Spooky season is here and with it is a new blockbuster horror sequel in BLACK PHONE 2! The Grabber has stuffed the box office in his big black van, but can he make a good Freddy Krueger knock-off from beyond the grave? We'll see!
In addition to that, Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos are back teaming together for the 4th time with BUGONIA. Is Emma Stone an alien, or is she just bald?? You'll have to see the movie to find out, because this is a strictly NON-SPOILER REVIEW! But to feed into the hype, we'll be doing an ALIEN MOVIE DRAFT at the end of the episode.
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions to PRIMATE and SEND HELP
-Disney turned down a Kylo Ren Star Wars sequel??
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Jared Leto’s legacy sequel to a legacy sequel has Disney panicking over the weak box office, but are the bright colors and dope light cycles enough to have us happy walking out of the theater? That’s what we’re discussing this week, along with Channing Tatum’s new true crime comedy from the director of tear-jerkers like Blue Valentine. Then, we’re topping off the episode by giving true crime our own shot, adapting three crazy crime stories into movie pitches.
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions to RUNNING MAN and KEEPER.
-A Jetsons movie starring Jim Carrey?
-Jumanji 3 (or 4?) with The Rock and Kevin Hart back!
THIS WEEK’S SIDETRACK:
We’re turning three true crime stories - from kidnappings to diamond heists - into full movie pitches!
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Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson recruited Benny Safdie, put on prosthetics, and gained 30 pounds of muscle to transform himself into MMA legend Mark Kerr - and place himself in the center of the Best Actor race - but did he succeed in his efforts (01:07)? This week we're joined by Dave Meltzer, the most prolific pro wrestling and combat sports journalist of all time, to break down the film, Dwayne Johnson's recent career struggles and shifts, and why THE SMASHING MACHINE is the most accurate sports movie ever (33:12).
To hear more from Dave, listen to WRESTLING OBSERVER LIVE and subscribe to THE WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER.
MOVIE NEWS (20:34):
-Trailer reactions to DIE MY LOVE and HAMNET
-Big OCEANS 14 update from George Clooney
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Paul Thomas Anderson is back with his biggest movie ever, but does it live up to the hype?? Well grab your tracker thingy, throw away your phone, and strap in for a full breakdown and review of what many critics are quickly naming the best movie of the year! And later on in the episode - we put it up against BOOGIE NIGHTS, THERE WILL BE BLOOD, and every other PTA-classic in a Paul Thomas Anderson Film Ranking!
THIS WEEK'S NEWS:
-Trailer reactions to THE BRIDE! and ZOOTOPIA 2
-THE SIMPSONS MOVIE 2 hitting theaters in 2027
-Tim and Eric working on a horror script together
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
We're taking the films of Paul Thomas Anderson and working together to make a Collaborative PTA Movie Ranking!
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Does HIM have what it takes to be the G.O.A.T. sports-horror film? Considering the lack of competition . . . maybe! But considering critical reception . . . probably not. Do we agree, or does this movie have us buying Saviors jerseys and Monkeypaw stock? You'll have to listen to find out! And at the end of the episode, in tribute to HIM , we're turning five classic sports movies scary!
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions to WICKED: FOR GOOD, ANACONDA, and THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU
-Zach Cregger working on a WEAPONS prequel
-Martin Scorsese sets his next film with Leonardo DiCaprio
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
Inspired by HIM, we're challenging ourselves to turn five classic sports movies - ROCKY, FIELD OF DREAMS, SPACE JAM, THE BLIND SIDE, and CHALLENGERS - into full-blown horror films!
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Use the promo code SODAPOP at bcdpublishing.com for a discount on Tony Acero's latest book WHAT HAPPENS AFTER!
It's Stephen King's third theatrical film adaptation of the year - and the first featuring teenage boys sh*tting in the middle of the road! Does it live up to THE SHINING, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and the other classics in the (long) line of King adaptations, or will this film have us hoping we took the walk out of the theater? And later in the episode, we're writing our own dystopian competition film, inspired by THE LONG WALK, THE HUNGER GAMES, and more!
Joining us this week is Stephen King fanboy and publisher/author Tony Acero! Go buy his new book - this October at bcdpublishing.com - WHAT HAPPENS AFTER.
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions for CHRISTY and THE RIP.
-A24 acquires rights to produce TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE tv and movies
-Paramount/Skydance to buy Warner Bros. Discovery?
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
Inspired by THE LONG WALK, THE HUNGER GAMES, and all of the other films in this oddly-saturated subgenre, we're writing our own dystopian competition movie . . . in 20 minutes or less!
