Flicks and Friends with Zach Pope

I’m reviewing The Bride! , Maggie Gyllenhaal’s bold new reimagining of the Bride of Frankenstein. With a stacked cast including Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Annette Bening, Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jake Gyllenhaal, the film has so much going for it . But even with standout performances and a daring concept, the story often feels unfocused and the movie doesn’t quite come together the...

I review Hoppers , Pixar’s original 2026 animated sci-fi adventure directed by Daniel Chong . The film follows Mabel, a young animal lover, whose consciousness is transferred into a stylish robotic beaver so she can talk to animals and explore their world. With standout voice work from Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, and Meryl Streep, Hoppers blends humor, heart,...

In this episode of Pope’s Press Play , I rank all ten 2026 Oscar Best Picture nominees from least to most deserving. This year’s lineup is one of the most interesting and genre-diverse in recent award history, featuring films like Sinners (with a record 16 nominations), Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another , Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein , and the emotional historical drama Hamnet ....

Ghostface is BACK — and so are we. In this episode of Flicks and Friends Zach dive headfirst into the entire Scream franchise and rank every film from worst to best , now including the newest entry, Scream 7 . We break down what still works, what absolutely doesn’t, which Ghostface reveals slapped, which ones flopped, and why this franchise continues to have such a massive cultural pull 25+ years...

In this episode I review Scream 7 , the latest entry in the iconic slasher franchise. While the film kicks off with a strong, classic Scream-style opening, the story quickly unravels — leading to what I felt was the weakest Ghostface reveal and most disappointing ending in series history. I break down what worked, what fell apart, and why this movie ultimately left me feeling nothing. If you love...

On today’s review, I’m reviewing Paradise Season 2 in a completely spoiler-free breakdown. This season surprised me in the best way — deeper characters, richer world-building, and a much more emotionally driven story than the first season ever attempted. I dive into why the storytelling is stronger, what themes stand out, how the tone shifts from mystery sci-fi to character-focused drama, and why...

On today’s episode of Pope’s Press Play, I’m diving into A24’s newest thriller, How to Make a Killing — a darkly comedic, razor-sharp crime story starring Glen Powell in one of his most entertaining performances yet. This film blends satire, tension, and absurdity in classic A24 fashion, following an everyday guy who suddenly falls into a criminal scheme spiraling out of control. I break down why...

In this episode, I review Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die , Gore Verbinski’s audacious new sci-fi film starring Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, and more. Part action adventure, part dark comedy, and deeply reflective on the role of technology in our lives, this movie blew me away — and I explain why I think it could be the most important science-fiction film of the dec...

In this episode, I review The Moment, the new 2026 mockumentary starring Charli XCX and directed by Aidan Zamiri. The film blends reality and fiction to satirize fame, celebrity branding, and the pressures of pop stardom. I break down why this movie worked for me, how the satire lands, and what makes Charli’s performance compelling. If you’re into films that play with genre and celebrity commentar...

In this episode, I review Shelter — the 2026 Ric Roman Waugh-directed action thriller starring Jason Statham. Unlike typical blockbuster fare, Shelter leans into character, regret, and emotional survival stakes as a reclusive man is forced back into danger after rescuing a young girl. I break down why the film works, why I think it’s the first certified “dad film” of 2026, and what sets it apart f...

Exclusive interview with Ric Roman Waugh — director of Shelter and visionary behind films like Snitch, Shot Caller, Angel Has Fallen, and Greenland. In this in-depth conversation, I sit down with Ric Roman Waugh, the director of the brand-new Jason Statham action thriller Shelter (in theaters January 30, 2026), to talk about his entire career, his evolution as a filmmaker, and what shaped his crea...

In this episode, I review Send Help , the brand-new survival thriller directed by Sam Raimi . Starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien , the film follows two plane-crash survivors stranded on a deserted island where survival becomes a tense and darkly humorous battle of wills. I dive into why Send Help is a must-watch — from Raimi’s escalating suspense and visual flair to the strong performances,...

Wonder Man is actually pretty good — and easily one of the most unique MCU shows yet. Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man takes a wildly different approach to the MCU, blending superhero storytelling with Hollywood satire in a way that feels like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood meets Atlanta or Barry. And honestly? It works. In this review, I break down why Wonder Man surprised me, from its sharp writing and...

