This week, Dave, Neil, and Joanna debate the best movie in which humanity makes first contact! They start by discussing the rules for this debate and talking about the movie that inspired the discussion, ‘Asteroid City’ (4:44). Then, they go through pretrial dismissals and give out some awards (25:26), before finally revealing their picks for the best movie in which humanity makes first contact (49:34)! They also read some listener submissions and choose one to add to the final poll (1:12:46).
Now it’s up to you to decide! What's the best movie in which humanity makes first contact? You can vote for the winner at TheRinger.com, on The Ringer’s Twitter feed, and in the Spotify app, where you’ll find ‘Trial by Content.’ The winner will be announced next week!
You can send your picks for next week’s topic and a few sentences to support your pick to TrialByContent@gmail.com. You can also submit suggestions for future ‘Trial by Content’ topics. Is there a great pop culture debate that you’d like us to settle? Send it on over!

Hosts: Dave Gonzales, Joanna Robinson, and Neil Miller
Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga
Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal
Theme song and other music credits: Devon Renaldo
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Best Movie in Which Humanity Makes First Contact

Every week, Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Neil Miller enter the pop-culture discourse with a lively (and occasionally heated) debate pegged to the biggest new releases in film and television. In addition to bringing their own answer, they also consider submissions from listeners and the occasional special guest. Together via rigorous debate and a listener poll, the hosts and audience venture on a quest to find the perfect answer for each of the greatest pop culture questions of our time.

TV & Film

This week, Dave, Neil, and Joanna are debating the worst 'Star Wars' movie! They start by discussing what makes a good 'Star Wars' movie and how different generations receive them (7:48) Later, they get into pretrial awards and dismissals (19:21), reveal each of their top two picks for the worst 'Star Wars' movie, and listen to some of your picks to figure out which four should make it to the final poll (29:19).
Now it’s up to you to decide! What is worst 'Star Wars' movie? You can vote for the winner at ⁠TheRinger.com⁠, on The Ringer’s X feed, and in the Spotify app, where you’ll find ‘Trial by Content.’ The winner will be announced on the next episode!
You can send your picks for the next topic and a few sentences to support your pick to ⁠TrialByContent@gmail.com⁠. You can also submit suggestions for future ‘Trial by Content’ topics. Is there a great pop culture debate that you’d like us to settle? Send it on over!
For a list of all the movies discussed on this week’s episode and a preview of what is to come on ‘Trial by Content,’ head on over to ⁠Letterboxd.com/TrialByContent⁠ and follow us there!

﻿Hosts: Dave Gonzales, Joanna Robinson, and Neil Miller
Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga
Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal
Theme Song and Other Music Credits: Devon Renaldo
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Worst 'Star Wars' Movie

This week, Dave, Neil, and Joanna are debating who’s the best member of the X-Men! But first, they discuss the importance of the original ‘X-Men’ animated series and why ‘X-Men '97’ is so successful, their favorite live-action film, and their dream cast for the upcoming MCU iteration of the team (07:08). Then, they discuss some pretrial awards and dismissals (42:44), before revealing their top three picks and hearing some of your picks to figure out which four should make it to the final poll (46:34).
Now it’s up to you to decide! Who is the best member of the X-Men? You can vote for the winner at ⁠⁠⁠⁠TheRinger.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, on The Ringer’s X feed, and in the Spotify app, where you’ll find ‘Trial by Content.’ The winner will be announced on the next episode!
You can send your picks for the next topic and a few sentences to support your pick to ⁠⁠TrialByContent@gmail.com⁠⁠. You can also submit suggestions for future ‘Trial by Content’ topics. Is there a great pop culture debate that you’d like us to settle? Send it on over!
For a list of all the movies discussed on this week’s episode and a preview of what's to come on ‘Trial by Content,’ head on over to ⁠⁠Letterboxd.com/TrialByContent⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us there!
Hosts: Dave Gonzales, Joanna Robinson, and Neil Miller
Producers: Carlos Chiriboga and Eduardo Ocampo
Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal
Theme Song and Other Music Credits: Devon Renaldo
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Best Member of the X-Men

