Binge Movies: Rankings and Reviews

Sometimes the end is quiet. Sometimes it’s already happened. Jason and film critic Robert Yaniz Jr. map the emotional terrain of the apocalypse, industrial decay, isolation, brutality, and the strange drift of a world that keeps going. The Dark Movie Overlords have sent their final five films: The Quiet Earth, Hardware, Until the End of the World, The Rover, and The Survivalist. And just when all seems lost, a hardcore legend emerges from the wasteland… Mick Foley! Special thanks to Pat (RIP), Combat Jones, the OG Binge Elite, and all of our guests. Credits Host: Jason Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

INSTANT REACTION Fresh out of the theater, Jason delivers an instant reaction to the long-awaited sci-fi adaptation that’s been building serious buzz. Spoiler-free raw, immediate thoughts on the tone, performances, spectacle, and all of the FEELS.  Is this the next great sci-fi crowd-pleaser?  Hit play before you buy your ticket.   Credits Host: Jason Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies      

Straight out of the theater, spoiler-free instant reaction to Scream 7!  The latest chapter in the most self-aware horror franchise of all time. And yes, Sidney Prescott returns. But is this legacy revival earned? Is it a nostalgia trap? A course correction? Or something disastrous?  No spoilers. No plot breakdown. Just raw, immediate reaction from someone who lives and breathes this genre.  

High concept ideas don’t need studio money, just nerve, invention, and a willingness to get weird. This week on Binge Movies, Jason is joined by Paul from The Slashers and The Countdown to rank and eliminate a lineup of high-concept, low-budget films that swing big with limited resources. These are movies built on bold premises, scrappy execution, and the kind of creative problem-solving that only comes from constraint. Some stretch their ideas to the breaking point. Others prove that a great hook can outweigh a thin wallet. All of them raise the same question: when money is scarce, what really matters? El Mariachi (1992) Cube (1997) Primer (2004) The Man from Earth (2007) Coherence (2013)   Coming to you from the last video store in the universe...this is Binge Movies.Credits Host: Jason Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies    

After years of service under a binding billion-year contract, the former caretaker of the Last Video Store in the Universe now resides somewhere quiet, clean, and unsettlingly expensive. Far away from the Last Video Store in the Universe. But... The store is still open. The aisles are intact. The lights are on. Please begin making your way back to Akron.

Film critic and author Alonso Duralde joins Jason for a holiday special packed with classic cinema, sharp takes, and seasonal martinis. They dive into Christmas movie traditions, give a festive review of The Thin Man (1934), and talk about the newly expanded edition of Alonso’s essential guide, Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas. If you like your holiday cheer classy and movie-obsessed, this one’s for you! Alonso Duralde online: • Podcast: Linoleum Knife • Writing: Breakfast All Day

Warner Bros. will be sold to the highest evil bidder, and a loss of major physical media may be around the corner. Explore the Top 25 Classic Warner Bros. Films every movie fan needs, complete with one-sentence synopses and current 4K, Blu-ray, and Warner Archive availability. From Casablanca to Barry Lyndon, Robin Hood to The Wild Bunch, we break down the essential WB classics from 1930–1990 you must own before streaming erases film history. Perfect for cinephiles, physical media fans, and anyone building a definitive collection.

Coming to you from the last video store in the universe, we step back into the ring to determine which Rocky film goes the distance and which ones hit the mat. We break down the legacy of Sylvester Stallone, the evolution of Rocky Balboa, and how the series reinvented itself with Michael B. Jordan in Creed and Creed II. Films Ranked in This Episode: Rocky (1976) Rocky II (1979) Rocky III (1982) Rocky IV (1985) Rocky V (1990) Rocky Balboa (2006) Creed (2015) Creed II (2018) We analyze the training montages, villains, emotional arcs, franchise highs and lows, behind-the-scenes details, and why this series still dominates pop culture 50 years later. If you love Rocky, rankings, Stallone, deep dives, Creed,  franchise analysis, this is the episode to lace up for. Subscribe for more film rankings, eliminations, and cult cinema deep cuts from Binge Movies. Credits Host: Jason Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