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is PURE PERFECTION — the beginning of the end has finally arrived on Netflix! This is my full review of the first batch of episodes for Stranger Things Season 5! In this video, I break down why these episodes deliver everything fans have waited YEARS for: the emotional reunions, the jaw-dropping twists, the insane horror sequences, the character payoffs, and how t...

Zootopia 2 is the latest sequel from disney animation studio and after years later... Nick Wilde and Judy hopps are back on another case! Disney animation has been in a slump for a few years now for most so for Zootopia 2 to come out and be better than the original Zootopia! "Zootopia 2", After cracking the biggest case in Zootopia’s history, rookie cops Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goo...

ETERNITY is a romantic comedy MASTERPIECE! One of the most heartwarming, hilarious, and emotionally resonant rom-coms I’ve seen in years—Eternity is A24’s latest and greatest romantic achievement, and it’s going to stick with you long after the credits roll. In this video, Zach Pope gives their spoiler-free movie review for Eternity, the brand new romantic classic.

Wicked: For Good Movie Review! My Non spoiler movie review for Wicked Part 2! In this review, I break down what worked, what fell short, and why Wicked: For Good is still a solid, enjoyable time… even if it never reaches the heights it could have.

The Running Man Movie Review From director Edgar Wright comes The Running Man, the 2025 adaptation of the classic novel by Stephen King (under his Richard Bachman pen name). Set in a dystopian near-future, the film stars Glen Powell as Ben Richards, a man forced into a deadly televised game where survival is everything. In this review, I’ll highlight what works best (Wright’s direction, Powell’s p...

Every Predator Movie Ranked! It’s officially hunting season. Today, I’m ranking all 9 Predator movies — from Predator (1987) to Predator Badlands (2025)This franchise has evolved from 80s jungle horror to all-out sci-fi chaos, and with Badlands and Killer of Killers redefining what the series can be, it’s time to see which one truly stands at the top of the food chain. These are the films ranked i...

Pluribus Review — Vince Gilligan returns with a mind-bending sci-fi epic that proves he’s still one of TV’s greatest storytellers. From the creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Vince Gilligan delivers another knockout with Pluribus — a grounded yet deeply imaginative sci-fi series that explores humanity, identity, and the cost of connection in a fractured world. Starring Rhea Seehorn, lur...

I LOVED BUGONIAFrom director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, Poor Things) comes Bugonia, a darkly satirical sci-fi thriller starring Emma Stone as Michelle Fuller, CEO of a major pharmaceutical company abducted by conspiracy-obsessed men who believe she’s an alien intent on destroying humanity. Having seen it early, I found Bugonia to be fascinating — a film that’s weird, unsettling, and absolute...

Star Wars: Visions Season 3 ReviewFrom Lucasfilm and Disney+, Star Wars: Visions returns with Season 3 (Volume 3), launching on October 29, 2025. This new volume features nine animated shorts created by legendary Japanese studios like Kamikaze Douga, Production I.G., TRIGGER, and more — delivering stylized storytelling that re-imagines the galaxy far, far away. After watching the entire season ear...

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Movie Review From writer/director Mary Bronstein and starring Rose Byrne, Conan O'Brien, Danielle Macdonald, and A$AP Rocky. DIRECTOR: Mary BronsteinCAST: Rose Byrne, Conan O'Brien, Danielle Macdonald, and A$AP RockyIf I Had Legs I’d Kick You is a film that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go — a judgmental, funny, and sometimes painful look at revenge,...

IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 1-5 Non Spoiler reviewFrom showrunners Andy Muschietti & Barbara Muschietti (who helmed the original IT films) comes IT: Welcome to Derry, a chilling prequel series set in 1962 that expands the mythology of the town of Derry and the evil lurking beneath its surface. Having seen the first five episodes early, I found the series to be solid and worth recommending — i...

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere Movie Review From writer-director Scott Cooper comes Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, a biographical drama chronicling the making of Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska and the personal struggles behind the legend. The film stars Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen, with a supporting cast including Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, and Stephen Graham. I...