Ruined Childhoods

It’s episode 200 and Dan & Jon are celebrating by revisiting two early episodes that have since had new films in each series - Bill & Ted + Indiana Jones! They listen back to their thoughts on any news about the future movies still in production and theorize how they would add to each franchise. Next episode: Revisiting The Addams Family + Rocky IV Contact us, follow us on social media, or...

A missing space vessel reappears after disappearing for 7 years and there’s nobody who can help solve the mystery better than the ship’s creator, Sam Neill’s Dr. Weir. And after 26 years, Dan and Jon have some ideas on how to keep the legend of Event Horizon alive. Next episode: EPISODE 200! Dan and Jon look back at what did get made since their original episodes for Bill & Ted and Indiana Jon...

When it comes to classic sports comedies, few are regarded as highly as Slap Shot , the third collaboration of Paul Newman and George Roy Hill . Dan and Jon explain why it appeals to them, how they would revisit this film with a 2023 perspective, and they also touch on the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame! Next episode: Event Horizon (1997) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch a...

Dan and Jon sail the high seas on a quest to find the perfect way to revisit the iconic comic strip character, Popeye . Specifically, they look to the 1980 Robert Altman critical failure-turned-cult classic, which had a stronghold on their cinema-centric upbringing. Next episode: Slap Shot (1977) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

No film has had as much of an impact on the world of pottery than the 1990 hit, Ghost , and Dan & Jon waste no time celebrating the film and how this classic came about. And with recent news about ownership of rights, it may not be long before we have an updated remake. Perhaps they will take suggestions from this very episode. Next episode: Popeye (1980) Contact us, follow us on social media,...

When Ed Neumeier wrote RoboCop , he certainly didn’t expect for it to explode the way it did, ultimately resulting in an episode of RUINED CHILDHOODS! Mentioned in this episode: Our RoboCop Remake RoboCop and Wrestling Next episode: Ghost (1990) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inspired by an 80s episode of the Twilight Zone and worthy of a feature on Black Mirror , 1998’s The Truman Show repeatedly stands the test of time. On this episode, Dan and Jon break down the iconic Jim Carrey dramedy and theorize how it could be revisited 25 years later. Next episode: RoboCop (1987) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Planet of the Apes (1968) It’s not often that Dan and Jon dive deep into a franchise, but when the ongoing Planet of the Apes saga comes up, there’s not choice other than to leap head first. Not only do they go beat-by-beat through the original film series , 2001 reboot , current prequel reboot series , live action TV series , and animated TV series, but they also discuss the 1962 novel , the atte...

If there are two downloads on the episode, we’ll have to assume it’s Doug and Steve Butabi because Dan and Jon are talking Richard Grieco and his film debut, If Looks Could Kill . This film imagines a world where James Bond begins as a teenage dirtbag, and Dan and Jon know exactly how to revisit this cult classic. Next episode: Planet of the Apes (1968) Contact us, follow us on social media, or bu...

It’s the worst night of your life and you can’t seem to get home. May as well listen to this episode of Ruined Childhoods. Dan and Jon talk about how this fits into the career timeline of director Martin Scorsese and go through his works one-by-one, and then suggest ways that After Hours can be revisited. Next episode: If Looks Could Kill (1991) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some m...

Honoring the life and art of Christy Brown can be done in a few ways. Aside from reading his books and seeing his art at a gallery, watching My Left Foot isn’t a bad start. With moving performances and thoughtful direction from Jim Sheridan , this film is a great entry into the work of a genius whose physical barriers created an even greater depth to his already moving art. In this episode, Jon an...

With an Oscar win under his belt, Brendan Fraser is back in the conversation but is often celebrated for his work in his adventure movies like George of the Jungle , Journey to the Center of the Earth , and The Mummy Franchise. But before all of that, Fraser joined up with two other lesser-known actors turned mega-star actors to portray LA-rocker dudes who take a radio station hostage until they p...

On its surface, Saturday Night Fever is a movie about disco dancing and New York nightlife. But once you get past the glitz and glamour, you enter a world of grit and grime. Dan and Jon take a deep dive into the underbelly of this 1977 drama and its 1983 sequel and theorize how new life can be brought to this famous franchise. Next episode Airheads (1994) Contact us, follow us on social media, or...

Jane Fonda , Lily Tomlin , and Dolly Parton are a perfect example of on-screen chemistry and the foundation they created on 9 to 5 goes down in history as a high bar for all comedies to attempt reaching. And although it had a Broadway musical and television series, Dan and Jon theorize how else to appropriately bring back this workplace masterpiece. Next Episode: Saturday Night Fever (1977) Contac...

When it comes to the work of Alfred Hitchcock , a few films must be mentioned — The Birds , Vertigo , North by Northwest , Psycho , and the topic of discussion on this episode, Rear Window . Yes, it’s been remade and yes there have been movies made with the same basic plot, but the 1954 classic remains unique in its ability to capture the feeling of neurosis and curiosity, while also telling the t...

Before he was 2-time Academy Award winning America’s Dad 2.0, Tom Hanks had a tendency to play a spastic put-upon grump. We reached peak grumpy-Hanks in 1989’s spooky comedy, The ‘Burbs . This 80s take feels like it could exist in any era, but perhaps Jon and Dan have some other ideas for it. Next episode: Rear Window (1954) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/Rui...

It’s the first episode of 2023 and you know what that means - Ruined Childhoods celebrates the thrillers of Michael Douglas ! It’s impossible to cover this SPECIFIC territory without mentioning the 1987 classic Fatal Attraction . Dan and Jon celebrate the accidental genius of this film, even though its Director doesn’t see the beauty of what makes this movie work so well, despite its flaws. Next e...

Are you not Entertainered?! Dan and Jon not only wrap up their exploration of Robert Redford ’s career, but they also wrap up 2022 with the heralded 1973 classic, The Sting . Next episode: Fatal Attraction (1987) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

We may be past the 2022 election cycle, but it’s never the wrong time to watch this Robert Redford gem. But before getting into the film and deciding its fate, Dan and Jon talk a bit about some of their favorite movies from 2022 as the year draws to an end. Next episode: The Sting (1973) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Even without such a stacked cast, Sneakers could have been a huge hit. But this team led by Robert Redford is simply unstoppable. And 30 years later, Dan and Jon sure have a lot of thoughts on how to honor this classic code-cracking heist movie. Next episode: The Candidate (1972) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Dan and Jon continue their Robert Redford kick with one of his earlier films, Barefoot in the Park . This Jane Fonda collab is already an adaptation, but does it have a life beyond the 1967 classic film? Dan and Jon will decide. Next episode: Sneakers (1992) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Dan and Jon travel back in time for Robert Redford’s look at the 1957 Quiz Show scandal that rocked NBC. And while they’re at it, Jon recounts his experience on an unaired game show pilot back in 2007. Next episode: Barefoot in the Park (1967) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

When it comes to baseball movies, it’s hard to find an enthusiast who won’t mention The Natural , despite its lack of very much baseball and an overabundance of home runs. Dan and Jon discuss this 1984 classic, giving their two cents on whether they think the praise is foul for fair, and then elaborate on a new path forward. Next episode: Quiz Show Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy som...

Name a more iconic duo. I’ll wait. On this episode, Dan and Jon theorize what could possibly be done with this famous duo of outlaws. What is loosely based on the true story of two bandits has lived on and their portrayals have propelled their legacies into cinematic history. Next episode: The Natural (1984) Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

Love it, hate it, or hate-love it, this 1992 Disney live-action musical defied the odds by finding success after its theatrical release. Newsies not only found its way to Broadway, but it taught us all a lesson about the newsboy strike of the late 1800s in New York City. Hooray for education! Jon and Dan take things a few steps further by attempting to decide a new direction for Newsies. Next epis...