Ruined Childhoods
by Dan Wiener and Jon Richardson
Think that a movie reboot or remake can ruined your childhood? Brothers/cinephiles Dan and Jon beg to differ! Join them each week as they talk through a cult or classic film or franchise and imagine how it could be revisited, exploring Hollywood’s trend of reviving franchises with long-awaited sequels, prequels, spin-offs, remakes, and/or reboots. Do YOU have a movie you want them to coverEmail the show [email protected] Childhoods is produced and edited by Jon Richardson - https://www.jrmediaservices.net
Episodes
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Stay Tuned (1992)
In this season finale, Dan and Jon celebrate the 1992 comedy classic Stay Tuned, in which two suburbanites are zapped into the underworld by means of their television. Dan and Jon remember their first time seeing the film, honor it’s near perfection, and come up with fresh ideas on how it could…
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Duck, You Sucker! (1971)
You know who directs bangers? Sergio Leone directs bangers. And 1971’s Duck, You Sucker! is definitely a banger, emphasis on the BANG! Dan and Jon celebrate this Spaghetti Western bromance and imagine how it could be revisited for a modern audience. Watch on...
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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
It’s something familar and something peculiar as Dan and Jon celebrate the 1966 Richard Lester musical farce, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. And although it doesn’t quite hold up today, there’s plenty to acknowledge for why it’s one of the great musicals of the 20th century. Dan...
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Hi, Mom! (1970)
Technically a sequel to Brian De Palma’s 1968 film Greetings, 1970’s Hi, Mom! takes us on another Jon Rubin adventure in the seedy streets of New York City. Starring Robert De Niro in an early role, Hi Mom! is a experiments with its audience’s expectations, exploring the realities of deception…
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But I'm a Cheerleader (2000)
A true cult classic, But I’m A Cheerleader is remembered fondly by Gen Xers & Millenials as a pivotal relic of LGBTQIA+ Cinema. Not only does it star indie stars Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall, we also get early performances from Melanie Lynskey, RuPaul, and Dante Basco. Dan and Jon celebrate…
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This Must Be the Place (2011)
Named for a Talking Heads song and featuring a cameo from David Byrne, This Must Be The Place could be confused for a movie about the band. Instead, it follows Chayenne, a fictional aging rock star who is haunted by his past. Dan and Jon celebrate the film’s unique approach, masterful direction,...
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We Still Kill The Old Way (2014)
Nipping at the heels of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie, 2014’s We Still Kill The Old Way tells the story of a group of retired London gangsters who regroup to hunt down and kill the young gangster responsible for the death of their friend & gang leader’s brother. Dan and Jon try to find the…
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Good Guys Wear Black (1978)
We recently lost legendary action star Chuck Norris, who Hollywood allowed to be in dozens of movies to show off his martial arts prowess depite being a dull actor. In 1978, Norris’s star was on the rise and played John T. Booker in the conspiracy action thriller, Good Guys Wear Black, and Jon &...
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Who's Harry Crumb? (1989)
In 1989, we were all wondering one thing - WHO’S HARRY CRUMB? John Candy leads an amazing cast in this zany comedy, showcasing Candy as a disguise-wearing private investigator. Dan and Jon share their memories of experiencing this film after it’s release and share fun ways for the movie to be...
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Stand by Me (1986)
The 3rd film in his directorial career, Rob Reiner’s Stand By Me celebrates it’s 40th anniversary this year. And what better way to celebrate than to cover it on Ruined Childhoods’ 4th season, which features films that have complete sentences for titles? Dan shares his thoughts on how the film...
