Avatar: Fire and Ash is directed by James Cameron, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Distributed by 20th Century Studios, it is the sequel to Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and the third installment in the Avatar franchise that has grossed over $4 billion at the global box office. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, and many others reprise their roles from the previous films.

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Chapter Timestamps:

• 0:00:00 Initial Thoughts
• 0:26:12 Spoiler Review
• 1:50:48 Oscars Assessment
• 1:54:43 Final Ratings

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Danny Jarabek Letterboxd, Instagram, Bluesky, X, TikTok, and Linktree
Ethan Simmie on Letterboxd, Instagram, X, The Movie Draft Podcast
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Jake Fittipaldi on Letterboxd, Instagram, and TikTok

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• Theme music by Eugene Rocco Utley
• Artwork by Danny Jarabek
• Edited by Danny Jarabek

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Credits:

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

To hear more bonus pre-episode conversations like this, subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $1/month for early access and video episodes. Ahead of our Wake Up Dead Man review we discuss:

• Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day Billboard
• Supergirl Trailer 

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Danny Jarabek Letterboxd, Instagram, Bluesky, X, TikTok, and Linktree
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Credits:

• Theme music by Eugene Rocco Utley
• Artwork by Danny Jarabek
• Edited by Danny Jarabek

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Credits:

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

We discuss the recent acquisition of Warner Bros. by Netflix after an open auction saw bids from the likes of Warner Bros., Paramount, and Comcast. The conversation covers the implications for the future of theatrical releases and the film industry as a whole in the aftermath of this deal, as well as breaks down the Netflix vs. Paramount battle that has been staged over the last week since Warner Bros. agreed to the $82.7 billion buyout.  

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Paul Rai on Letterboxd, Instagram, and X
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Credits:

• Theme music by Eugene Rocco Utley
• Artwork by Danny Jarabek
• Edited by Danny Jarabek

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
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Credits:

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

*THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST* featuring a 30-minute segment from our RETRO//RANKED season on James Cameron. To watch the full conversation on video, subscribe to our Patreon.

With past seasons traversing the "Jurassic" Franchise, the "28" Franchise, Paul Thomas Anderson's filmography, and Edgar Wright's filmography, season 5 of our Patreon exclusive season is set to be the biggest yet featuring...Big Jim himself, James Cameron! Leading up to and including Avatar: Fire and Ash, we will collaboratively rank his entire filmography. Today, we look at his third and fourth features, Aliens and The Abyss. 

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Our current collaborative ranking so far:

1. Terminator
2. Piranha II: The Spawning

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Timmy Lee
Paul Rai

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Credits:

• Theme music by Karl Vincent
• Artwork by Danny Jarabek
• Edited by Danny Jarabek

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
The Rolling Tape Patreon

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Credits:

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

We take a brief pause on our category-by-category prediction series to assess the current state of the race as a checkpoint after a major first-wave of precursors. We discuss at large the impacts of AFI, NBR, LAFCA, NYFCC, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice Association to assess trends we are seeing from Train Dreams chugging along to whether James Cameron’s best picture hopes are in a pile of fire and ash. 

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View Our Predictions:
Oscar Board

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Oscars Model
Cole Curtiss-Fuentes on X

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Adam Patla on Letterboxd, Instagram, Bluesky,  X, TikTok, and YouTube
Joshua Mbonu on Letterboxd, and X

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Credits:

• Theme music by Karl Vincent
• Artwork by Danny Jarabek
• Edited by Danny Jarabek

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Credits:

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

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced shortlists in 12 categories for the 98th Academy Awards: Animated Short Film, Casting, Cinematography, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, International Feature Film, Live Action Short Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Sound, and Visual Effects. We break down each of the 9 feature categories and how the announcement affects the Best Picture race.

