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PODCAST

The Big Picture

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more, featuring a rotating cast of Ringer colleagues like Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Bill Simmons.

tv & film

All Episodes

46:58

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 11 - 'The Wolf...

The Big Picture ·

2025/09/24

Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio, a manic, exhilarating, wretched celebration of the worst people on earth set loose on an unwitting society. They explain why this was the official selection from Scorsese’s filmography, crown this as the greatest performance of DiCaprio’s entire career, and explore the infamous discourse

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99:11

We Almost Missed These 10 Movies. Should You?

The Big Picture ·

2025/09/22

On today’s show, Sean and Amanda talk through 10 movies that have come out over the past few months that they haven’t covered on the show yet. But before diving into the slate, they react to the death of Hollywood icon Robert Redford (1:46), discuss the first trailer for ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ (4:23), and hypothesize why recent history suggests that September is a box office dumpster fire (17:50). Then, they rattle through a handful of different recent releases and share their thoughts on

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123:11

The Physical Media High Council Awards

The Big Picture ·

2025/09/19

Sean is joined by Chris Ryan, Tracy Letts, and Tim Simons for a very special episode dedicated to all things physical media. They talk through the current state of collecting, and showcase a handful of titles they personally own.Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Chris Ryan, Tracy Letts, and Tim Simons Producer: Jack Sanders This episode is sponsored by State Farm®️. A State Farm agent can help you choose the coverage you need. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®️ Learn more about your ad

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44:48

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 12 - 'The...

The Big Picture ·

2025/09/17

Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Wes Anderson’s ‘The Royal Tenenbaums,’ one of the greatest father-figure movies of all time (starring Gene Hackman, giving one of the best father-figure performances of all time). They explain why they made the difficult decision to make this the official Wes Anderson selection for the list, discuss why there is nothing among his filmography that quite matches this

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98:01

Is ‘Weapons’ a Classic? And an Oscar Contender? Plus:...

The Big Picture ·

2025/09/15

Adam Nayman joins the show to recap his experience at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. He breaks down the fanatical scene at the traveling Criterion Closet, explores his mixed feelings about the lineup at large, and shares his personal favorites from the festival (1:19). Then, Chris Ryan joins the show to share his thoughts on Zach Cregger’s horror hit ‘Weapons.’ They talk through the discourse surrounding the movie about whether or not it’s “about anything,” celebrate Amy Madigan’s

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112:48

The Paul Thomas Anderson Movie Character Draft

The Big Picture ·

2025/09/12

For the first time ever, Sean, Amanda, and Chris are doing a movie character draft! Today, they draft their favorite characters from Paul Thomas Anderson’s filmography. But before diving in, they react to a handful of news headlines, including the speculation that David Ellison and Paramount plan on making a strong bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, new information regarding key details about Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Social Network II’, and the recent awards buzz surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s

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125:29

The Robert Altman Hall of Fame

The Big Picture ·

2025/09/09

Sean and Amanda celebrate legendary filmmaker Robert Altman, who would have turned 100 this year, by breaking down his illustrious career. But first, they cover the awards distributed at the Venice Film Festival and recap Amanda’s legendary weekend, which included seeing Oasis perform live and watching Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, ‘One Battle After Another’ (1:20). Then, they construct Altman’s shrine and build his Hall of Fame (14:39).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Jack

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101:35

‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Is a N.Y. Movie State of Mind,...

The Big Picture ·

2025/09/05

Sean and Amanda start the show by reacting to a handful of recent movie trailers, including Emerald Fennell’s ‘Wuthering Heights’—starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi—and Nia DaCosta’s ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ (3:33). Then, they unpack Spike Lee’s newest film ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky. They explore its very high highs and occasional low lows, Washington’s fascinating performance style, and what makes this film so different compared to the rest of Lee’s

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143:18

The Best Movies at Telluride and Venice, and the 10...

The Big Picture ·

2025/09/03

Sean and Amanda are back from vacation! Today, they discuss the biggest films out of the Telluride and Venice film festivals before sharing the yet-to-be-released movies they’re most excited for this fall (0:47). Then, Sean is joined by director Alex Russell to discuss his new film, ‘Lurker’, starring Théodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe. Russell explains how he was able to direct the project despite his very limited experience, what he was looking for when casting his two leads, and what type of

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42:44

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 13 - 'Get Out’

The Big Picture ·

2025/09/01

Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ starring Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams, the funniest, most astute critique of a so-called post-racial America. They share why they chose this to be their signature horror film of the list, how its release was a culture-shifting event that changed the face of horror, and wonder what the reception of the film would have been if the

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46:21

6. ‘The Hurt Locker’ and ‘Iron Man’ | Mission...

