Next Best Picture Podcast

"Mother Mary" is a psychological drama-thriller film written and directed by David Lowery. It stars Anne Hathaway as the iconic pop star, Mother Mary, who reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer (played by Michaela Coel) on the eve of her comeback performance as long-buried wounds between the two rise to the surface and a more sinister presence emerges. The film also stars Hunter Schafer, FKA Twigs, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Isaura Barbé-Brown, Sian Clifford, and Alba Baptista. Lowery was kind enough to spend some time speaking with me, while promoting the film in between screenings, about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, now playing in limited release from A24 and expanding nationwide on April 24th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?

"Fuze" is a 2025 British crime thriller heist film directed by David Mackenzie and written by Ben Hopkins, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Sam Worthington. Set in London, there is a citywide evacuation when an unexploded World War II bomb is unearthed at a busy construction site. Amid the escalating tension and chaos, a daring criminal operation is set in motion -- one that uses the evacuation as a cover for a meticulously planned bank heist. As authorities race against time to contain the crisis, alliances blur, and moral boundaries are crossed. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its action, tension, twists, and muscular direction. Taylor-Johnson, Worthington, and Mackenzie were all kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be released in theaters on April 24th from Roadsid

"Over Your Dead Body" is an American action-comedy-thriller film directed by Jorma Taccone and written by Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney. It is an English-language remake of the 2021 film "The Trip" starring Jason Segel, Samara Weaving, Paul Guilfoyle, Keith Jardine, Timothy Olyphant, and Juliette Lewis. The film had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, where it received positive reviews for its performances, action from 87North Productions, and dark comedy. Taccone was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters on April 24th from Independent Film Company. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL EPISODE. Please check out the full podcast episode on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture The Next Best Series Podcast is back as Alyssa Christian and Giovanni Lago join me to discuss the latest series, shows, and awards season updates for all things television! On this new episode, we discuss our first Emmy nomination predictions on the site, the shows competing in this year's Emmy awards race that did not receive any previous precursors including "Margo's Got Money Troubles," "The Boys," "Rooster," "Industry," "The Comeback," "A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms," "The Madison," and more! Please tune in as we go through our current consensus picks as of today, who we feel are the early frontrunners, and we also go over other shows we've been catching up on since the last time you heard from us! Thank you for your continued support. We hope you enjoy this episode and all the others still to come this Emmy Awards season. Ch

"I Swear" is a 2025 British biographical drama film directed, written, and produced by Kirk Jones. It is based on the true life story of John Davidson, a Scottish man with severe Tourette syndrome who was the subject of the 1989 television documentary "John's Not Mad." The film stars Robert Aramayo as Davidson, alongside Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, and Peter Mullan in supporting roles, with Scott Ellis Watson making his acting debut as a young Davidson. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received universal acclaim from critics, who praised the performances of Aramayo and Mullan. The film received five nominations at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, winning two for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Aramayo and Best Casting. Aramayo was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in US theaters on April 24th from Sony Pictures C

"Amrum" is a 2025 German historical drama film directed by Fatih Akin and co-written by Akin with Hark Bohm, based on Bohm's childhood on the German island of Amrum during the last months of World War II. It stars Jasper Billerbeck, Kian Köppke, Laura Tonke, Diane Kruger, Detlev Buck and Matthias Schweighöfer. The film had its world premiere in the Cannes Premiere section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its direction, writing, and lead performance from Billerbeck. Bohm died two months after the film's German theatrical release, and the film is dedicated to his memory. Akin was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, now playing at the Quad Cinema in New York and opening at the Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles on April 24th from Kino Lorber. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - http

For Episode 488, I am joined by Aaron Isenstein, Daniel Howat, and Giovanni Lago as Howat recaps his experience at this year's CinemaCon and the films showcased. We also discuss the Cannes sidebar announcements, including Critics' Week, Acid, and Directors' Fortnight. For this week's poll question, we're asking everyone: "Which Upcoming Movies From CinemaCon 2026 Are You Most Excited To See?" and reveal the winner of last week's poll asking, "Which Films From The 2026 Cannes Film Festival Are You Most Looking Forward To?" We also share our reactions to the trailers for "Focker-In-Law," "The Dog Stars," "Street Fighter," and "Passenger," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, subscribing, and supporting us. We hope you enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://w

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Josh Parham, and Cody Dericks join me to review and discuss "Lee Cronin's The Mummy," starring Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Verónica Falcón, and Natalie Grace. A reimagining of "The Mummy" franchise (Not THAT "Mummy" franchise starring Brendan Fraser), the film is produced by James Wan and Jason Blum and brings a much darker, more sinister edge to the franchise than has ever been seen before. It injects the same style and tone Cronin brought to the "Evil Dead" franchise, producing something gory, shocking, and punishingly brutal for both the characters and the audience. But what did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the story, the acting, sound work, makeup effects, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com

"Wasteman" is a 2025 British prison film directed by Cal McMau from a screenplay by Hunter Andrews and Eoin Doran. The film stars David Jonsson and Tom Blyth as incarcerated cellmates who have to do what they need to do in order to survive the prison's brutal conditions. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for McMau's intense and gritty direction and the powerful performances from Jonsson and Blyth. The two young actors were both kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Sunrise Films. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7Kio

"Erupcja" is a 2025 drama film directed and produced by Pete Ohs, from a screenplay by Ohs, Jeremy O. Harris, Charli XCX, Lena Góra, and Will Madden. It stars XCX, Góra, O. Harris, and Madden. It had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival in the Centerpiece section, and also played in New York at Film at Lincoln Center as part of the New Directors, New Films program. The film follows Nel (Góra), who lives in Warsaw, Poland, where she works at a flower shop. When her childhood friend Bethany (XCX) comes to visit with a new boyfriend (O. Harris), a volcano erupts. Ohs, O. Harris, and Góra were kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from 1-2 Special. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?

"The Christophers" is a 2025 black comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Ed Solomon. It stars Sir Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel, Jessica Gunning, and James Corden. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews from critics for Ed Solomon's screenplay and the performances of Sir Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, mostly in a chamber piece under the direction of Soderbergh. McKellen and Cole were kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from NEON. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help s

"Mile End Kicks" is a 2025 Canadian romantic comedy film written and directed by Chandler Levack. Based in part on Levack's own young adulthood before becoming a professional music critic and filmmaker, the film stars Barbie Ferreira as Grace Pine, a young woman who moves to Montreal, Quebec, in 2011 to write a book about Alanis Morissette's album Jagged Little Pill but instead becomes romantically involved with Archie (Devon Bostick) and Chevy (Stanley Simons), two members of the aspiring indie rock band Bone Patrol, and takes a job as the band's publicist. The cast also includes Jay Baruchel, Juliette Gariépy, Robert Naylor, Emily Lê, Hasani Freeman, Magi Merlin, and Isaiah Lehtinen. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews. Levack was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about her work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from

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 Hello NBP Film Community! Our 2008 retrospective has officially begun!! And we're kicking things off with Ron Howard's politically charged film adaptation of the stage play of the same name, written for both mediums by Peter Morgan, "Frost/Nixon" starring Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones, Matthew Macfadyen, Oliver Platt & Sam Rockwell. With its terrifying, eerie ties to today's political landscape, how does it hold up? Join Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, Tom O'Brien, and me as we discuss our thoughts on the performances, writing, direction, editing, its awards season run, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. We appreciate your support and hope you enjoy our discussion! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-

