Peak Movies: 1985

The Next Arena
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  • FILM REVIEWS
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Once there was a time when movies ruled the Earth and your local cinema reigned supreme as the beating heart of popular culture. During this same era of cinematic dominance, circumstance and creativity would occasionally collide to create a string of films so classic and so memorable that we had to give them a name (and a podcast): PEAK MOVIES. Join hosts Scott Rognlien and Eric Normington, and a cavalcade of special guests, for our inaugural season as we curate and celebrate an entire year of unforgettable feature films — IN ORDER and AS THEY HAPPENED — so listeners both young and old might learn to properly appreciate the peak that was PEAK MOVIES: 1985.

  1. 12/30/2025 · BONUS

    Mini 12 - Q4 Quarterly Roundup! PM Noms! Fool for Love! Revolution! Trip to Bountiful! A Chorus Line! Murphy’s Romance!

    We’ve reached the penultimate stop in our journey together, Peak Movie fans! Eric and Scott reminisce about all we learned in Quarter 4. Plus, a crack team of special contributors briefly address a few additional December films that didn’t make the cut. Attention to detail and a suddenly open schedule … we haz it.

    1h 2m

  2. 12/23/2025

    Episode 39 - Enemy Mine & The Color Purple

    Two sworn enemies become unorthodox co-parents … IN SPACE! Steven Spielberg and Quincy Jones join forces for the big screen adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel featuring the film debuts of Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey! Special guest Aflamu Johnson (actor, comedian, co-founder of Dr. Chorizo Productions, check out his hood comedy mockumentary Dem Young Boys on Youtube) joins Eric and Scott via remote to chat about Drac asexual reproduction and the nutritional benefits of a complete Celie breakfast. The Oscar nominated drama saw a limited release Dec 18th while the sci-fi flick went wide on December 20th, 1985.

    1h 29m

  3. 12/16/2025

    Episode 38 - Brazil & Out of Africa

    Terry Gilliam’s dystopian dark comedy is also one of Scott’s favorite movies of all time! Two Hollywood screen legends find romance and a bunch of Oscars in Africa! Special guest Pete Gardner (actor, master improviser, Daryl from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) joins Eric and Scott to share his experiences traveling abroad back in 1985 and the role movies played in that epic solo journey. Both films released in theaters on December 18th, 1985.

    1h 51m

  4. 12/09/2025

    Episode 37 - The Jewel of the Nile & Clue

    When the going gets tough, the tough get their final sequel of the season! Plus the Parker Brothers bring their talents to the silver screen with the help of a ridiculously talented ensemble cast! Special guest Amy Claire Sparks (professional funny person, secretary extraordinaire, co-host of Herstory The Podcast) joins Eric and Scott for an illuminating discussion about the collected works of Joan Wilder as well as the greatest comedy ever made according to Amy. The comedy adventure romcom went wide on December 11th while the board game adaptation released in theaters with three different endings on December 13th, 1985.

    1h 37m

  5. 12/02/2025

    Episode 36 - White Nights & Spies Like Us

    A ballet dancer and a tap dancer walk into a Siberian bar! Two bumbling morons get laid and exploited by the military industrial complex! Special guest Jessica Makinson (actor, director, improviser, multiple voices on South Park) joins Eric and Scott for a double feature episode steeped in Cold War intrigue and plenty of questionable male behavior. Both films premiered in theaters on December 6th, 1985.

    1h 39m

  6. 11/25/2025

    Episode 35 - Young Sherlock Holmes & Runaway Train

    A Spielberg produced Sherlock Holmes prequel! Two convicts F around on a runaway train and find out! Special guest and solitary member of the PM85 Three Timers Club Patrick Gorman joins Eric and Scott for a surprisingly satisfying double feature about Egyptian death cults and a woeful lack of runaway train contingency plans. The Holmes film debuted on December 4th while the train flick went wide December 6th, 1985.

    1h 43m

  7. 11/18/2025

    Episode 34 - Rocky IV

    Ivan Drago! A robot maid! A full blown James Brown song and dance number! Plus RIP Apollo Creed! Special guest Paul Vaillancourt (improv guru/teacher, multi-hyphenate entertainment industry jack of all trades, YouTube Creator Coach) joins Eric and Scott for a solo episode all about how Rocky Balboa singlehandedly thawed the Cold War using nothing but the power of montage. Stallone’s epic sequel hit theaters on November 27th, 1985.

    1h 38m

  8. 11/11/2025 · BONUS

    Mini 11 - Once Bitten! King Solomon’s Mines! Santa Claus: The Movie!

    Scott and special contributors Matt Taylor and Garry Crystal briefly address a trio of films from November ‘85 that didn’t make it to the main pod. Attention to detail … we haz it.

    37 min
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About

Once there was a time when movies ruled the Earth and your local cinema reigned supreme as the beating heart of popular culture. During this same era of cinematic dominance, circumstance and creativity would occasionally collide to create a string of films so classic and so memorable that we had to give them a name (and a podcast): PEAK MOVIES. Join hosts Scott Rognlien and Eric Normington, and a cavalcade of special guests, for our inaugural season as we curate and celebrate an entire year of unforgettable feature films — IN ORDER and AS THEY HAPPENED — so listeners both young and old might learn to properly appreciate the peak that was PEAK MOVIES: 1985.

Information

  • Creator
    The Next Arena
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Peak Movies: 1985
  • Show Website
    Peak Movies: 1985