From the last video store in the universe, we’re diving headfirst into the fleshscape. This is the episode where skin melts, bones twist, metal fuses, and the human form becomes… negotiable. We’re ranking five of the most nightmarish entries the genre has ever produced: 1. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989): Industrial noise. Screaming metal. The body as weapon. 2. Society (1989): The shunting heard ’round the world. 3. Body Melt (1993): Wellness culture taken to its liquifying extreme. 4. Thanatomorphose (2012): Slow, rotting decay as an art-film endurance test. 5. Possessor (2020): Cronenbergian mind/body invasion for the digital age. We break down the gore, the metaphors, the transgressions, and the sheer cinematic audacity of filmmakers who dared to ask, “What if humanity was just… obsolete?” Press play and prepare for mutation. Only one of these atrocities will survive the ranking. Credits Host: Jason Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

INSTANT REACTION: Edgar Wright returns with another flop at the box office, while Glen Powell does his best (?) with another "retread."

INSTANT REACTION: Coming to you from the last video store in the universe, it's Binge Movies. Jason dives into Predator: Badlands, the latest chapter in the Predator saga. Is this return to the hunt a bold new evolution of the franchise or another casualty of nostalgia overload? Expect instant reactions, unfiltered opinions, and deep-cut franchise context—from Predator (1987) to Prey (2022). New Slashers Season: Slashers Season 2 Shop the Show: Limited Run Merch Credits Host: Jason Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

EPISODE 204: First-Time Filmmakers.  Some directors arrive fully formed, kicking down the door with a debut that rewrites the rules. In this episode, we rank the first films from some of cinema’s boldest voices: Charles Laughton’s haunting The Night of the Hunter (1955), Peter Bogdanovich’s Targets (1968), Paul Schrader’s blue-collar nightmare Blue Collar (1978), The Coen Brothers’ breakout Blood Simple (1984), and Philip Ridley’s surreal The Reflecting Skin (1990). Five debuts. Five filmmakers announcing themselves to the world. Which one deserves to be preserved for all time? New Season: Slashers Season 2 Shop the Show: Limited Run Merch Credits Host: Jason Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

Slashers: 1984 (Rebroadcast) Jason from Binge Movies (the B-movie sadist with a VCR full of pain), Megan from Spoilerpiece Theatre (the ever-resilient critic), and Paul from The Countdown (the man barely hanging on) reunite for one of the biggest turning points in horror history — 1984, the year Freddy Krueger was born and the slasher genre reached its fever pitch. This episode’s Blood Pool: Rocktober Blood — Jan 1, 1984 Fatal Games — Jan 1, 1984 Splatter University — Jul 13, 1984 Day of the Reaper — Oct 31, 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street — Nov 9, 1984 The Initiation — Dec 7, 1984 From this Pool, the hosts fight to the death (or at least to the end of the tape) for: Best Poster/Box Art Best Cult Classic Best Final “Girl” Best Kill Best Overall Film Join the conversation on Letterboxd: slasherspodcast Email: [email protected] Series theme: “Shattered” by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio Originally aired as part of The Slashers limited series — now revived from the grave for the Binge Movies faithful. And remember… DON’T let them catch you.

SHOCK HORROR: “The Return of the Living Dead Special” (1985–2005) (Color, 2 hrs.) Broadcasting after hours from the last video store in the universe, host Jason rises from Spooktacular retirement to kick off Shock Horror with a full-on graveyard party. Joined by Paul (The Slashers, The Countdown), the boys dig up the entire Return of the Living Dead franchise, from punk rock brain-eaters and doomed romance to the cheap sequels that won’t stay buried. Expect fog machines, local commercials, and more bad decisions than a midnight rental binge. Also Seen On: Slashers Season 2 Shop the Show: Limited Run Merch Previously On: Police Academy Special Credits Host: Jason Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

Instant Reaction: The Black Phone 2 (2025) — Spoiler-Free Review The phone rings again, and Jason from Binge Movies answers with a spoiler-free reaction to The Black Phone 2. Does Scott Derrickson and Blumhouse deliver another chilling hit, or is this sequel just dead air? Quick thoughts on performances, scares, story, and how it deviates from the original.   Credits Host: Jason Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

