Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast

COTC Team
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A podcast brought by the team that brings you cupofteacritiques.com, the site that encourages critical viewing of film so you can decide for yourself if they’re your "cup of tea." Reading the tea leaves of the film industry is challenging. Each week on the podcast, the team peels back the layers on a movie genre or industry trend to offer aspiring filmmakers some clarity and guidance on what is often rough and indecipherable terrain that is the film and television industry. So, grab a deep brew for a deep look and some hilarious moments.   Music by Julian Hartwell (Say No More - Gh3dEJ) Fair Use Notice: The movies and TV series excerpted and discussed on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast are copyrighted productions. Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast refers to them for the purposes of social commentary and constructive criticism of the productions’ content, which constitutes "fair use" as codified in section 107 of U.S. Copyright law. 

  1. APR 28

    What makes comedies like Office Space and Bad Boys rewatchable?

    Do you still find My Cousin Vinny funny? Let’s go back even further. Do you still laugh when watching Beverly Hills Cop? How is it that some comedies are ephemeral, but others can be rewatched decades later and still have you falling on the floor laughing? “Shirley,” it is a combination of elements and not just the jokes or timing. What is the secret sauce to a comedy’s longevity? Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we take a deep dive into rewatchable comedies.  Send us a comment to let us know some rewatchable comedies on your list.  For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the link below:  https://www.cupofteacritiques.com/subscribe  Badasie, Charlene. “The 5 Best Boomer Comedies that are Actually Hilarious.” Just Watch (February 28 2026). https://guides.justwatch.com/us/best-boomer-comedies-still-hold-up.  Bowman, Josh. “Ten 80s Comedies That Hold Up (and Five That Don’t).” Good Men Project. (July 2 2012). https://goodmenproject.com/good-feed-blog/ten-things-ive-learnedten-eighties-comedies-that-hold-up-and-five-that-dont/.  “18 Classic Comedies that Still Hold Up Today.” The Modest Man. (August 19 2025). https://www.themodestman.com/18-classic-comedies-that-still-hold-up-today/.  “The Most Rewatchable Comedy Films.” Ranker Film (October 25 2025). https://www.ranker.com/list/comedy-movies-you-can-watch-over-and-over/ranker-film.  Townsend, Kevin, Megan Garber, Sophie Gilber, et al. “The Classic ’90s Sitcom That’s Actually Worth Rewatching.” The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2022/01/frasier-peak-comfort-television/621331/.  Van Horn, Shawn. “Why Is ‘Seinfeld’ So Hard to Watch Now?” Collider (April 1 2023). https://collider.com/seinfeld-aged-badly/.  #cupofteareviews, #filmreviews, #indiefilm, #cinephilecommunity, #movielover, #instamovies, #ilovecinema, #instafilm, #ilovemovies, #movienight, #movieworld, #moviefan, #moviefans, #filmfan, #filmfans, #instacinema, #movie, #movies, #film, #films, #filmisnotdead, #favoritemovie, #nowwatching, #moviereview, #teatime, #movietime, #movielovers, #moviefan, #movies, #cupofteacritiques, #comedyfilms, #comedymovie, #comedymoments, #playitagain  Send us Fan Mail SUBSCRIBE Footer We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed sharing. Join us again for another deep look with a deep brew! Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our website at cupofteacritiques.com.Follow us on Letterboxd at COTCritiques.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at CUPOFTEACRITIQUES.For comments and questions, email us at hello@cupofteacritiques.com.

