Cinema Sidetrack

There were a lot of great movies in 2025, and we've seen just about all of them! So this week we’re back and breaking down our  Top 25 Movies of the Year , counting down the films that stuck with us the most—from the big theatrical hits to the smaller surprises we couldn’t stop thinking about. Which movies made the cut? Which ones got snubbed? And how different are our lists? THIS WEEK’S SIDET...

Hollywood’s been in a box office slump this fall, and Predator: Badlands seems to be the only hit from summer 'til Wicked: For Good (which we’ll be covering next week). But is Dan Trachtenberg’s new Predator any good itself? We’ll see! And also, Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence are crawling around like dogs! THIS WEEK’S SIDETRACK:  We’re trying our hand at a special pitch challenge. Usin...

There are tons of movies we've missed this year, so we're putting the pause on new releases to give our thoughts on five films that we've been meaning to catch-up on: A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE, BLUE MOON, GOOD FORTUNE, AFTER THE HUNT and LURKER. Then we're breaking down SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE with Prof. Melissa Ziobro, the Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Bruce Springs...

Spooky season is coming to a close with a long-awaited adaptation from a seasoned auteur and a long-awaited debut from a YouTube film critic. They're finally both here, but can either of them possibly live up to the hype cinema fans have had in their heads for years?? We'll see on this week's edition of SPOOKY Cinema Sidetrack! And at the end of the episode, we're joined by Oscar-n...

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...

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 o...

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,...

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...

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! MOV...

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...

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...

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 on...

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 S...

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 B...

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: BRAN...

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 $...

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 SIDET...

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! FOLLOW THE SHOW: @CinemaSidet...

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 -J...

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...

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 SPR...

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 Aronofs...

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: STARF...

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 Ph...

Summer blockbuster season has kicked off with a bevy of franchises and remakes, with Lilo & Stitch, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and Final Destination Bloodlines ruling the box office from mid-May to Memorial Day and beyond. But are any of them great? Or even good? Join Braydon, Andy, and special guest David Ginsburg to find out! NEWS/SIDETRACKS: -Alex Garland to direct 'Elden Ri...