Cage Fighting: Cruise Control

This week we’re peering into the foggy crystal ball of pop culture with equal parts dread and delight. We ponder upon: what 2026 might look like when the dust settles on today’s chaos Mortal Kombat II vs Street Fighter (the eternal arcade rivalry reborn on the silver screen in 2026) the films we still need to catch before locking in our top 5 films of 2025 and which 2025 release will be revered de...

This week we’re poking at the present with equal parts curiosity and mischief. We ponder upon: the state of today’s cinema (is it thriving, flailing, or just vibing?) the films and moments that have truly bottled the zeitgeist of 2025 the things we’ll inevitably look back on and mutter… WTF were we thinking? Expect spirited tangents, cheeky predictions, and a healthy dose of pop‑culture chaos as w...

This week we’re unwrapping nostalgia and chaos in equal measure. In the first half, we tackle three festive quick‑fire questions: What’s our earliest film or film‑related memory? Which Christmas film has aged badly (and why)? And our definitive Top 5 holiday songs that never actually say the word Christmas . Expect equal parts sincerity, silliness, and spirited debate as we rummage through the pop...

This week we’re serving up a triple course of chaos. First up: Wicked: For Good . The witches are back, the songs are soaring, and we’re asking the only question that matters. Does Oz still cast a spell, or is this broomstick running out of steam? Then it’s time for our annual superhero stock‑take. Twelve months of comic book movies, twelve months of capes, quips, and questionable box office decis...

This week we’re back with a follow-up to last week’s deep dive into Esquire’s Top 25 Superhero Movies. After some heated debate, we’re swapping out a few of the films that just didn’t make the cut and giving overdue recognition to some unsung heroes that deserved a spot on the list. Expect sharp takes, passionate defenses, and a few surprises along the way. Then, in the spirit of Absurd Autumn , w...

Nicolas Cage may be safely back in his crypt of chaos (for now), which means Andy, Stu, and Ed are turning their gaze to capes, cowls, and cosmic punch‑ups. For the rest of November, it’s all about superhero cinema . In the first half of this week’s episode, the trio tackle Esquire’s 25 Best Superhero Films list. Which entries truly earn their spot in the pantheon, and which feel more like hype th...

This week, we unleash the ultimate starter kit for diving into the wild, weird, and wonderful world of Nicolas Cage. Whether you're Cage-curious or a seasoned Cageologist, we've got you covered with: 🎬 Entry-level essentials to ease you into the madness 🕳️ Deeper cuts for those ready to tumble down the rabbit hole 🧠 Archetypal breakdowns that map Cage’s most iconic modes - from the Stoic...

This week, Ed joins Andy and Stu for a double-barreled blast of Cage-fueled celebration and cult chaos. First up: Ed grills the lads on their journey to becoming full-blown Cage completionists. What did they learn? What did they survive? And which performances deserve eternal glory? It’s time for the Cageys — our very own Nic Cage awards — where the categories are wild, the winners unpredictable,...

This week, Andy and Stu take a hard look at the films that disappointed them the most. From missed opportunities to outright cinematic misfires, we dig into the rare occasions when the Cage rage hit us hardest. Which titles broke our hearts, and which ones just broke our patience? Then, Absurd Autumn marches on with a detour into one of the strangest action curios of the 1980s: Gymkata (1985) . Ol...

This week on Cage Fighting, we delve into the wild, weird, and wonderful world of our favourite Cage films - not necessarily the best ones, but it's time to celebrate the films we enjoyed the most. Bad teeth? Occasionally. Bad Wigs? Most of the time. Bad films? Not here! It’s a love letter to the man who can do everything, everywhere … and sometimes all at once . Then, it’s time to mop up the...

In this jam-packed episode, we kick things off with a full breakdown of our Nic Cage marathon - from cult classics to chaotic curiosities, we crunch the numbers and share our definitive takes on the wild ride that is Cage’s filmography. Then, we dive headfirst into Absurd Autumn , our new seasonal series celebrating the weird and wonderful. First up: Yor: The Hunter from the Future , a prehistoric...

It's done. We're at the end. Outcast (2014) has been watched. And so, we've now seen them all. Cage's filmography is bang up-to-date. This episode starts with our breakdown of Outcast , and then ordering all of Cage's films released between 2010 and 2019. It's been a long time coming. Socials: @CageFightingPod Use my special link (cagefighting) to save 30% off your first mo...