Jason from Binge Movies (our sadistic programmer), Megan from Spoilerpiece Theatre (the beautifully balanced critic pushed to the brink by this week’s picks), and Paul from The Countdown (convinced Jason’s true purpose is torment) take on the entire slasher year of 1983 in one massive episode. This episode’s Blood Pool: Ogroff (Mad Mutilator) — Jan 1, 1983 Angst — Jan 1, 1983 Deadly Lessons — Mar 7, 1983 Sweet Sixteen — Mar 18, 1983 The Final Terror — May 1, 1983 Sledgehammer — Jul 12, 1983 Sleepaway Camp — Nov 18, 1983 From this Pool, the hosts crown winners for: Best Poster/Box Art Best Cult Classic Best Final “Girl” Best Kill Best Overall Film Join the conversation on Letterboxd: slasherspodcast Email: [email protected] Series theme: “Shattered” by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio This episode originally aired as part of The Slashers limited series and is rebroadcast here for the Binge Movies faithful. And remember… DON’T let them catch you.

Jason from Binge Movies (the B-movie appreciator), Megan from Spoilerpiece Theatre (the beautifully balanced critic), and Paul from The Countdown (the show’s own Scrooge) return to close out one of the bloodiest years in horror history — 1981. The Blood Pool for this round includes: The Burning (May 8, 1981) – Campfire tales come to life in this legendary summer-camp massacre featuring early work from Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax and makeup FX master Tom Savini. Happy Birthday to Me (May 15, 1981) – A prep-school mystery packed with bizarre deaths, psychological twists, and one unforgettable birthday party. The Prowler (Nov 6, 1981) – A WWII-themed slasher where vengeance and Savini’s most brutal gore collide. Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (Nov 20, 1981) – A disturbing mix of domestic madness and queer-coded psychological horror that defies the slasher label entirely. From this Pool, the hosts pick their winners for: Best Poster/Box Art Best Cult Classic Best Final “Girl” Best Kill Best Overall Film  Continue the conversation on Letterboxd: @slasherspodcast Email: [email protected] Series theme: Shattered by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio This episode originally aired as part of The Slashers limited series — now resurrected for the true believers. And remember… DON’T let them catch you.

INSTANT REACTION: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (2025) Many critics are calling Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another (2025) a “blockbuster.” But is that really what it is? In this spoiler-free instant reaction, Jason digs into the hype and interrogates whether Anderson has truly delivered his first large-scale crowd-pleaser...or something more complicated. The $175 million action thriller, inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland and released by Warner Bros. Pictures, stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti. It follows an ex-revolutionary forced to rescue his daughter from a corrupt military official, set against a backdrop of revolution, betrayal, and power. Credits Host: Jason Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

Jason, Megan from Spoilerpiece Theatre (the balanced critic), and Paul from The Countdown (the curmudgeon) reunite to continue their descent into the golden age of slashers. This round, they tackle the first wave of 1981’s massive blood-soaked slate. The Blood Pool includes: Home Sweet Home (Jan 1, 1981) – a killer Thanksgiving turkey of a movie to kick off the year. Night School (Jan 7, 1981) – Boston goes giallo with a motorcycle-helmeted killer. My Bloody Valentine (Feb 11, 1981) – Canadian miners dig up one of the genre’s defining entries. The Funhouse (Mar 13, 1981) – Tobe Hooper’s creepy carnival ride from Universal Studios.     Keep the conversation going on Letterboxd: slasherspodcast Drop us a line: [email protected] Series theme: Shattered by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio This episode first aired as part of The Slashers limited series — now back in circulation for the true believers. And remember… DON’T let them catch you.

