The Cinema Goodness Podcast

Two of 2026's biggest films. Two completely different kinds of legacy.This week on The Cinema Goodness Podcast, Kahim and JP break down the Michael Jackson biopic and Mortal Kombat II — and what both films reveal about what it really costs to become legendary.We're getting into Jaafar Jackson's haunting performance, the shocking legal drama that forced a complete third act rewrite, and why critics and audiences couldn't be more divided on Michael.Then we shift to Mortal Kombat II — Karl Urban's scene-stealing turn as Johnny Cage, the most emotionally devastating fight in the whole film, and the moment Kitana's fatality made the entire theater lose their minds.Plus the Cinema Goodness Hall of Fame, our Final Mic-Drop, and the question that connects both films:Are you building your own legacy… or just surviving someone else's version of you?

Space is back in a big way — and we're breaking it all down.This week on Cinema Goodness, we react to the Masters of the Universe trailer, go deep on Project Hail Mary (one of the most anticipated sci-fi adaptations in years), and stack it all up against the real thing — because with Artemis II bringing humans back to deep space, we have to ask:Do movies actually get space right… or are they selling us fantasy?In this episode:• Masters of the Universe trailer reaction• Project Hail Mary breakdown and expectations• Artemis II and real space exploration• Sci-fi vs reality debate• Where Hail Mary ranks among the greatsDo you prefer grounded sci-fi like Interstellar — or full fantasy like He-Man? Drop it in the comments.

This week on the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we’re diving into three massive moments shaping film and pop culture right now:🕷️ Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer BreakdownTom Holland’s Peter Parker is completely alone. No friends. No identity. No safety net. We break down the emotional gut-punch of a forgotten hero, the shocking mutation teases, and what the Punisher and Scorpion mean for this darker, street-level future.🤖 War Machine (2026) Review & BreakdownAlan Ritchson leads a brutal survival story that starts as a military test… and turns into something far more dangerous. We unpack the film’s intense three-act structure, its “Predator-style” DNA, and whether its simplicity is a strength or a weakness.🏆 98th Oscars RecapFrom One Battle After Another dominating the night to historic wins and unforgettable speeches, we break down what the Academy rewarded—and what it says about the future of cinema.

Two high-octane thrillers. Two very different systems of control.This week on the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we dive into The Rip (2026) and The Running Man (2025) — two star-driven thrillers that ask the same dangerous question from opposite directions: what happens to morality when survival becomes the job?Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunite in The Rip, a gritty, neo-noir crime thriller inspired by real-world police corruption, where a single night, a locked house, and $22 million in cartel cash turn trust into a ticking clock. Directed by Joe Carnahan, the film feels like a throwback to adult, mid-budget thrillers that Hollywood rarely makes anymore.Meanwhile, Edgar Wright’s The Running Man reimagines Stephen King’s dystopian novel for 2025, with Glen Powell sprinting across America in a lethal reality TV manhunt. Faithful to the book and stripped of flashy excess, the film takes aim at media manipulation, deepfakes, and a system that turns desperation into content.

Two movies. Two philosophies. One brutal question.This episode of the Cinema Goodness Podcast puts F1 (2025) and Greenland 2: Migration (2026) head-to-head in a showdown between control and endurance, precision and sacrifice, speed and survival.We break down Brad Pitt’s return-to-form performance in F1, a film obsessed with systems, sponsors, and mastering chaos at 200 miles per hour. Then we cross continents with Gerard Butler in Greenland: Migration, where survival isn’t about winning anymore, it’s about lasting long enough to matter.From jaw-dropping racing sequences to bleak post-apocalyptic journeys, we dig into what works, what falters, and which film actually earns its hope.

Pandora is burning.In this episode of the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we dive deep into Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron’s bold, darker third chapter in the Avatar saga. Set after The Way of Water, this film trades ocean blues for volcanic reds as grief, rage, and moral ambiguity reshape Pandora forever.We break down the rise of the Ash People, Varang’s terrifying alliance with the RDA, Spider’s shocking transformation, and Kiri’s evolving connection to Eywa. Plus, we unpack the film’s massive final battle at the Cove of Ancestors and debate what this means for Avatar 4 and Avatar 5.And for the first time ever, we introduce the Cinema Goodness Hall of Fame, inducting the most iconic, emotional, and punchable moments from Fire and Ash.🔥 MVPs🔥 Best Character Arcs🔥 Most Iconic Finale Moment🔥 Franchise-Defining Legacy ShiftsIs Fire and Ash the bold evolution Avatar needed, or is it retreading familiar ground? Hit play, grab some popcorn, and let’s get into this cinema goodness.

