So Many Sequels: A Movie Podcast

In 12 Angry Men, the entire story unfolds in a single jury room—but somehow it becomes one of the most gripping films ever written. This week, the So Many Sequels crew dives into Sidney Lumet’s 1957 courtroom classic and asks why this film continues to top “greatest movies ever” lists.Josh, Garrett, and David break down the brilliance of its minimalist storytelling, from Henry Fonda’s calm but stubborn Juror #8 to the film’s exploration of bias, prejudice, and mob mentality. They also discuss the movie’s unusual production history, its Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, and how a 90-minute conversation between twelve jurors manages to feel as tense as any blockbuster thriller. Plus: jury duty stories, the 1997 remake with Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott, and why this film still resonates decades later.Follow So Many Sequels for more movie discussions, leave us a review if you enjoy the show, and join the conversation with us on social media.

How did two unknown actors from Boston write one of the most beloved screenplays in Hollywood history?This week on So Many Sequels, Josh, Garrett, and David kick off their Best Screenplay Oscar Month with Good Will Hunting (1997)—the film that launched Matt Damon and Ben Affleck from aspiring writers to Academy Award winners. The guys break down the screenplay that shocked Hollywood, the legendary performances from Matt Damon and Robin Williams, and the moments that turned this indie drama into a cultural phenomenon. Along the way they debate whether the script truly deserves its reputation, which characters work best, and how the film balances raw dialogue with emotional storytelling.Follow the show for more episodes this month as we explore Oscar-winning and nominated screenplays. If you enjoy the show, leave a review and connect with us online at SoManySequels.com.

Two beloved franchises drop new trailers — but does the magic still hold, or is nostalgia running on fumes?somanysequels.com

Why does Rob Reiner's Stand By Me still hit so hard after all these years? We break down the 1986 Stephen King adaptation that redefined coming-of-age movies.Josh, Garrett, and David wrap up Rob Reiner month by journeying down the train tracks to discuss Stand By Me. From River Phoenix’s undeniable star power and Corey Feldman's explosive timing to the brutal realities of growing apart from your childhood best friends, we're unpacking why this film is a total gut punch. We also dive into Reiner's ultimate superpowers as a director and play the Letterboxd rating game to see if the community loves this movie as much as we do (spoiler: they really do).Chapters:00:00 - Intro & Rob Reiner Month 03:43 - Box Office Breakdown & Great Movies of 1986 06:41 - First Impressions & Childhood Trauma10:33 - The Real Meaning Behind Finding the Body 14:00 - Boyhood Vulnerability & Father Issues 22:20 - River Phoenix & Corey Feldman's Incredible Performances 28:30 - Poor Vern & His Lost Pennies 30:40 - Rob Reiner's Superpowers as a Director 36:09 - Final Ratings & Reviews38:42 - The Letterboxd Gamesomanysequels.com

Are Netflix's script notes ruining modern movies? We review The Rip, Sam Raimi's Send Help, The Moment, and Peacock's The 'Burbs! We are catching up on what we've been watching this week! Josh, Garrett, and David break down why Send Help brings back the classic Sam Raimi gore , and why Charli XCX's The Moment takes a fascinating meta-approach to the A24 music documentary. We also get heated over the pacing of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's The Rip, debate Peacock's new adaptation of The 'Burbs , and react to the time-traveling trailer for Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie. Finally, David runs down the Valentine's Day box office top 5!somanysequels.com

Did This is Spinal Tap invent the mockumentary as we know it, or just perfect it on the first try? This week on So Many Sequels, we're continuing Rob Reiner Month by traveling back to 1984 to follow England's loudest band. Josh, Garrett, and David break down how Reiner's directorial debut abandoned a traditional script for genius-level world-building and cast improvisation. We talk iconic cameos (like Fran Drescher and Paul Shaffer) , the truth behind "turning it up to 11," and why this film felt like a painfully real documentary to actual rock stars. Plus, find out how it stacked up against the massive box office hits of 1984. Don't let your podcast app spontaneously combust—hit that subscribe button! Connect with us on social media and join our Discord at SoManySequels.com to chat with fellow movie fans.

Is "You can't handle the truth!" the most iconic line of the 1990s, or is it just the most parodied?. This week, the squad dives into the high-stakes courtroom of Rob Reiner’s 1992 classic, A Few Good Men, to find out if the movie holds up as well as Jack Nicholson’s terrifying performance.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro & Rob Reiner Month Update01:43 - What Is A Few Good Men About?02:23 - Box Office Breakdown: $243M Worldwide05:04 - First Watch for the Whole Squad05:43 - "You Can't Handle the Truth" Cultural Impact08:27 - Tom Cruise as Cocky Military Lawyer26:30 - Final Ratings & Reviews (4.5 Stars Across the Board)27:46 - The Ending Twist: Guilty Despite Everything29:57 - Jack Nicholson's Underrated Skull-Pissing Threat30:40 - The Letterboxd Game: David's Direct Hit32:00 - What's Next: This Is Spinal Tap & Stand By Me