The Big Picture ·

2025/08/29

As Hollywood and America look toward a brighter future, two war films explore the long-term impacts of the Bush years on soldiers and civilians alike.Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Devon Baroldi Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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48:26

5. ‘No Country for Old Men’ and ‘W.’ | Mission...

The Big Picture ·

2025/08/26

A pair of tough Texas dramas reckon with the bleakness of the Bush years—resulting in two of the most unpredictable films of the early 2000s. Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Devon Baroldi Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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44:58

4. ‘Michael Clayton’ and ‘Chop Shop’ | Mission...

The Big Picture ·

2025/08/22

As America falls into a recession, two movies about New York hustlers capture the quiet desperation needed to survive in a country running on empty.Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Devon Baroldi Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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50:19

3: ‘Anchorman’ and ‘Zodiac’ | Mission Accomplished

The Big Picture ·

2025/08/19

As Americans pine for a kinder, gentler nation, two wildly entertaining (and wildly different) films about life in 1970s California poke holes in our country’s past.Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Devon Baroldi Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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48:39

2. ‘25th Hour’ and ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ |...

The Big Picture ·

2025/08/15

In the wake of 9/11 and America’s new war on terror, two films capture the chaos of a country caught between open rage and simmering paranoia.Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Devon Baroldi Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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44:43

1. ‘Bring It On’ and ‘Donnie Darko’ | Mission...

The Big Picture ·

2025/08/12

The Big Picture Live Show in NYC: Tickets go on sale today, August 12, at 2 p.m. ET at 92ny.org!As a new millennium gets underway, two beloved high school films—one full of pep, the other drenched in dread—reflect America’s sudden shift from post-Y2K cheer to post-9/11 confusion. Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Devon Baroldi Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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89:22

‘Weapons’ Is Why We Go to the Movies, With Zach Cregger!

The Big Picture ·

2025/08/08

'Weapons' is finally here, and Sean gets back in the void for a deep dive on one of his most anticipated films of the year. But before diving in, he and Amanda are joined by Brian Raftery to discuss his narrative series, Mission Accomplished, that will run on the feed throughout the rest of August (2:02). The limited series examines the making of 12 great 2000s movies and chronicles how Hollywood and America changed during the Bush years. Next, before covering ‘Weapons,’ Sean uses another recent

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117:54

The Summer Movie Mailbag

The Big Picture ·

2025/08/05

Sean and Amanda open up the mailbag to cover all things related to summer movies! They discuss their favorite summer films they love to watch throughout the season, choose which homemade cocktail they’d pair with some summer rewatchables, share a list of movies they recommend checking out in preparation for this fall’s exciting slate, and much more.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Jack Sanders This episode is sponsored by State Farm®️. A State Farm agent can help you choose the

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74:15

‘Happy Gilmore 2,’ ‘The Naked Gun,’ and the...

The Big Picture ·

2025/08/01

Sean and Amanda are joined by The Ringer’s Craig Horlbeck to discuss all things 21st-century comedy. Before diving in though, they cover a handful of movie news headlines, including Celine Song being attached to a remake of ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’; rumors that Jeremy Strong, Mikey Madison, and Jeremy Allen White are the top choices for ‘The Social Network Part II’; and Bradley Cooper’s film ‘Is This Thing On?’ being announced to close the New York Film Festival (1:44). Then, they cover Netflix’s

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93:18

The 1990s Horror Movie Canon and ‘I Know What You Did...

The Big Picture ·

2025/07/30

Sean and Amanda start the show by briefly reacting to the box office performance of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and wondering whether or not superhero movies will ever return to the levels of the MCU golden days (1:39). Then, they bring in Andy Greenwald to discuss Netflix’s newest animated success, ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ which they were initially skeptical of but eventually became charmed by, and they hypothesize what makes a big cultural hit in 2025 (4:46). Next, Sean and Amanda unpack the

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875 results

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