The Takes It Took: A Movie Podcast

After a little time off from the podcast, we are BACK with our first ever TWO-PARTER ! This week we finish Jurassic Park with a mouthful of animatronic mayhem and myths regarding a certain SUV scene. There's dangerous storms that trap the crew in Hawaii, and a metric dinosaur ton of special effects and CGI! Have a listen for all of your Jurassic (and Cretaceous) needs. Want to support our show...

After a little time off from the podcast, we are BACK with our first ever TWO-PARTER ! Miles is leading us through the Brontosaurus-sized production that is Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park . We're talking puppets, stop-motion, practical effects, and maybe a little CGI as Spielberg and his team gear up to shoot this monster of a film. Make sure you tune in to part two NEXT WEEK to finish t...

If you listen, movie trivia will come. We're talking all about the the making of this classic sports movie in today's episode. Starting in 1982 with W. P. Kinsella's novel Shoeless Joe , this film has cemented itself in the hearts of many baseball fans and we're discussing how this film came to be. The making of this film wasn't easy and took extensive coordination, tankers of...

Duh Duh Duh! Don your capes and tights, it’s time we talked about THE ultimate superhero: SUPERMAN (1978). What Stephan thought would be an easy episode, revealed a symphony of over-spending, over-paid actors, tax exiles, uncredited work, and a non-existent director-producer collaboration. That's not to mention the trailblazing visual effects: How DID they get a man to fly? Tune-in and find ou...

Grab yourself some Reese's Pieces and click 'play' to learn about the making of the iconic alien E.T.! Listen as Miles talks all about the costumes, animatronics, stunts, and childhood trauma needed to make this film possible. From what started as an imaginary friend of Spielberg as a child to one of the most well-known aliens in film history, this episode dives into how this movie was...

We're heading up river and into the heart of insanity with Apocalypse Now ! In today's episode, Moriah leads the boys through the madness that was the production of Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 film. This might be the most challenging production we've covered yet, with dead bodies on set, unruly actors, heart attacks, seizures, typhoons, stolen money, and a production that lasted 23...

Get your party hats and cats to put in them! It’s our 100th episode woohoo! For today’s episode Stephan leads a conversation on 2003’s The Cat in the Hat, with a twist. Throughout the episode our noble hosts will answer film trivia, and wrong answers are punished with hot sauce or bad alcohol. Can they remember trivia from their previous episodes, or will they suffer? Tune-in for our 100th episode...

Calling all adventurers and treasure hunters! We've got an episode filled with gems and goodies all about the making of Steven Spielberg's action-packed Raiders of the Lost Ark ! If you want to learn all about the behind-the-scenes of the film that started the Indiana Jones franchise, listen now and click the links below to check out more. Want to support our show? Check out our Patreon at...

Howdy, partners and space rangers! We're covering Toy Story today and the journey of the first ever computer-generated animated film! John Lassetter and Pixar had an uphill battle to make their dream a reality, working with (or against) Disney to bring Woody, Buzz, and the whole crew to life. If you want to learn more about the making of this film, hit "play" and sit back and listen...

She’s got a great PODCAST! Welcome to this week’s episode on Michael Mann’s  electric HEAT. Stephan leads a discussion through the history and film production for the ultimate film in cops and robbers. Neil McCauley is far more than JUST a character, he was a real thief! Listen to find out what it takes to film a world-class bank robbery, how to ask your cop buddies to ride around with them, and h...

Gather around, all you citizens and civilians, because we've got a brand new episode about people fighting bugs in space! That's right, today Miles is taking us through the making of Starship Troopers . From what was once considered an extremely pro-fascist piece of literature from the 1950s, Paul Verhoeven and crew turned this story into the classic campy sci-fi adventure we know today. I...

Oh yahh you better cozy on up for the first episode of 2026 as we talk about the making of the Coen brothers' classic Fargo ! We're diving into what made this film possible, and you betcha we're gonna talk about if it's ACTUALLY based on a true story, how much fake snow was involved, and where that wood chipper ended up. If you're a fan of the Coens, murder, or Frances McDorman...