Welcome to Season Nine of So Many Sequels! We are kicking off the new year—and "Rob Reiner Month"—with a look at one of the most beloved films of all time: The Princess Bride (1987).In this episode, we admit where we were wrong ("I was dumb") and break down why this movie’s initial box office struggle didn't stop it from becoming a cult phenomenon. Join us as we analyze Rob Reiner’s authentic direction, the "perfect" sword fight between Westley and Inigo Montoya, and how the film’s framing device changes the entire narrative.In this episode:Why the box office numbers lied about this movie's quality.The genius of casting Andre the Giant and Wallace Shawn.How the "fairy tale" genre was reinvented with humor.Our final ratings on the "Timeless" scale.

In this Season 8 finale of So Many Sequels, Josh, Garrett, and David reflect on an incredible year of film. Garrett champions unexpected picks like the David Attenborough documentary Oceans and the hilarious Keke Palmer/SZA comedy One of Them Days. Josh defends his "predictable" selections including the emotionally resonant Wake Up Dead Man and Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another. David builds a case for music-driven cinema with K-pop: Demon Hunters, Life of Chuck, and Superman leading his list.The only universal pick? Ryan Coogler's Sinners—a vampire film that transcends horror to explore faith, freedom, and identity. The hosts unpack why this film resonated so deeply and debate whether its pre-horror slow burn was a feature or a flaw.Beyond rankings, the episode delivers fascinating podcast statistics from 2025: 38 movies reviewed spanning 1947 to 2025, John Hughes as the year's most-watched director, and revelations about Jack Black dominating David's viewing and listening habits. The discussion concludes with 2026 resolutions (David wants to watch 150 movies!) and predictions, including Josh's controversial take that Toy Story 5 will redeem the franchise.

We wrap up So Many Santas on So Many Sequels with Miracle on 34th Street (1947), the Christmas classic that starts out as a department store comedy and somehow turns into a straight-up courtroom drama. We talk Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) getting put on the stand, the movie’s surprisingly spicy take on Christmas commercialism, and how everyone around him goes from “aww, cute Santa guy” to “call the authorities” in record time.By the end, it’s less “Ho ho ho” and more “Your Honor, I’d like to call the U.S. Postal Service.” So what’s your verdict—are you buying the magic, or do you need the paperwork to believe? Drop your take in the comments, and subscribe & leave us a review.

It’s the final update of 2025! The So Many Sequels crew empties their holiday watchlists in this jam-packed episode. We break down the craftsmanship of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein on Netflix and argue over whether it should have stayed in theaters longer. Garrett survives a stomach bug to bring us his take on Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (and the scary new Marionette villain). Plus, we discuss the surprising box office numbers for Avatar: Fire and Ash.somanysequels.com

This week on So Many Santas, the So Many Sequels crew revisits one of the most ’90s Christmas movies ever made: I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998) starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Jessica Biel. It’s a chaotic, cross-country holiday romp filled with pranks, desert towns, stolen cars, questionable ethics, and one very committed Santa suit.Josh, David, and Garrett break down the film’s wild energy, its strange blend of teen comedy and heartfelt family messaging, and why it somehow still works as a cozy December rewatch. We dig into the movie’s surprisingly good pacing, its very 1998 worldview, the charm of JTT at peak teen-idol fame, and the moments that absolutely do not age well. (Looking at you, the entire college subplot.)From sand-dune sledding to the legendary Santa 5K showdown, we revisit all the movie’s biggest moments and discuss whether it deserves a place in the annual Christmas rotation—or if it should stay tucked away with your old Tiger Beat magazines.🎅 Subscribe, leave a review, and let us know your favorite chaotic Christmas road-trip movie!

Is broadcast television finally dead? The hosts of So Many Sequels dive into the seismic shift happening in Hollywood as the Oscars announce their historic move from ABC to YouTube in 2029, signaling the end of an era for traditional media.In this packed news episode, Josh, Garrett, and David break down what the Oscars' YouTube deal means for global audiences, discuss the ongoing Warner Brothers/Netflix merger saga (and why a gold-plated envelope might seal the deal), and share their reactions to the tragic death of legendary director Rob Reiner. Plus: the guys catch up on their holiday viewing including Stranger Things Season 5, Apple TV's Pluribus, Roofman, Caught Stealing, and more. They also cover the weekend box office where Avatar: Fire and Ash dominated with $88 million, and a biblical David beat SpongeBob SquarePants.Subscribe to So Many Sequels on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube for weekly movie discussions, sequel deep-dives, and all the latest film news. Leave a review, join the conversation on social media, and stay tuned for the upcoming Rob Reiner tribute month kicking off in 2026!