The Slashers: 1980 (Season 1 Rebroadcast) Coming to you from the last video store in the universe, this is The Slashers. Season 1 was originally recorded in 2023, and we’re re-airing it now on this new feed to get you ready for Season 2! Hosted by Jason from Binge Movies, Megan Kerns from Spoilerpiece Theatre, and Paul from The Countdown, The Slashers takes you year by year through the golden era of the slasher film. Each episode, we assemble that year’s Blood Pool — a lineup of slasher movies — and at the end, we hand out awards for: Best Artwork  Best Kill  Best Cult Classic  Best Final Girl  Best Overall Flick 1980 Blood Pool Don’t Answer the Phone! (Feb 29, 1980) Friday the 13th (May 9, 1980) Prom Night (July 18, 1980) Motel Hell (Aug 14, 1980) Schizoid (Sept 1, 1980) Fade to Black (Oct 14, 1980) Maniac (Dec 26, 1980) Some became icons, some became obscurities, but all sharpened the blade for the slasher boom to come. Subscribe to The Slashers feed so you don’t miss Season 2, coming very soon.

EP 202: Top Grossing Movies of 2009, Ranked Part II Few believed Blue Cat People would work, but by the end of the 2000s, it was the biggest movie of all time. Proving once again, you should never bet against Jim Cameron. Jason and Robert Yaniz Jr. (Crooked Table) close out the Top Grossing Movies of the 2000s series with the five biggest hits of 2009. From Gladiator to Avatar, this series has tracked a decade where franchises rose, originality waned, and box office spectacle became Hollywood’s ultimate currency. The Lineup: 5. 2012 4. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 3. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs 2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 1. Avatar  Which of these blockbusters deserves preservation in the Vault, and which should be left behind with the aughts? Credits Host: Jason Guest: Robert Yaniz Jr. (Crooked Table) Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

EP #201: 2009, Part II — Conspiracy Season 2009 didn’t just entertain—it reflected a culture already steeped in paranoia and conspiratorial thinking. Jason and Chauncey Telese (La Podfidential) rank five box office giants that, in hindsight, reveal how stories of secret cabals, engineered crises, and “truth” shaped by vibes over facts were already dominating the mainstream. The Lineup: 10. The Hangover (2009) 9. Angels & Demons (2009) 8. Sherlock Holmes (2009) 7. The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) 6. Up (2009) What seemed like harmless fun at the time now reads as a cultural preview of the conspiratorial mindset that would escalate throughout the next decade. The conversation also touches on the death of Hulk Hogan, the paranoia baked into Dan Brown’s novels, Ron Howard’s attempt to give pulp a prestige sheen, and Peter Thiel, who secretly bankrolled Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker, a real-world conspiracy that toppled a media empire. Which film deserves preservation in the Vault, and which one feels like prophecy for America’s conspiratorial future? Credits Host: Jason Guest: Chauncey Telese (LA Podfidential) Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies    

EP #200: VHS Summer V–80s Sex Comedies 200 episodes! To mark the milestone, Jason is joined by Clare from W-Rated to rewind to the neon-soaked heyday of 1980s sex comedies. From locker room pranks to ski slope stripteases, these raunchy relics of VHS culture pushed boundaries and buttons. Along the way, friends and fans drop in with special messages to celebrate the journey so far. This week’s lineup: Porky’s (1981) The Last American Virgin (1982) Hardbodies (1984) Revenge of the Nerds (1984) Hot Dog...The Movie (1984) Which film earns a spot in the Vault, and which ones get left in the bargain bin? Credits Host: Jason Guest: Clare (W-Rated) Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

EP #199: John Hughes, Ranked John Hughes gave us the dream of teen freedom, family bonding, and life lessons wrapped in pop hits. But in 2025, do his movies still hold up—or are they time capsules better left sealed? Jason and guest Kristin Battestella (Women InSession; I Think, Therefore I Review) rank five Hughes classics, from road-trip chaos to suburban rebellion, deciding which deserves the Vault…and which buckle under the weight of modern eyes. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) Sixteen Candles (1984) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) She’s Having a Baby (1988) Career Opportunities (1991) Bonus conversations dive into The Great Outdoors, Home Alone, and Some Kind of Wonderful. Credits Host: Jason Guest: Kristin Battestella (Women InSession; I Think, Therefore I Review)  Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

