Overhated

By late 1979 every big movie studio was churning out sci-fi movies and hoping to catch a fraction of the Star Wars success story. And this was Disney's shot. Suffice to say it didn't go all that well, but there are still lots of Gen Xers who harbor fond memories of this dry, weird, and frequently creepy space adventure. Big thanks to my guest Paul Osborne (@paulmakesmovies).   Thanks for listening...

After hitting Hollywood with two smash hits in The French Connection and The Exorcist , director William Friedkin could have chosen practically anything for his next movie. So he chose to remake a beloved international classic in the middle of the jungle. And then practically everything went wrong. For this underappreciated classic I'm joined by filmmaker Scott Derrickson (@scottderrickson), who y...

When I brought this movie up on twitter, some agreed it was overhated, some thought it was not, and a good portion of folks didn't even know it existed. Now that's a good movie to cover. Big thanks to hardcore movie fanatic Stone Gasman (@stonegasman) for choosing this fascinating misfire and for providing tons of good insights. Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more episodes at  p...

This one was one of 2008's biggest hits at the box office -- but when's the last time you heard someone talk about it, let alone say something nice? There's a lot to discuss regarding this off-kilter action comedy (with pathos!), so I'm joined by the excellent Aundria Parker (@parkerandcooley) and we have a good time breaking the movie down. Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more e...

Yes, kids. There was actually a TV show about a detective who solved crimes by transforming into various animals. The 1980s were a silly time. And for a TV show this absurd, we need an amusing TV expert like Ken Reid (@kennethWreid) of the TV Guidance Counselor podcast! Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more episodes at  patreon.com/scottEweinberg . Subscribe to hear them all now!...

Just a few years before he became the world's most adorable movie star, Tom Hanks appeared in a big handful of colorful movies, and while this 1990 effort didn't exactly blow the box office down, it has grown into a bona-fide cult favorite over the decades. And I happened to find a film expert who calls Joe Versus the Volcano his favorite movie of all time. Big thanks to patrons, listeners, suppor...

Can a movie directed by one of the most celebrated filmmakers of all time be overhated? Well, sure. Reggie Jackson once said that the worst thing about having a 4 homer game is that people expect you to do it every night -- and that definitely holds true for filmmakers too. This really is one of the director's most divisive films -- and it's not the last Spielberg movie we'll cover on Overhated! A...

The original version of The Hitcher arrived in theaters in 1986, and while it wasn't a big hit (the movie actually lost money), it became a cult favorite the moment it hit home video and cable TV. (Rest in peace, Rutger Hauer!) So of course there was bound to be a remake of this one during the Great Remake Deluge of the 2000s. For this episode I'm joined by horror historian / critic / nerd Brian C...

I needed a fun sidebar for the patrons, and I may have settled on a good one.  Join me and TV nerd Merrill Barr (@merrillbarr) as we discuss a semi-forgotten McG action series from 2002. Plus it's on Tubi now so you can savor the high-octane editing for yourself. Thanks to Merrill and patrons! (And feel free to throw me some suggestions for upcoming episodes! Yes, I'll be covering Cop Rock, and Ma...

Could a Coen brothers' film be (gasp) overhated? Let's sit down with film critic / author / biographer Shawn Levy (@shawnlevy) and find out! (He's also a poet.) Big thanks as always to all listeners and patrons.  Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more episodes at  patreon.com/scottEweinberg . Subscribe to hear them all now! Check out the list of episodes here:  bit.ly/3WZiLFk . Sub...

When you invite a comparison to John Carpenter's 1982 classic The Thing , you're kind of looking for trouble. But then to remove most of the practical monster FX at the last minute? That's just madness. Join me and horror writer Ben Rock (@neptunesalad) as we take a look back at this oddly fascinating prequel. Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more episodes at  patreon.com/scottEwe...

Any longtime Friday the 13th fan, especially the older ones, would probably agree that Part 8 is the most frequently maligned chapter of the original octology. (Well, Part 8 or Part 5, anyway.) So it was a lot of fun to discuss this movie with my good pal and Found Footage 3D director Steven DeGennaro (@stevendegennaro), a man who deeply loves horror movies. Thanks for listening to Overhated! Ther...