After ten years, one basement, and countless trips to the Upside Down, Stranger Things has officially ended.In this episode of the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we break down the Series Finale, “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up,” a two-hour cinematic event that delivers a massive final battle, a bold sacrifice, and an ending that refuses to give us clean closure.We dive deep into:• The truth about Vecna and the Mind Flayer• Will Byers’ long-awaited payoff• Joyce Byers delivering the most unexpected kill in the series• Eleven’s controversial sacrifice and final goodbye• The 18-month epilogue and where every character ends up• The ambiguous final moments that sparked instant debateWas this the emotional sendoff fans wanted?Did Stranger Things play it safe… or play it smart?And did the show end the story — or end our childhood?We also talk reception, backlash, and what this finale means for the legacy of one of the most important genre shows of the last decade.

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 is here—and it might be the most divisive stretch in the show’s history. In this episode of the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we break down Episodes 5–7 ahead of the series finale, unpacking massive lore reveals, emotional turning points, and a cliffhanger that left the fandom reeling.We dive into the shocking truth about the Upside Down as a scientific wormhole, Vecna’s horrifying plan involving kidnapped children, and the revelation that Eleven’s powers trace back to Henry Creel himself. From Will Byers’ emotional coming out and Max’s long-awaited awakening, to Nancy and Jonathan’s devastating “un-proposal” and Eleven’s potential final sacrifice, Volume 2 delivers huge ideas—even if the execution sparked backlash.We also tackle the controversy: review bombing, pacing complaints, lore inconsistencies, and why Episode 7 became the lowest-rated episode in Stranger Things history. Is Volume 2 a necessary bridge… or a misstep before the finale?Grab your Eggos. The end is almost here.

Cinema Goodness Podcast is back with a stacked episode! 🚀We dive into:🎬 Trailer Reactions – Homelander’s meltdown in The Boys S5, Supergirl shining with cosmic hero vibes, and the first hints of Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2.💥 Movie News – Netflix throws down $82.7B to acquire Warner Bros, HBO, and DC classics… but Paramount isn’t taking it lying down. Guilds, theater owners, and politicians weigh in on this mega-merger.🧟 Movie Review – Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein: a gothic, emotional, visually stunning take on Mary Shelley’s classic. Who survives, who forgives, and who just wants a hug?Join us for trailers, corporate chaos, bending finals week, and one extremely emotional undead guy. 🎧

Welcome back to the Cinema Goodness Podcast — where Hawkins is somehow even worse than last season, which feels scientifically impossible. In this episode, we’re diving into Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 with our full Episodes 1–4 recap and analysis! Hawkins is now a quarantined military zone, the Upside Down is crawling with Demogorgons, and Vecna returns, abducting kids as the sinister “Mr. Whatsit.” Eleven and Hopper team up in the Upside Down, Will Byers finally awakens his full psychic powers, and the gang uncovers the military’s secret base and Vecna’s terrifying plan to collect 12 children for his army. We break down all the key moments, callbacks to Seasons 1–4, 80s pop culture references, D&D lore, and hidden Easter eggs, plus highlight the most metal, emotional, and shocking moments. If you love Hawkins, horror, and epic TV breakdowns, this episode of the Cinema Goodness Podcast is a must-watch!

The Vengeance of Vecna! Season 4 brings in a powerful villainof unknown origin. The crew is split across the globe from California, to Kamchatka, Russia to Hawkins but they all set out to fight the evil again. Lives will be forever changed, sacrifices will be made, but someone has to save theworld, again. Check out the Season 4 recap!#strangerthings#StrangerThingsSeason5#Netflix#cinemagoodnesspodcast

Starcourt Mall: The epicenter of Season 3 of Stranger Things. Joyce Byers has exorcised The Mind Flayer from her boy but where did it go? Meanwhile everything is changing. Summer romances, coming of age, old foes, and new secrets hiding in plain sight all conspire to   take Hawkins to the brink of annihilation. Check out the Season 3 Recap in our countdown to Stranger Things Season 5.#strangerthings#StrangerThingsSeason5#Netflix#cinemagoodnesspodcast

Part 2 of our Stranger Things Season 5 Countdown! Will Byershas been saved.....or has he? Dustin can't help but to pet that dog. What couldgo wrong? Check out our Stranger Things Season 2 recap.⁠#strangerthings⁠⁠#StrangerThingsSeason5⁠⁠#Netflix⁠⁠#cinemagoodnesspodcast

Welcome to the Cinema Goodness Podcast Stranger Things Season 5 Countdown! Each week we will recap every season of the show until the Finale Season premieres on November 26, 2025! This week we take it all the way back to our first visit to Hawkins, Indiana and the sudden disappearance of Will Byers. Join in as we enjoy this ride again from the beginning!