2025 has come to an end, which means it's time for our yearly episode where we talk about what we watched this year and we pass out the coveted TOOKIES Awards ! But we're not just interested in Best Cinematography or Score, NO! We're giving out awards for Most Surprising, Best Worst Movie, and more! We've got Isa joining in for this special episode and we hope you join us in as we...

The…the…the….THE GRINCH. Happy Holidays one and all, it’s time for everyone’s favorite Green Meany. Stephan leads this episode through the making of 2000’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. An immense auction, impossible script revisions, cut jokes, audacious set designs, and of course the suffocating make-up. Find out why Jim Carrey needed a CIA operative to teach him coping skills and his make-up...

Whatever you do, DON'T read from the ancient Egyptian book but DO click 'play' to listen to our episode about the making of the 1999 film The Mummy ! Miles takes us through the long journey from how Boris Karloff's 1932 The Mummy eventually became the one we know and love with Brendan Fraser. From accidentally being strangled on set to being airlifted due to insect bites to sandsto...

Forget your children and grab that pixie dust to listen to the story of the making of Steven Spielberg's Hook ! If you're a fan of Peter Pan, you might just be like a little 11-year-old Spielberg, who knew from a young age he wanted to make his own version of the J.M. Barrie classic. But what challenges and hiccups awaited that boy once he turned into one of the most prolific directors? Li...

Come on in, it’s cold outside! Warm up to this week’s episode on John Carpenter’s THE THING. Stephan leads a personal walk through the production of this Sci-Fi horror classic. A frozen set in Alaska, never-before-seen effects, and filmmakers dedicated to the point of hospitalization. Who designed the creature? Who had diabetes? How did they pull off the walking head? And WHO is the Thing? All thi...

Grab your bowls of chili and your cats and get ready to learn about Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy ! Miles takes us through the development of the comics with its creator Mike Mignola to del Toro's 2004 film. If you want to learn more about the makeup, the VFX shot that's got 100 effect layers on it, and how reluctant Mignola was to make his character into a film, listen now. Want to sup...

Hop in the shower and listen as we talk about the making and behind-the-scenes of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho ! We all know the iconic shower scene and how this film changed horror, but do you know about the obstacles Hitchcock faced to get this little production made? Or about some of the myths that surround this film? Give a listen now to learn more! Want to support our show? Check out our Pat...

King Kong has a a present for you! We’ve covered 2001’s cop thriller TRAINING DAY. Step inside Stephan’s office and be regaled by this movie’s development including the REAL history behind it: Bank robberies, investigations, stealing evidence, shooting on-location in L.A., and even the Notorious B.I.G. Buckle-in and pay attention! Want to support our show? Check out our Patreon at patreon.com/thet...

Attention people of Earth! We are under attack from one of the worst sci-fi films ever created! An episode all about the insane making of the now cult-classic film Plan 9 from Outer Space is here for your listening pleasure. Never heard of it? Know and love it? Either way, buckle up for the disastrous story of Ed Wood's campy alien flick starring Bella Lugosi and Vampira. What could go wrong?...

Citizens of Gotham, listen up! We're covering the blockbuster hit that is Batman and EVERYTHING that happened to make this film the success-- from Tim Burton being selected to a soundstage takeover in England to Jack Nicholson's unforgettable performance as Joker. If you've ever wondered about the gadgets, costumes, production design, and makeup of this film, listen now to learn it all...

Grab your orange tank tops, your Mondoshawans, and don’t forget those stones! Stephan covers this episode on The Fifth Element's VERY long production. A story written 20 years in advance, French artists, French clothes, and special effects coming out the wazoo. There’s absolutely nothing else to talk about! If you love sci-fi, don’t miss this one. Want to support our show? Check out our Patreo...

In space, no one can hear you scream... but you can listen to our episode all about the making of Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror Alien ! In this episode, Miles leads the gang through the wild production history of Alien, from H.R. Giger's inspirational art to the iconic chest-bursting scene to the MYTH of Sigourney Weaver's digitally-removed bush. We cover all of it and more, so lis...

Cheers to three years! We're celebrating three years of podcasting by talking about Mel Brooks' 1967 Oscar-winning film and musical. If you're a fan of the classic film, the broadway musical, or the 2005 musical film version, this one's for you. We've got something for everyone, from Gene Wilder's sugar rush for his performance to Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick breaking...