The Next Best Picture Podcast

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Interview With "How To Make A Killing" Filmmaker John Patton Ford Feb 20, 2026

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"How To Make A Killing" is a black comedy thriller film written and directed by John Patton Ford. Following his Sundance directorial debut feature film "Emily The Criminal," Ford gathered the talents of Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, and Ed Harris to bring his loosely inspired contemporary version of the 1949 British film "Kind Hearts and Coronets" to the big screen. It wasn't always the easiest process (when is making a movie ever easy?), and Ford was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his experience and work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from A24. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Interviews With "Kpop Demon Hunters" Singers & Filmmakers Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

"Kpop Demon Hunters" is an American animated musical fantasy film co-written and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, produced by Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix and animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks. Premiering on Netflix over the summer, it became the platform’s most-watched original film ever, with over 500 million views, and achieved historic box-office success during limited theatrical runs. The soundtrack broke records with four simultaneous top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned double platinum certification. Widely acclaimed, the film won major honors including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the Critics' Choice and Golden Globe Awards, received Academy Award nominations in the same categories, and won a Grammy for the Oscar-nominated song, "Golden." Singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, and filmmakers Kang and Appelhans were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Netflix and is up for your consideration for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Interview With "EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert" Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann Feb 19, 2026

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"EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert" is a documentary film about Elvis Presley directed by Baz Luhrmann, acting as a follow-up to Luhrmann's 2022 biographical film "Elvis." The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received extremely positive reviews from critics for its visual and audio restoration, and an electric look at one of the greatest entertainers of all time, fully in his element, on stage in front of an audience. Luhrmann was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be released exclusively in IMAX theaters by NEON beginning on February 20th, before being released theatrically to the general public one week later on February 27th. Thank you, and enjoy!

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"The Secret Agent" Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture

For this week's second podcast review, Alyssa Christian, Dan Bayer, Giovanni Lago, and Brendan Hodges join me to discuss the latest feature film from renowned Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, "The Secret Agent" starring Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Alice Carvalho, Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândidom, Hermila Guedes, Isabél Zuaa, and Udo Kier. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received widespread acclaim and became the festival's most awarded film, winning the Best Actor award for Moura, the Best Director award for Mendonça Filho, the Art House Cinema Award, and the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Film. At the 2025 Critics' Choice Awards, it won Best Foreign Language Film; at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, it became the first Brazilian film nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama, winning Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama (Wagner Moura) and Best Foreign Language Film. At the 98th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor for Moura, Best Casting, and Best International Feature Film. With all the awards and success, what did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the direction, themes, lead performance by Wagner Moura, the rest of the ensemble, its awards season run, how passionate Brazilian fans are, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening. Enjoy!

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Interview With "Zootopia 2" Star Ginnifer Goodwin Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

"Zootopia 2" is an American animated buddy cop comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and the sequel to the Oscar-winning "Zootopia" (2016). Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard and written by Bush, the film stars Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba, Alan Tudyk, Nate Torrence, Don Lake, Bonnie Hunt, and Jenny Slate reprising their roles from the first film, with newcomers Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, and Danny Trejo joining the cast. The film follows Judy Hopps (Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Bateman) as they pursue a pit viper named Gary De'Snake (Quan) across Zootopia and try to clear their names after being framed. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $1.830 billion worldwide, becoming the second-highest-grossing animated film of all time, the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time, and the second-highest-grossing film of 2025. The film received nominations for Best Animated Feature at the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards, BAFTAs, and the Academy Awards. It additionally received a nomination for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement at the Golden Globes. Goodwin was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about her work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Walt Disney Animation Studios and is up for your consideration for Best Animated Feature at the 98th Academy Awards. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Interview With "Scarlet" Filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

"Scarlet" is a Japanese animated fantasy action film written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda. Inspired by Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet," the film follows the eponymous princess, who can cross time and space on a quest for vengeance after her father is murdered. The film had its world premiere out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its scope and scale, animation, and effects. It was nominated for three Annie Awards: Best Feature (Independent), Best Direction, and Best Writing. Hosoda was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work on the film, his work being shown in IMAX, the unique animation techniques used in the making of this film, what he sees for the future of anime in the U.S. and worldwide, and more, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Sony Pictures Classics. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Episode 479 - BAFTA & Spirit Award Winner Predictions, CDG & MUAHS Winners, "Omaha" & "Rose Of Nevada" Trailers Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

For Episode 479, Dan Bayer and Giovanni Lago join me to discuss the 2026 CDG and MUAHS guild winners this week, and give our predictions for the BAFTA and Film Independent Spirit Award winners. We also reveal your nominations for the 2025 NBP Film Community Awards. For last week's poll, we asked everyone, "Which Was The Best Film From 2025 To Not Receive A Single Oscar Nomination?" and now for this week's poll, we're asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Film Nominated For An Oscar This Year?" We also give our reactions to the trailers for "Omaha" and "Rose Of Nevada," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more. Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. Enjoy!

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"Wuthering Heights" Feb 14, 2026

Show notes

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Josh Parham, Cody Dericks, Giovanni Lago, and Daniel Howat join me to discuss the latest film from Emerald Fennell, "Wuthering Heights," starring Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, and Ewan Mitchell. Adapted from Emily Brontë's 1847 novel, the film is a highly subjective reinterpretation by Fennell and has garnered a wide range of opinions and generated a ton of discourse surrounding the casting and book changes/omissions. What did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss Fennell's direction, writing, the costumes, production design, cinematography, score, songs by Charli xcx, the performances and chemistry from Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening. Come undone with us and enjoy (or let it drive you mad).

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"Pillion" Feb 14, 2026

Show notes

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture

For this week's second podcast review, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, Lauren LaMagna, Aaron Isenstein, and Tom O'Brien join me to discuss the debut feature film from Harry Lighton, "Pillion" starring Alexander Skarsgård, Harry Melling, Douglas Hodge, Lesley Sharp, Jake Shears, and Anthony Welsh. The film follows Colin (Harry Melling), a timid gay man, as he starts a BDSM relationship with Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), an enigmatic biker who likes to be the dominant one in the relationship. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, where it received widespread praise from critics, and several award nominations and wins throughout the 2025 awards season. What did we think of it, though? Please tune in as we discuss the writing, performances, depiction of the BDSM world, the ending, its awards season run, how far we would go for Skarsgård's Ray, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening. Submit yourself and enjoy!

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Interview With "Train Dreams" Cinematographer Adolpho Veloso Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

"Train Dreams" has gone on to become the most celebrated film from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, with praise going to Bentley's direction, Edgerton's performance, and the cinematography. Among its accolades, the film was named as one of the top ten films of 2025 by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. For his performance, Edgerton was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. It received four nominations at the 98th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song, and Best Cinematography. Brazilian cinematographer Adolpho Veloso has won the Critics' Choice Award for Best Cinematography and has been nominated for the ASC, BAFTA, Spirit Award, and Oscar for Best Cinematography, becoming the first Brazilian to achieve the latter. Veloso was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work on the film, the experience of awards season, his Brazilian roots, and more, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Netflix and is up for your consideration for this year's Academy Awards in all eligible categories, including Best Cinematography. Thank you, and enjoy!

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