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Even Cowgirls Get The Blues (1993)
Gus Van Sant may be better known from films like Good Will Hunting, Milk, My Own Private Idaho, or Drugstore Cowboy. But nesteled in his early career, Gus made a strange movie about a woman with such long thumbs, she knew it was her destiny to hitchhike adapted from a Tom Robbins novel. Dan and…
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Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969)
Since the 1930s, Hammer Films has produced and distributed dozens of mystery and horror films, providing cinema lovers fresh alternatives to the big Universal monster movies. One of Hammer’s biggest stars was Grand Moff Tarkin himself, Peter Cushing. For Hammer, The Cush brought to life…
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What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Known for a knockout performance from then newcomer Leonardo DiCaprio, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? became synonomous with his portrayal of an intellectually disabled teen living in rural America and the older brother who is responsible for him, famously played by Johnny Depp. Jon and Dan…
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Come Back To The Five And Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982)
After his 1980 Popeye film didn’t wow critics or audiences, Robert Altman did a run of stage dramas-turned-films. The first is his 1982 drama, Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, and on this week’s episode, Jon and Dan celebrate the film and imagine new ways to extend its legacy....
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What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
One of Hollywood's greatest feuds directly ties to one of cinema's greatest questions, "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" This sibling thriller marks the crescendo of a lifetime of psychological manipulation, substance abuse, and the lingering effects of child actor psychosis - and yes, it's even...
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Dude, Where's My Car? (2000) with Scott Wiener
On our next episode exploring movies with full sentence titles, we're joined by our brother Scott to talk about the 2000 stoner comedy, Dude, Where's My Car? Unlike most podcasts that talk about this film, we celebrate it for what makes it a memorable, special, time capsule for the year 2000.…
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Some Like It Hot (1959)
This seaon of Ruined Childhoods, each episode features a movie with a full sentence title, so how could we pass up Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot? This 1959 comedy follows Tony Curtis & Jack Lemmon has musicians on the run from gangsters, so they go undercover as women in a traveling all-female...
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I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)
It's season 4! Each movie this season will have a title that's a complete sentence, and we're kicking it off with Macon Blair's 2017 hit, I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore. The film stars Melanie Lynskey and Elijah Wood as two loners taking justice into their own hands. Dan and Jon have…
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Arachnophobia (1990) with Nomfanelo Moloi
It's the Season 3 Finale! Over the past 52 episodes, Dan and Jon have trekked up the alphabet in movie titles from A to Z and then went back from Z down to A. This episode, the 2nd A movie, is the 1990 Frank Marshall Comedy Thriller Arachnophobia, starring Jeff Daniels, John Goodman, Julian…
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Big (1988)
It's the penultimate episode of Ruined Childhoods SEASON THREE and this one's a banger. Dan and Jon celebrate the 1988 comedy sensation, Big, the story of a boy who becomes an adult overnight and the grown ups he impacts while he and his best friend find a way to turn him back into a kid. They…
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Copycat (1995)
The mid-90s were a huge era for the presence of serial killers in pop culture. With this element combined with the star power of Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, and Harry Connick, Jr, the film Copycat would certainly be a smash box office hit. Dan and Jon celebrate it's unique mark made on cinama...
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Darkman (1990)
We are almost through our third season, a 52-episode year-long journey up and down the cinematic alphabet. This episode is our final D episode and we are thrilled to discuss 1990's Darkman, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Liam Neeson. Dan remembers his first time seeing the film and Jon shares...
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The Electric Horseman (1979)
RIP Robert Redford (1936-2025) Dan and Jon pour one out for legendary actor, Robert Redford AKA Fort Red Border (iykyk). They honor his life by celebrating his career and gabbing about Sydney Pollack's 1979 anti-capitalist film, The Electric Horseman. Though it's not remembered as one of…
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Freejack (1992)
With a screenplay by Dan Gilroy and a above average supporting cast, (Rene Russo, Anthony Hopkins, Mick Jagger, Jonathan Banks, Amanda Plummer, Frankie Faison) Freejack should have been a home run. But questional direction and a lackluster performance from Emilio Estevez make the film fall short....
