The Big Picture - The Ringer

Latest Episodes:

What It’s Really Like at an Awards Show. Plus: Cliff Booth Returns and the Best Super Bowl Trailers! Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

Sean and Amanda open the show by reacting to every movie trailer from the Super Bowl, including those for David Fincher’s ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth’ and Steven Spielberg’s ‘Disclosure Day’ (1:25). Then, they talk through their experience at the DGA Awards this past weekend and explain what it’s actually like at an awards show (33:15). Finally, Sean is joined by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the directors of ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ to discuss why they wanted to make a movie for themselves first and foremost, how legendary Korean directors Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook inspired their filmmaking style, and the importance of writing interesting and strong female characters (1:25:38).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans

Producer: Jack Sanders

Video Producers: Sarah Reddy, Donald LoBianco, and Ryan Todd

Audio Producers: Devon Baroldi and Kevin Cureghian

Additional Production Support: Nick Kosut and T Cruz

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‘Mamma Mia!’ Meets ‘The Strangers'! It’s a Movie Swap! Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

For the first time in show history we’re doing a “listener’s choice” episode! We gave you four options and you ultimately decided to go with a 2008 Movie Swap featuring ‘The Strangers’ and ‘Mamma Mia!’ Before diving in, Sean and Amanda preview the Super Bowl this Sunday and talk through the potential trailers for some of the year’s biggest movies (2:27). Then, they explain what a Movie Swap is exactly (8:42), and discuss ‘The Strangers’ (16:59) and ‘Mamma Mia!’ (48:38)

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Producer: Jack Sanders

A State Farm agent can help you choose the coverage you need. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

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Dumpuary Is Dead. These Movies Killed It. Plus: The Best Movies at Sundance and the Catherine O’Hara Hall of Fame. Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

Sean and Amanda open today’s action-packed show by discussing the incredible box office success of Markiplier’s self-financed ‘Iron Lung,’ and they talk through how it could possibly impact the future of moviegoing and studio strategy (2:32). Then, they react to breaking news in real time, with Nancy Meyers’s new film starring Penélope Cruz, Kieran Culkin, and Jude Law being dated for December 2027 (17:22). Next, they honor the legendary actor Catherine O’Hara following her passing and briefly build her Hall of Fame (21:58). Following that, Sean shares his 10 favorite movies from the Sundance Film Festival and highlights ‘Josephine’ as emotionally devastating and a major standout (27:16). Later, they discuss two recent releases in ‘People We Meet on Vacation,’ which they found to be quite disappointing (43:12), and the Charli xcx mockumentary ‘The Moment,’ which they both thoroughly enjoyed (1:07:16). Finally, Sean is joined by legendary production designer Jack Fisk to discuss all things ‘Marty Supreme,’ his incredibly detail-oriented creative process behind building a new world, and what he learned from working with filmmakers like Terrence Malick, David Lynch, and Paul Thomas Anderson (1:21:57).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Jack Fisk

Producer: Jack Sanders

A State Farm agent can help you choose the coverage you need. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

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The 10 Most Misused Stars in Hollywood and the Gnarly Magic of ‘Send Help’ Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

Sean and Amanda open the show by covering A24's win in the 72-hour bidding war for Olivia Wilde’s ‘The Invite’ at the Sundance Film Festival (1:16), react to the leaked photographs from the upcoming biopics about the Beatles (5:33), and share their brief takeaways from the BAFTA nominations (8:38). Then, they cover ‘Mercy,’ starring Chris Pratt, which they found to be an evil and disastrous misfire (17:01). Next, they talk through Sam Raimi’s ‘Send Help’, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, and celebrate Raimi's use of his signature trademarks to explore some really morally thorny material (41:34). Finally, they use McAdams’s wonderful performance as a segue to have a conversation about the 10 most misused stars in Hollywood (1:00:16).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Producer: Jack Sanders

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The Oscar Noms Mailbag: Is ‘Sinners’ vs. ‘One Battle After Another’ a Race? Plus: Best Picture Power Rankings. Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

We’re opening up the mailbag! Before diving in, Sean and Amanda break down the poor box office performance over the weekend and highlight some new releases coming this week (2:13). Then, they answer all of your questions relating to last week’s Oscars nominations, talk through topics like whether or not late release dates negatively affected certain films' award chances, and debate whether ‘Sinners’ now has a legitimate shot at winning Best Picture over ‘One Battle After Another’ (11:24). Finally, they update their Best Picture power rankings following the official nominations (1:40:57).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Producer: Jack Sanders

This episode is sponsored by State Farm®️. A State Farm agent can help you choose the coverage you need. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®️

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The 2026 Oscar Nominations: Snubs, Surprises, and WTFs Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Sean and Amanda break down all of the Oscar nominations and share their major takeaways, including 'F1' (sillily) sneaking into Best Picture and ‘Sinners’ shattering the all-time nominations record, and highlight their biggest snubs.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Producer: Jack Sanders

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The Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Movie Draft. Plus: ‘The Rip.’ Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

We’re drafting again! Before diving in, Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to debate whether or not this is the best January at the movies ever (0:37). Then, they cover the new Netflix action movie ‘The Rip’—starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck—during which they make the case for it being an A-plus January Netflix release (17:02). Next, they talk through what Damon and Affleck mean to film (39:41) and draft their favorite movies from the iconic duo (51:41).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

Producer: Jack Sanders

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‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ Is Gut-Ripping and Gut-Wrenching. Plus: Mona Fastvold on ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’! Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan as they enter the bone temple to discuss Nia DaCosta’s ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,’ which they all thoroughly enjoyed (10:12). Then, they briefly build the Ralph Fiennes Hall of Fame, featuring their favorite performances from the legendary actor (43:47). Next, they cover Mona Fastvold’s ‘The Testament of Ann Lee,’ starring Amanda Seyfried, which they found incredibly ambitious and strange but also wonderfully complex and mature (51:39). Finally, Sean is joined by Fastvold to explain what attracted her to the story of Ann Lee and the Shaker movement; talk through the process of cowriting the screenplay with her husband, Brady Corbet; and discuss how she’s able to make epic stories with lower-budget independent filmmaking (1:01:56).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Mona Fastvold and Chris Ryan

Producer: Jack Sanders

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The 2026 Movie Auction Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

We’re back with a new movie auction! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to review the rules and results from last year’s auctions (3:47) and compete for their most anticipated films of 2026 in ‘The Odyssey,’ ‘Dune: Part Three,’ ‘Disclosure Day,’ and more (39:19).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

Producer: Jack Sanders

This episode is sponsored by State Farm®️. A State Farm agent can help you choose the coverage you need. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®️

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2026 Golden Globes: ‘One Battle After Another’ vs. ‘Hamnet’ Begins Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Sean and Amanda instantly react to the 2026 Golden Globes and break down their thoughts on the telecast, debate whether or not ‘Hamnet’ is now a serious Best Picture contender, and wonder what exactly the purpose of this awards show is.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Producer: Jack Sanders

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