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Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) have defeated horned demons, creepy dolls, and whatever the hell a Valak is. Now, they've got their toughest case yet: a super-duper spooky mirror. Does it live up to the standard that James Wan set with the Conjuring 1 & 2, or should this film be locked away in Ed and Lorraine's closet forever?
This week, we discuss that - along with the new divorce comedy from Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, THE ROSES. And we're topping off the episode with a SUPERNATURAL HORROR MOVIE DRAFT!
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions for WAKE UP DEADMAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY and THE SMASHING MACHINE.
-The Rock and Benny Safdie are teaming up for a very unusual project . . .
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
We're pitted against each other to pick the best of the best in supernatural horror. From THE EXORCIST to EVIL DEAD 2, everything is up for grabs!
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We have two new movies that are OOZING fun, grimy trashiness. One is from a prestige auteur that's brought us BLACK SWAN and REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, and the other is a remake of B-movie royalty. But will either of them live up to those past works? We'll see, and we'll also see if we have what it takes to make a B-movie classic ourselves. For this week's Sidetrack, we're writing one . . . in 20 minutes or less!
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions to WUTHERING HEIGHTS and 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE
-James Gunn's SUPERMAN follow-up, MAN OF TOMORROW, hitting theaters July 2027
-Jordan Peele's next film pulled from Universal's release calendar
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
With a low-budget cast and a few story curveballs provided by our AI studio executive, we need to write an original B-movie in 20 minutes or less!
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If anybody is reading this, email the show at cinemasidetrack@gmail.com with the subject CAUGHT STEALING FROM ANDY, and we'll Venmo you $3.
Spike Lee and Ethan Coen are back with their newest films - a remake of a Japanese classic and a lesbian detective comedy, respectively - and they both have critics and audiences mixed! Will these be two more classics in the ranks of FARGO and DO THE RIGHT THING, or are we looking at another OLDBOY 2013 situation?
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE NEWS:
-The return of Ryan Reynolds to the MCU, Anna Faris to SCARY MOVIE, and Gandalf & Frodo to Middle Earth
-KPop Demon Hunters' cultural domination
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
From THE DEPARTED to GODZILLA, we're ranking cross-cultural remakes (foreign to English-language) . . . in a TIER LIST!
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WEAPONS is finally here! Zach Cregger’s long-awaited ensemble horror—the one that sparked a studio bidding war—is officially in theaters, and we’ve got a lot to say. So pour yourself a drink with Ms. Gandy, put down that fork (or that supernatural twig), and join us for a deep dive into a FULL SPOILER REVIEW.
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reaction to MARTY SUPREME
-New projects from John Cena and Dave Bautista
-Paramount's post-merger plans
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
We're creating a WEAPONS-style ensemble piece using 6 of cinema's most beloved characters!
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We have new lega-sequels to a couple of comedy's most beloved movies, so it's time to ask the age-old question once more: Is this shit even funny? We're here to answer that and break down the state of comedy filmmaking in 2025!
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions for AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH and JAY KELLY
-Timothee Chalamet and James Mangold collaborating on an action thriller?
-SPIDERMAN: BRAND NEW DAY suit reveal and casting news!
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
We're taking Hollywood's most beloved comedies for all that they're worth! We're assigned 4 comedy classics from the 80s/90s and have to do our best to create pitches for their upcoming (and completely fake) lega-sequels!
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A lot is riding on FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS! The last two Marvel features have disappointed commercially, with neither breaking the $500 million threshold (with $800 mil being the FLOOR only three years ago). Now, Hollywood's biggest IP is at a crossroads, with Marvel's First Family debuting less than two years out from the studio's Hail Mary, AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY.
Despite critical praise and a $118 million domestic opening, we have some complicated feelings about FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS, and we have an entire SPOILER-filled discussion here to vent and work things out!
MOVIE NEWS:
-COYOTE VS ACME gets a release date!
-Jeremy Strong, Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White in talks to star in THE SOCIAL NETWORK PART II?!
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The director of Hereditary and Midsommar made a COVID conspiracy thriller - and it’s just as screwed up as you’d expect! This week, we’re reviewing EDDINGTON!
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions for ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, AFTER THE HUNT, and MORTAL KOMBAT 2
-Cast announcements for THE LEGEND OF ZELDA movie
-M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming collaboration with the author of THE NOTEBOOK
THIS WEEK’S SIDETRACK:
A24? Not A-Twenty-More! A stupid name but an even stupider game, where you’re given dumb descriptions of movies, and you have to decide - is it an A24 film, or is it a phony?
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It's finally here! Warner Bros biggest gamble of the decade, #RestoreTheSnyderverse fanboys' worst fear, and the start to the new DC Universe: James Gunn's SUPERMAN! Will it make us believe a man can fly, or is it just another stinker in the long line of DC duds? Listen to our (FULL SPOILER) review to find out!
