What really makes a movie a Christmas classic?
This week on The Popcorn Podcast, Tommy and Ryan face off in a holiday film debate as they compare Gremlins and It’s a Wonderful Life, two radically different films that both claim a spot in Christmas movie history.

We break down themes, tone, holiday spirit, cultural impact, and rewatch value while debating whether heartwarming tradition or chaotic holiday horror better represents the season. Is It’s a Wonderful Life the definitive Christmas film, or does Gremlins earn its place through dark humor and holiday chaos?

Expect strong opinions, festive arguments, and plenty of laughs as we tackle one of the most divisive Christmas movie debates out there.

🎧 Streaming now wherever you get your podcasts.

This week on The Popcorn Podcast, Tommy and Ryan return to Pandora to review James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest chapter in the blockbuster sci-fi franchise. We break down the film’s stunning visuals, expanded world-building, performances, themes, and how this installment pushes the Avatar saga forward.

Does Fire and Ash live up to the scale and emotional weight of the previous films? How does it expand the mythology of Pandora, and does it justify the franchise’s ambitious future? We discuss what worked, what fell short, and where the story may be headed next.

Whether you’re a longtime Avatar fan or just curious about the newest sequel, this episode delivers a spoiler-free review and thoughtful discussion of one of the year’s biggest releases.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen.

It’s officially holiday season at The Popcorn Podcast.
This week, Tommy and Ryan rank their Top 10 Christmas movies of all time, debating the classics, the modern favorites, and the films that somehow still divide households every year.

From heartwarming staples to chaotic holiday chaos, we break down what makes a Christmas movie truly timeless, and yes, we settle the debate on which films actually count as Christmas movies. Expect strong opinions, nostalgia, and plenty of friendly arguing along the way.

Grab some hot cocoa, queue up your favorite holiday watch, and join us as we rank the movies that define the season.

🎄🎧 Streaming now everywhere you listen.

The nightmare comes to an end.
This week on The Popcorn Podcast, Tommy and Ryan break down the season finale of HBO’s Welcome to Derry, unpacking the final reveals, character payoffs, and the lingering questions left in Pennywise’s wake. From the biggest scares to the emotional conclusions, we analyze what worked, what didn’t, and how the finale ties into the larger IT universe.

Did the ending stick the landing? Which storylines paid off and which ones fell short? We dive deep into the themes, performances, and what this finale means for the future of the series.

Whether you’ve been watching since episode one or just finished the finale, this episode is your full spoiler-filled breakdown of Welcome to Derry’s chilling conclusion.

🎧 Available now on all podcast platforms.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎧 OUR 200th EPISODE! 🎉

This week marks a huge milestone: The Popcorn Podcast has officially hit 200 episodes!
Tommy and Ryan celebrate with a packed breakdown of Welcome to Derry Episode 7, one of the darkest and most revealing chapters of the season. We dive into the biggest twists, hidden clues, character shifts, and where Pennywise’s shadow looms next.

Then, for our 200th-episode double feature, we review the highly anticipated Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. Does the sequel improve on the original? Are the animatronics scarier? And does the story finally click for longtime fans? We get into everything.

From TV horror to game-movie mayhem, this milestone episode is a perfect reflection of everything we love talking about.

Thank you for being with us for 200 episodes. Here’s to hundreds more! 🍿❤️
Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎧This week on The Popcorn Podcast, Tommy & Ryan dive into a massive double-review episode covering Stranger Things Season 5 (Episodes 1–4) and Welcome to Derry Episode 6.

From Hawkins to Derry, we break down the biggest twists, character turns, emotional beats, hidden Easter eggs, and the wild theories fans are already buzzing about. Whether you're into horror, sci-fi, or just great TV, this is one of our biggest coverage weeks yet.

🔥 Topics Covered:– Stranger Things Season 5 Episodes 1–4 Review– Character arcs: Eleven, Hopper, Vecna, the new villains– Major Easter eggs + plot predictions– Welcome to Derry Episode 6 full breakdown– Pennywise theories + lore connections to IT– TV & film commentary across genres

🔎 Keywords: Stranger Things podcast review, Stranger Things Season 5 recap, Stranger Things Episode 1–4 breakdown, Welcome to Derry review, Welcome to Derry Episode 6, TV review podcast, film & TV analysis, Popcorn Podcast.

📢 Make sure to follow and leave a 5-star rating — it helps the show reach more TV & movie fans every week!

#StrangerThings #StrangerThings5 #WelcomeToDerry #Pennywise #HorrorTok #MovieTok #TVReview #FilmTalk #PodcastClips #PopcornPodcast #FilmCommunity

🎈 Welcome to Derry — Episode 5:
Chaos Creeps In: How Episode 5 cranks up the supernatural dread and tightens the emotional screws on Derry’s residents.

