Filmspotting

4.6 (4K)
Film Reviews
Updated Weekly

Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).

20h ago

The Exorcist (1973) | Archive

For Halloween week, we're going deep into the Archive for Adam and Josh's 2013 Sacred Cow review of William Friedkin's The Exorcist. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1d ago

Campy and Creeping Dread Horror, plus The Movies That (De)Formed Us | SVU

For the final episode in Spook-tober, Jordan and Matt share the defining scares of their childhoods and respond to listener requests for campy and creeping dread horror movies. And then — the horror! — Jordan takes a turn hosting America’s fastest growing game show: Portmanteau-To-Toe. Intro (00:00:00–00:03:07) The Movies That (De)Formed Us (00:03:08–00:39:56) Listener Request Seg: Campy and Creeping Dread Horror Movies (00:39:57–01:09:09) Notes / Game: Portmanteau-To-Toe (01:09:09–01:24:09) New to Streaming / Credits (01:24:10–01:32:31) Show Notes Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive⁠ https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠ Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (available now!):⁠ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠ Matt’s book tour! matt-singer.net Bazooga jingle by Andy Wilkowske https://www.andrewwilkowske.com/ Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠ Follow the Show:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2d ago

"There is a distinct difference between suspense and surprise" with Bilge Ebiri | The Movie Racket

Film critic Bilge Ebiri (Vulture, New York Magazine) joins Michael Phillips to test one of Alfred Hitchcock's most famous assertions: "There is a distinct difference between suspense and surprise." Drawing on Hitchcock classics including Sabotage, Rear Window, Notorious, and Psycho, Michael and Bilge explore why the 'Master of Suspense' believed audiences should dread an explosion more than simply be startled by one. They discuss Hitchcock's notorious "grave error" in Sabotage, the enduring power of the night-vision sequence in The Silence of the Lambs, the unresolved terror of Zodiac, and what contemporary filmmakers such as Jordan Peele and Zach Cregger have learned from Hitchcock's approach. Join the conversation by emailing ⁠themovieracket@filmspotting.net⁠. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5d ago

Sense & Sensibility (2026), plus Fatherland and Whalefall | #1086

How do you reimagine a beloved novel like Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility without losing what people love — and expect — from an Austen adaptation? Whatever it is, director Georgia Oakley appears to have figured it out. Adam and Josh praise Oakley’s earthy and unfussy film. Plus, a recap of their weekend at the Chicago International Film Festival, which included a screening of Pawel Pawilkowski’s Fatherland, and — for Josh — a 30th anniversary screening of Cheryl Dunye’s Watermelon Woman. Also, Josh’s review of Whalefall, and listeners rank the most anticipated movies of the fall. This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:03:08) Sense & Sensibility (00:03:09-00:25:34) Filmspotting Family (00:25:35-00:30:35) Sense & Sensibility, cont. (00:30:36-00:46:38) Fatherland (00:46:39-01:07:00) Watermelon Woman, Whalefall (01:07:01-01:13:34) Polls (01:13:35-01:25:35) Credits / New Releases (01:25:36-01:31:25) Notes: -Refocus Film Festival https://refocusfilmfestival.org/ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠-⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus shows, archive access, and more. http://filmspottingfamily.com -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. ⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/filmspotting⁠ -Adam/Filmspotting ⁠Letterboxd⁠ |⁠ Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ | ⁠Bluesky⁠ -Josh/LarsenOnFilm ⁠Letterboxd⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ | ⁠Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6d ago

Zuck Dynasty, Pt. 1 — The Social Network

Aaron Sorkin has said his new The Social Reckoning is not a sequel so much as a companion piece to David Fincher’s The Social Network, which Sorkin also scripted. Whatever you call it, though, these two films are undeniably linked, not just by Sorkin’s involvement, but especially by their interest in the tech-bro enigma that is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. So this week we’re returning to 2010 and The Social Network to consider how the film’s depiction of Facebook’s then-recent origin story plays from our social-media-saturated present; how Sorkin’s script and Jesse Eisenberg’s performance as Zuckerberg find humanity, and maybe even sympathy, in a pointedly unlikable protagonist; and how Fincher made it all work on screen, from the instant-classic Facemash montage to a final shot we’ll be forever refreshing in our minds. Then in Feedback, a longtime friend of the show shares some thoughts prompted by our recent episode on William Friedkin’s Sorcerer. Please share your thoughts about The Social Network, The Social Reckoning, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. This episode is presented by⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Regal Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 21

Top 5 Sofia Coppola Scenes | Archive

Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette is back in theaters this week for its 20th anniversary. In 2017, along with a review of Coppola's The Beguiled, Josh and guest host Angelica Jade Bastien shared their Top 5 Sofia Coppola Scenes. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 20