INSTANT REACTION: Seventeen kids vanish at 2:17 a.m., and that’s only the start of the nightmare. Director Zach Cregger (Barbarian) returns with Weapons — a chilling, multi-chapter descent into paranoia and dread. In this spoiler-free instant reaction, we break down the film’s tone, tension, and craft without giving away a single twist. No plot summaries. No safety nets. Just the gut-level verdict from the last video store in the universe. Director: Zach Cregger Starring: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich Genre: Horror / Mystery / Thriller Credits Host: Jason Guest: Evan Crean Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete.  Support: patreon.com/bingemovies Merch: bingemovie.threadless.com

EP #198: VHS Summer V – Val Kilmer Season Premiere VHS Summer returns for its fifth and final installment! Jason is joined by Evan Crean (Spoilerpiece Theater) to rank and review five of Val Kilmer’s most iconic performances. From boy genius to gunslinging legend, Kilmer’s range is on full display in this eclectic lineup: Real Genius (1985) Willow (1988) Thunderheart (1992) Tombstone (1993) Heat (1995) Which film enters the Vault, and which get left out in the summer sun? Credits Host: Jason Guest: Evan Crean Produced by: Binge Movies Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete.  Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

They told you not to rewind. You did it anyway. NEXT WEEK, sunburnt cinema returns for one final scorched season of sweat, sand, and magnetic tape decay. This is VHS Summer V: The Boys of Summer. Five episodes, five movies at a time, diving deep into the films that raised a generation…questionably.  We’re talking suburban malls, sex pests, and sleepless summers, all through the warped plastic of a rental copy that’s seen too much. Plus, we finish what we started: the final countdown of the 2000s box office kings, closing the book with 2009. Every week, a new lineup. A new meltdown. Press play… while it lasts.

INSTANT REACTION: Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned.

A group of survivors of the rage virus live on a small island. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors.

INSTANT REACTION: Plagued by a recurring violent nightmare, a college student returns home to find the one person who can break the cycle and save her family from the horrific fate that inevitably awaits them.

INSTANT REACTION: A fading midwestern town in which Frendo the clown, a symbol of bygone success, reemerges as a terrifying scourge.

EP 196: 2008’s Box Office Countdown (5–1) – Jokers, Jones, and ABBA (ft. Phoenix Clouden) Episode Description: Jason is joined by the ever unpredictable Phoenix Clouden (The Film Canon) to finish the epic climb through 2008’s biggest box office hits! This is the top 5 where caped crusaders, crystal skulls, pandas, demigods, and dancing queens battled for cinematic dominance. It's a strange mix of gritty realism, nostalgic absurdity, and pop musical euphoria Films Discussed: Mamma Mia! (5) – Meryl, ABBA, and summer dreams you can sorta almost sing along to. Hancock (4) – A drunken antihero gets a redemption arc, and the movie continues. Kung Fu Panda (3) – The animated surprise that kicks harder than anyone expects. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2) – Aliens? Fridges? And the first real internet backlash blockbuster. The Dark Knight (1) – Ledger’s Joker, Nolan’s vision, and the box office juggernaut that changed the game. But is it...good? IN THIS EPISODE: Phoenix defends Kung Fu Panda as top-tier animation with real heart and craft. Jason revisits Hancock and some tone deaf creative choices. Can Mamma Mia! actually work as a movie? Was Crystal Skull ever really that bad, or just a victim of overhype? And does The Dark Knight still hold up as the superhero movie to beat?  

EPISODE 195: 2008’s Box Office Countdown (10–6) – Iron, Espionage, Penguins, and Robots (ft. Robert Yaniz Jr. & DW Lundberg) Episode Description: The countdown continues! Jason is joined by returning guests Robert Yaniz Jr. and DW Lundberg to tackle the back half of 2008’s top-grossing movies—where talking animals, malfunctioning robots, and emotionally exhausted spies battled it out for box office supremacy. This batch has it all: MCU beginnings, Pixar magic, Bond reboot blues, and a certain talking lion who just can't catch a break. Films Discussed: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (6) – The animals are back and... still trying to get home. Quantum of Solace (7) – Bond is brooding, brutal, and possibly bored. Iron Man (8) – The movie that launched a universe (and Robert Downey Jr. into legend). WALL·E (9) – A near-silent ode to love, loneliness, and environmental collapse. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (10) – Slightly darker, slightly edgier, but did anyone notice? IN THIS EPISODE: Was Quantum of Solace an artistic casualty of the 2008 writers' strike? How Iron Man became a bigger gamble than anyone remembers. Why WALL·E might be Pixar’s boldest and most bittersweet gamble. Robert, DW, and Jason try to answer the eternal question: "Who actually watched Prince Caspian?" From Armored Avengers to existential robots, the back half of 2008’s top 10 is more influential than you might think.