"Lorne" is an American documentary film directed and produced by Morgan Neville about the creator of Saturday Night Live, Lorne Michaels. The film features exclusive, archival, and interview footage of notorious Saturday Night Live personalities, including Tina Fey, Chris Rock, Conan O'Brien, Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, John Mulaney, as well as Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Kristen Wiig, Mike Myers, and Paul Simon. Being the private individual he is, this is the closest anyone has come to understanding the real Lorne Michaels, or at least, as close as he will still allow. Neville was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be released in theaters on April 17th by Focus Features. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https:

"Blue Heron" is a 2025 drama film written and directed by Sophy Romvari in her directorial debut. Described as "semi-autobiographical," the film is based in part on Romvari's own childhood and her previous short film "Still Processing." The film stars Eylul Guven as Sasha, the eight-year-old daughter of a Hungarian immigrant family who relocate to Vancouver Island in the late 1990s, while their oldest son, Jeremy (Edik Beddoes), displays increasingly dangerous behavioral issues in their new environment. The cast also includes Ádám Tompa and Iringó Réti as Sasha's parents, Liam Serg and Preston Drabble as Sasha's brothers, and Amy Zimmer as Adult Sasha. The film had its world premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival, receiving universal acclaim, winning the Swatch First Feature Award, and later the Best Canadian Discovery award at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Romvari was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about her work and experience making the film, which you can listen to belo

"Normal" is a 2025 American action film directed by Ben Wheatley and written by Derek Kolstad, based on a story by Kolstad and Bob Odenkirk. Odenkirk also stars in the film alongside Henry Winkler and Lena Headey. The film premiered in the Midnight Madness program at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and received positive reviews for its practical action, small-town dark comedy, and Odenkirk's performance. Odenkirk and Wheatley were kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be released in theaters on April 17th by Magnolia Pictures. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to

"Bunnylovr" is a 2025 American drama film written, directed by, and starring Katarina Zhu. The film follows a Chinese-American cam girl who navigates a toxic client relationship while reconnecting with her dying father. Alongside Zhu, Rachel Sennott, Austin Amelio, Perry Yung, and Jack Kilmer star in supporting roles. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is Zhu's directorial debut, showcasing a talent both in front of and behind the camera that is worth watching for in the future. Zhu was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about her work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Utopia. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7Kio

For Episode 487, I am joined by Lauren LaMagna, Dan Bayer, and Will Mavity as we give our reactions to the lineup for the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. For this week's poll question, for the announcement of the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival lineup, we're asking everyone: "Which Films From The 2026 Cannes Film Festival Are You Most Looking Forward To?" and reveal the winner of last week's poll for the release of Steven Soderbergh's newest film, "The Christophers," where we asked "Which Is Your Favorite Ian McKellen Performance?" We also share our reactions to the trailer for "The Invite," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, subscribing, and supporting us. We hope you enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson and Dan Bayer join me to discuss "You, Me & Tuscany," starring Halle Bailey, Regé-Jean Page, Lorenzo de Moor, Isabella Ferrari, Aziza Scott, Marco Calvani & Nia Vardalos. Directed by Kat Coiro and written by Ryan Engle, it takes place in Italy and tells the story of a young cook who squats in an abandoned Tuscan villa owned by a man she barely knows, and she meets the owner's cousin. A POC-led American romantic comedy, the film has been saddled with expectations to perform well at the box office so that other similar projects can be greenlit. Is this fair? What is the current state of the rom-com genre for theatrical exhibition? Why isn't Regé-Jean Page a bigger star, and what will become of Halle Bailey's still young and blossoming career? Did we enjoy this film despite its flaws? Please tune in as we discuss the story, comedy, romantic chemistry between the two leads, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out mo

"The Stranger" is a 2025 drama film written and directed by François Ozon, based on Albert Camus's 1942 novel "The Stranger". Benjamin Voisin stars in the lead role of Meursault, alongside Rebecca Marder, Pierre Lottin, Swann Arlaud, and Denis Lavant. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion. Ozon was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in NY, LA, San Francisco, Washington DC, Portland, Indianapolis, Baltimore, with a national expansion to follow from Music Box Films. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/