On today’s show, Amanda is joined by her Jam Session co-host and romantic comedy expert Juliet Litman to discuss a movie referenced as "The Purge, but for sex,” otherwise known as ‘One Night Only,’ starring Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro. They break down why it’s an incredibly charming movie that almost works, mainly because it has all of the essential “rom-com” tropes nailed down, but has an insurmountable premise. Later, they theorize why romantic comedies have been dying as a genre and form their legally binding 21st century romantic comedy canon.

(0:00) Intro

(0:49) Juliet Litman joins the show!

(2:45) Movie news

(12:38) ‘One Night Only’

(55:45) Why are romantic comedies dying?

(1:07:02) Our definition of a romantic comedy

(1:15:36) The 21st Century Rom-Com Canon

Host: Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Juliet Litman

Producer: Jack Sanders

Production Support: Sarah Reddy

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O Canada! For the first time in The Big Picture’s history, we visited Toronto for a very special live show at the TIFF Lightbox. They open the show with some movie trivia about Canadian film, Christopher Nolan, and much more, before being joined by a wandering man named Chris searching for his girlfriend “Brie”. Then, they are joined by filmmaker Matt Johnson to discuss the current state of the Canadian film industry and answer what makes a movie Canadian. Finally, they are joined by mean pod guy Adam Nayman to draft some of their favorite “Canadian movies” across some very loose categories.

(0:00) Intro

(1:29) Movie trivia

(17:28) What makes a movie Canadian with Matt Johnson

(36:18) Adam Nayman joins the show!

(44:26) The Canadian Movie Draft

(1:43:35) Honorable mentions and draft recap

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Matt Johnson, Adam Nayman, and Chris Ryan

Producers: Jack Sanders, Elizabeth Fierman, and Helen Eichner

Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh

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With great power comes great responsibility. That’s why we brought in Van Lathan to discuss the fourth installment in the Tom Holland–era Spidey series: ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day.’ They break down what worked for them and what didn’t work and sort through what it could all mean for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Later, they debate how it stacks up against the rest of the franchise and rank all 11 Spider-Man movies.

(0:00) Intro

(1:08) We are returning to American Cinematheque's Friend of the Fest!

(2:16) ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ trailer reaction

(8:14) ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ (SPOILER WARNING)

(1:03:56) The future of the MCU and box office predictions

(1:30:07) How our taste informs our relationship to different genres

(1:41:28) The Spider-Man Movie Rankings

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Van Lathan

Producer: Jack Sanders

Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh

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It’s Sean’s (observed) birthday, and what better way to celebrate than by reacting to the news that Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a Shawn Levy–directed MCU film? Then, they cover some additional movie news before giving a brief update on their Summer Movie Preview game. Next, they cover a handful of recent releases they haven’t discussed on the show yet, ranging anywhere from interesting to awful. Finally, Sean is joined by Gregg Araki to discuss his new film, ‘I Want Your Sex,’ starring Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman. He breaks down what he learned over the last decade making television, discusses why he put so much of his personal self into the main characters of this movie, and tells the story of how he cast Wilde and Hoffman in the lead parts.

(0:00) Intro

(1:21) Sean’s birthday episode (it’s over; he’s hit the age cliff)

(2:34) Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a Shawn Levy–directed MCU film

(8:54) David Jonsson announced as the next Black Panther

(11:18) The box office success of ‘The Odyssey’

(15:48) Director Chuck Russell passed away at 74

(17:45) Summer Movie Preview game check-in

(24:08) Some movies we still haven't seen

(27:49) Ten movies we missed

(27:58) ‘Moana’

(33:48) ‘Minions & Monsters’

(40:33) ‘The Dink’

(47:56) ‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass’

(54:55) ‘Evil Dead Burn’

(58:04) ‘I Want Your Sex’

(1:01:08) ‘Her Private Hell’

(1:06:37) ‘Young Washington’

(1:14:21) ‘Motor City’

(1:19:28) ‘Voicemails for Isabelle’

(1:32:40) ‘The Samurai and the Prisoner’

(1:33:59) ‘Sheep in the Box’

(1:34:41) ‘Late Fame’

(1:38:42) Previewing August movies

(1:40:10) Gregg Araki joins the show!

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Gregg Araki

Producer: Jack Sanders

Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh

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Sean and Amanda open the show by reacting to the quite disappointing official lineup for this year’s Venice Film Festival, the news that Sony and Alamo Drafthouse are reviving the iconic Cinerama Dome, and some exciting new movies that have officially been green-lit. Then, they open up the mailbag to answer all of your summer movie questions. They explore what the future of IMAX will look like (especially with an impending sale on the table), wonder where Christopher Nolan could possibly go from here, debate what the best movie of the summer will be, and much more.