EPISODE 195: An American Original! – No apologies, no half-measures, all fire. (ft. Joe Buttice) Episode Description: This week, Jason is joined by Joe Buttice (Reel Spoilers) to lock and load a ranking of five films tied to the myth, the man, the cigar-smoking cinema warlord: John Milius. Whether writing frontier survival epics or directing operatic war fantasies, Milius brought a thunderous, unapologetic voice to American film. Strap in for manifest destiny, surfboard theology, Cimmerian steel, and teenage guerrilla warfare. Films Ranked: Jeremiah Johnson (1972, writer) – The loner as legend in a snow-covered survivalist western.\ Dillinger (1973) – Milius’s directorial debut, mixing gangster cool with mythic Americana. Big Wednesday (1978) – A lyrical, wave-soaked ode to brotherhood and the end of an era. Conan the Barbarian (1982) – Barbarism, Nietzsche, and epic vengeance in the Hyborian Age. Red Dawn (1984) – Wolverines! Teenage insurgents defend America in a Cold War fever dream. IN THIS EPISODE: Joe defends Red Dawn as both fantasy and prophecy Jason meditates on Big Wednesday as the most personal of war films The complicated politics, masculine myth-making, and the man behind the bombast    

INSTANT REACTION: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

EPISODE 194: Elegant, epic, existential, and electric. Volume 2 goes to 11 (ft. Megan Kearns) Episode Description: Jason returns to the closet of cinema history to crack open another stack from the Criterion Collection! From enchanted castles and sinking ships to philosophical chess matches, outback odysseys, and the loudest band in England, this lineup is as diverse as it is iconic. Films Ranked: Beauty and the Beast (1946) – Cocteau’s poetic dreamscape of love and transformation. A Night to Remember (1958) – The definitive Titanic film, long before Leo and Kate. Walkabout (1971) – A haunting vision of isolation, survival, and cultural collision. The Seventh Seal (1957) – Bergman’s meditation on mortality, meaning, and the black plague. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) – The rockumentary that turned it up to eleven... and never came back down. Jason and Megan wrestle with the big questions: Could anyone make the Seventh Seal today? Does Spinal Tap still hit as hard in the age of memes? Is A Night to Remember secretly the most profound film of the bunch? And where does Walkabout fit into the pantheon of coming-of-age stories? ALSO: Cocteau’s magic mirrors and movie sorcery The layers beneath the surface of A Night to Remember Existential laughs in chain mail Why the line between satire and reality might be thinner than we think  

EPISODE 193:  Through a Dream, Darkly — Ranking David Lynch (ft. Molly Razz) Episode Description: This week, we tumble headfirst into the subconscious as Jason is joined by the enigmatic Molly Razz to rank five of David Lynch’s most haunting cinematic visions. From industrial nightmares and small-town secrets to Hollywood hallucinations, we tackle the big questions: What is real? What is a performance? And where does that damn radiator song keep coming from? Films Ranked: Eraserhead (1977) The Elephant Man (1980) Blue Velvet (1986) Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) Mulholland Drive (2001) Is Eraserhead a surreal masterpiece or an anxiety dream gone on too long? Is Fire Walk with Me the secret key to Twin Peaks? Does Mulholland Drive mark the apex of Lynch’s dream logic? And how many mysteries can be packed into one velvet curtain? Molly brings razor-sharp insight, Jason brings existential dread, and together they attempt the impossible: ranking the unrankable. PLUS: The legacy of Lynchian dread The fine art of being uncomfortable Molly’s theory on Blue Velvet and American repression A brief trip into the Black Lodge (we think)

INSTANT REACTION: Five original films hit theaters and failed to draw audiences. When we say we want more original movies who are "we" and do "we" mean it? 