Apple TV’s Matchbox The Movie Is a Movie For No One, plus Slow-Burn Horror Movies | SVU

From none of the people who brought you Barbie comes a new film inspired by (or mandated by?) the Mattel corporation. It’s Matchbox: The Movie! And it stinks. But in what ways exactly does it stink? The answers may surprise you. Matt and Jordan discuss. Plus, Jordan’s thoughts on the conclusion of Prime Video’s Carrie limited series, which was reviewed on last week’s show; a Rec Seg featuring titles — one adapted from a video game, the other from a toy — that fare better than Matchbox; a listener request for slow-burn horror movies; and the return of Portmanteau-to-Toe: a Movie Trivia Game. Intro / Carrie recap (00:00:00–00:08:41) Matchbox: The Movie (Apple TV) (00:08:42–00:33:42) Rec Seg! (00:33:43–00:47:41) Listener Request Seg: Slow-Burn Horror Movies (00:47:42–01:05:33) Game: Portmanteau-To-Toe (01:05:34–01:24:55) New to Streaming / Credits (01:24:56–01:34:08) Show Notes Jordan: “What 6 Different Versions of This Sex Comedy Say About the Countries That Made Them” https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/04/review-the-invite-film-international-versions/ Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive⁠ https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠ Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (available now!):⁠ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠ Matt’s book tour! matt-singer.net Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠ Follow the Show:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 19

"I wonder what percent of people ever actually encounter a work of art that changes them" with Manohla Dargis | The Movie Racket

Can a movie change your life? In a 1960s interview, Stanley Kubrick posed a deceptively simple provocation: "I wonder what percent of people ever actually encounter a work of art that changes them."This week, New York Times Chief Film Critic Manohla Dargis joins Michael Phillips to test this proposition against a lifetime of moviegoing. Together, they reflect on films that expanded their sense of what cinema could do — from Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless and Every Man for Himself to Kubrick's own 2001: A Space Odyssey — and discuss the difference between a movie that alters your life and one that offers you a profound experience.Join the conversation by emailing themovieracket@filmspotting.net. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See All (224)

Adam Kempenaar

Host
Josh Larsen

Host
Bilge Ebiri

Guest
Angelica Jade Bastién

Guest
Manohla Dargis

Guest
Laura Friedman

Guest
Ron Falzone

Guest
Jason Zinoman

Guest
Deirdre Barrett

Guest

4.6

out of 5

3,969 Ratings

Best Movie Podcast

Oct 6

MDF2001

They call the Filmspotting listenership a “family” for a reason — it stems from the hosts, Adam and Josh, setting a tone of warmth, humor, intelligence and respect that ought to make any listener feel welcome, engaged, and comfortable. There’s no high-brow snark or clickbait outrage here — just really good film analysis in the manner of a lively and respectful conversation among friends. The hosts’ cinephile credentials are legit, and their critical insights are incisive and clear. I frequently disagree with both critics, but I find I always learn more about a film or a genre even as I formulate my disagreement in my mind. Filmspotting is really the standard-bearer for conversational film criticism in the podcasting world; I’ve sampled but ultimately drifted away from all the other competitors.
Take SVU off this feed

Sep 29

Dcdcdc83

I’m sympathetic that people need to make money, but the inclusion of SVU (and my subsequent accidental listening of it) onto the Filmspotting feed has not only made me dumber (because of the lack of insight that one of the hosts had) but also angry in how dismissive and actively not funny one of the hosts was (while clearly being so self satisfied in the most annoying way). It was just so bad it’s forced me to leave this review. Please take them off the feed.
Remove the non film spotting podcasts from feed

Aug 15

Mark from Calif

The recent decision to expand the feed to include non Film Spotting podcasts is frustrating. The other podcasts are third rate or of no interest and are now attempting to be nepo-babied by film spotting - the entire purpose of following a podcast is to avoid sifting through others. So dumb.
SVU Disaster

Aug 11

Erictheblonde

Love Filmspotting. (Even though I disagree with Josh about 50% of the time). 5 Stars. But today I got served up an episode of SVU. Wow. Just terrible. Completely rudderless and devoid of any real point of view. The 1st 1/2 of the episode was ostensibly about Spider-Man, but no one ever really made a point or insightful observation of any kind, except that one of the hosts doesn’t like animated movies. The second half just turned into even more meandering with no real theme of any kind at which point I turned it off. It’s a one-star experience. Skipping all future episodes of that dumpster fire. -2 stars for allowing this on the air.