The Truth Beneath the Surface: A breakdown of the episode’s standout scenes, unsettling imagery, and the clues hinting at Pennywise’s growing hunger.

Fear Has a Memory: How themes of trauma, loss, and returning horrors continue to trap Derry in its generational curse.

🎙️ Tommy: @Tommy_Cresta
🎙️ Ryan: @Foran12
🎧 The Show: @The_Popcorn_Podcast
🎚️ Editor: @colingallagher.3

🔗 Connect with Us:

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT!

🎧 This week on The Popcorn Podcast, Tommy and Ryan dive back into the cursed town of Derry as they break down Episode 4 of HBO’s Welcome to Derry, an installment packed with mounting dread, emotional unraveling, and the chilling sense that Pennywise’s shadow is closer than ever. From character turns that hit like a punch to the gut to eerie moments lurking beneath the surface, the boys dissect how Episode 4 raises the stakes and deepens the nightmare.

But that’s not all, Tommy and Ryan also review Osgood Perkins’ new horror film Keeper, a haunting slow-burn descent into psychological terror. They explore Perkins’ signature atmospheric style, the unsettling performances, and why Keeper is already sparking conversations among hardcore horror fans.

Episode Highlights: 🎈 Welcome to Derry Episode 4:

• ​Fear in Freefall: How Episode 4 tightens the noose and exposes the emotional fractures of Derry’s residents.
• ​Doom in the Details: The standout scenes, performances, and subtle clues hinting at the evil awakening below.
• ​The Cycle Continues: How the themes of grief, guilt, and memory keep Derry trapped in its own nightmare loop.

🜁 Keeper (2025):

• ​Perkins’ Precision: A look at the film’s eerie pacing, haunting visuals, and atmospheric tension.
• ​Unraveling the Mind: What makes Keeper such an unsettling character study, and why it sticks with you long after the credits roll.
• ​Modern Mythmaking: How Perkins continues to craft a unique voice in contemporary horror.

🔗 Connect with Us:

🎙️ Tommy: @Tommy_Cresta

🎙️ Ryan: @Foran12

🎧 The Show: @The_Popcorn_Podcast

🎚️ Editor: @colingallagher.3

Available now on all platforms. Whether you’re floating back into Derry’s darkness or stepping into Perkins’ eerie new vision, this episode is packed with everything horror fans crave. The popcorn’s hot, let’s press play. 🍿

In this week’s episode of The Popcorn Podcast, Tommy and Ryan break down Episode 3 of HBO’s Welcome to Derry, diving deep into the terrifying origins of Pennywise and the twisted history of the town. From hidden Easter eggs and Stephen King connections to chilling performances and standout scenes, this review covers everything horror fans need to know.

Join us as we explore how Welcome to Derry continues to expand the IT universe, what’s working, what’s not, and what we hope to see next in this haunting HBO horror series.

🔗 Connect with Us:

🎙️ Tommy: ⁠@Tommy_Cresta⁠

🎙️ Ryan: ⁠@Foran12⁠

🎧 The Show: ⁠@The_Popcorn_Podcast⁠

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎧This week on The Popcorn Podcast, Tommy sits down with filmmaker Madeline Doherty, the visionary director behind Terror Films’ chilling new found-footage horror film, FEY!

Madeline takes us deep into the creative chaos behind crafting this unnerving descent into madness, from her inspirations and production challenges to the raw emotional intensity that makes FEY such a haunting experience. Together, Tommy and Madeline explore what it means to make horror that feels real, the power of psychological storytelling, and how FEY pushes the boundaries of modern found footage.

Make sure to check out FEY when it releases on November 14. You don’t want to miss this one. A huge thank you to Madeline Doherty for joining us and sharing her journey bringing this terrifying vision to life!

Episode Highlights:🎥 FEY — Behind the Fear:

• ​Found Footage Reimagined: How FEY elevates one of horror’s most enduring styles.
• ​Crafting Real Terror: The psychology and realism behind the film’s most intense moments.
• ​A Director’s Vision: Madeline Doherty on balancing fear, story, and authenticity in independent horror.

🔗 Connect with Us:🎙️ Tommy: @Tommy_Cresta🎙️ Ryan: @Foran12🎧 The Show: @The_Popcorn_Podcast🎚️ Editor: @colingallagher.3

Available now on all platforms. From the fear behind the camera to the horror that lingers long after the credits roll, this conversation is one every horror fan will want to hear.The popcorn’s hot, let’s press play. 🍿