The Culture Docket

Most sequels don’t need to exist. Does the Devil Wears Prada 2?On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael and Courtney break down the film. Does it justify itself, or is it just another cash grab?Then, we share our favorite sequels, name a few movies that deserved one, and finish with a spicy round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated.

Which movie scores are truly unforgettable?On Part 2 of our movie score deep dive, Michael and Shaina lock in a consensus top 5 before each sharing their personal top 5 film scores. These are the ones they have on constant repeat and that define their love of the movies. We close things out with some hot takes in a round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated.Follow the show @culturedocketpod and check out the full playlist of every score we mention, linked here on Spotify.https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0bI8leYvGb8ngmbEXs5Pe8?si=hVpXZP2EQ2m4uJ_auJ2BJQ&pi=o7Jw68HdTZOl_

What makes a movie score unforgettable?On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael is joined by Shaina, a music teacher and drama coach, to break down how film scores shape emotion, storytelling, and the overall movie experience. We talk instruments, themes, why memorable melodies seem to be disappearing, and what separates a good score from a great one. We also highlight some of our favorite composers and discuss movies elevated by their scores. This is Part 1. Next week: our Top 5 scores, consensus favorites, and overrated/underrated/properly rated.Follow the show @culturedocketpod and check out the playlist of all the music we mention, linked here on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0bI8leYvGb8ngmbEXs5Pe8?si=Wv-5xBzAQ1W0Fe11I60p0Q&pi=uq76dbIwQhiQ4

Weddings are supposed to be the happiest day of your life… so why do movies turn them into absolute chaos?On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael is joined by Courtney to talk weddings. They start with a few stories from their own wedding, then dive into The Drama starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya. They break down the film without spoilers and discuss what worked, what didn't, and how it stands against other romantic comedies (or horrors). Then, Michael and Courtney draft their ultimate lineup of wedding movies across six categories before closing out with a spicy round of overrated/underrated/properly rated. Who won the draft? Let us know in the comments!

Hollywood has been trying to adapt video games into movies for years and most of the time, they don’t work.On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael is joined by his friend Josh to break down the new The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and decide whether it actually works as a movie or falls into the same traps as past video game adaptations.From there, we zoom out and talk about Mario as a franchise, the role video games played in our childhoods, and why video game movies are so hard to get right in the first place.We also highlight a few that actually work, plenty that don’t, and finish with a speed round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated.

Do you ever find yourself asking, "What should I read next?"On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael is joined by Missy to share their top 5 go-to book recommendations, the books they always suggest when someone is looking for something great to read. We start with a quick check-in on what we’ve been reading this year, then count down our lists, share a few bonus genre picks, and close out with a controversial speed round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated. Follow Missy at @missyreadsabook and don't forget to follow this podcast @culturedocketpod on Instagram!Here's our list of picks! https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/412551.Episode_4_The_Five_Books_We_Always_Recommend

Project Hail Mary hit theaters this weekend — but does it actually work as an adaptation? On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael is joined by Christian: engineer, science nerd, and the one who first recommended the book, to break down Project Hail Mary  and its transition to the big screen. We discuss what made the novel so compelling, how the film adaptation stacks up, and what elements of the story the filmmakers absolutely had to nail. Then we zoom out and share some of our favorite sci-fi books of all times, and the ones we’d recommend to anyone looking to dive into the genre. Plus, a speed round of overrated, underrated, or properly rated.

There was a time when a new Pixar movie felt like a cultural event. Is that time over?On this episode of The Culture Docket, Michael is joined by Joey to put Pixar on trial. With the release of Hoppers, we revisit the legendary studio behind Toy Story and Ratatouille and debate whether Pixar is still the most essential name in animation.We talk early Pixar memories, rank our Top 5 Pixar movies of all time, name our three least favorite Pixar films, and ultimately deliver a verdict: when did Pixar stop feeling essential?

On the premiere episode of The Culture Docket, Michael and Courtney deliver an emergency primer for the 2026 Oscars, breaking down the frontrunners, what will win vs. what should win, the biggest snubs of the year, what’s overrated, underrated, and properly rated, and the three movies you need to watch before Hollywood’s biggest night.