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Jacob Diedenhofer on Letterboxd, Instagram, X
Joshua Mbonu on Letterboxd, and X

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Credits:

• Theme music by Eugene Rocco Utley
• Artwork by Danny Jarabek
• Edited by Danny Jarabek

Support the show

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Credits:

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

*THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST* featuring the first 30 minutes of our bonus review for Jay Kelly. To watch the full review on video and get an extra segment on Golden Globes nomination reactions, subscribe to our Patreon.

Jay Kelly is directed by Noah Baumbach and written by Baumbach and Emily Mortimer. The film stars an ensemble cast that includes George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and Billy Crudup. It follows a famous actor (Clooney) as he travels through Europe with his team and manager (Sandler), and reflects on his life choices, relationships, and legacy. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2025. It was then released in select theaters on November 14, 2025, followed by a global release on Netflix on December 5.

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Jacob Diedenhofer on Letterboxd, Instagram, X

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Credits:

• Theme music by Eugene Rocco Utley
• Artwork by Danny Jarabek
• Edited by Danny Jarabek

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
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Credits:

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

Wake Up Dead Man is written and directed by Rian Johnson. It is a standalone sequel to Glass Onion (2022) and the third installment overall in the Knives Out film series. It stars Daniel Craig, who reprises his role as master detective Benoit Blanc. Wake Up Dead Man had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, and was released in select theaters on November 26, before streaming on Netflix on December 12, 2025. The ensemble cast also includes Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. 

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Chapter Timestamps:

• 0:00:00 Initial Thoughts
• 0:20:34 Spoiler Review
• 1:32:24 Oscars Assessment
• 1:37:32 Final Ratings

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Danny Jarabek Letterboxd, Instagram, Bluesky, X, TikTok, and Linktree
Tate Fowler on Letterboxd and Instagram
Ethan Dayton on Letterboxd, Bluesky, and X

Have questions? Email [email protected]

Credits:

• Theme music by Eugene Rocco Utley
• Artwork by Danny Jarabek
• Edited by Danny Jarabek

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

Watch our live commentary on video by subscribing to our Patreon!

It's a strange case from the start. A case with a hole in the center. A doughnut. Watch along with us to Rian Johnson's Knives Out (2019) for the Netflix release of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Story. To celebrate the third murder mystery in Rian Johnson's Benoit Blanc-led whodunnits, we watch along with the original Knives Out discussing everything that made that film such a huge hit. The story follows when renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, and the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. The film stars Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, and Christopher Plummer.

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Follow our team online:
Evan Miller on Letterboxd, Bluesky, X, Instagram, and TikTok
Paul Rai on Letterboxd, Instagram, and X

Have questions? Email [email protected]

Credits:

• Theme music by Eugene Rocco Utley
• Artwork by Danny Jarabek
• Edited by Danny Jarabek

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
The Rolling Tape Patreon

Listen Here:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
All Listening Platforms

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

*THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST* featuring a 30-minute segment from our RETRO//RANKED season on James Cameron. To watch the full conversation on video, subscribe to our Patreon.

With past seasons traversing the "Jurassic" Franchise, the "28" Franchise, Paul Thomas Anderson's filmography, and Edgar Wright's filmography, season 5 of our Patreon exclusive season is set to be the biggest yet featuring...Big Jim himself, James Cameron!

Leading up to and including Avatar: Fire and Ash, we will collaboratively rank his entire filmography. As someone who has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the technological innovation of filmmaking, it's sure to be a wild ride breaking down and ranking his films. The episodes will air as follows:

12/11 - Piranha II: The Spawning & The Terminator

12/18 - Aliens & The Abyss

12/26 - Terminator 2 & True Lies

1/1 - Avatar: The Way of Water & Avatar: Fire and Ash

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Follow our team online:
Evan Miller
Kam Ryan
Timmy Lee

Have questions? Email [email protected]

Credits:

• Theme music by Eugene Rocco Utley
• Artwork by Danny Jarabek
• Edited by Danny Jarabek

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
The Rolling Tape Patreon

Listen Here:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
All Listening Platforms

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