The Rolling Tape

The 2026 Oscars may have just wrapped up, but with our expanded weekly conversations on The Awards Tape, the award season has already turned the calendar into the next cycle. Soon enough, on April 9, we're going to get the Cannes announcement lineup, which will kickstart the first Oscar rumors, but until then we're discussing potential contenders in a draft style format to keep things fun. 

Each of us is going to draft 8 potential award contenders we believe will be big value plays come next award season and the Oscars. Those selections will be graded and accumulate points throughout the year based on the following criteria:

• Critic and audience scores (Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and Letterboxd)
• Box office reception
• Festival awards, precursor nominations, and Oscar nominations

We also instituted a couple of special rules to add to the competition:

• A player can only draft 3 films with a budget of $100 million or more
• One of your 8 films has to be a No Guts No Glory pick. A film you have little-to-no faith in will be an awards contender but you are willing to roll the dice. Should this film receive any (even one) Oscar nomination, it will net you an automatic 30 points for your pick.

On this episode:
Danny Jarabek
Paul Rai
Gabe Lillianthal

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Credits:

• Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
• Artwork: Danny Jarabek
• Editor: Danny Jarabek
• Assistant Producer: Evan Miller

It's almost time for Euphoria Sundays once again. Today, we continue our retrospective series on HBO's Euphoria. With the show returning for a new season on April 12th for Season 3, we'll be going back and revisiting each of the two previous seasons leading up to the premiere. 

We're continuing our Euphoria retrospective and getting into the second season of the ever-so-controversial HBO hit show. This is the season that came out in 2022 after a very long pandemic delay, and it definitely feels way different than season 1. It's bigger, maybe a little messier. But we still have Zendaya at the center as Rue and it spreads out across the ensemble cast like in season 1, and focuses on their relationships and tensions.

On this episode:
Jake Fittipaldi
Ethan Dayton

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Credits:

• Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
• Artwork: Danny Jarabek
• Editor: Danny Jarabek
• Assistant Producer: Evan Miller

We’re being greedy here today at The Rolling Tape podcast with not just one final girl movie on the docket, but two final girl movies to discuss. The first is They Will Kill You, an action comedy horror film directed by Kirill Sokolov, from a script co-written with Alex Litvak. It was released by Warner Bros. Pictures on March 27, 2026.

To pair with it, we’re also discussing last week’s wide release sequel Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, another comedy horror film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and written by Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy. It serves as a direct sequel to Ready or Not from 2019, with Samara Weaving reprising her role as Grace MacCaullay. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come premiered at SXSW on March 13, 2026, and was released theatrically by Searchlight Pictures on March 20.

Two movies, two final girls, but even that’s not enough for us today as we’ll also tier rank the most influential and badass screen queens and kings the horror genre has ever seen.

To watch this episode on video with our pre-episode exclusive conversation on the following, subscribe on Patreon:

• Ryan Gosling joins the Daniels' New Secret Project at Universal
• MUBI Acquires Her Private Hell and Rose
• The End of Oak Street and the live action Moana trailers

Resources:
The Top 25 Most Killer Final Girls in Horror History
They Will Kill You Review by Nadia Arain
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Review by Nadia Arain

On this episode:
Danny Jarabek
Paul Rai
Mariana Fabian
Des Mack
Joshua Mbonu 

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Podcast Website Link
Website & Publications: www.therollingtape.com
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Credits:

• Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
• Artwork: Danny Jarabek
• Editor: Danny Jarabek
• Assistant Producer: Evan Miller

Join us as we celebrate two years of Ladies Night, reflecting on women's roles in the film industry. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, the ladies at TRT look back at the Oscars, Timotheé Chalamet's evolving persona, and celebrate the women in filmmaking today. 

On this episode:
Sara Ciplickas
Sasha Raquel
Kam Ryan
Neha Jha

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Podcast Website Link
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Credits:

• Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
• Artwork: Danny Jarabek
• Editor: Danny Jarabek
• Assistant Producer: Evan Miller

Welcome to In The Queue, a new show in The Rolling Tape network of podcasts that answers the question “What should I watch this weekend?” Every month, we line up what’s in theaters, what’s headlining our watchlists, and what we recommend adding to yours. From the big screen to streaming, we discuss what we are currently watching and what you might want to add to your queue. So grab your popcorn, clear some space in the queue, and let’s press play.

For our March 2026 edition and kickoff episode, we break down what movies are streaming, screening, and most importantly, worth adding to your watchlist. To keep our own watchlists in check, we end with a recommendation game where we randomly select a movie from each other’s Letterboxd watchlists to watch before the next episode. This month we choose our genres and only select female-directed titles. Listen next month to hear our reports.

Films mentioned:
Letterboxd List

On this episode:
Danny Jarabek
Ethan Simmie
Des Mack

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
The Rolling Tape Patreon

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Podcast Website Link
Website & Publications: www.therollingtape.com
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Credits:

• Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
• Artwork: Danny Jarabek
• Editor: Danny Jarabek
• Assistant Producer: Evan Miller

We're in the weekend of Project Hail Mary as it's opening successfully at the box office as the Lord and Miller directed sci-fi saga has launched to an $80 million domestic gross. It's received an A Cinema score, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 4.4 on Letterboxd, and a 77 Metacritic score. All the signs seem to be pointing towards not just the biggest crowd pleaser of the year, but possibly an awards contender.

