The Playlist Podcast Network

If you don't know Henry Selick by name, you certainly know his puppets. The Stop Motion guru behind "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993), "James and the Giant Peach" (1996) and "Coraline" (2009) has been capturing children's imaginations—and perhaps lovingly scarring them, too—for 30 years. On today's show we're joined by sculptor and constant Selick collaborator Damon Bard to reflect on a one-...

In this episode of The Playlist Podcast, Charles, Mike, and Brian go down the list of every DC superhero film that is currently on the release schedule, in development, or previously discussed. This includes sequels for “Wonder Woman,” “Aquaman,” and “Shazam!” as well as brand-new franchises like “The Batman,” “Batgirl,” “Blue Beetle,” and various films/TV shows that JJ Abrams is overseeing. Needl...

In this episode of The Playlist Podcast, Charles, Mike, and Brian speak with writer-director Tim Sutton about “Funny Face,” and how he aims to reclaim the superhero story for the common people, as well as the negative critical response to his previous feature, "Donnybrook," and what it's like making a Western with Machine Gun Kelly.

After years of building up these characters through multiple films in the new Monsterverse franchise, Legendary Pictures is finally ready to show you the payoff in “Godzilla vs. Kong.” But the real question is whether or not you should even bother watching the film? And in this episode of The Playlist Podcast, Charles, Mike, and Brian discuss that very topic. 

In this episode of The Playlist Podcast, we talk to Rachel Sennott, the breakout star of "Shiva Baby," from first-time writer-director Emma Seligman. Over the course of the interview, Sennott discusses “Shiva Baby,” how the film might be the scariest comedy of the year, why it’s great for bisexual representation, and how doing stand-up comedy via Zoom is terrible. 

In this episode of The Playlist Podcast, director Ilya Naishuller stops by to talk about his new action film, “Nobody,” which stars Bob Odenkirk as a suburban dad that has been keeping a secret from his family about who he really is. And when a home burglary happens to his family, this timid dad unleashes the kickass beast within, leading to lots and lots of dead bodies. All of this brought to you...

Being able to make shameless creature thrills explode off of the screen takes a distinct eye and an unabashed imagination. Ever since Gareth Edwards roared into the monster genre with “ Godzilla” back in 2014, every subsequent entry in Legendary ’s MonsterVerse has felt like an effort to recapture that same magic. Luckily, by bringing in Adam Wingard to helm “ Godzilla vs. Kong ,” Legendary seems...

Eddie Huang joins The Playlist Podcast to talk about his new film “Boogie,” which is currently in theaters and heading to VOD later this week. The writer-director clearly poured his heart and soul into the making of “Boogie,” and talked about the hard-hitting family relationships at the center of the film, as well as how his entire career has built to this point. 

On this episode of The Playlist Podcast, Robert Kirkman stops by to discuss “Invincible,” how animation is easier than live-action for some comic book stories, an update on “The Walking Dead” films, his upcoming film with Lee Daniels, that "Dracula" re-imagining, and his thoughts on superhero storytelling in general. 

After four years of social media campaigning, Zack Snyder and his legion of fans are celebrating the release of the “Justice League” Director’s Cut, aka the Snyder Cut. Clocking in at four hours long, this is a superhero epic unlike anything else before it. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s any good...

In the amnesia puzzler's pre-9/11 heyday, blank-slate protagonists from Christopher Nolan, David Lynch and Shane Black rewrote their own stories. In every case, their histories ended up rosier and nobler than the depraved violence just beneath the surfaces of "Memento" (2001), "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and "The Long Kiss Goodnight" (1996). So let's retrace our steps through this forgetful subgenre...

For years, the word “threequel” has sent shivers down the spines of film fans. A sequel is tough enough, but a sequel to a sequel? Hardly ever turns out great, right? Well, Michael B. Jordan is hoping to break that curse as the star and director(!) of “Creed III.” And to help, The Playlist Podcast is discusing three films that are some of the best threequels to ever grace the big screen--- “Back t...

