The Big Picture

The Ringer

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more. Subscribe to Sean's newsletter, Projections, here.

  1. 4 hr ago

    Sex, Hell, and 10 Movies We Missed This Summer. Plus: Gregg Araki!

    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 It’s on Prime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  2. 4 days ago

    The Summer Movie Mailbag

    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 It’s on Prime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  3. 21 Jul

    The Triumph of ‘The Odyssey,’ and the Christopher Nolan Movie Rankings

    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  4. 16 Jul

    ‘The Odyssey’ Is Massive and Magnificent

    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  5. 14 Jul

    The Epic Movie Draft

    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  6. 10 Jul

    ‘The Invite’ Is a Hilarious Social Nightmare, With Olivia Wilde!

    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  7. 7 Jul

    The Diane Keaton Hall of Fame

    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  8. 2 Jul

    The 2026 Movie Auction Returns!

    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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4.3
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232 Ratings

About

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more. Subscribe to Sean's newsletter, Projections, here.

Information

  • Creator
    The Ringer
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    956
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Big Picture

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