The Binge: Cheers to the franchise

Johnson Media
  • 5.0 (50)
  • 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. 2d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Aug 25

    Lethal Weapon (1987) — The Buddy Cop Movie That Changed Everything | Cheers to the Franchise

    This week on Cheers to the Franchise, Joshua and Tim kick off the Lethal Weapon franchise with Richard Donner's 1987 action classic starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Nearly 40 years later, Lethal Weapon remains one of the defining buddy cop movies, a perfect collision of explosive action, dark humor, and the unforgettable chemistry between Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh. But does this beloved action classic still hold up? Joshua and Tim dive into the movie's surprisingly dark portrayal of Riggs, Shane Black's influential screenplay, Gary Busey's gloriously unhinged Mr. Joshua, and the partnership that launched one of Hollywood's most iconic action franchises. The drinks are poured, the arguments are ready, and Joshua and Tim are officially getting too old for this shit. Cheers to Lethal Weapon... 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 (1987) — The Buddy Cop Movie That Changed Everything | Cheers to the Franchise

  5. Aug 18

    The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) — The Most Forgettable Movie Ever Made? | The Binge

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a43e317-ee44-83ea-b985-58e55fab3d9c-8" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a43e317-ee44-83ea-b985-58e55fab3d9c-8" data-testid= "conversation-turn-1270" data-turn="assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a43e317-ee44-83ea-b985-58e55fab3d9c-9" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a43e317-ee44-83ea-b985-58e55fab3d9c-9" data-testid= "conversation-turn-1272" data-turn="assistant"> This week on The Binge, we revisit Super Mario Galaxy — a movie so aggressively forgettable that you might struggle to remember anything about it before the episode is even over. We break down what works, what doesn't, and why a movie featuring some of the most iconic video game characters of all time somehow manages to leave almost no lasting impression whatsoever. Plus, we discuss the animation, the voice cast, the movie's attempts to expand the Mario universe, and whether there's actually anything here worth remembering once the credits roll. They debate, laugh, and argue — all while raising a glass (or more) of their favorite alcoholic beverage and toasting to cinema… and to surviving the franchise. 🍸 This episode also marks the end of an era. It's the final episode of the show under The Binge name. But we're not going anywhere. A new name, a new look, and the next chapter of the show are next week. Stay tuned! TYouTube: 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 Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) — The Most Forgettable Movie Ever Made? | The Binge

  6. Aug 11

    The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) — Mario's Billion-Dollar Comeback | The Binge

    This week on The Binge, we revisit The Super Mario Bros. Movie — the 2023 animated blockbuster that brought Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, and the Mushroom Kingdom back to the big screen 30 years after Hollywood's infamous first attempt. We break down what works, what doesn't, and whether Nintendo and Illumination finally cracked the code for bringing Super Mario to the movies. Plus, we discuss Chris Pratt's controversial casting as Mario, Jack Black's scene-stealing performance as Bowser, the endless Nintendo references and Easter eggs, the movie's massive box-office success, and how it compares to the bizarre 1993 live-action film. They debate, laugh, and argue — all while raising a glass (or more) of their favorite alcoholic beverage and toasting to cinema… and to surviving 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 Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) — Mario's Billion-Dollar Comeback | The Binge

  7. Aug 4

    Super Mario Bros. (1993) — A Cult Classic or a Total Disaster? | The Binge

    This week on The Binge, we revisit Super Mario Bros. — the 1993 live-action movie that turned Nintendo's bright, colorful video-game world into a strange, grimy dystopian adventure starring Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper, and a whole lot of decisions nobody saw coming. We break down what went wrong, what has become oddly fascinating over time, and whether this infamous adaptation deserves its reputation as one of the biggest video-game movie disasters ever made. Plus, we discuss the chaotic production, Hoskins and Leguizamo's on-set drinking, Dennis Hopper's wild King Koopa, the movie's bizarre version of the Mushroom Kingdom, and whether Super Mario Bros. has earned its cult-classic status. They debate, laugh, and argue — all while raising a glass (or more) of their favorite alcoholic beverage and toasting to cinema… and to surviving 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/

    Super Mario Bros. (1993) — A Cult Classic or a Total Disaster? | The Binge

  8. Jul 28

    Punisher: War Zone (2008) — The Punisher Goes Full Grindhouse | The Binge

    his week on The Binge, we revisit Punisher: War Zone — the 2008 reboot that traded slow-burn revenge for exploding heads, broken bones, and one of the most unapologetically violent comic-book movies ever made. We break down Ray Stevenson's take on Frank Castle, whether this is the closest any movie has come to capturing the brutal, comic-book version of The Punisher, and why the film's over-the-top violence has helped it build a cult following over the years. Plus, we discuss Dominic West's scenery-chewing Jigsaw, the movie's grimy grindhouse style, Lexi Alexander's direction, and whether Punisher: War Zone is a misunderstood gem or an absolute mess. They debate, laugh, and argue — all while raising a glass (or more) of their favorite alcoholic beverage and toasting to cinema… and to surviving the franchise. 🍸 The Binge Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/TheBingePodcast/ Joshua Ryan's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/MrMovieGuy86/

    Punisher: War Zone (2008) — The Punisher Goes Full Grindhouse | The Binge
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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! 🍻🎬

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