This week, Dave, Neil, and Joanna wrap up their Baseball Trial Royale!
They start with another round of baseball trivia for Joanna (9:27). Then, they give out some final awards and talk about all of the movies they missed so far (23:17). Later, they discuss the two movies that were automatically placed in the finals and which one of the final four they think will be the all-time winner (1:01:36).
Now it’s up to you to decide! What is the best baseball movie? You can vote for the winner at ⁠⁠⁠⁠TheRinger.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, on The Ringer’s X feed, and in the Spotify app, where you’ll find ‘Trial by Content.’ The winner will be announced on the next episode!
You can send your picks for the next topic and a few sentences to support your pick to ⁠⁠TrialByContent@gmail.com⁠⁠. You can also submit suggestions for future ‘Trial by Content’ topics. Is there a great pop culture debate that you’d like us to settle? Send it on over!
For a list of all the movies discussed on this week’s episode and a preview of what's to come on ‘Trial by Content,’ head on over to ⁠⁠Letterboxd.com/TrialByContent⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us there!
Hosts: Dave Gonzales, Joanna Robinson, and Neil Miller
Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga
Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal
Theme Song and Other Music Credits: Devon Renaldo
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trial Royale: Best Baseball Movie, Round 3—Final Round

This week, Dave, Neil, and Joanna are joined by Ben Lindbergh to continue their Baseball Trial Royale! Now it’s time for the Minor League division!
They start by discussing why baseball movies work so well (6:11). Then, they play a little trivia game (16:39), and go through some pretrial awards and dismissals (38:46). Finally, they reveal the movies that will be represented in the second-round poll and debate which one should move on to the final round (56:25).
Now it’s up to you to decide! What is the best Minor League baseball movie? You can vote for the winner at ⁠⁠⁠⁠TheRinger.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, on The Ringer’s X feed, and in the Spotify app, where you’ll find ‘Trial by Content.’ The winner will be announced on the next episode!
You can send your picks for the next topic and a few sentences to support your pick to ⁠⁠TrialByContent@gmail.com⁠⁠. You can also submit suggestions for future ‘Trial by Content’ topics. Is there a great pop culture debate that you’d like us to settle? Send it on over!
For a list of all the movies discussed on this week’s episode and a preview of what's to come on ‘Trial by Content,’ head on over to ⁠⁠Letterboxd.com/TrialByContent⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us there!
Hosts: Dave Gonzales, Joanna Robinson, and Neil Miller
Guest: Ben Lindbergh
Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga
Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal
Theme Song and Other Music Credits: Devon Renaldo
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trial Royale: Best Baseball Movie, Round 2—Minor Leagues

This week, Dave, Neil, and Joanna are back for another Trial Royale! In this multi-week series, they’ll be debating the best baseball movie. They begin with the Major League division!
They start by discussing what makes a good baseball movie (6:00). Then, they play a little trivia game (19:58) and go through some pretrial awards and dismissals (32:01). Finally, they reveal the movies that will be represented in the first-round poll and debate which one should move on to the final round (47:29).
Now it’s up to you to decide! What is the best Major League baseball movie? You can vote for the winner at ⁠⁠⁠⁠TheRinger.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, on The Ringer’s X feed, and in the Spotify app, where you’ll find ‘Trial by Content.’ The winner will be announced on the next episode!
You can send your picks for the next topic and a few sentences to support your pick to ⁠⁠TrialByContent@gmail.com⁠⁠. You can also submit suggestions for future ‘Trial by Content’ topics. Is there a great pop culture debate that you’d like us to settle? Send it on over!
For a list of all the movies discussed on this week’s episode and a preview of what is to come on ‘Trial by Content,’ head on over to ⁠⁠Letterboxd.com/TrialByContent⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us there!

Hosts: Dave Gonzales, Joanna Robinson, and Neil Miller
Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga
Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal
Theme Song and Other Music Credits: Devon Renaldo
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Best Movie in Which Humanity Makes First Contact

Download our free app to listen on your phone