 🎬

Reel Picks Podcast is back, and this time, you can watch the action unfold! In our first-ever video episode, each host reveals their Top 10 Movies of All Time, leading to passionate debates, surprising picks, and a whole lot of fun.From timeless classics to modern masterpieces, which films made the cut? Will there be unanimous favorites, or will some picks spark controversy? Tune in to find out!

Strap in, true believers! In this episode of Reel Picks Podcast, we’re taking on two Marvel Movie Drafts—first, we draft our Top 5 Best Marvel Movies, and then we flip the script and draft our Worst 5 Marvel Movies!

With every Marvel film on the table—MCU, Spider-Verse, X-Men, pre-MCU classics, and everything in between—no movie is safe from praise… or ridicule. Will your favorites make the cut? Will someone pick Morbius in the first round? Tune in for heated debates, surprise picks, and plenty of fun as we build the ultimate Marvel lists!

And don’t forget—you, the listeners, decide the winners! Cast your vote on our Spotify Poll after the episode and tell us who nailed it and who fumbled their list.

Results

Draft Results: 

Philip

Best 5:

• Spider-Man
• The Punisher
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Doctor Strange

Worst 5:

• Madam Web
• Hulk
• The Incredible Hulk
• Black Widow
• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Steven 

Best 5:

• Logan
• Spider-Man 2
• X-Men
• Ghost Rider
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Worst 5:

• Morbius
• Thor: Love and Thunder
• Captain Marvel
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine
• X-Men: The Last Stand 

Christian 

Best 5:

• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
• Iron Man
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Black Panther

Worst 5:

• The New Mutants
• Fantastic Four (2015)
• Thor: The Dark World
• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
• Dark Phoenix

Aaron

Best 5:

• Avengers: Engame
• Blade
• Thor: Ragnarok
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• X-Men: Days of Future Past

Worst 5:

• Kraven
• The Marvels
• Eternals
• Venom: Let There Be Carnage
• Venom: The Last Dance

Episode 8: The Rom-Com Heist Draft – Love, Laughter, and Larceny!

Love is in the air, but so is the thrill of the perfect heist! In this special Valentine's episode of Reel Picks Podcast, Christian and the crew pull off a daring cinematic caper—drafting the ultimate Rom-Com Heist Movie! Each participant must assemble a team of characters from romantic comedies to pull off the perfect heist. Who will draft the best mastermind? The muscle? The charming distraction? The hacker? The getaway driver? And, of course, every great heist needs an unexpected twist!

Get ready for a hilarious mix of love and larceny as we turn some of your favorite rom-com characters into the ultimate criminal crew. Stick around for the recap, vote for the best lineup, and let us know who you'd trust to steal your heart (and maybe your valuables).

💘💰 Who says romance and crime don’t mix? Tune in now!

Draft Results:

Gehrig’s Rom-Com Heist Team

Mastermind: Gerard Butler

Hacker: Keanu Reeves

Distraction: Margot Robbie

Muscle: Channing Tatum

Getaway Driver: Paul Walker

Detective: Melissa McCarthy

Philip’s Rom-Com Heist Team

Mastermind: Will Smith

Hacker: Olivia Munn

Distraction: Johnny Depp

Muscle: Tom Hardy

Getaway Driver: Ansel Elgort

Detective: Kevin James

Aaron’s Rom-Com Heist Team

Mastermind: George Clooney

Hacker: Emma Stone

Distraction: Ryan Reynolds

Muscle: Chris Hemsworth

Getaway Driver: Nicolas Cage

Detective: Tom Hanks

Christian’s Rom-Com Heist Team

Mastermind: Matthew McConaughey

Hacker: Paul Rudd

Distraction: Jack Black

Muscle: Zac Efron

Getaway Driver: Ryan Gosling

Detective: Sandra Bullock

Steven’s Rom-Com Heist Team

Mastermind: Sigourney Weaver

Hacker: Jim Carrey

Distraction: Betty White

Muscle: Micheal B. Jordan

Getaway Driver: Scarlett Johansson

Detective: Robin Williams