Instant Reaction: Everybody dies. And that’s fucked up. When twin brothers find a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of outrageous deaths tear their family apart. Twenty-five years later, the monkey begins a new killing spree forcing the estranged brothers to confront the cursed toy.

INSTANT REACTION: No couple is safe. When the “Heart Eyes Killer” strikes Seattle, a pair of co-workers pulling overtime on Valentine’s Day are mistaken for a couple by the elusive couple-hunting killer. Now, they must spend the most romantic night of the year running for their lives.

INSTANT REACTION: You can’t break up with your past. A realtor is pulled back into the life he left behind after his former partner-in-crime resurfaces with an ominous message. With his crime-lord brother also on his trail, he must confront his past and the history he never fully buried.

INSTANT REACTION: Find someone made just for you. A billionaire’s death sets off a chain of events for Iris and her friends during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate.   POLL

DOUBLE INSTANT REACTION: Spoiler-free 

New Year’s Nightmare: Last Movie Standing – Season 8.4 Finale Ring in the new year with a descent into chaos as reigning champ Paul from The Countdown faces off against Megan Kearns! This bloody battle sees two celluloid titans debate which film is worthy of preservation for all time—even beyond the end times. Will Paul carve out another victory, or will Megan rip away his title? With movie-inspired mania, sharp critiques, and a brutal fight to the finish, this episode promises to be a spine-chiller. Ring in the new year with a Nightmare you won’t forget!

In this special episode, Jason looks back at the movies of 2024—avoiding the best and the worst to focus on Some of. From films with great premises that didn’t quite stick the landing to standout performances buried in lackluster productions, and even a few hidden gems worth your time, Jason dives deep into the year's mixed bag of cinematic offerings. Plus, Patron contributions round out each segment with their takes on 2024’s almost-there movies. Stick around for a bonus listener feedback segment as we wrap up the year in Some of. Don’t miss this thoughtful, entertaining, and slightly offbeat retrospective on the year in film!

Nosferatu is a 2024 American gothic horror film written and directed by Robert Eggers. It is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name, which was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. The film features an ensemble cast including Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney and Willem Dafoe.

Tokyo Christmas: A Binge Movies Holiday Special:  This holiday season, join Jason for a heartfelt and thought-provoking solo review of Tokyo Godfathers, Satoshi Kon’s animated masterpiece. Set against the chaotic backdrop of Christmas in Tokyo, this unconventional holiday story follows three unlikely heroes—a homeless alcoholic, a former drag queen, and a runaway teen—on a journey of redemption, connection, and the search for a miracle. Jason delves into the film’s rich themes of found family, societal marginalization, and the unexpected grace found in the most unlikely places. With a blend of personal reflection and sharp analysis, this episode unpacks how Tokyo Godfathers captures the messy, magical beauty of the season while challenging traditional notions of holiday storytelling. Plus, Jason addresses rumors concerning alleged changes coming to the last video store in the universe. 

EPISODE 188: Robert Yaniz Jr. of Crooked Table makes his TRIUMPHANT RETURN to Binge Movies for an epic ranking of the top 5 highest-grossing films of 2007! Jason and Robert dive into the chaos of Spider-Man 3, the spectacle of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, the letdown of Shrek the Third, the high-octane thrills of Transformers, and the magical wonder of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Which of these blockbuster heavyweights will swing, sail, or transform its way to the top?

EPISODE 187: Jason is joined by Clare from W-Rated and Kevin R. Brackett from Reel Spoilers to tackle an eclectic mix of 2007's cinematic heavyweights. From a rat with culinary dreams (Ratatouille), to apocalyptic survival (I Am Legend), animated hijinks (The Simpsons Movie), treasure-hunting adventures (National Treasure: Book of Secrets), and epic Spartan battles (300), the trio debates which film reigns supreme. With laughs, hot takes, and plenty of nostalgia, this episode dives deep into the blockbusters that defined the year. Will your favorite make the cut?

INSTANT REACTION: Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After encountering the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.