The Big Picture

Sean and Amanda dive into the return of the box office after ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ earned nearly $50 million over the holiday weekend. Are movie theaters back for good? Then, they discuss the results of the SAG Awards and what they mean for up-in-the-air Oscar races, including Best Actress and maybe Best Picture (0:30). Then, they’re joined by L.A. Times film critic Justin Chang to discuss the incredible body of work of Wong Kar-Wai, one of the signature filmmakers of the past three decades and the subject of a breathtaking new box set from the Criterion Collection (25:43).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Justin Chang

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ is the first major blockbuster movie event of 2021. Shea Serrano joins Sean and Amanda to discuss the winners and losers of the latest monster showdown, which is now in theaters and available on HBO Max. Then, they share their five favorite blockbusters.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Shea Serrano

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda are once again joined by Chris Ryan to draft the best (a.k.a. their favorite) movies from the year 2016. They discuss their lives that year, how Hollywood was changing, what the 'Moonlight' Best Picture Oscar win meant, and how world events manifested at the movies.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda dive into the news about the new release strategy for Disney’s long-awaited ‘Black Widow’ and what it means for movie theaters (0:16). Then, they look at the results of the WGA and PGA awards, and the complications of the forthcoming in-person Oscars ceremony. Finally, Sean is joined by Brian Koppelman—cocreator of ‘Billions’ and cowriter of ‘Rounders,’ ‘The Girlfriend Experience,’ and ‘Ocean’s 13’—to discuss the top five directorial debuts of filmmakers born between 1960 and 1980 (27:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Brian Koppelman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda welcome author Chuck Klosterman to dive deep into two fascinating topics. The first is Adam Curtis' sprawling six-part documentary series 'Can't Get You Out of My Head,' which explores the absurdity of modern life and the intersections of power, drugs, culture, and the future of civilization (0:30). Fun times. Then, Chuck poses a radical theory of movie watching, which leads to a conversation about the multiverse and the value of biopics (46:30).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chuck Klosterman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a very, very special episode of 'The Big Picture': our first watch-along commentary track. For 'Zack Snyder’s Justice League.' Except we’ve never seen it before. So when we press play on the Snyder Cut for the first time, we want you to do so as well and to watch with us on HBO Max. We will be together for all four hours and two minutes of this film’s run time discussing Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Steppenwolf, Darkseid, and especially Ben Affleck’s hair. For four hours. Let’s go. 

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Chris Ryan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It appears we have a historic and … good (???) set of nominees for the 93rd Academy Awards. Sean and Amanda dive into all the narratives, break down who missed out and why, and look at which film is likely to take home the big prize on April 25. 

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're 45 days away from the Academy Awards, and less than a week away from Oscar nominations. Sean and Amanda sense trouble for the hallowed award show, so they dive into the mailbag to come up with some solutions for this weird season (0:30). Then, Sean is joined by Anthony and Joe Russo, directors of the highest-grossing film of all time, 'Avengers: Endgame,' to talk about their new film, 'Cherry' (1:01:32).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Anthony and Joe Russo

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first entrant in Disney+'s MCU expansion into TV concluded over the weekend. 'Binge Mode' cohost Mallory Rubin joins Sean to talk about the finale, the theories that never paid off, the series' highlights, and what comes next for Marvel (0:17). Then, they discuss another new Disney release, the surprisingly great 'Raya and the Last Dragon' (1:01:00). Finally, Sean is joined by 'The Mauritanian' director Kevin Macdonald to discuss his new film (1:08:13).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Mallory Rubin, Kevin Macdonald

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda are building a shrine to comedy movie icon Eddie Murphy. Van Lathan joins the show to pick 10 classics for the Hall of Fame and discuss Murphy's new film 'Coming 2 America,' now streaming on Prime Video (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by the writer-director and star of 'Another Round,' Thomas Vinterberg and Mads Mikkelsen. They discuss their new film, the Danish culture of drinking, and the fine art of acting drunk (1:10:09).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Van Lathan, Mads Mikkelsen, and Thomas Vinterberg

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices