MUBI Podcast

MUBI

The MUBI Podcast is an audio documentary series about how great cinema happens, and why it matters. Every season’s a deep dive into a different corner of movie culture — from classic needle drops, to movie theaters that changed the world. Plus, between seasons: intimate interviews with some of the best filmmakers alive. Nominated for multiple Webbys, Ambies, and British Podcast Awards. Hosted by veteran arts journalist Rico Gagliano. “It’s like This American Life for filmmaking stories” — Matt Wallin

  1. BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM — Gurinder Chadha shoots and scores

    4d ago

    BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM — Gurinder Chadha shoots and scores

    On the opening day of the World Cup, we take a look and a listen to the soccer-centric sleeper BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (2002). Director Gurinder Chadha tells Rico about making her breakthrough rom-com about girl power, British Asian identity, and football—and how its mashup soundtrack of pop hits and Bhangra bangers scored goals of its own. Other guests include superstar DJ/producer Bally Sagoo, and the film's music supervisor Liz Gallacher (THE FULL MONTY). Our audio documentary podcast returns with a sequel to our popular 2023 season that dives deep into the grooves of classic movie “needle drops.”  Titled “Needle on the Record, Side Two,” in each episode host Rico Gagliano tells the story of a film that fused music and image to make magic—and sometimes, changed popular culture. GREGORY'S GIRL is streaming on MUBI in the US & CA as a part of the The World’s Game: Football on Screen collection starting tomorrow.  OFFSIDE is now streaming on MUBI in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Latin America, Netherlands, Australia and Turkey.  To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

    39 min
  2. CHUNGKING EXPRESS — Wong Kar Wai puts "Dreams" on the menu (rewind)

    May 21

    CHUNGKING EXPRESS — Wong Kar Wai puts "Dreams" on the menu (rewind)

    Shot on a shoestring in six wild weeks, CHUNGKING EXPRESS is the movie that put legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai on the international map—along with his star, pop diva Faye Wong...and her Cantonese cover of The Cranberries's hit "Dreams." In this classic episode form our archives, host Rico Gagliano learns how the song, the director, and the singer all came together to capture Hong Kong at a moment of anxiety and hope—and how the tune still unites people in karaoke bars across Asia. Featuring Cranberries guitarist Noel Hogan, Hong Kong-born indiepop star Emma-Lee Moss (aka Emmy The Great), "Chungking" score co-composer Roel A. Garcia, and NPR critic-at large John Powers—the author, with Wong Kar Wai, of "WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wai." CHUNGKING EXPRESS is now streaming on MUBI in Italy, the Netherlands, Latin America, and many other countries. Wong Kar Wai's full new series BLOSSOMS SHANGHAI is exclusively streaming on MUBI in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Latin America, and many other countries.  To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

    35 min
  3. DONNIE DARKO — Richard Kelly makes the ultimate ‘80s mixtape (rewind)

    May 14

    DONNIE DARKO — Richard Kelly makes the ultimate ‘80s mixtape (rewind)

    Another classic episode about great music in a great movie: DONNIE DARKO. Richard Kelly's genre-busting rookie feature was one of the first cult hits of the 21st century... and it took the music of '80s band Tears for Fears along for the ride. Host Rico Gagliano tells this twisty tale with the help of Kelly, star Jena Malone (THE HUNGER GAMES), and the film's composer Michael Andrews—whose stripped-down cover of Tears's "Mad World" became maybe the most unlikely smash hit in UK history. SOMETHING WILD is now streaming on MUBI in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France and Latin America. To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

    43 min
  4. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY — Stanley Kubrick finds heavenly music on vinyl (rewind)

    May 7

    2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY — Stanley Kubrick finds heavenly music on vinyl (rewind)

    While we polish up some brand-new episodes all about iconic movie needle-drops... we're resurfacing some classic episodes that tackled the same topic! Starting with this one, about the time Stanley Kubrick decided to score his sci-fi spectacular 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY with classical tracks — something he did against the advice of just about everybody, and to the detriment of at least two composers’ mental and physical health. Guests include Kubrick’s longtime executive producer Jan Harlan. SHOWGIRLS is now streaming on MUBI in the US, Canada, Australia and Latin America.  To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

    44 min
  5. WHISPER OF THE HEART — Hayao Miyazaki takes “Country Roads”

    Apr 16

    WHISPER OF THE HEART — Hayao Miyazaki takes “Country Roads”

    How'd a 1971 country-pop anthem about West Virginia... inspire a 1995 anime classic about teens in Tokyo? We kick off a season about great movie needle-drops with the tale of WHISPER OF THE HEART — the anime that helped drive John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads" into Japanese culture. Guests include the song's co-writer Bill Danoff, plus rare interviews with Studio Ghibli cofounder Toshio Suzuki and his daughter Mamiko — the movie's lyricist.  The audio documentary podcast MUBI Podcast returns with a sequel to our super-popular season diving deep into the grooves of classic movie "needle drops."  Titled NEEDLE ON THE RECORD - SIDE TWO, in each episode host Rico Gagliano  tells the story of a film that fused music and image to make magic — and sometimes, change popular culture. Guests include director Gurinder Chadha and musician Bally Sagoo on BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM's bhangra bangers, and movie star Jack O'Connell on THIS IS ENGLAND, the ska-fueled drama that introduced him to audiences. YUKI'S SUN is now streaming almost globally as a part of the Drawn to Life: Animated Films collection on MUBI.  FLOW is now streaming on MUBI in the UK and Ireland.  To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country. WHISPER OF THE HEART will return to cinemas with an exclusive IMAX re-release across the US and Canada from April 21, newly remastered in 4K. Tickets are available here. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

    35 min
  6. MY FATHER'S SHADOW — Akinola Davies Jr. dreams of 90s Nigeria

    Apr 9 ·  Bonus

    MY FATHER'S SHADOW — Akinola Davies Jr. dreams of 90s Nigeria

    Akinola Davies Jr. never really knew his dad. But in MY FATHER’S SHADOW, his BAFTA-winning debut feature set in 90s Nigeria, the director imagines what it would be like to spend the day with him. Akinola tells guest host Simran Hans how he recreated his own hazy childhood memories, and about his ingenious methods for getting a pair of remarkable performances from two young kids who had never acted on screen before. MY FATHER'S SHADOW is streaming exclusively on MUBI from April 10 in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Turkey, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain and more.  To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

    28 min
  7. THE SECRET AGENT — Kleber Mendonça Filho & Wagner Moura on memory and manguebeat

    Mar 12 ·  Bonus

    THE SECRET AGENT — Kleber Mendonça Filho & Wagner Moura on memory and manguebeat

    The Best Picture–nominated thriller THE SECRET AGENT tells a tale of intrigue and absurdity in ’70s Brazil. Director Kleber Mendonça Filho (PICTURES OF GHOSTS) and star Wagner Moura (CIVIL WAR) give Rico a primer on the real politics behind the film’s surreal moments… and hep him to the “manguebeat” music that rocked their world. THE SECRET AGENT is now showing in cinemas and is coming soon to MUBI in the UK, Ireland and Latin America. To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

    25 min
  8. LURKER — Alex Russell's outsider look at the in-crowd

    Feb 26 ·  Bonus

    LURKER — Alex Russell's outsider look at the in-crowd

    Alex Russell just won 2 Independent Spirit awards for LURKER - his debut thriller about a superfan wheedling his way into a pop star's orbit.  Alex tells Rico about his own experiences running with that kinda crowd... and what his twisted tale has in common with a certain kids' baseball movie. LURKER is now streaming on MUBI in the US and Canada.  To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

    26 min
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4.9
out of 5
158 Ratings

About

The MUBI Podcast is an audio documentary series about how great cinema happens, and why it matters. Every season’s a deep dive into a different corner of movie culture — from classic needle drops, to movie theaters that changed the world. Plus, between seasons: intimate interviews with some of the best filmmakers alive. Nominated for multiple Webbys, Ambies, and British Podcast Awards. Hosted by veteran arts journalist Rico Gagliano. “It’s like This American Life for filmmaking stories” — Matt Wallin

Information

  • Channel
    MUBI
  • Creator
    MUBI
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    97
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 MUBI
  • Show Website
    MUBI Podcast

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