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Giant (1956)
Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean take over Marfa, TX in this film that would become a treasure for the state. For a film that spans 30 years and runs for 3 hours, it feels relevant as always...but there's always room for a revisitation. Dan and Jon share their thoughts on how it…
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Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
It's EPISODE 300 and we can't think of a better way to celebrate than by honoring this symbol of 80s family cinema greatness, Harry and the Hendersons. In our 3rd season, a cinematic yo-yo going up and down film history's alphabet, we're doubling up on the H with this story of a Seattle family…
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The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)
When Richard Stanley was a kid, he was enamoured by the bright red cover of a book on his parents' bookshelf, an original copy of H.G. Wells' 1896 science fiction novel, The Island of Dr. Moreau. What he didn't realize is that this very material would lead to the most harrowing years of his life…
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The Jerk (1979)
When Steve Martin decided to quit stand up comedy at the height of his on-stage success to pursue an acting career, some might have thought that idea as wild and crazy as his comedic persona. But he proved us all wrong in his wildly successful film debut, The Jerk. Co-written by Martin, The Jerk...
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Killer's Kiss (1955)
Stanley Kubrick's 2nd feature film may not be perfect, but it's a fascinating look at how one of the 20th century's most iconic directors went from scrappy run-and-gun filmmaking to larger-than-life productions like The Shining, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and A Clockwork Orange. Dan and Jon don't…
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Labyrinth (1986)
Episode 296 of Ruined Childhoods is a celebration of Jim Henson and his true cult classic, Labyrinth. Dan and Jon celebrate the genius of Henson, memories of his other projects, and imagine new possibilities for this absolutely unforgettable 1980s gem. Watch on Spotify or YouTube...
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Matchstick Men (2003)
This Ridley Scott hidden gem from 2003 is the perfect blend of crime, comedy, and style. It also features fantastic performances from its three leads, Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Lohman. Dan and Jon also share their thoughts on how to revisit this film, Matchstick Men, with…
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Nick of Time (1995)
John Badham's 1995 thriller is probably best remembered for taking place in real time, a device often used to amplify the tension and emphasize a ticking clock. And when you have the star power of Johnny Depp and Christopher Walken, the watchability of Nick of Time is off the charts. And as…
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Out of Sight (1998)
It's hard to remember a time when George Clooney wasn't a massive film star, but before 1998's Out of Sight, he was still struggling to find his footing on the big screen. But thanks to another Hollywood juggernaut attempting to prove themselves, Steven Soderbergh, they all finally discovered the...
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Posse (1993)
It's about time Ruined Childhoods entered the Van Peeblesverse. And no matter how you pronounce the his first name, it's hard to deny the impact Mario Van Peebles had on cinema in the 1990s. This 1993 western isn't just entertaining as hell, but it also can teach you about a few real aspects of...
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Quadrophenia (1979)
It's the mods vs. the rockers on this episode of Ruined Childhoods as Dan & Jon celebrate the cinematic achievements of Franc Roddam based on the music of The Who. The 1973 album Quadrophenia set the story and the 1979 film sets it in motion with an incredible performance from Phil Daniels and...
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The Rock (1996)
It's episode 290 of Ruined Childhoods and Dan & Jon are ready to ROCK! On this Rocktacular episode, Dan & Jon celebrate the wild 1996 Michael Bay adventure, The Rock, a celebration of explosions, deadly gas, and Zeus's butthole. They talk about all of the elements of this 90s classic that make it...
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Sisters (1972)
Are you a Brian De Palma fan? If so, you've probably seen the 1972 thriller Sisters. No? What are you waiting for?! Margot Kidder plays conjoined twins Danielle and Dominique who have since been separated, and the struggles they face living in Staten Island, NY. Jennifer Salt also stars as a...
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Tammy and the T-Rex (1994)
It's the year after the release of Jurassic Park - the world has dino-fever and writer/director Stewart Raffill just happens to luck into an animatronic T-Rex and is hell bent on writing a movie around the prehistoric robot. What Raffill didn't know is that his stars, Denise Richards and Paul...
