Whistler + What We’re Reading in 2026

Our book club rarely reads the same books. And even when we do, we rarely agree.

On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael is joined by Missy and Lauren to talk about our wildly different reading tastes and Ann Patchett’s newest novel, Whistler. We unpack our very different reactions to the book and dive into its ideas about memory, regret, family, and the way we romanticize the past.

Then we check in on our year of reading: the books we’ve loved, the popular picks that absolutely didn't do it for us, what we’re recommending, and what’s still on our TBR piles

Along the way, we tease each other’s taste, learn about Stephen King's social media presence, celebrate the strange way books bring people together, and close with a book-club edition of overrated, underrated, or properly rated.

The End of Oak Street + Summer Movie Report Card

Dinosaurs have invaded suburbia as the summer movie season comes to an end.

On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael, Courtney, and Shaina break down The End of Oak Street: its Spielbergian nostalgia, Jurassic Park comparisons, and surprisingly mean streak.

Then we hand out our Summer 2026 Report Card, checking in on Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Invite, The Odyssey, The Devil’s Mouth, Hadestown, and more.

We close with a three-way round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated featuring dinosaur movies and some of the biggest hits from Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor.

For more than a decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe wasn’t just a movie franchise, it was the center of culture. But after Avengers: Endgame, something changed.

On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael is joined by comic book superfan Dre to take the pulse of the MCU. We discuss how Marvel changed Hollywood forever, what made the Infinity Saga so special, the highs and lows of every era, the impact of Disney+, superhero fatigue, and whether the Multiverse Saga has lived up to its enormous promise.

We also rank our favorite MCU films, revisit the moments that defined the franchise, look ahead to Avengers: Doomsday, and close things out with a round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated featuring some of Marvel’s biggest movies and shows.

The Odyssey – An Emergency Podcast

Christopher Nolan’s newest film has finally arrived.

On this emergency episode of The Culture Docket, Michael and Joey share their immediate reactions to The Odyssey, discussing our relationship with Homer’s epic, what worked, what didn’t, the standout (and disappointing) performances, and how the film compares to Nolan’s remarkable body of work.

We also debate where The Odyssey lands in our Nolan rankings, whether it has a real shot at Oscar glory, who its biggest awards-season competition might be, and finish with a round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated featuring some of the biggest films from the movie’s all-star cast.

Episode: Christopher Nolan + The Odyssey Backlash

Christopher Nolan is perhaps the most influential director of our current times. His name attached to a movie guarantees an experience and gets people out to the movies.

On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael and Andrew take a deep dive into Nolan’s complete filmography, discussing the themes that define his work, the unforgettable set pieces that have shaped modern blockbuster cinema, and the films that landed at the top, and bottom, of our rankings.

We also look ahead to The Odyssey, unpack the online backlash surrounding the film before its release, and ask why Nolan continues to inspire such passionate reactions from both fans and critics.

We close things out with a round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated featuring some of Nolan’s most iconic films.

What happens when you ask a friend to watch one of your all-time favorite movies?

On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael and Joey swap movie recommendations, with Joey assigning Les Misérables and Michael countering with The Descent. We discuss why these films matter to us, whether they held up for first-time (or fresh) viewers, and how two wildly different movies can leave equally lasting impressions.

Along the way, we dive into what makes horror so effective, how music and live-on-set singing shape the emotional power of a musical, and why stepping outside your cinematic comfort zone can be so rewarding.

We close things out with a fun round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated by judging other films that share the exact same rating as Les Misérables and The Descent.

For more than fifty years, Steven Spielberg has shaped the way we experience movies.

On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael is joined by Nick for a retrospective on the legendary filmmaker’s extraordinary career. We discuss how Spielberg’s films shaped our love of cinema, the defining eras of his career, the themes that connect his work, and why he remains one of Hollywood’s most influential directors.

We also count down our favorite Spielberg films, revisit a few that didn’t connect with us, and ask what the future holds as one of cinema’s greatest storytellers continues to make movies.

Pixar is back with Toy Story 5 but do we still have a friend in this franchise?

On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael and Shaina break down the latest installment in Pixar’s signature series, discuss whether its messaging works, and if the movie is even worth seeing.

Then we each share our five favorite animated movies of all time, highlight a few honorable mentions, and celebrate the films that remind us why animation remains one of cinema’s most powerful storytelling tools.

We close things out with a spicy round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated featuring some of the most beloved (or not) animated films ever made.

Steven Spielberg is back in alien territory.

On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael and Courtney break down Disclosure Day, comparing it to Spielberg’s earlier sci-fi classics and discussing its stunning visual craftsmanship, strong performances, and whether the script lives up to the ambition behind the camera.

Then we take a mid-year look at 2026 in movies, highlighting some of our favorite under-the-radar releases from the first six months of the year and previewing the films we’re most excited to see this summer.

We close things out with a round of overhyped, underhyped, or properly hyped as we look ahead to the season’s biggest blockbusters.

Two low-budget horror films. Two box office phenomenons. Barbenheimer for Sickos.

On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael and Missy break down Obsession and Backrooms, what they loved and didn't love about the movies, discuss their remarkable box office success, and chat about what this means for the genre.

We also share some recent horror movies we loved, a few we didn't, and finish with a spooky round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated.