Movie Schmovie

This week on the show, the guys head out to California (where the emotions are BIG) by watching John's Required Viewing pick, the sprawling and melodramatic Magnolia; then Ron and John check in on Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd's toxic bromance, Friendship; and finally Steve and John chat in a non-spoiler-y way about how season one of The Studio wrapped up.

Steve's Required Viewing pick, the brand-new over-the-top action thriller Fight or Flight, asks the question: is this Josh Hartnett's “John Wick on a plane,” or just another movie where a disgraced federal agent ingests toad venom and kills contract killers with a chainsaw? Then Ron and John try to explain the adrenaline rush of watching Tom Cruise climb around on a biplane in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. And lastly, if you like your Reckonings final, how about your Destinations? Final Destination: Bloodlines resuscitates that durable franchise with a new entry focusing on a family who comes down with a bad case of death. John has a few thoughts.

Ron's Required Viewing pick, Summer of 69, tries to hide a sweet coming-of-age story in a raunchy teen sex comedy, or maybe it's the other way around. Listen in to find out how first-time director Jillian Bell did! Then Ron and John get into the emotional highs and lows of Thunderbolts*, the MCU's surprisingly moody new entry that breathes life into the beleaguered franchise. Also: OTHER THINGS! Just how you like it.

Ron, Steve, and John discuss 1990's The Hunt for Red October, the new trailer for Zach Cregger‘s Weapons, and Sinners (yes, again)!

Steve's Required Viewing pick leaves no tears unshed as the guys are emotionally destroyed by The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, a unique Norwegian documentary about online life, coping with illness, and the need for friendship. Then they regroup to share thoughts on other recent things they've watched—including more enthusing about Sinners, which John finally caught.

It's an episode bursting with positive vibes for new movies! What more could you want? Maybe if we said “John reveals something potentially embarrassing from his past,” that would hook you in. The choice is yours. 

John's Required Viewing pick for this episode is Zucker-Abrams-Zucker's 1984 spy/Elvis/war spoof, Top Secret!, starring the late, great Val Kilmer in an early, loose-limbed comedic role. After that, Ron gives us the low-down on Drop, the brand-new Blumhouse thriller in theaters now; there's a survey of some recent trailers for films that the guys are excited about; and finally it's time to share a few thoughts on the White Lotus season finale.

Steve's Required Viewing pick is an indie film that straddles a few genres, including horror, sci-fi, and psychological drama. Find out what the guys think! Also get Ron's take on Flight Risk, a new thriller from Ambassador to Hollywood Mel Gibson in which Mark Wahlberg rocks his most interesting hairline yet!

Ron's Required Viewing pick this week is 1986's Howard the Duck, a silly sci-fi adventure torn from the pages of Marvel Comics. After discussing that, the guys dig into a few other things they've seen and spend a segment extolling the virtues of Walton Goggins, who is having a moment.

Ron, Steve, and John hop in the car with Samuel L Jackson and Geena Davis to keep tabs on 1996's The Long Kiss Goodnight, a violent and bombastic neonoir/action/comedy thriller directed by Renny Harlin. Then they break down the other things they've watched recently, including Daredevil: Born Again (the latest Disney+ MCU series), and Bong Joon-Ho's wild and funny sci-fi epic, Mickey 17. And more!

Just look at that episode title! What a bunch of stuff to talk about, and that's without the implications of the word “more.” Are Ron, Steve, and John up to the task? Only those who listen will know.

Ron, Steve, and John talk-sing their way through the minefield of topics that is this week's Required Viewing pick, Emilia Pérez. Then they blast through internet issues to take on the real enemy: Mediocre superhero films. Who wins that battle? Listen in to find out the answer to that, as well as some recent TV shows the guys have been watching.

In a special installment celebrating 400 episodes since John joined the podcast, the Schmovie Boyz chat about streaming series' whose names start with S (more or less); play a government-ordered round of The Schmovie Studios Movie Game; and reassess some old topic-based episodes of the show in a new segment called “Forever Ever?”

Ron, Steve, and John get lost in the catacombs with a very chilled-out Crypt Keeper, who guides us through this week's Required Viewing selection, 1972's UK anthology film, Tales from the Crypt. Then it's back to the office as the long-awaited season two premiere of Severance finally arrives. Worth the wait? Join us and find out!

We dive into Steve's Required Viewing pick, Asphalt City, and its storytelling impact, then review 2025's Wolfman starring Christopher Abbott, exploring its place in the werewolf genre. Plus, more movie and pop culture discussions!

Ron, Steve, and John are here to give you something to look forward to as they list their most anticipated movies and TV shows of the upcoming year. Because in 2025, escapism is where it's at!

Ron, Steve, and John are going live for the first time ever! Join the guys as they count down their favorite films of 2024 in this special year-end episode. From jaw-dropping blockbusters to hidden indie gems, they share their top picks and reflect on the year in cinema. Tune in for laughs, hot takes, and maybe a few surprises as they wrap up 2024 with a celebration of the movies that made an impact. Don't miss this epic live stream event—grab your popcorn and let's talk film!

Ron, Steve, and John search their souls and discuss the relatable predicament of having to pick a new pope by digging in to Conclave, a recent, dialogue-driven Vatican drama packed with terrific actors. Ronald and Steve share in the fun they had with Netflix's holiday action thriller Carry-On, and then the guys hop into John's car to break down Robert Eggers's dread-infused remake of classic vampire film Nosferatu.

Ron, Steve, and John travel back to feudal Japan to sneak into The Hidden Fortress, and then it's off to a galaxy far, far away for the latest Disney+ Star Wars show, Skeleton Crew, which beats the odds by being pure fun.

The guys attach the customary electrodes and flip a few switches so they can chat up Netflix's bizarre, darkly funny body-swap thriller It's What's Inside. Then they dive headlong into a round-robin discussion of things they're thankful for this year—mostly related to entertainment but some related to life-stuff! Whether you're getting ready for a big family feast or hiding somewhere with a quiet snack, do Turkey day right: with us in your ear.

In this relatively brief episode that's not really an episode, the guys huddle in John's car for a field recording of their Gladiator II thoughts, minutes after viewing the film. ALSO, hear about Ron's emotional experience seeing Wicked: Part 1.

In a wide-ranging episode, the guys tackle Max Julien's 1974 blaxploitation western, Thomasine and Bushrod; pay their respects to the late Tony Todd; and dig into the premiere of Silo's second season on Apple TV Plus. Then Ron and John deliver a spoiler section on the first season of The Penguin and Steve shares a few thoughts about creepy Hugh Grant in Heretic.

Ron, Steve, and John get together to talk about a horror remake from 1988, because there isn't anything else going on. It's Chuck Russell's version of The Blob, a film with scary practical effects and an even scarier mullet.

Ron, Steve, and John ruminate on the nature of crime and justice as they discuss Bong Joon-Ho's moody and absorbing 2003 serial killer drama, Memories of Murder. Then younger versions of the guys emerge from their bloody torn bodies for a run-down of Coralie Fargeat's visceral, upsetting, and darkly funny new body horror film, The Substance. Happy Halloween!

Ron, Steve, and John are back with a horror-centric episode, from Ron's Required Viewing pick, Doctor Sleep, to this week's brand-new Smile 2, with a little side serving of Art the Clown, whose latest, the bludgeoning Terrifier 3, is already a huge success, especially for an unrated, independently-produced film.

Steve, Ron, and John take a trip back to Haddonfield, Illinois for the last time—three more times! It's all in the name of wrapping up their Halloween Watch-em-all mini-series with coverage of the trilogy of (as of now) final installments in this curiously durable but certainly tired franchise, all directed by David Gordon Green: Halloween, Halloween Kills, and Halloween Ends.

Ron, Steve, and John try to keep their zoo open by watching Fierce Creatures, the 1997 comedy that attempted to repeat the success of A Fish Called Wanda. They also enthuse about Jeremy Saulnier's new Netflix thriller, Rebel Ridge, and Ronald and John share some thoughts on that hit Beetlejuice sequel.

The guys check out experimental true crime semi-doc The Speedway Murders, which combines dramatic reenactments, talking head interviews, and speculative footage, and then dig into a couple of equally experimental recent horror films: Cuckoo and Strange Darling.

Steve, Ron, and John take a look at two new releases: an animated adaptation of the first half of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's seminal graphic novel, Watchmen, and the latest entry in a franchise that keeps on kicking (and hugging faces and dripping acid blood), Alien: Romulus.

As often happens, the title of the eppy says it all. This time Ron, Steve, and John endure and /or enjoy the next four Halloween sequels in their summer-long Watch-em-all commitment: 1998's Halloween H20, aka the return of franchise heroine Jamie Lee Curtis as prototypical final girl Laurie Strode—and then three other movies, one of which features Busta Rhymes using kung fu on Michael Myers. Welcome to DangerTainment!

The guys discuss perhaps the bleakest animated talking animal movie ever made, Martin Rosen's The Plague Dogs (1982), before moving on to the much cheerier subject of incestuous royals engaged in bloody civil war, aka the second season finale of House of the Dragon. Then Steve and John try to escape their ambivalence about M Night Shyamalan's latest mid-budget thriller, Trap.

