Cheers to the franchise

Johnson Media
  • 5.0 (51)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Weekly

We celebrate the movies where one wasn't enough by raising a glass. Full mugs. Entire franchises. Lots of laughs. Cheers to the Franchise is a movie podcast dedicated to watching, drinking, and laughing our way through entire film franchises, one movie at a time. From beloved classics and blockbuster sequels to notorious misfires and the entries everyone forgot existed, no movie gets skipped. Joshua Ryan is a professional Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic who brings the critic's perspective to the conversation. Timbo Jones is an independent filmmaker and film school graduate who brings the filmmaker's perspective. Together, they break down each movie, share behind-the-scenes stories and trivia, debate what works and what doesn't, and decide where every film belongs in the franchise. Grab a drink, press play, and join us as we raise a glass to the movies that just couldn't stop at one. Cheers to the Franchise! 🍻🎬

  1. 5d ago

    Army of Darkness (1992) - When Evil Dead Went Completely Insane | Cheers to the Franchise

    This week on Cheers to the Franchise, Joshua and Tim leave the cabin behind and follow Ash Williams straight into the Middle Ages for Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness (1992), starring Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert, Ian Abercrombie, and Richard Grove. After two movies of demonic possession, dismemberment, and cabin-bound carnage, Raimi takes his franchise somewhere completely unexpected: medieval fantasy. Ash is no longer simply trying to survive the night. He's fighting an army of the dead, battling miniature versions of himself, fumbling ancient words, and becoming the swaggering action hero the previous movie only began to reveal. How did a low-budget horror movie in the Tennessee woods somehow evolve into this? Joshua and Tim discuss the franchise's dramatic shift away from horror, Bruce Campbell going all-in on Ash's arrogance and slapstick, Raimi's love of old-school adventure movies and physical comedy, the massive jump in scale, the Deadite army, the endlessly quotable dialogue, and whether Army of Darkness is the logical culmination of everything Evil Dead had been becoming or the moment the series finally went too far. The whiskey is poured, the boomstick is loaded, and hopefully somebody remembered the damn words. Cheers to Army of Darkness... and Cheers to the Franchise! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CheersToTheFranchise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheerstothefranchise/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheerstothefranchise?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheersToTheFranchise Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/TheBingePodcast/

    Army of Darkness (1992) - When Evil Dead Went Completely Insane | Cheers to the Franchise

  2. Oct 13

    Evil Dead II (1987) - The Sequel That Reinvented Evil Dead | Cheers to the Franchise

    This week on Cheers to the Franchise, Joshua and Tim return to the cabin for Sam Raimi's Evil Dead II (1987), starring Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley, and Ted Raimi. Six years after The Evil Dead, Raimi returned with a bigger budget, a wilder sense of humor, and a willingness to put Bruce Campbell through absolute hell. The result is a movie that blurs horror, slapstick, action, and live-action cartoon insanity into something completely its own. Is Evil Dead II simply a bigger and crazier sequel, or is this the movie where Evil Dead truly became Evil Dead? Joshua and Tim discuss the movie's confusing sequel-versus-remake reputation, Raimi's increasingly unhinged camerawork, Bruce Campbell's physical comedy, the Three Stooges influence, the possessed-hand sequence, Ted Raimi's miserable experience inside the Henrietta costume, and the moment Ash finally transforms from terrified survivor into the chainsaw-wielding hero who would define the franchise. The whiskey is poured, the chainsaw is attached, and things are about to get groovy. Cheers to Evil Dead II... and Cheers to the Franchise! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CheersToTheFranchise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheerstothefranchise/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheerstothefranchise?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheersToTheFranchise Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/CheersFranchise/

    Evil Dead II (1987) - The Sequel That Reinvented Evil Dead | Cheers to the Franchise

  3. Oct 6

    The Evil Dead (1981) - The Low-Budget Movie That Changed Horror | Cheers to the Franchise