    47 min

  2. APR 15

    Project Hail Mary and Other Space Movies

    The release of Project Hail Mary and near simultaneous launch of Artemis II make this an opportune time to explore space movies. For some of us, the term space movies is a misnomer, since they often encompass movies where the alien activity is earthbound. Think Predator, Independence Day, and The Day the Earth Stood Still. What is your favorite “space” movie and how do you define this subgenre? Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we talk about the appeal of celestial cinema.  Send us a comment to let us know your favorite space movie.  For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the link below:  https://www.cupofteacritiques.com/subscribe    Brody, David Sky. Why do we love space movies? Space.com (July 22 2016). https://www.space.com/31249-why-do-we-love-space-movies.html.  Harris, Ian. “Why are we obsessed with space movies?” The Michigan Daily (September 17 2019). https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/why-are-we-obsessed-space-movies/.  Troicka, Marta. “Tech Billionaires Have Sucked the Fun out of Space Movies.” Kill Your Darlings (February 10 2020). https://www.killyourdarlings.com.au/article/tech-billionaires-have-sucked-the-fun-out-of-space-movies/.  #cupofteareviews, #filmreviews, #indiefilm, #cinephilecommunity, #movielover, #instamovies, #ilovecinema, #instafilm, #ilovemovies, #movienight, #movieworld, #moviefan, #moviefans, #filmfan, #filmfans, #instacinema, #movie, #movies, #film, #films, #filmisnotdead, #favoritemovie, #nowwatching, #moviereview, #teatime, #movietime, #projecthailmary, #spacemovie, #space, #galacticadventures, #galaxy, #starwars, #pitchblack, #hiddenfigures, #startrek  Send us Fan Mail SUBSCRIBE Footer We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed sharing. Join us again for another deep look with a deep brew! Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our website at cupofteacritiques.com.Follow us on Letterboxd at COTCritiques.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at CUPOFTEACRITIQUES.For comments and questions, email us at hello@cupofteacritiques.com.

    35 min

  3. MAR 31

    The Infamous Game of Thrones Starbucks Cup and Other Gaffes in Film and Television

    Some mistakes in movies and television, like the infamous Starbucks cup in the Game of Thrones scene or the fifty-star flags in Oppenheimer (set before Alaska and Hawaii achieved statehood), are just gaffes that make you shake your head or shrug your shoulders. Others, though, enhance the scene. Take Leonardo DiCaprio slicing his hand in Django Unchained. The actor used the painful snafu to lean into the depravity of his character by smearing blood on Django’s wife, played by Kerry Washington (not sure how this landed with her!). Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast where we discuss film gaffes and how they not only enhance scenes but make the movies better in their entirety.  Send us a comment to let us know some of your favorite movie gaffes.  For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the link below:  https://www.cupofteacritiques.com/subscribe  Aharonoff, Sharon. “Authenticity in Cinema: Why Audiences Crave Realism on the Big Screen.” Medium (January 18 2024).  Bell, David. “The Most Hilarious Onscreen Goofs in Movies and TV.” Collider (May 22 2019). https://collider.com/galleries/hilarious-onscreen-goofs-movies-tv/.   Flatau, Seb. “10 Movie Mistakes that Actually Made the Scene Better.” Screenrant (Aug 1 2023). https://screenrant.com/movie-mistakes-scene-better-improvisation/.  Marder, Hannah. “People are sharing the most annoyingly obvious movie and TV mistakes they spotted, and honestly, movie magic can only go so far.” Buzzfeed. (May 26 2025). https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahmarder/super-annoying-movie-and-tv-mistakes.  “Movie Mistakes that Were Too Good to Cut.” Looper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEsrz0nMa5U.  Taylor, Michael Edward. “20 Worst Continuity Mistakes in Movie History.” Screenrant  (December 22 2021). https://screenrant.com/worst-continuity-mistakes-movie-history/.  #filmreviews, #indiefilm, #cinephilecommunity, #movielover, #instamovies, #ilovecinema, #instafilm, #ilovemovies, #movienight, #movieworld, #moviefan, #moviefans, #filmfan, #filmfans, #instacinema, #movie, #movies, #film, #films, #filmisnotdead, #favoritemovie, #nowwatching, #moviereview, #teatime, #movietime, #gameofthrones, #moviemistakes, #moviemistake, #filmmistakes  Send us Fan Mail SUBSCRIBE Footer We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed sharing. Join us again for another deep look with a deep brew! Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our website at cupofteacritiques.com.Follow us on Letterboxd at COTCritiques.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at CUPOFTEACRITIQUES.For comments and questions, email us at hello@cupofteacritiques.com.

    44 min

  4. MAR 18

    Are Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Hangover, and The Matrix Epic Films or Just Good Movies?