(0:00) Intro

(0:59) The Venice Film Festival lineup

(15:56) The Cinerama Dome is reopening

(23:52) Lou Gehrig biopic in the works with Richard Linklater and Glen Powell

(27:50) ‘Days of Thunder 2’ with Tom Cruise green-lit at Paramount

(31:42) The summer movie mailbag

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Producer: Jack Sanders

Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh

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Movies are back! On today’s show, Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to bask in the glorious commercial and cultural success of Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey.’ Before diving in, they react to myriad movie news headlines, including the first trailer for ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ the Paramount and Warner Bros. merger being paused, some fall film festival updates, and much more. Then, they sort through the dominant opening weekend box office performance of ‘The Odyssey’ and break down the film at length by discussing some of CR’s main takeaways. Finally, they embark on the overwhelming challenge of ranking every movie from Nolan’s filmography.

(0:00) Intro

(0:54) Summer movie mailbag

(1:52)  ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer reaction

(10:50) Paramount-Warner Bros. merger has been paused

(12:40) Fall film festival updates

(17:55) Ryan Coogler’s ‘X-Files’ reboot pilot shot on 65mm film

(19:15) Edward Berger making the next ‘Bourne’ movie with Matt Damon

(22:20) Rachel Cusk is writing a novel about Natalie Portman

(24:30) ‘The Odyssey’ smashes its opening weekend, and CR’s takeaways

(1:13:14) Our relationship to Christopher Nolan in 2026

(1:22:32) The Christopher Nolan movie rankings

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

Producer: Jack Sanders

Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh

It’s on Prime.

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Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time. On today’s show, Sean and Amanda cover the biggest movie event of the year, Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated ‘The Odyssey.’ Before entering their wooden horse to ambush the gates of Troy, they react to some movie news, including ‘The Batman Part II’ being delayed (again), some fall film festival lineup announcements, and more. Then, they kick off their deep dive into this legitimately levitating epic. They make the case for why it’s the perfect Christopher Nolan movie, highlight the pivotal decision to cast Matt Damon as Odysseus, and predict its box office and Academy Awards chances.

(0:00) Intro

(1:11) Movie news

(22:37) ‘The Odyssey’ deep dive

(1:51:32) Box office and Oscar predictions

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Producer: Jack Sanders

Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh

It’s on Prime.

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Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan for their first ever (and potentially last) Epic Movie Draft, in anticipation of Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’. Before kicking things off, they react to legendary actor Sam Neil’s passing, Moana’s opening weekend box office bomb, and the trailers released for ‘Digger’ and ‘Dune: Part Three’. Then, they debate what it is exactly that makes a movie “epic” and draft some incredible films from a myriad of different categories. 

(0:00) Intro

(1:47) We went to Canada

(3:27) Sam Neill’s passing

(7:12) ‘Moana’ bombs at the box office (and Disney's live-action future)

(17:04) ‘Digger’ trailer reaction

(22:11) ‘Dune: Part Three’ trailer reaction

(24:58) ‘Odyssey’-inspired epics series on the Criterion Channel

(27:00) What makes a movie epic?

(33:20) The Epic Movie Draft

(1:39:15) Honorable mentions and draft recap

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

Producer: Jack Sanders

Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh

It’s on Prime.

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On today’s show, Sean and Amanda invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbor Chris Ryan for an episode that spirals into unexpected places, because they’re discussing Olivia Wilde’s ‘The Invite.’ They praise Wilde for her incredible sense of direction, celebrate the connective tissue between the wonderful writing and the distinct performances, and explore whether they read the ending as optimistic or pessimistic. Then, they share their personal top five “nightmare couple movies” of all time. Finally, Sean is joined by Wilde to dive deep into her new film. She explains why she feels we're very isolated in our culture now, how you know whether you’re giving the right performance in a movie you’re directing, and why this film had no chance being made within the studio system.

(0:00) Intro

(1:13) ‘The Invite’

(20:40) Spoiler alert

(45:37) The top five nightmare couple movies

(55:28) Olivia Wilde joins the show!

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

Producer: Jack Sanders

Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh

It’s on Prime.

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Sean and Amanda open the show by briefly discussing the disappointing opening weekend box office performance of ‘Minions & Monsters.’ Then, they honor legendary actor Diane Keaton by celebrating what made her such a special star, and they build her Hall of Fame, selecting their favorite performances from her illustrious career.

(0:00) Intro

(0:58) The disappointing box office performance of ‘Minions & Monsters’

(8:38) What made Diane Keaton so special?

(36:28) The Diane Keaton Hall of Fame

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Producer: Jack Sanders

Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh

It’s on Prime.

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We’re back with the second part of our 2026 Movie Auction! Chris Ryan returns to look back at the results from the first auction (thus far), and then Chris, Sean, and Amanda bid against one another for some of their most anticipated movies coming out during the second half of the year.

(0:00) Intro

(1:17) ‘Werwulf’ trailer reaction

(5:20) The 2026 Movie Auction returns

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

Producer: Jack Sanders

Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh

It’s on Prime.

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