    This week on Cheers to the Franchise, Joshua and Tim crack open the Book of the Dead and head to a cabin in the Tennessee woods for Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead (1981), starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, and Theresa Tilly. Made by a group of young filmmakers on a shoestring budget of roughly $375,000, The Evil Dead turned an isolated cabin, relentless practical effects, a wildly inventive camera, and one very unlucky Ash Williams into one of horror's most enduring cult classics. More than four decades later, does Raimi's feature debut still deliver the same nightmare fuel, or is its greatest legacy what came afterward? Joshua and Tim discuss the movie's grueling low-budget production, Raimi's inventive filmmaking, Bruce Campbell before Ash became the wisecracking hero audiences know today, the infamous tree sequence, the film's outrageous gore, Stephen King's role in championing the movie, and how much The Evil Dead helped shape the cabin-in-the-woods horror formula that followed. The whiskey is poured, the Necronomicon is open, and somebody definitely should have left that tape recorder alone. Cheers to The Evil Dead... and Cheers to the Franchise! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CheersToTheFranchise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheerstothefranchise/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheerstothefranchise?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheersToTheFranchise Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/TheBingePodcast/

    The Evil Dead (1981) - The Low-Budget Movie That Changed Horror | Cheers to the Franchise

  4. Sep 29

    Legally Blonde: Red, White & Blonde (2003) — Objection! This Sequel Is Terrible | Cheers to the Franchise

    This week on Cheers to the Franchise, Joshua and Tim follow Elle Woods from Harvard to Washington, D.C. with the 2003 sequel Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, starring Reese Witherspoon and directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld. Their lawyer is back too, although this time even professional legal expertise might not be enough to defend the movie. After the original turned Elle Woods into one of the most memorable comedy characters of the early 2000s, Legally Blonde 2 sends her to Washington to take on Congress and fight for animal rights. Unfortunately, Joshua and Tim find a sequel that trades much of the original's charm for an increasingly ridiculous story, cartoonish politics, and moments that haven't aged particularly well. So how did a sequel with the same star and the same character go this wrong? Joshua, Tim, and their legal guest dive into the movie's bizarre depiction of Washington and the legislative process, Elle's transformation from underestimated outsider to near-superhuman force of nature, the sequel's tone-deaf moments, and whether Reese Witherspoon can possibly save a movie that seems determined to work against her. The drinks are poured, the arguments are ready, and the defense would like to enter a plea of guilty as charged. Cheers to Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde... and Cheers to the Franchise! Follow Cheers to the Franchise: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CheersToTheFranchise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheerstothefranchise/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheerstothefranchise?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheersToTheFranchise Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/CheersFranchise/

    Legally Blonde: Red, White & Blonde (2003) — Objection! This Sequel Is Terrible | Cheers to the Franchise

  5. Sep 22

    Legally Blonde (2001) — A Real Lawyer Judges Elle Woods | Cheers to the Franchise

    This week on Cheers to the Franchise, Joshua and Tim head to Harvard Law School with Robert Luketic's 2001 comedy Legally Blonde, starring Reese Witherspoon as the endlessly determined Elle Woods. And this time, they're joined by an actual lawyer to find out just how much of Elle's legal education would survive in a real courtroom. More than 25 years later, Legally Blonde remains one of the defining comedies of the early 2000s, thanks largely to Witherspoon's iconic performance and a character who refuses to be defined by everyone else's expectations. Joshua and Tim aren't quite as united on the movie itself, however. Is Legally Blonde the comedy classic its reputation suggests, or is Elle Woods considerably better than the movie surrounding her? Joshua, Tim, and their legal guest, Michael, dive into Witherspoon's performance, the movie's surprisingly strange sense of humor, its occasional resemblance to the outrageous comedic world of John Waters, and what Legally Blonde gets right and very wrong about law school, lawyers, and the courtroom. The drinks are poured, the arguments are ready, and Joshua and Tim are about to find out whether their opinions can survive cross-examination. Cheers to Legally Blonde... and Cheers to the Franchise! Follow Cheers to the Franchise: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CheersToTheFranchise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheerstothefranchise/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheerstothefranchise?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheersToTheFranchise Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/CheersFranchise/

    Legally Blonde (2001) — A Real Lawyer Judges Elle Woods | Cheers to the Franchise

  6. Sep 15

    Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) — Jet Li Takes on Riggs & Murtaugh | Cheers to the Franchise