This week, we dive headfirst into the wildest decade of Cage’s career: the 2000s. From flaming skulls to treasure hunts, we rank every Nicolas Cage film released between 2000 and 2009 - chaos, wigs, and all are going on here. Which era-defining performance reigns supreme, and which ones are best left buried in the sands of Knowing ? Before that though, it is time for our penultimate Cage review: A...

Andy, Stu and Ash are back for the second half of the scorching summer review, diving into July and August’s cinematic offerings. From Jurassic World: Rebirth stomping back into multiplexes, to Superman , Weapons , and the genre-defying K-Pop Demon Hunters . This episode stacks Summer 2025 against past box office seasons, crunches the numbers, and dares to predict what Summer 2026 might look like...

Blockbusters, reboots, and billion-dollar surprises! This week we kick off our two-part summer 2025 box office breakdown with the films of May and June. From Lilo & Stitch ’s global domination to the end of TC's Impossible Missions , we dig into the hits, the flops, and the franchises feeling the fatigue. Expect stats, snark, and a few spicy takes on what’s working (and what’s wobbling) in the...

The leaves will be turning, the vibes are shifting, and your favorite podcast is back with a seasonal forecast that’s 0% meteorological and 100% CINEMAAAA. We’re diving headfirst into the cinematic chaos coming your way this autumn. From prestige Oscar bait to “wait, they made a sequel to that?” surprises, we’ve got your fall watchlist covered. We also got a sneak peek at Borderline , landing for...

This week, we’re trading film reels for vinyl grooves. Matt’s back, and we’re diving into the world of music—starting with Pop Slop, our term for the way pop music gets unfairly dismissed despite its cultural weight and emotional punch. We’re also tuning into the buzz around a possible Arctic Monkeys return: is it just noise, or is Sheffield’s finest gearing up for something big? Plus, Muse gets t...

In part two of our deep dive into David Zucker and the ZAZ legacy, we explore Zucker’s personal rules of comedy, the evolution (and occasional devolution) of spoof and parody, and touching on how censorship shapes - and sometimes strangles - artistic expression. Expect gags, gravitas, and a few groan-worthy puns. Then, Andy and Stu inch ever closer to Cage Completionism with The Runner (2015), a p...

In this episode, we slip on our oversized sunglasses and dive into the new release The Naked Gun —yes, it’s back, and yes, it’s still gloriously ridiculous. Then it’s part one of our deep dive into the minds behind the madness: director David Zucker and the legendary ZAZ team. From Airplane! to the Naked Gun trilogy, we explore how they reshaped comedy with slapstick, satire, and a barrage of gags...

In this episode, we kick off with a dive into two buzzy new releases: Materialists , a sharp, stylish satire on excess, and Marvel’s latest take on Fantastic Four , packed with cosmic drama and fresh faces. Then, we close out Nicolas Cage in the 1980s, now that Andy and Stu have seen The Boy in Blue. Finally, we rank and rate every Cage 80s performance with a mix of reverence, disbelief, and admir...

With one cinematic chapter closing and another beginning, Andy unpacks the turbulent legacy of the DCEU — its ambitions, its misfires, and the cultural forces driving its rebirth. Then he and Stu swoop in to review the newest Superman film — is it the hope-filled reboot fans prayed for, or another brooding chapter? Wrapping things up, The Frozen Ground offers a somber, haunting performance from Ni...

In the second installment of our Half Time Show , Andy, Stu and Ash continue their deep dive into the standout films and TV shows of 2025 so far - including granting the "Tiger King Award" to the film or show most deserving of being watched by everyone, everywhere! Then, it’s back to the Cage-iverse with a look at Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club (1984) . With Nicolas Cage in a supporting ro...

Andy, Stu and Ash are back with a special two-part event: the Half Time Show ! Now we've passed the midpoint of 2025, ya boys take stock of the cinematic and televisual landscape so far, picking out the most significant films and TV shows across a range of genres. Kick-Ass hits and family friendly fares, they spotlight what’s shaping the year in storytelling. Then, in the second half, the Cage can...

It's a week later than originally planned, but Andy and Stu are back on track with those short and sweet, sub-90 minute movies, this time the more modern ones from 2000-2019. Big hitters, underseen gems, and everything in between, our lists have them all! Then in the final part of the pod, we take one step closer to Cage Completion. This time delving into Cage's step behind the camera, as he direc...

With the release of one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year, we thought we'd have a look at what brought us to 28 Years Later, but starting in 2002 with the originator of the running Zombie in 28 Days Later, then jumping to 28 Weeks Later, before reviewing the latest installment in 28 Years Later. We get spoilery, so check the timestamps. 28 Years Later [Non-Spoiler] - 51:01 28 Years L...