    Epic Films. Even the label sounds lofty, doesn’t it? Webster has interesting synonyms for “epic”: majestic, monumental, magnificent, impressive. Collins views it in terms of time and scale: long, extended, classic, grandiose. On this podcast, we talk about epic films and learn that both our ideas about them and our affinity for them vary. Where one of us thinks epic is related to the feelings the story leaves them with, another thinks of the movie in terms of its duration. Where one thinks of an epic film as a battle between good and evil, another says an epic can even be a comedy. (Yes, I think it’s a stretch too.) Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast where we discuss epic films and strive to decipher the elements that qualify movies for such a lofty category.  What’s your definition of epic? Send us a comment to let us know some of your favorite epic films.  For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the link below:  https://www.cupofteacritiques.com/subscribe  “Films that Define the Word “EPIC.”” The Beverly Reviews. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KzsZbTycCs.  Hepp, Nathan. “The Settings of The Epic Film.” Arcadia (September 25 2022). https://www.byarcadia.org/post/film-genre-101-the-settings-of-the-epic-film.  mekebo, yabenek. “What Makes a Movie Epic?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNiD0zkc40A.  “The Epic.” Entertain the Elk. TV Tropes. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheEpic.  Wallace, Randall. “What Makes a Film an Epic.” Directors Guild of America (September 2003). https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/0309-september-2003/what-makes-a-film-an-epic.    #cupofteareviews, #filmreviews, #indiefilm, #cinephilecommunity, #movielover, #instamovies, #ilovecinema, #instafilm, #ilovemovies, #movienight, #movieworld, #moviefan, #moviefans, #filmfan, #filmfans, #instacinema, #movie, #movies, #film, #films, #filmisnotdead, #favoritemovie, #nowwatching, #moviereview, #teatime, #movietime, #epicfilm, #epicfilms, #ferrisbuellersdayoff, #ferrisbueller, #thematrix, #thetencommandments  Send us Fan Mail SUBSCRIBE Footer We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed sharing. Join us again for another deep look with a deep brew! Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our website at cupofteacritiques.com.Follow us on Letterboxd at COTCritiques.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at CUPOFTEACRITIQUES.For comments and questions, email us at hello@cupofteacritiques.com.

    49 min

  5. MAR 3

    From The Sandlot to Moneyball: Peanuts, Cracker Jacks, and Baseball Movies

    When pitchers and catchers report for spring training, our antennas are raised in anticipation of the upcoming baseball season. A recent article published in the Philly Front Office hints that some of us prime ourselves for Opening Day by watching 5–10 of our favorite baseball movies like Field of Dreams, Major League, Little Big League, and Trouble with the Curve. Arguably, more than any other subgenre about sport, baseball movies stir feelings of romanticism and nostalgia, taking former players back to their heydays when they played catch with a parent, competed on freshly cut fields, got their first hit, and caught their first fly ball. Those for whom baseball defined their youth, the succession of baseball movie releases speak to their own personal journeys. The movies, interestingly, help them track where they were in their baseball development and personal maturation at the time of the film’s release. Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast where we discuss baseball movies and their significance across cultures and in defining personal journeys.  Send us a comment to let us know some of your favorite baseball movies.  For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the link below:  https://www.cupofteacritiques.com/subscribe  “Baseball Movies: A Home Run in Popular Culture.” Born to Watch: A Movie Podcast (June 6 2024). https://www.borntowatch.com.au/blog/baseball-movies-a-home-run-in-pop-culture/.  Coooper, Will. “The mythmaking of iconic baseball movies.” The Michigan Daily (April 2 2025). https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/the-mythmaking-of-iconic-baseball-movies/.  Haddon, Cole. “When the Baseball Film Helped Make America (Kind of) Great.” (October 5 2024). https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/when-the-baseball-film-helped-make.   Kruspe, Adam. “Baseball on Film.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItYScNYRA5w.  “Why the Best Sports Movies are About Baseball.” Entertain the Elk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfqyWJs69rs.    #filmreviews, #indiefilm, #cinephilecommunity, #movielover, #instamovies, #ilovecinema, #instafilm, #ilovemovies, #movienight, #movieworld, #moviefan, #moviefans, #filmfan, #filmfans, #instacinema, #movie, #movies, #film, #films, #filmisnotdead, #favoritemovie, #nowwatching, #moviereview, #teatime, #movietime, #baseball, #sportsmovies, #s Send us Fan Mail SUBSCRIBE Footer We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed sharing. Join us again for another deep look with a deep brew! Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our website at cupofteacritiques.com.Follow us on Letterboxd at COTCritiques.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at CUPOFTEACRITIQUES.For comments and questions, email us at hello@cupofteacritiques.com.