Join us for next week as we review Ari Aster's EDDINGTON!
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JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH is sure to be another billion-dollar entry for the franchise, but is it bad enough to warrant the death of the Jurassic IP forever?? This week, we're answering that question and putting other famous franchises up on the chopping block too in a new game called FILM FRANCHISES: KILL OR CONTINUE?
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reviews for THE ODYSSEY, ROOFMAN and SENTIMENTAL VALUE
-Jon M. Chu to direct a HOT WHEELS movie
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
Cinema's greatest franchises are dissected as we determine, one by one, should they be killed or should they continue?
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Better listen quick, 'cause we're breaking down the fastest film of the summer! From the director of TOP GUN: MAVERICK, the pockets of Apple Technologies, and the heart of Brad Pitt, F1: THE MOVIE is finally here! But is it any good??
After the review, we're covering the biggest movie news of the week and topping off the episode by writing our very own racing epic!
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions to PROJECT HAIL MARY and THE RUNNING MAN
-Sequels to THE SOCIAL NETWORK and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA in development
-A director has been chosen for the next JAMES BOND film
SIDETRACK:
After F1’s big opening weekend, one thing is clear - we want some of that racing money! So, funded by Cinema Sidetrack Studios and in partnership with Apple (not really), we’re fast tracking the next racing blockbuster to the big screen. Inspired by F1, we must make a pitch . . . in 20 minutes or less.
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This week we're covering two pillars of modern Hollywood: live action remakes and legacy sequels! Hooray?
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and 28 YEARS LATER are dominating theaters - but are they any good, or are they just tarnishing their source materials' reputation? We break that down before ranking cinema's greatest legacy sequels in this week's Sidetrack.
MOVIE NEWS COVERED:
-Trailer reviews for SPRINGSTEEN, TOXIC AVENGER, and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER!
-James Gunn announces the actor portraying DC's Clayface!
-A new HAROLD AND KUMAR in development!
-Jon Bernthal appearing as Punisher in the next SPIDER-MAN!
...and more!
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
We're ranking 20 of Hollywood's best and worst legacy sequels in a tier list!
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NEXT EPISODE, WE'RE COVERING F1: THE MOVIE!
We're feeling emotional this week, 'cause we're reviewing the newest in romance and/or sappy cinema with Celine Song's MATERIALISTS and Mike Flanagan's THE LIFE OF CHUCK. Did the new releases live up to their filmmakers' stellar reputations? Listen to find out!
We're also talking about . . .
MOVIE NEWS:
-Naked Gun trailer reaction
-Spaceballs 2 announcement video & casting news
-Darren Aronofsky directing The Rock's next film with A24?
-Matthew McConaughey's two new projects
THIS WEEK'S SIDETRACK:
Inspired by MATERIALISTS' already iconic love triangle, we have to cast three new hit romances that'll rival Dakota, Pedro and Chris. One love triangle with actors between the ages of 20-35, one trio with actors between the ages of 36-54, and one that's 55+.
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It's a holiday for film lovers everywhere when a new Wes Anderson flick drops, so we're celebrating THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME by ranking every Wes Anderson feature from worst to best!
Oh, yeah, and there's a new John Wick spin-off too. Find out why we might just be BALLERINA's biggest haters.
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions to WICKED: FOR GOOD, EDDINGTON, and SUPERMAN
-Mia Goth cast in STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER
-The Saw franchise being sold to James Wan
SIDETRACK:
Wes Anderson is one of the most recognizable and replicated directors of modern cinema. So, with a vision board of pastel color palettes and symmetrical compositions in front of us, we have a herculean task at hand - ranking Wes Anderson’s feature filmography from worst to best.
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We're covering the full cinema spectrum, from FRIENDSHIP -the new comedy starring Tim Robinson, to MOUNTAINHEAD - the tech billionaire satire from the creator of Succession, to BRING HER BACK - the new horror movie from A24 and the directors of Talk to Me. Then, we're topping off the episode by writing our own ritual horror flick - in 20 minutes or less!
MOVIE NEWS:
-Trailer reactions for Black Phone 2, Happy Gilmore 2, and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
-The Rock re-teaming with A24 in villain role
-David Fincher building out the cast of his Brad Pitt/Once Upon a Time in Hollywood spin-off
SIDETRACK:
In tribute to BRING HER BACK, we have to write a COMPLETE outline for the next folk horror hit - in 20 minutes or less! But the execs at Cinema Sidetrack Studios has a few twists to throw in our way . . .
