The Weekly Movie Throwdown

Batter up! This week on the show, it's a throwdown between two baseball classics: The Natural (1984) vs. Field of Dreams (1989). Both are beloved stories of fathers, sons, and the pursuit of a calling (literally in one of them!). With near-mythic journeys and Hollywood star power from Robert Redford and Kevin Costner, it wasn't easy to crown a winner. Listen to the episode to find out where Mike a...

This week's episode comes straight from the theater as we match two Andy Weir book adaptations against one another. 2015's The Martian , directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, goes head to head with Project Hail Mary , the new film from directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, starring Ryan Gosling . . . and a rock. Which one claims the interstellar crown? Listen and find out! And for more...

This week on the show, we move on from the musicals of last week to films about musicians in a throwdown that might be one of our favorites to date. It's That Thing You Do! from writer/director Tom Hanks, going up against John Carney's Sing Street. Two similar films with very different vibes. Which film will win this battle of the bands? Tune in and find out! Folllow the show on social media and v...

On this week's episode, the guys dive deep into Mike's wheelhouse: movie musicals. To celebrate Sunday's Oscars ceremony, this is a battle of Best Picture nominees from all the way back in 1964. It's the category winner, My Fair Lady , going up against fan favorite Mary Poppins. Which one is better? And which one deserved the statue? Listen to find out which way the guys go in this very different...

In this week's episode, it's a matchup of original vs. remake as Mike and Steven discuss The Taking of Pelham One Two Three . The original, directed by Joseph Sargent, is from 1974, and Tony Scott's remake is from 2009. Both are set in the New York underground, and both tell the same story, but in very different ways. Which one will win? The gritty seventies procedural? Or the slick, star-driven m...

This week, a couple pairs of crime-fighting "guys" square off to find out who takes home the crown. It's 2010's THE OTHER GUYS going up against THE NICE GUYS from 2016. Is a broad slapstick story the way to go here? Or is a tight, black comedy noir better? Whether you're into crime films, comedy, noir, or corporate corruption, this episode has something for you! Folllow the show on social media an...

In this episode, it's a battle of the ensemble rom-coms to round out February, as He's Just Not That Into You goes head-to-head with Crazy Stupid Love. Which one pulls off the big, star-studded cast better? And which one brings all the separate narratives together in a more pleasing way? If you love movie stars and modern romance, this episode of The Weekly Movie Throwdown is for you. Folllow the...

In this episode, it’s a “sex worker with a heart of gold” showdown as we compare Pretty Woman (1990) and Milk Money (1994). One became a cultural phenomenon, while the other struggled to find its audience. Was Pretty Woman destined for classic status from the start? Did Milk Money deserve better? And which film actually wins when you strip away nostalgia? If you love '90s rom-coms and spirited fil...

This week Mike and Steven match up a pair of movies that tell a similar story, made over fifteen years apart. It's Penny Marshall's BIG from 1988 versus 2004's 13 GOING ON 30 , directed by Gary Winick. Which is the better Kid-In-An-Adult-Body movie? Tune in to find out. And be sure to follow us on social media to cast your vote for next week's battle! Folllow the show on social media and vote for...

In this, the show's 100th episode, Mike and Steven pit two tales of high school longing against one another.1998's Can't Hardly Wait takes on 2009's I Love You, Beth Cooper. One of these films is inarguably better than the other, but the guys still talk it out in a fun and thoughtful conversation. If you love teen comedies, rom-com debates, or arguing about movies you grew up with, you'll want to...

In this episode, we put Days of Thunder and F1 head-to-head to settle the ultimate racing movie debate. From on-track realism and storytelling to star power and pure adrenaline, we break down which film truly delivers the best racing experience. Whether you're a fan of motorsports, movies, Tom Cruise, and Brad Pitt, or all of the above, this deep dive comparison is a lot of fun. Folllow the show o...

This week Mike and Steven go back to their childhoods to pit two legendary '80s action films against one another. It's Missing In Action (1984) vs. Rambo: First Blood Part II. Which of these two post-Vietnam POW extravaganzas is better? One has martial arts master Chuck Norris at its center, and the other box office megastar Sylvester Stallone. It's a battle for the ages, so listen in as the guys...