    This week on Cheers to the Franchise, Joshua and Tim finish the Lethal Weapon franchise with Richard Donner's 1998 sequel Lethal Weapon 4, once again starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover alongside Rene Russo, Joe Pesci, Chris Rock, and Jet Li in his Hollywood debut. More than a decade after Riggs and Murtaugh first became partners, Lethal Weapon 4 brings the entire gang together for one last adventure. The action is bigger, the cast is more crowded, and Riggs and Murtaugh are finally starting to confront the fact that they really might be getting too old for this shit. But does the fourth movie give one of cinema's greatest buddy cop duos the sendoff they deserve? Joshua and Tim dive into the franchise's final chapter, the addition of Chris Rock as Lee Butters, Riggs and Murtaugh facing fatherhood and growing older, and Jet Li's explosive Hollywood debut as Wah Sing Ku, a villain who may be the most dangerous opponent they've faced in the entire franchise. The drinks are poured, the arguments are ready, and Joshua and Tim are raising one last glass to Riggs, Murtaugh, Leo, Lorna, and the rest of the Lethal Weapon family. Cheers to Lethal Weapon 4... and Cheers to the Franchise! Follow Cheers to the Franchise: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CheersToTheFranchise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheerstothefranchise/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheerstothefranchise?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheersToTheFranchise Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/TheBingePodcast/

    Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) — Jet Li Takes on Riggs & Murtaugh | Cheers to the Franchise

  7. Sep 8

    Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) — Did the Franchise Get Too Funny? | Cheers to the Franchise

    This week on Cheers to the Franchise, Joshua and Tim continue the Lethal Weapon franchise with Richard Donner's 1992 sequel Lethal Weapon 3, once again starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. By the third movie, Lethal Weapon has officially gone full comedy. Riggs and Murtaugh are still chasing criminals and blowing things up, but the increasingly ridiculous banter, returning Leo Getz, and expanded supporting cast make this feel very different from the dark and dangerous movie that started the franchise. Has Lethal Weapon gotten too comfortable, and too funny, for its own good? Joshua and Tim dive into the franchise's increasingly comedic tone, the introduction of Rene Russo as Lorna Cole, the continued evolution of Riggs and Murtaugh's friendship, and Lethal Weapon 3's biggest problem: a villain who struggles to measure up to Mr. Joshua and Arjen Rudd. The drinks are poured, the arguments are ready, and Joshua and Tim are starting to wonder if Roger Murtaugh is ever actually going to retire. Cheers to Lethal Weapon 3... and Cheers to the Franchise! Follow Cheers to the Franchise: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CheersToTheFranchise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheerstothefranchise/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheerstothefranchise?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheersToTheFranchise Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/TheBingePodcast/

    Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) — Did the Franchise Get Too Funny? | Cheers to the Franchise

  8. Sep 1

    Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) — Diplomatic Immunity! | Cheers to the Franchise

    This week on Cheers to the Franchise, Joshua and Tim continue the Lethal Weapon franchise with Richard Donner's 1989 action sequel starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Lethal Weapon 2 brings Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh back for another round, but this time the franchise lightens things up, leaning further into the comedy and chemistry between its two leads while somehow making the action even bigger. But does the lighter approach make Lethal Weapon 2 an even better buddy cop movie than the original? Joshua and Tim dive into the sequel's shift in tone, the introduction of Joe Pesci's fast-talking Leo Getz, Joss Ackland's ruthless South African villain Arjen Rudd, and, of course, the two words that have become synonymous with Lethal Weapon 2: "Diplomatic Immunity." The drinks are poured, the arguments are ready, and Joshua and Tim are trying to figure out exactly how many times Leo Getz can say "okay" in a single conversation. Cheers to Lethal Weapon 2... and Cheers to the Franchise! Follow Cheers to the Franchise: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CheersToTheFranchise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheerstothefranchise/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheerstothefranchise?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheersToTheFranchise Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/TheBingePodcast/

    Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) — Diplomatic Immunity! | Cheers to the Franchise
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About

We celebrate the movies where one wasn't enough by raising a glass. Full mugs. Entire franchises. Lots of laughs. Cheers to the Franchise is a movie podcast dedicated to watching, drinking, and laughing our way through entire film franchises, one movie at a time. From beloved classics and blockbuster sequels to notorious misfires and the entries everyone forgot existed, no movie gets skipped. Joshua Ryan is a professional Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic who brings the critic's perspective to the conversation. Timbo Jones is an independent filmmaker and film school graduate who brings the filmmaker's perspective. Together, they break down each movie, share behind-the-scenes stories and trivia, debate what works and what doesn't, and decide where every film belongs in the franchise. Grab a drink, press play, and join us as we raise a glass to the movies that just couldn't stop at one. Cheers to the Franchise! 🍻🎬

Information

  • Creator
    Johnson Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Johnson Media. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Cheers to the franchise