If you need someone to defend an "indefensible" movie, veteran film writer Walter Chaw (@mangiotto) is someone you want on your starting team. One might think it'd be difficult to find positive things to say about this messy sci-fi bomb, but Walter has no problem doing so -- probably because he's been knee-deep in Walter Hill cinema in preparation for his new book! So if you're a big fan of the gu...

Sometimes your movie is just too dang expensive to turn a profit. Join me and astute film writer Daniel Carlson (@danielwcarlson) for an extensive discussion on a frequently lambasted movie that's also kinda low-key beloved in some ways. Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more episodes at  patreon.com/scottEweinberg . Subscribe to hear them all now! Check out the list of episodes he...

This one was painful for me to revisit. Fortunately I have a very upbeat guest with which to discuss this misshapen combination of sweat, decibels, and paint. It's Jeffrey Patrick (@jeffmovieman) who was brave enough to (partially) defend (some of) this movie. Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more episodes at  patreon.com/scottEweinberg . Subscribe to hear them all now! Check out...

As a horror fan who grew up knee-deep in the 1980s, let me just say this: David Cronenberg's The Fly (1986) is one of the best horror films of the entire decade. Without question. And then they made a sequel!  Thanks to my old friend and ravenous movie nerd Rob Dean (@neuroticmonkey) of neonsplatter.com for being an excellent guest! Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more episodes a...

As a big thanks to all our listeners, I've invited Erik Childress to join me for a discussion regarding 2023's most overhated films. And yes, there were a few. We also run through a big batch of recent Patreon episodes, ramble a bit about random nerd minutiae, and talk about the show's awesome new sponsor. Fun stuff!  Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more episodes at  patreon.com/...

It was the highest grossing movie of 2000, so how hated could it be, right? Big thanks to film nerd Merrill Barr (@merrillbarr) for his firm and energetic defense of the most controversial chapter in a widely adored franchise. Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more episodes at  patreon.com/scottEweinberg . Subscribe to hear them all now! Check out the list of episodes here:  bit.ly...

Call it The Quickening; call it The Renegade Cut; it's still Highlander 2 , which means it's one of the most feverishly savaged movies we've ever covered on Overhated. Big thanks to veteran film critic Fred Topel (@fredtopel) for joining me in this very amusing conversation. Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more episodes at  patreon.com/scottEweinberg . Subscribe to hear them all...

This episode is dedicated to my wonderful friend James Rocchi, who recently passed away at the age of 51. Today (12/29) was his birthday. It's mine as well.  This was one of James' favorite "popcorn movies," so I sat down with TV writer Shawna Benson (@shawnabenson), who also loved James deeply, to discuss the over-the-top lunacy of Battleship. Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ mor...

Back in 1986, right in between Beverly Hills Cop and Beverly Hills Cop II , Eddie Murphy did a movie for Paramount that opened, made a decent amount of money, and promptly vanished from our collective memory. In this episode you'll hear me and writer / producer Zack Stentz (@musezack) discuss our fond memories of this odd film, and our opinions on how it holds up now. Enjoy! (Thanks, patrons!) not...

Early in his career M. Night Shyamalan became known as the "twist ending" director, which reminds me of a great Reggie Jackson quote: "the only problem with hitting four home runs in one game is that now people want you to do it every night."  In other words, this filmmaker painted himself into a "twist ending" corner, at least for one movie, and the result was an oddly beautiful period piece that...

Nobody mocked Jules Verne when he wanted to travel into the center of the Earth in his stories -- so why does everyone love to pick on The Core so dang much? To answer that question about this movie we have guest host Amanda Smith (@amandasmithsays) of the Disaster Girls podcast.  If this movie ever needs a lawyer, she's who it should call. Thanks for listening to Overhated! There are 100+ more ep...

What happens when a hard-headed young filmmaker butts heads with anonymous studio executives who hate his movie? In 1983 you'd get something like The Keep , which is half a mess and half a pretty damn good horror movie with a cool setting, some memorable music, and a very curious cast. Joining me for this discussion is filmmaker / DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika (@Lauzirika), and this is a man w...

If you're listening to Overhated on a normal podcast feed, cool! and thanks. But if you want a lot more episodes, right now, you can subscribe at  patreon.com/scottEweinberg . In this bonus episode, Eric and I discuss the last several Patreon episodes, which means titles like Battle: Los Angeles, Poltergeist III, Envy, Jurassic Park III, and yes, Space Jam. Check it out!