Decades before he carried Batman's breakfast and launched a thousand Cockney impersonations, Michael Caine mostly played transgressors. In late-60s and early 70s films like ALFIE, GET CARTER, THE ITALIAN JOB and THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, Caine brought a streetwise intelligence to a gallery of anti-social rogues: philanderers, killers and colonialists. Ahead of Caine's 88th birthday, Noah and Chan...

This week, on The Playlist Podcast, Frank Grillo joins Charles, Brian, and Mike to talk about “Boss Level,” his recipe for a quality action film, what’s going on with that remake of “The Raid,” why he's sad about not coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and much, much more.  

So, we already know that it was Agatha all along. And Wanda’s unchecked trauma and grief are the reasons behind the Hex and the key to fixing the problems of Westview. But with one episode left, how is “ WandaVision ” going to end? Well, that’s where The Playlist Podcast comes in to save the day. We don’t have any insider knowledge or anything, but we have theories!

At 70-years-old, filmmaker Sam Pollard has had a massive career spanning five decades. But it's arguably just getting its due in a major way and unlike never before (“The phone’s been ringing off the hook,” he said).  Pollard— a director, editor, and producer— is an Oscar nominee ( Spike Lee's “ 4 Little Girls ” doc, which he co-produced and edited), has been nominated for seven Emmys and has...

In a new episode of The Playlist Podcast, we talked to Craig Brewer, the director of “Coming 2 America,” about taking the reins of the huge sequel to "Coming to America." And trust us, the filmmaker is well aware of the hype surrounding his film and the worry that he will be responsible for ruining a classic film by adding a subpar sequel. He also has an idea for an Eddie Murphy Cinematic Universe...

On this episode of The Playlist Podcast , we speak to Jermaine Fowler about his breakout role in “ Coming 2 America ,” what it’s like stepping into one of the most anticipated comedy sequels of all time, why he’s really trying to get a ‘ Fifth Element ’ spinoff film in development, his love of Tim Burton shit, as he puts it. Needless to say, our conversation runs the gamut.

Former actor Kasi Lemmons has charted her own cinematic path since tiring of "best friend" roles in mid-90s. The director of "Eve's Bayou" (1997), "Talk To Me" (2007), and "Harriet" (2019) has gradually cultivated a fascinating directorial career. To discuss this pioneering Black female filmmaker and versatile dramatist, we're thrilled to be joined by Professor Christina N. Baker, author of "Kasi...

Action films from the ‘90s are an interesting breed. Some are glorious. Others are downright horrible. But, boy, oh boy, did studios sure love VR, pastel colors, and martial arts. And now that Hollywood has decided to go ahead and make an ill-advised sequel to “ Face/Off ,” the guys from The Playlist Podcast have a few ideas for films from the ‘90s that are ripe for remakes, sequels, or reboots, s...

In a new interview with The Playlist Podcast, the director of the Nicolas Cage horror-comedy, “Willy’s Wonderland,” Kevin Lewis talks about his love of genre films, the mystique that surrounds Cage, and his recent near-death experience battling COVID. 

“ Raya and the Last Dragon ,” the upcoming action-adventure from Walt Disney Animation Studios , features set pieces and genre thrills that feel wholly unique among their 59 film animated catalog. Starring Kelly Marie Tran as the titular warrior, “Raya” is set in the mythical world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons once lived together in harmony. Sadly, that harmony was short-lived when the Dr...

For many people, the name Cathy Yan automatically brings to mind “Birds of Prey.” That makes sense, considering for years, that is the only film that the young filmmaker has released. But you see, “Birds of Prey” isn’t her first film. No, that distinction belongs to the Sundance award-winning satire, “Dead Pigs,” which is finally getting distributed three years after its festival debut. And the fi...

On Valentine's Day, "The Silence of the Lambs" celebrates 30 years of haunting imaginations and changing serial-killer cinema forever. On this week's Be Reel, Noah and Chance appreciate the many inimitable qualities of Jonathan Demme's 1991 classic, including its lack of genre fealty, its simultaneous intensity and restraint, and getting the best out of Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. From there...

This week, on The Playlist Podcast, we speak to Sam Levinson, the writer-director of “Malcolm & Marie,” as well as the creator of HBO’s award-winning “Euphoria,” about his new film, his hit show, and his legendary father, Barry Levinson.