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Uncle Buck (1989)
287 episodes and we're only NOW covering this iconic Hughes/Candy collab?? A film that truly stands the test of time, Uncle Buck is always a fun watch and you discover new ways to love it with every watch. Celebrate the genius of the all-star cast and imagine new ways to revisit this classic just...
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Victim (1961)
In the early 60s in London, there were a cottage industry for blackmailers targeting homosexual activity, which was illegal in England until 1967. The 1961 film Victim tells the story of a rising star in London's legal system who has to face a decision - fight back against a group of blackmailers...
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Willard (1971)
Most known for the Michael Jackson song written for its sequel, the 1971 film Willard was a surprise box office success, leading to a sequel the following year and a 2003 remake starring Crispin Glover. Dan and Jon celebrate the ways that Willard stands out from other films of its generation,...
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Xanadu (1980)
For the 2nd X film of Ruined Childhoods, we discuss the strengths and issues with the 1980 musical fantasy, Xanadu. With such a strong cast, what could go wrong? Not only is it Gene Kelly's final film, but it's the follow-up film for both Olivia Newton-John and Michael Beck after their smash...
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Yojimbo (1963)
On our 2nd Y film of this season, we celebrate Akira Kurosawa's iconic 1961 samurai smash, Yojimbo. What has become an inspiration for generations of filmmakers, Yojimbo is a prime example of the dawn of a new legacy, introducing audiences to a flawed protagonist set out to manipulate 2 rival...
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Z (1969)
We are officially on our way BACK DOWN the alphabet in the 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods. We went from Anaconda to Zardoz and we're beginning our descent with the 1969 French/Algerian classic Z! This is the fictionalized version of the very true story of a political assassination conspiracy...
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Zardoz (1974)
WE DID IT! This episode marks our half-way point through season 3 where we are going A-Z and then Z-A through movie titles. We're thrilled to cap off the first half with Sir John Boorman's 1974 heady fantasy, Zardoz. What is now considered a cult classic was at the time considered a flop and...
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Yentl (1983)
In our journey working from A-Z then Z-A in movie titles, it's hard to get to Y and not explore Barbra Streisand's 1983 directorial debut, Yentl. This adaptation from a short story is a tough nut to crach - it's the story of an Orthodox Jewish woman from a Polish shtetl who challenges the...
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X-15 (1961)
Richard Donner. Charles Bronson. Mary Tyler Moore. Jimmy Stewart. Yup - these unlikely bedfellows teamed up for a government-funded film to market a new rocket-powered jet meant to propel the US Air Force and NASA into outer space. X-15 contains a lot of firsts - it boasts that it's the first…
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Willow (1988)
Willow has all the makings of a fantasy classic - top tier director, big stars, impressive special effects, and bell of the ball writer, George Lucas. But for many, this movie is nothing but a bad attempt at capitalizing on the success of Star Wars. Dan and Jon celebrate the elements of the film...
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V for Vendetta (2005)
Remember Remember the 26th of February (this episode's release date, of course). V for Vendetta may not be a film classic, but it activated a generation of activism fashion. Though the design is from the V for Vendetta graphic novel, this 2005 film launched it into global collective…
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The Usual Suspects (1995)
The legend of The Usual Suspects continues to this day. Its twist ending, stories from the set, and all of the parodies that came in its wake are a big part of the film's lasting legacy. But after much deliberation, Dan and Jon have some ideas on how this 1995 crime/heist film could be revisited...
About this show
Think that a movie reboot or remake can ruined your childhood? Brothers/cinephiles Dan and Jon beg to differ! Join them each week as they talk through a cult or classic film or franchise and imagine how it could be revisited, exploring Hollywood’s trend of reviving franchises with long-awaited sequels, prequels, spin-offs, remakes, and/or reboots. Do YOU have a movie you want them to coverEmail the show [email protected] Childhoods is produced and edited by Jon Richardson - https://www.jrmediaservices.net
Hosted by
Dan Wiener and Jon Richardson