Punch Drunk Nerd (Weekly Nerd Talk + Pop Culture Reviews)

Grab your detective notebooks and settle in — this week’s episode is all about mysteries, moods, and what we can’t stop watching. From a chilling new trailer from Steven Spielberg in Disclosure Day,to a full-on deep dive into Benoit Blanc’s latest case, we’re having a blast breaking it all down together. We kick things off by reacting to the trailer for Disclosure Day , unpacking the premise, tone...

This week we rejoice in the theatrical return of Kill Bill and that Whole Bloody Affair!  Our very own Luis got to enjoy the 70mm experience at the one and only Vista theater. Then we dive into the big news of the week with that ghastly Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. and the glorious Golden Globe award nominations! We discuss two new trailers with EPiC: Elvis Pressley in Concert, which brings...

It’s a fully loaded episode this week, and we don’t even have a feature discussion! First we discuss AMC theaters’ latest deal with the Popcorn Pass, is it worth the extra price for Stubs members? Then IMAX has been asking filmmakers and audiences alike for the movies they want to see on the biggest screen, and we give our thoughts on the matter, and what possibilities it can open. Rounding off th...

This week we return to Oz for our highly anticipated WICKED: FOR GOOD! It’s been a year since Wicked Part One rocked our Miguel’s world, and now we’re back to review part two! Does it defy gravity, or does it suffer from the second act syndrome? We get into what worked, what didn’t, how the cast holds up, favorite moments (and least favorite), so be warned… there will be spoilers. As always find u...

Pod favorite, director Edgar Wright comes crashing back into theaters with his take on Stephen King’s THE RUNNING MAN!  Is it a hit or a stumble?   Before our feature discussion we discuss the news of Tom Cruise’s Governors Award, as the legendary actor finally gets his Oscar. Then we have a (rather unfortunate) look at the latest teaser trailer for Disney’s latest live-action remake, MOANA. We ha...

This week on the pod, we dive deep into Predator: Badlands — the newest chapter in the legendary sci-fi franchise. We break down the creature updates, the design, the action, and where it fits in the overall Predator mythos. We also explore Guillermo del Toro’s new Frankenstein adaptation on Netflix , discussing its cast, visual style, and how it reinvents one of horror’s most iconic stories. NEWS...

Fortnite: The Simpsons Season has arrived! We give our first reactions to the latest (and greatest?) season of Fortnite, which is choc full of easter eggs. How do we like the new map? The new skins? And what about the new sidekicks? Before we dive into that, we announce the new title for the sequel of the 2023 hit, Godzilla Minus One! Plus the exciting news of a possible sequel to 1999’s The Mummy...

NEWS The legendary John Williams is reuniting with Steven Spielberg for another collaboration, and Tarantino has a double announcement — a 2026 release for The Adventures of Cliff Booth and 10 new books about the films that inspired him. Plus, Disney fans rejoice: The Emperor’s New Groove is finally coming to 4K Ultra HD ! TRAILER TALK We react to the Wicked for Good LEGO Trailer — a charming, bri...

We discuss the news that one of many Star Wars projects that had been in the works, and subsequently canned, was The Hunt for Ben Solo!  The project would’ve seen the return of none other than Adam Driver who, along with director Steven Soderbergh, had written the project in the hopes of returning to the Star Wars franchise! Word on the street is that the exceptional Sony Pictures Animated 2021 fe...

We continue with our spooky Halloween season favorites with none other than John Carpenter’s 1978 original, HALLOWEEN! We’re joined by friend, regular guest and horror movie aficionado, Francesca Rivera, who selected this week’s horror classic for us.  She joins in the discussion of the movie, sharing our thoughts and where we hold it among the other great horror films, plus we discuss some other...

News We start with a deep dive into the Sora AI app , exploring its new social features, creative tools, and how it’s shaping the way people connect and create online. Then we shift to Apple TV’s rebranding , breaking down what the changes mean for the platform and streaming fans. Trailer Talk The team reacts to three standout trailers this week: No Other Choice — a tense, emotional drama with ser...

We rewatch the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre — joined by special guests Chase and Bryce from The Movie Gap podcast. Together, we revisit the 1974 classic, unpack its lasting legacy, discuss what still makes it terrifying today, and share a few laughs (and chills) along the way.

Dwayne Johnson steps into the awards ring with THE SMASHING MACHINE, but does he have what it takes, does he deliver in his performance? This week for our feature discussion we review Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, from A24.  We discuss “The Rock’s” performance as well as our thoughts on the film and where it places itself this awards season. Before that though we rejoice in the news that KI...

This week the nerds celebrate the return of the great Paul Thomas Anderson, bringing his epic new film, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER to the theaters with him! We’re big fans of (the Master) PTA, and are excited to get into our review of the film.  We discuss formats, Leo and the rest of the cast, the action set pieces, that Johnny Greenwood score and more. It’s a fun, deep dive discussion, but beware,...

01:55 - Wolverine Video Game (Marvel) 12:10 - The Mandalorian and Grogu (Star Wars) 22:10 - Wicked For Good Trailer 38:30 - Alien: Earth Review This week, the crew dives into a mix of fresh trailers, big finales, and personal obsessions! Trailer Talk kicks off with reactions to Insomniac’s Wolverine , the Wicked for Good trailer, the upcoming Mandalorian and Grogu movie, plus first looks at The Ch...

4:00 - iPhone ios26 18:00 - Anaconda Trailer 25:00 - Caught Stealing Review Jack Black and Paul Rudd are in an Anaconda remake?! We check out the latest trailer drop for the new spin on the slippery serpent thriller, Anaconda! Before that we get a look at the new features of the iOS update from Apple. Is the liquid glass a winner? Does the new format work? PLUS we review the latest film from Darre...

The Summer is concluded, the movies were seen, but who was the box office champion? And WHO won the 2025 Summer Movie Wager?!WHO WILL TAKE THE TITLE BELT?!This week we declare the winners of both, and dig deep into the summer’s biggest surprises, biggest bombs, and some of our personal favorites! We also welcome back officially regular guest and Summer Movie Wager ‘25 contender, Benjamin Watts! Di...

What’s the best thing to order at Taco Bell you ask?  What’s the biggest bang for your buck? On this week’s pod we try to spice things up a bit with a Taco Bell tasting and ranking, with some of their staple items in play! Is the Dorito Loco taco all that, or is Miguel just… well, loco. Will the Crunch Wrap Supreme reign… supreme, or is it overhyped? We discuss all this and more.  Plus we get into...

44:40 - Weapons Review This week the nerds are locked and loaded as they discuss the latest from Zach Creeger - WEAPONS. Does the movie hold up to the hype? The nerds dive in and breakdown what works and what REALLY works in this suspenseful follow up from the director of Barbarian.  Plus Ed and Luis break down the latest episode of FX’s ALIEN: EARTH.  Miguel gets excited for the new game LEGO BAT...

2:22 - Long Trailers Problem + 2 New A24 Trailers 32:21 - Alien Earth Review In space, no one can hear you podcast! Unless Alien comes to Earth, which seems to be the case this week as we discuss Noah Hawley’s brand new Hulu original series ALIEN EARTH! Is the series what this franchise needs?  Can it live up to and alongside the original film?  The nerds get into a (mostly) spoiler free discussio...

Is The Fantastic Four: First Steps the perfect Marvel film?  Review + KOTH and Happy Gilmore 2! - EP 171 Description: Is First Steps the perfect introduction to the Fantastic Four? It’s good to be back!  This week the boys catch up and review Marvel’s latest outing, The Fantastic Four: First Steps!  Is it our favorite superhero movie of the year?  At least one of us seems to think so… Plus we get...

What can we expect from the third entry into James Cameron’s world of Pandora?  Can Avatar: Fire and Ash deliver the same success as its predecessors? With a look at the first poster and with the first trailer showing in theaters this weekend, the guys discuss their anticipation and expectations for the upcoming Avatar, our affection for the second film and our thoughts of the franchise as a whole...

1:56 - Odyssey Movie Tickets on Sale 5:39 - After The Hunt Trailer 14:42 - Summer Box Office Update 26:10 - Bad Friends Podcast 30:35 - Superman Review In this episode, Luis, Miguel, and Ed dive deep into Superman (2025) — and let’s just say, they did not see eye to eye. From cape physics to character arcs, the debate gets heated, hilarious, and totally unfiltered. Plus, they talk about Nolan’s Th...

“He left us! He left us!”  This week the Nerds are down one while Luis runs away and leaves Ed and Miguel stranded. While he’s out, they talk the biggest and baddest movie of the summer - Jurassic World: Rebirth! Is this the best or worst Jurassic World movie yet? Tune in and find out.  Plus, the news that EVERYONE is talking about : The Thomas Crowne Affair remake! That’s right, the classic caper...

Will non-Formula One fans fall for F1: The Movie?  Can director Joseph Kosinski hit the heights of Top Gun Maverick? In this week's episode, we’re joined by Nerd regular guest, Benny Watts, to review and discuss the Brad Pitt led summer blockbuster.  Is it a winner?  Only one way to find out… Before we get to our feature discussion we discuss the latest news of Neil Druckman departing as showrunne...