Welcome back to The Cinema Goodness Podcast! 🔥🎮This week, we’re throwing down with a stacked lineup:Mortal Kombat II — does the trailer deliver a flawless victory or just button-mash hype? 🥋Avatar: Fire and Ash — is James Cameron still king of the elements, or is Pandora burning out? 🌊🔥Fantastic Four: First Steps — Marvel’s first family is finally stepping back into the spotlight, but are they stretching in the right direction? 🦸‍♂️Of course, expect our usual laughs, hot takes, and debates as we break it all down in true Cinema Goodness style.💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments—are you most hyped for fatalities, fire, or the Fantastic Four?👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share for more Cinema Goodness every week!

Welcome back to The Cinema Goodness Podcast! 🎬This week, we’re soaring into DC’s latest with the new Superman movie—is the Man of Steel still stronger than ever, or is he skipping the gains in Metropolis? 🦸‍♂️💪We’re also wrapping up our thoughts on Ironheart episodes 4–6: does the series finally hit its stride, or is it running out of arc reactor power? 🔥 And of course, we couldn’t resist jumping into a fresh trailer reaction—expect laughs, debates, and maybe a few hot takes too.✨ Topics we cover:First impressions of the new Superman movieIronheart episodes 4–6 breakdown (does it deliver?)Trailer reaction madnessOur predictions for what’s next in DC & Marvel💬 Let us know your thoughts—are you hyped for this Superman, or is the cape starting to feel heavy?👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share for more Cinema Goodness every week!

Welcome back to The Cinema Goodness Podcast! 🎬This week, we dive into Marvel’s upcoming series Ironheart—is it blasting off strong or sputtering out of the gate? 🚀Join us as we break down the first look, story potential, connections to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and what this means for the future of the MCU. Of course, we bring our usual laughs, hot takes, and debates along the way.✨ Topics we cover:First impressions of IronheartHow Riri Williams stacks up against Tony StarkMarvel fatigue vs. fresh excitementWhat fans should expect from this series💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments—do you think Ironheart is the next big Marvel hit, or just another filler series?👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share for more Cinema Goodness every week!

This episode we dive into a Rewatch of the Week with "Old Guard," react to exciting trailers from the next season of "Stranger Things" and reach back to review "Captain America Brave New World." Join the conversation!

Today we're chopping it up about Tyler Perry's Straw a white black panther and the Pickup Trailer reaction. Very fun episode today so sit back relax, grab some popcorn and let's get into this cinema goodness.

Is it over yet? YES! Maybe. Who knows... Season 2 of The Last of Us is done and so are we. Episode 7 brings this rocky story to uneasy close and we GO IN! We discuss how Final Destination: Bloodlines offers a different spin on the classic movie franchise with some of the most creative deaths in cinema. Look out for that rolling penny and join us!

This episode delves into episodes 4 - 6 of The Last of Us and whether the show can pull out of its death spiral. We also discuss Netflix action flick, Havoc, starring Tom Hardy and Academy Award Winner Forest Whitaker. The trailers, the trailers are coming! We react to exciting new trailers for Superman, Ironheart, and Jurassic World Rebirth. Join in!

Thunderbolts* thunders into the box office but does it meet the expectations of a Marvel blockbuster? Can The Last of Us survive without Joel? We answer these questions and more in this week's episode.

This week we review new Prime Video release, G20, starring Anthony Mackie, Marsai Martin, Anthony Starr, and Academy Award Winner Viola Davis in an action thriller. The Fantastic Four First Steps trailer drops and we react, and an original concept from Ryan Coogler, takes the box office by storm in new vampire classic, Sinners. The film stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as twin brothers and co-stars Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Li Jun Li and Delroy Lindo.

This week we review the new live action Netflix series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and recent movie releases of The Marvels and The Color Purple.