That's partially what this episode will focus on, but we'll also take a deep dive into the relationship the Academy has had with the science fiction genre. The science fiction genre is tricky, as there's a plethora of examples where it's been nominated in many categories, but missed major above the line categories. But that's what we're focusing on today, Project Hail Mary as a possible awards contender, and the science fiction genre's success at the Oscars throughout history. 

On this episode:
Danny Jarabek
Paul Rai

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
The Rolling Tape Patreon

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Have questions? Email [email protected]

Podcast Website Link
Website & Publications: www.therollingtape.com
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Credits:

• Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
• Artwork: Danny Jarabek
• Editor: Danny Jarabek
• Assistant Producer: Evan Miller

It's almost time for Euphoria Sundays once again. Today, we are kicking off a brand new retrospective series on HBO's Euphoria. With the show returning for a new season on April 12th for Season 3, we'll be going back and revisiting each of the two previous seasons leading up to the premiere. 

Premiering on HBO in 2019, Euphoria was created by filmmaker Sam Levinson and quickly became one of HBO's biggest cultural phenomena known for its striking visual style, bold storytelling, and unflinching depiction of teenage life in the digital age. At the center of the series is Zendaya, as Rue Bennett, a teenager struggling with addiction, who becomes both the show's protagonist and narrator. Surrounding Rue is a sprawling ensemble that includes Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, Sydney Sweeney, Barbie Ferreira, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, and Algee Smith. 

Season One ultimately earns Zendaya the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making her the youngest winner in the category at the time. 

On this episode:
Jake Fittipaldi
Danny Jarabek
Ethan Dayton

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
The Rolling Tape Patreon

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Podcast Website Link
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Credits:

• Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
• Artwork: Danny Jarabek
• Editor: Danny Jarabek
• Assistant Producer: Evan Miller

We’re going to space today with Ryan Gosling and Rocky in the extraterrestrial saga, Project Hail Mary. Project Hail Mary premiered in London on March 9, 2026, and was released in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios on March 20, 2026. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing the sun, and save Earth. An unexpected friendship may be the key. The film is written by Drew Goddard, based on the 2021 novel by Andy Weir and stars Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, and Lionel Boyce.

We discuss Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s first directorial work in 12 years since 22 Jump Street as well as discuss the legacy of various movie characters attempting to survive in space.

To watch this episode and our pre-episode exclusive conversation on the following, subscribe on Patreon:

• Dune: Part 3 Trailer
• "Dunesday" Cross-Programming

On this episode:
Danny Jarabek
Adam Patla
Joshua Mbonu
Jacob Diedenhofer
Paul Rai

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
The Rolling Tape Patreon

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Have questions? Email [email protected]

Podcast Website Link
Website & Publications: www.therollingtape.com
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Credits:

• Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
• Artwork: Danny Jarabek
• Editor: Danny Jarabek
• Assistant Producer: Evan Miller

The Marvels of Media Festival returns for its fifth year, taking place March 26–28, 2026 at the Museum of the Moving Image. The event continues its mission of celebrating and elevating autistic media-makers through free screenings, exhibitions, panels, and workshops. Founded by Josh Sapan, former CEO of AMC Networks for 25 years, responsible for hit shows including Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead, among others, the festival creates a vital space for artists to showcase their work, connect with industry professionals, and build community. In this interview, Sapan is joined by festival programmer Miranda Lee, who brings her own perspective as an autistic creative, to discuss the festival’s growth, its impact, and what to expect from the festival moving forward.

Follow the festival online:
Marvels of Media

Follow our interview host online:
Sara Ciplickas

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
The Rolling Tape Patreon

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Have questions? Email [email protected]

Podcast Website Link
Website & Publications: www.therollingtape.com
Social Platforms on Linktree

Credits:

• Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
• Artwork: Danny Jarabek
• Editor: Danny Jarabek
• Assistant Producer: Evan Miller

In our final episode of The Awards Tape for the 2025-26 awards season, we recap the Oscars as the 98th Academy Awards hav wrapped up as of March 15. We at The Rolling Tape began covering this back in April of last year, where we did our pre-Cannes predictions for the year, and it's continued consistently throughout festivals, awards ceremonies, and discourse involving ballet and cats. We recap the ceremony, this year's Oscar winners, and announce our 4th annual TRT Award Winners. 

On this episode:
Paul Rai
Jacob Diedenhofer
Tate Fowler
Sara Ciplickas

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
The Rolling Tape Patreon

Listen Here:
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Have questions? Email [email protected]

Podcast Website Link
Website & Publications: www.therollingtape.com
Social Platforms on Linktree

Credits:

• Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
• Artwork: Danny Jarabek
• Editor: Danny Jarabek
• Assistant Producer: Evan Miller