    39 min

  6. FEB 18

    From The Negotiator to The Rip: Where’s the straight line through crooked cop movies?

    Surprisingly, The Rip, a box office-worthy movie starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, opened on Netflix in January. Though we are glad about the choice to release a potential box office hit on streaming, the reasons behind it are conversations for another day. In the film, Damon and Affleck lead a small team of cops who stumble upon millions of dollars in cash when they investigate a tip about a home outside of their jurisdiction. The money stirs temptation and distrust among the teammates. Add to this the curious events that begin occurring in the surrounding neighborhood, The Rip makes for a stimulating and immersive story. It got us thinking about the appeal of crooked cop movies. What is it about them that keeps us engaged and running to the theaters (or our streaming channels) for more? Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we discuss the allure of crooked cop movies.  Send us a comment to let us know some of your favorite crooked cop movies.  For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the link below:  https://www.cupofteacritiques.com/subscribe    Boyer, Daniel. “10 Best Crooked Cops in Movies, According to Reddit.” Collider (July 10 2023). https://collider.com/best-crooked-cops-movies-reddit/.  Coyle, Jake. “Movie Review: In ‘The Rip,’ cops both good and dirty find millions in cash.” AP News (January 15 2026). https://apnews.com/article/rip-review-matt-damon-ben-affleck-b23f62bc18025321a102626ad263888b/.  Harrison, Alex. “The True Story Behind Ben Affleck & Matt Damon's The Rip Movie.” Screen Rant (January 1 2026). https://screenrant.com/the-rip-movie-true-story-comparison/.  Primas, Hope. “What is Copaganda?” Screencraft (April 22 2025). https://blackmediaiq.substack.com/p/what-is-copaganda/.    #cupofteareviews, #filmreviews, #indiefilm, #cinephilecommunity, #movielover, #instamovies, #ilovecinema, #instafilm, #ilovemovies, #movienight, #movieworld, #moviefan, #moviefans, #filmfan, #filmfans, #instacinema, #movie, #movies, #film, #films, #filmisnotdead, #favoritemovie, #nowwatching, #moviereview, #cupofteacritiques, #teatime, #movietime, #therip, #crookedcops, #negotiator, #samuelljackson, #trainingday, #police, #badcops, #denzelwashington, #mattdamon, #benaffleck  Send us Fan Mail SUBSCRIBE Footer We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed sharing. Join us again for another deep look with a deep brew! Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our website at cupofteacritiques.com.Follow us on Letterboxd at COTCritiques.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at CUPOFTEACRITIQUES.For comments and questions, email us at hello@cupofteacritiques.com.

    43 min

  7. FEB 3

    Is January Dump Month real or a self-fulfilling prophecy?

    How many times did you go to the theater in January to see a movie? If you responded with a number greater than zero, this would be surprising. Why? January has long been considered “dump month” for movies, since studios typically use this time to schedule theatrical releases that are not expected to perform well at the box office. In January, many people are coming off the winter holiday break, getting back into their routines, and working to rebuild their savings after the season of high spending. As such, movie-going is low on their list of priorities (if it is on their list at all). So, the studios figure: why release a promising film in a month when theater seats are close to empty? It seems like a sound business strategy. But can it also be true that cinephiles don’t go to the theaters in January because of the lackluster releases, thereby creating a self-fulfilling prophecy? Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast to figure out where you fall on January dump month. Send us a comment to let us know what side of the January dump month debate you fall on.  For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the link below: https://www.cupofteacritiques.com/subscribe Fink, Richard. “Why January Is Considered a Dump Month for Movies, and Is That Still True?” Movieweb (January 10 2023). https://movieweb.com/january-movies-dump-month/ Laman, Lisa. “How January Became a Dump Month for Cinema - and Why That's Changing.” Collider (January 20 2022). https://collider.com/january-dump-month-changing/. Roberts, Gage. Why January is such a lackluster time for movies?” The Voyager (January 29 2024). https://uwfvoyager.com/4069/features/why-january-is-such-a-lackluster-time-for-movies/.  “Why is January usually a dead month for new releases?” Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/boxoffice/comments/18zl5l0/why_is_january_usually_a_dead_month_for_new/.   #cupofteareviews, #filmreviews, #indiefilm, #cinephilecommunity, #movielover, #instamovies, #ilovecinema, #instafilm, #ilovemovies, #movienight, #movieworld, #moviefan, #moviefans, #filmfan, #filmfans, #instacinema, #movie, #movies, #film, #films, #filmisnotdead, #favoritemovie, #nowwatching, #moviereview, #teatime, #movietime, #january, #january2026, #january2025, #january2024  Send us Fan Mail SUBSCRIBE Footer We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed sharing. Join us again for another deep look with a deep brew! Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our website at cupofteacritiques.com.Follow us on Letterboxd at COTCritiques.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at CUPOFTEACRITIQUES.For comments and questions, email us at hello@cupofteacritiques.com.