Welcome back and Happy 2024! We start the year off with two new Netflix Originals, Rebel Moon: A Child of Fire, and Leave the World Behind. Listen in to see if Netflix is flixing or flopping with these new releases.

This week we react to the new trailers for upcoming Netflix releases of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Rebel Moon Part 1: A Child of Fire. We also go in depth on the Loki Season 2 finale and discuss whether this sets up the Kang Dynasty or opens the door for Marvel to wipe the slate clean and move on from that storyline.

This episode we recap Loki Season 1 and dive deep into Loki Season 2. We also discuss exciting new trailers for upcoming series Echo and sequel Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

This episode introduces and spotlights Tomi Adeyemi, author or the New York Times Bestseller Children of Blood and Bones. We also review Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and revisit a new segment, The Remix, and offer our own revised endings of cult classic Unbreakable, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis. Listen in and join the conversation!

This week we discuss and react to the Loki Season 2 trailer, review Disney's reboot of the Haunted Mansion, and we take a look back at the Rewatch of the Week in Scary Movie.

Jamie Foxx is back to good health and we are thankful for his recovery! This week we review two mind-bending films in Birdox Barcelona and They Cloned Tyrone. We also take a moment to hear directly from Jamie Foxx making his first public statement since his serious health scare in early 2023. Join the conversation!

This episode delves into the new trailer for Bob Marley: One Love due in theaters in 2024. We also get a big update on the Hollywood strike as the SAG-AFTRA actors join the WGA in striking against unfair employment policies in the industry. We wrap up the discussion with our review of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One.

This episode we discuss the Top 5 Actors that Transform in their roles and review new movie The Out-Laws on Netflix. We also heard a rumor that Tyler Perry bet on himself and bought a majority ownership stake in BET and VH1, OR DID HE?

This episode we tackle Extraction 2 and The Flash. We also profile an up-and-coming Black Film maker, Steven Caple Jr.

In this episode, we're reviewing "Transformers: Rise of The Beasts", reacting to the "Expendables 4" Trailer, and discussing some alarming news about a "Wakanda Forever" star. This week we also debut out newest podcast segment, The Remix, where we take a movie with a flawed final act, and each rewrite the ending.

SPOILER ALERT: Today we're reviewing, "Spider- Man: Across the Spider-Verse" and reacting to the trailer for upcoming thriller series "Hijack" starring Idris Elba. We're also discussing the latest updates on the Writer's Guild of America strike and our Rewatch of the Week: "Remember the Titans."

This episode delves into the peculiar life of A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks as the grumpiest person known to man. We also react to the new TMNT: Mutant Mayhem trailer, discuss Netflix's new anti-password sharing policies, and take a moment in the Rewatch of the Week to honor the Queen of Rock herself, Tina Turner, in What's Love Got To Do With It?

We dive into fresh trailer reactions and analyses of The Creator, The Flash Trailer #2, and Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse. This week also features a discussion of a popular Netflix release entitled, "The Mother", starring Jennifer Lopez in possibly her best acting role. Join in and let us know what you thought about J-Lo's performance.

This week we discuss our top 5 super hero movies of all time. Who made your list and who got cut?

This week we review Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the movie Beast starring Idris Elba, and discuss the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) writers strike and the ramifications that are already beginning to have ripple effects across the industry.

This episode is our tribute to Moms everywhere that work hard and take great care of their families! We're discussing our Top 5 Best and Worst Mothers in Television and Movies. Please join the conversation and share your list in the comments!

We review the movie Plane and try to understand what Netflix was smoking when they made You People. We also discuss some deleted scenes that shed more light on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever movie.

Listen in on the discussion of three recent films: Black Adam, The Woman King, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (spoilers).

Join the discussion of James Cameron's Avatar: Way of the Water, surprising murder mystery Glass Onion, and the Ant Man 3 trailer.

This week we're reviewing Ant Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and discussing how The Last of Us Season 1 Episode 5: Endure and Survive beat us down like we stole something.

This episode recaps the action-packed latest installment of the John Wick franchise (heavy spoilers), we discuss the Jonathan Majors saga, and react to the recent Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Trailer. Bring your bullet proof suit and listen in!

We're discussing Creed 3 in depth, chopping it up on Last of Us Season 1, and giving our take on Chris Rock's Selective Outrage. Dig in!

Join the conversation as we discuss upcoming releases of Extraction 2, Blue Beetle, and Secret Invasion!

Are female leads destroying the MCU? Join the discussion!