John mislabels a boy band, Ron is suspicious of Robert Downey, Jr's intentions, and Steve is all in on Hugh Jackman. Come for the Required Viewing pick (the intensely violent hostage/revenge thriller known as Kill) and stay for three grown men having a (gasp!) reasonable conversation about the MCU. It can be done!

Saddle up and join in as Ronald, Steve and John hit the trail for a week's worth of television and film offerings. We've got Westerns and Comics and Galaxies far, far away… OH MY!

Ron, Steve, and John return to the ongoing Watch-em-all series with the next three installments in the Halloween franchise, 1988's Halloween 4: The Curse of Michael Myers, 1989's Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, and, from 1995, Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers. It would be simplistic to say that the quality declines as this trilogy of films proceeds, and it would also be correct.

The guys talk about 2022's “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” the Nicolas Cage action buddy comedy John chose as this week's Required Viewing. Then the trailer for Robert Zemeckis's upcoming effects-driven, time-spanning drama, Here, is discussed. Ronald also digs into his recent physical media purchases, and somewhere in there we call it a show.

This week your Required Viewing assignment is Here for Blood, a gleefully schlocky slasher movie chosen by Steve. Then Ron details some physical media purchases, and the guys discuss recent releases like the charming Glen Powell/Richard Linklater collaboration Hit Man and the fourth season premiere of Amazon's wild and graphic superhero saga, The Boys. 

Join in as Ronald, Steve, and John discuss Exhuma (2024), In A Violent Nature, Furiosa, Love Lies Bleeding, and more!

Ron, Steve, and John get their asses away from the Myers house and dig deep in their candy buckets to see what's up with the boogeyman. My guess is Halloween (1978), Halloween II (1981), and Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) are all in there, and that they get devoured/discussed thoroughly.

Dive in as Ronald, Steve and John navigate a river of topics including 1968's The Swimmer, and two new releases, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and The Last Stop in Yuma County!

Ronald adds a fresh piece of office furniture to the Schmovie family and then the guys get tangled up in the spider's den of Infested, a creepy-crawly French creature feature selected by Steve. Later on, John talks about The Fall Guy, and Ronald shares some physical media picks for the week. Also, MORE!

Everybody fall in for a loosey-goosey episode of the show! Steve saw Challengers, John watched Baby Reindeer, and Ronald has a few things to say about physical media. The Mufasa trailer is also discussed.

The guys are back to give you the 411 on Norwegian disaster flick The Wave, vampire ballerina bloodbath Abigail, the first 40 minutes of Alex Garland's Civil War, and the just-released trailer for the MCU's impending ‘hail Mary' movie, Deadpool and Wolverine.

Ronald, Steve, and John discuss the newly-released slapstick comedy, Hundreds of Beavers. 

On a very special episode, Ronald, Steve, and John celebrate the 4-1-0 with a massive rundown of some of the biggest titles in television and film to make their way through Baltimore. From 12 Monkeys to The Wire to John Waters, and that's only halfway through the episode. Jump in Hon! Charm City's-a-callin'!

Ronald, Steve, and John discuss Chowchilla (2023), Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Late Night With The Devil, and more!

Join in as Ronald, Steve and John dive in to one of James Cameron's game-changing classics, 1989's The Abyss. And be sure to stick around as they run down new trailer releases and check in with one good thing they each watched in the last 7 days. 

In a stunning return to podcasting after a full week away, Ron and Steve and John talk about Elia Kazan and Bud Schulberg's social satire/black comedy from 1957, A Face in the Crowd. Then they move on to discussing a few recent trailers, before wrapping things up with a round of “What Else Did You Guys Watch,” America's favorite pastime.

The red carpet has been rolled up, but Ronald, Steve and John hang back and recap the 96th Academy Awards. From there, join in as they discuss 2023's God is a Bullet and Apple TV+'s new historical drama series, Manhunt.

Some say it's the end of Peak Television, but there's a lot of TeeVee out there making a claim otherwise. Join Ronald, Steve, and John as they share what they've been watching lately on the small screen, including Shogun, The Curse, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and more!

Shai-Hulud beckoned Ronald, Steve, and John to the sands of Arrakis, and the call has been answered. Join in for a Dune (2021) rewatch and a discussion around Denis Villeneuve's newest sci-fi epic, Dune: Part Two. All that kicks off after this week's Required Viewing chit chat around Wes Craven's 2005 thriller, Red Eye. 

On this week's pod Ronald, Steve, and John contemplate this week's Required Viewing pick, 2021's Nine Days, and then move on to a grab bag of reviews, including the new Liam Hemsworth actioner, Land of Bad, a Coen brother film, Drive-Away Dolls, and a new animated Netflix film written by Charlie Kaufman called Orion and the Dark.