    38 min

  8. JAN 20

    Audio Collage: What’s next up for cinema centering Black people?

    How do you remember studying history during Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month? Let me guess, memorizing names and facts. Boring! They can have value, though; so, let me add one more. Did you know that Black History Month began as a one-week nod to Frederick Douglass’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays? In this episode, rather than regurgitating facts, we consider how Martin Luther King Jr.’s assertion that everyone has the right to live with dignity is weaved into contemporary cinema. We also share our own dreams for future stories that normalize the humanity of Black people and continue to push Black representations forward. Send us a comment to let us know how you are planning to celebrate Black history this year.  For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the link below: https://www.cupofteacritiques.com/subscribe   Black Film Wire. https://www.blackfilmwire.com/. “Black Movie Hall of Fame set to open in 2026 at Boone Theater in Kansas City.” FOX4 News Kansas City. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEkQZZyGTxQ. Havens, Rhys. “25 Inspirational Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes.” Unexpected (November 20 2024). https://unexpectedvirtualtours.com/resources/mlk-inspirational-quotes/. Jean-Gilles, Vladimir. “Black Movie Hall of Fame to be Inaugurated in Kansas City in 2026.” Shifter (October 21 2025). https://shiftermagazine.com/film-and-tv/black-movie-hall-of-fame.   #cupofteareviews, #filmreviews, #indiefilm, #cinephilecommunity, #movielover, #instamovies, #ilovecinema, #instafilm, #ilovemovies, #movienight, #movieworld, #moviefan, #moviefans, #filmfan, #filmfans, #instacinema, #movie, #movies, #film, #films, #filmisnotdead, #favoritemovie, #nowwatching, #moviereview, #teatime, #movietime, #mlk, #martinlutherkingjrday, #martinlutherking, #martinlutherkingquotes, #blackhistory, #blackhistorymonth, #blackhistorymatters, #blackpanther, #selma, #boomerang, #superbad  Send us Fan Mail SUBSCRIBE Footer We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed sharing. Join us again for another deep look with a deep brew! Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our website at cupofteacritiques.com.Follow us on Letterboxd at COTCritiques.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at CUPOFTEACRITIQUES.For comments and questions, email us at hello@cupofteacritiques.com.

    37 min
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About

A podcast brought by the team that brings you cupofteacritiques.com, the site that encourages critical viewing of film so you can decide for yourself if they’re your "cup of tea." Reading the tea leaves of the film industry is challenging. Each week on the podcast, the team peels back the layers on a movie genre or industry trend to offer aspiring filmmakers some clarity and guidance on what is often rough and indecipherable terrain that is the film and television industry. So, grab a deep brew for a deep look and some hilarious moments.   Music by Julian Hartwell (Say No More - Gh3dEJ) Fair Use Notice: The movies and TV series excerpted and discussed on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast are copyrighted productions. Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast refers to them for the purposes of social commentary and constructive criticism of the productions’ content, which constitutes "fair use" as codified in section 107 of U.S. Copyright law. 

Information

  • Creator
    COTC Team
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Writing on Mirror LLC
  • Show Website
    Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast