The Best Pictures Podcast

88th Academy Awards - Spotlight 20.06.2026 1:14:10 ↓

This was a tough one, but a good one! We talking editing, performance, and story structure.

87th Academy Awards - BİRDMAN or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) 22.01.2026 1:06:06 ↓

Join our hosts for a more thematic discussion on the 87th Best Picture winner, BİRDMAN or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). While interesting fodder for discussion and a fascinating look into the earlier stages of social media, virality, and its impact on relevance, some of the characters left more to be desired

Special Episode - Home Alone 14.12.2025 1:11:24 ↓

Join Ian and Maggie for their episode on the more modern Christmas classic, Home Alone. Though less substantive that the forthcoming Holdovers episode (again apologies for our technical difficulties changing up our schedule), Home Alone proved to be an enjoyable watch.

Special Episode - The Substance 31.10.2025 1:26:48 ↓

For our 2nd Halloween 2025 episode, we're the movie that made Maggie think she should give more horror movies a shot: The Substance. We talk visual style, cultural commentary, and how subtlety isn't always the answer.

85th Academy Awards - Argo 25.08.2025 1:07:06 ↓

Join our hosts for the 85th best picture winner, Argo. As a thriller, Argo delivered some outstanding tension for Ian and Maggie. Can it overcome it's otherwise flat cast of characters? Listen in to find out!

84th Academy Awards - The Artist 04.08.2025 1:16:20 ↓

After a brief break we're back and covering the first (mostly) silent film to win Best Picture since you very first episode!

83rd Academy Awards - The King's Speech 11.04.2025 1:19:50 ↓

Join out hosts for the 83rd Best Picture winner, A King's Speech. Ian and Maggie both appreciated the top notch performances, and understated but deftly executed visuals.

List Rerankings 4 22.02.2025 1:01:38 ↓

After wrapping up the last winner of the early 2000s, we're revisiting our lists and shuffling some of our rankings! We discuss the highs and lows of our most recent decade of winners and reflect on what we're most excited for in the 2010s. We also revisit a couple of our early winners and answer some great listener questions.

Special Episode - Carrie 27.10.2024 1:05:52 ↓

Join Maggie and Ian for the final 2024 halloween episode Stephen King's Carrie. Despite some creaky bits, the 1976 film adaptation proves to be an entertaining (and spooky) watch!

Special Episode - The Shining 21.10.2024 1:13:02 ↓

Join Ian and Maggie for Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of The Shining. With plenty of ghostly spookiness (and psychic powers to boot), the film still provides a thrilling Halloween-time watch. Do our hosts prefer the book to the movie? Listen to find out!

78th Academy Awards - Crash 19.07.2024 1:10:33 ↓

Join Maggie and Ian for the 78th winner, American crime drama Crash. Shallow characters, surface-level commentary, and several excruciatingly gratuitous scenes didn't impress either of our hosts.

77th Academy Awards - Million Dollar Baby 19.06.2024 1:22:50 ↓

Join our hosts for the 77th Best Picture winner, Million Dollar Baby. Despite some knockout performances ( wink wink ) both Maggie and Ian had some conflicted feelings about the last round of this winner.

75th Academy Awards - Chicago 24.04.2024 1:12:05 ↓

Ian and Maggie are back with a winner episode covering the 75th winner, Chicago. They loved the musical numbers and ambition of production, but were left wanting more from the character development.

Special Episode - Big Trouble in Little China 01.04.2024 1:13:44 ↓

Join us as we celebrate the 6th anniversary of the Best Pictures Podcast by tackling another cult classic!