The summer of 2025 has been HUGE for movies — from F1 crossing $600M worldwide to Superman (2025) muscling past $600M domestically and abroad. We break down the biggest box office winners of the season including Fantastic Four: First Steps and Thunderbolts, sharing what soared, what stumbled, and where superhero fatigue might be setting in.

Then, we shift gears to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, celebrating its 50th anniversary. With nearly 300 films, retrospectives, and world premieres, it’s a milestone year for cinema. We spotlight the most anticipated films, including:

• The Smashing Machine (Benny Safdie + Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr)
• Good Fortune (Keanu Reeves, Aziz Ansari)
• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
• Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro)
• Christy (Sydney Sweeney)
• Couture (Angelina Jolie)

🎥 Join us as we recap this summer’s box office and look ahead to what TIFF has in store for its golden year!

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly reviews, film festival coverage, and deep dives into the world of movies.

#ReelTalkPodcast #BoxOffice #TIFF2025 #TheSmashingMachine #Superman2025 #F1Movie #FantasticFour

July 2025 brought the heat — from record-breaking blockbusters like Jurassic World: Rebirth and Superman to Marvel’s big swing with Fantastic Four: First Steps. We’re breaking down all the box office numbers, who dominated, who flopped, and how July stacks up against the rest of the year so far. Then, we look ahead to the films we can’t wait for in August and September — from horror chills (Weapons, The Conjuring: Last Rites) to anime juggernauts (Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1) and nostalgia bombs (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice). 📊 What you’ll hear in this episode: July’s top-grossing movies and their opening weekend stats Which releases lived up to the hype (and which didn’t) How July’s numbers compare to the biggest films of 2025 so far Must-watch titles hitting theatres in August and September 🎥 Drop your predictions for which upcoming film will rule the late-summer box office in the comments!

In Episode 29 of Reel Talk, Sander and Nason hit the theatre to catch the brand-new Superman movie—and we have thoughts. Is this the return of the Man of Steel we’ve been waiting for, or does it fall flat? (Spoiler alert: We go full spoilers at the end of the episode, so listen with caution!)

We also dive into the hype surrounding upcoming releases like Eddington and Marvel’s Fantastic Four. What’s got us excited? What’s giving us red flags? And can Fantastic Four finally break the curse?

Whether you’re a diehard comic book fan or just love talking movies, this episode is packed with hot takes, laughs, and plenty of Reel Talk energy.

🎧 Hit play and join the conversation.

Buckle up—this week on Reel Talk, we’re diving into all the latest movie news that’s shaking up Hollywood. 🏎️

✅ Brad Pitt’s F1 is burning rubber at the box office with a $64.5M worldwide opening. Can Apple’s biggest theatrical gamble pay off? ✅ The Batman Part II script is finally DONE—what can we expect from Matt Reeves’ next chapter in Gotham? ✅ Tron: Ares is teasing “the holy grail” of computer graphics and Nine Inch Nails’ “unpleasant” soundtrack—are we entering a new era of sci-fi? ✅ Plus: Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Network II, Pixar’s new cat movie Gatto, Denis Villeneuve directing the next Bond, and more!

🎬 From superhero blockbusters to Oscar-bait drama and Apple’s Formula 1 spectacle, this episode covers it all.

📢 New episodes every week! Hit follow and join Sander & Nason as they break down the biggest movie news, box office numbers, and upcoming releases.

From Jaws to Barbenheimer, summer has always been Hollywood’s favourite season — but why? In this episode of Reel Talk, we break down how the hottest months of the year consistently deliver the biggest blockbusters, the wildest cultural moments, and the fattest box office returns.

We compare the past 15 years of summer releases vs winter and fall, get into the psychology of seasonal viewing habits, and ask the big question: will summer always reign supreme, or is December creeping up?

Plus, we play a round of “Summer or Bummer” and get nostalgic about our all-time favourite summer movie memories.

🎬 Box office stats 🎥 Seasonal release strategy 🍿 Iconic lineups from the last 15 years 🎮 Fun game segment: Summer vs Winter 🔥 Listener Q: What’s your ultimate summer blockbuster?

Feeling lucky? In this Reel Talk episode, Sander and Nason go all-in on the greatest gambling movies ever made. From the smoky poker tables of Rounders to the glitzy casinos of Ocean’s Eleven, we’re breaking down the most iconic, thrilling, and high-stakes films where fortune favours the bold (and sometimes the reckless).

We dive into:

• The realism of card shark classics like 21 and Molly’s Game
• The chaos and character depth of Uncut Gems
• The pure Vegas energy of Casino
• And underrated gems you might’ve missed

Whether you’re a film buff, poker pro, or just love a good story with risk and reward, this episode is for you.

🃏 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment your favourite gambling movie!

🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.

From cult classics to blockbuster villains, Jake Gyllenhaal has quietly built one of the most flawless acting careers in Hollywood. In this episode of Reel Talk, we break down Gyllenhaal’s rise from Donnie Darko to Nightcrawler, Prisoners, Zodiac, Road House and beyond — analysing how he brings intensity, weirdness, and unmatched range to every role.

We rank our top 5 performances, talk Oscar snubs, dive into his boldest choices, and pitch what he should do next. Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovered him as Mysterio, this episode is your full Gyllenhaal starter pack.

🎧 Stream now and let us know your favourite Jake G moment.

#JakeGyllenhaal #ReelTalkPodcast #FilmPodcast #Nightcrawler #MovieBreakdown #HollywoodAnalysis #RoadHouse #ActorDeepDive #GyllenhaalGang

Buckle up – May was a wild month at the movies. From Lilo & Stitch smashing records to Mission: Impossible still doing the impossible, we break down who dominated the box office globally 🌍🎟️

We also get into: 🔥 Our official-ish tease of the Reel Talk Film Festival coming this September 👀 🥙 Our tasty Osmow's collab (yes, shawarma makes everything better) 🏎️ That F1 teaser drop – and why it’s got us all hyped 🎬 Some wild marketing moves from horror films to Bollywood twists

Hit that like, drop a comment, and tag a friend who still hasn’t seen Final Reckoning in theatres.

🎧 Also streaming now on Spotify + Apple. 🎟️ September. The Reel Talk Film Fest is coming.

Summer 2025 is chaos at the box office, and we’re here to settle every debate! Is Tom Cruise’s final mission in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning the best action movie of the year—or is it time for Ethan Hunt to retire? Did The Weeknd just redefine the musician-to-actor pipeline in Hurry Up Tomorrow, or is it the biggest vanity project of 2025?

PLUS: We’re going all in on the most controversial hot takes—Best or Worst Movie Snacks, Remakes that should’ve NEVER happened (Looking at you, Lion King 2019), Casting Disasters, and the Movie Endings that left us screaming at the screen.

🎤 Drop YOUR hot takes in the comments! What’s a movie you pretend to love but secretly hate? Be brave. We’ll read the best ones next week!

📲 Follow us everywhere: @ReelTalkPodcast

#ReelTalkPodcast #SummerMovies #HotTakes #MovieDebate #Blockbusters #MissionImpossible #TheWeeknd #Remakes

Hollywood’s reboot obsession is real, and we’ve got thoughts. Join Sander and Nason as we break down May’s hottest new movie releases and debate whether remakes are ruining cinema—or if they’re just misunderstood. From Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning to The Bodyguard remake rumours, we’re covering it all.

🎤 What’s the one movie that should NEVER be remade? Hit us up on Instagram @ReelTalkPodcast!