On this week's episode, Mike and Steven travel all the way back to 1999 to take a look at two similar—but also very different—heist films: Entrapment and The Thomas Crown Affair. Both films feature movie star powerhouses in Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan, and both also have outstanding female lead performances from Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rene Russo, respectively. Who will win this battle of the...

Happy New Year and welcome to the new Weekly Movie Throwdown! In this episode, Mike and Steven debut a brand-new format that leans into the throwdown part of the show's name—pitting two movies with a shared DNA against each other, and your social media votes help to decide the winner. The first matchup? A bank heist movie showdown between Michael Mann’s crime classic Heat (1995) and Ben Affleck’s...

This week on the show, Mike and Steven returning to their Rewatch & Reconsider series with a title Steven thinks could stand the test of time. From 1985, it's Moving Violations , a forgotten comedy that found a second life on HBO, but eventually went back into obscurity. Co-written and directed by Neal Israel of Police Academy fame, this story of a wacky anti-authoritarian and his band of bad-...

On this week's episode Mike and Steven discuss The Strange Love of Martha Ivers , an impeccable noir film that touches on many of the genre's hallmark tropes: nihilism, murder, the past, deception, and blackmail. Barbara Stanwyck stars as the titular Martha Ivers, who carries a secret from childhood into her adult life. Alongside her are Oscar winner Van Heflin and, in his first on-screen role, Ki...

On this week's episode Mike and Steven return to Veronica Lake during November Noir Month, and examine her second big film with Alan Ladd, The Blue Dahlia . This noir classic is a great look at post-war trauma, urbanization, and . . . murder. And in the news segment this week: Showgirls John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein to helm Star Trek ____________________ On Letterboxd? Follow along wit...

Noir November rolls on with one that's a bit controversial. Clash By Night , Fritz Lang's 1952 tale of dissatisfaction and adultery starring Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Ryan, and Marilyn Monroe, is often questioned for its noirness. There are hallmark elements of the genre (despair, deception, violence), but it lacks one of the big ones: murder. So while some people think it could be classified as no...

It's November, which means Mike and Steven are talking noir on the show. This time around they're focusing on two leading ladies of the genre: Veronica Lake and Barbara Stanwyck. Things kick off with This Gun for Hire , one of the very first noir films, and the first credited role for Alan Ladd, who'd work with Veronica Lake several more times. This film is a lot of fun, and the discussion is grea...

This week on the show, Mike and Steven wrap up Not-So-Scary Horror Month with 1987's The Monster Squad . This horror-comedy is Goonies meets the Universal Monsters, co-written by Shane Black! And in the news segment this week: Animal Oscars Podcasts on Netflix ____________________ On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list  here . ____________________ WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT! Pleas...

On this week's episode, Mike and Steven break down the 1978 sci-fi classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers . This film of conformity and the struggle against it is a feast for the senses, and lends itself to some great conversation. And in the news segment this week: Jim Carrey's Jetsons Box Office Woes Drew Struzan ____________________ On Letterboxd? Follow along with this month’s movie list&nbsp...

Do you believe in ghosts? If so, you're going to love this week's episode. And if you don't, well, it's still a good time. Mike and Steven discuss the late, great William Castle's 13 Ghosts as part of Not-So-Scary Horror Month. This schlocky classic from 1960 is a fun romp that's as entertaining as the director himself! And in the news segment this week: Jumanji Diane Keaton ____________________ O...

It's October, which means spooky season. So Mike and Steven are kicking off a month of horror discussions with a caveat: the frights in these films are few and far between. Call them horror lite . Things get kicked off with Freaky , a body-swapping horror-comedy from director Christopher Landon. It stars Kathryn Newton and Vince Vaughn, who knock it out of the park in this fun, stylish slasher sto...

Stories From the Gridiron Month finally wraps up this week with a spoiler-heavy discussion about HIM, the new football horror film from director Justin Tipping, starring Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans. This story of sacrifice and determination examines just how far its stars are willing to go to become the greatest of all time. Its reviews are like a hit from a 250-pound lineman, but did Mike and...

Stories From the Gridiron Month rolls on this week with a real doozy of a film. Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday from 1999 is a highly stylized story of a pro football team struggling to come together. Told in the director's everything-is-combat tone, it's an assault on the senses that is a lot of fun to discuss. In the news segment: Is a Rambo prequel coming? Robert Redford ____________________ ST...