What happens when the biggest streamer in the world tries to swallow one of Hollywood’s last major studios?Netflix’s proposed purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery has sent shockwaves through the film industry—and not the good kind.In this emergency episode, Josh, Garrett, and David break down what a Netflix–Warner Bros. merger would actually mean for:🎬 The future of theatrical releases💿 The slow death of physical media📉 Industry jobs, wages, and creative freedom💰 Why streaming is quietly becoming cable all over againAlong the way, we unpack industry backlash from the WGA, producers, and theater owners, debate whether Netflix even knows how to make “culture” anymore, and ask the big question: Is this what antitrust laws were supposed to stop?If you enjoy deep dives, strong opinions, and movie talk that goes beyond “content,” follow So Many Sequels on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and join the conversation on social. This one isn’t going away.

It’s officially So Many Santas season, and the So Many Sequels crew kicks things off with one of the first new holiday releases of the year: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie (2025). The Jonas Brothers return to Disney with a short, silly, self-aware Christmas road-trip musical that feels like a home movie stitched together with music videos.Josh, Garrett, and David break down the movie’s Planes, Trains & Automobiles–style premise, the surprisingly stacked supporting cast (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Chloe Bennet, Randall Park, Billy Lourd, and Will Ferrell), and whether the brothers’ self-parody actually works. There’s praise for the comedy bits, debate over the overproduced music, and a lot of discussion about what makes this movie charming… and what keeps it from being a true Christmas classic.Is this one for super fans only, or does it have enough laughs for casual viewers?🎄 Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us if this is going into your annual holiday rotation.

Is Planes, Trains and Automobiles a perfect Thanksgiving classic — or just brilliantly annoying?In this Food & Family Month finale, the crew revisits John Hughes’ 1987 travel-from-hell comedy and wrestles with why it still works… even when it absolutely shouldn’t.Steve Martin’s tightly wound Neil Page and John Candy’s relentlessly cheerful Del Griffith make for one of movie comedy’s most iconic odd couples — but does the sentiment earn its landing? We break down:Why the movie still feels painfully relatable decades laterThe infamous “I Like Me” speech — and whether it’s earnedThat all-time car rental rant (yes, that one)How John Hughes builds comedy like a series of sketchesWhy the ending hits harder than we expected🍿 If you love Thanksgiving movies, road-trip comedies, or just watching two comedians drive each other insane, this one’s for you.👉 Follow So Many Sequels on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and join the conversation on social. Your book club for movies rolls on.

Hollywood keeps insisting the future is streaming… so why does Wicked: For Good keep torching box office records? This week, the movie industry’s contradictions are impossible to ignore — and Netflix might be the worst offender.If you love movies and the conversation around them, follow So Many Sequels wherever you listen. Leave a review, subscribe on YouTube, and keep the conversation going with us online.somanysequels.com00:00 – Intro & what we’ve been watching01:00 – Pixar’s Elio (troubled release, solid movie)02:00 – Kevin James, Nobody 2, and wasted sequels05:15 – Wicked: For Good reactions (Act 2 problems?)12:20 – Comedy is back? (The Naked Gun)15:45 – Horror still works (The Conjuring: Last Rites)19:00 – Netflix vs theaters & Wake Up Dead Man frustration26:10 – Letterboxd launches a digital video rental store30:45 – Weekend box office breakdown33:00 – Final thoughts & industry outlook

Thanksgiving leftovers, holiday haze, and a whole lot of screen time—this week we’re unpacking what we watched after the big meal.Everything from a Stranger Things rewatch and a November movie binge to a spoiler-free look at Wake Up Dead Man. We even have sports with a college football breakdown and a look at Disney’s massive Zootopia 2 opening.What leftovers did YOU watch this week?

For Food & Family Month, the So Many Sequels crew unwraps one of the strangest and most iconic family films of all time, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). Gene Wilder delivers one of cinema’s most unpredictable performances, and we break down why his version of Wonka is still the gold standard of chaotic candy moguls.From unsettling tunnel boat rides to bratty children meeting VERY questionable fates, we revisit the film’s dark humor, musical numbers, and the surprisingly emotional heart at its center. The guys share their childhood memories of the movie, debate Wilder vs. Depp vs. Chalamet, and explore how the film became both a cult classic and a meme factory.It’s nostalgic, bizarre, deliciously weird, and the perfect pick for Food & Family Month.🍫 Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us which candy room you’d explore first!

Are we ready for Woody and Buzz to battle… an iPad? The Toy Story 5 trailer is here, and the "Millennial Dad" energy in the room is off the charts. We break down whether the franchise has finally run out of batteries or if Pixar is about to deliver a necessary critique on screen time. Plus, we’re asking the hard questions: Is the new Michael Jackson biopic doomed by its own casting?---00:00 - Intro: November time dilation02:00 - TV Review: Pluribus (Apple TV+) & Rhea Seehorn05:40 - Book Club: Chain-Gang All-Stars & The Running Man11:15 - Movie Review: Freakier Friday (Disney+)13:45 - Book Club: Dean Koontz’s Velocity17:55 - Trailer Talk: Toy Story 5 (Toys vs. Tech)26:15 - Trailer Talk: Michael (Michael Jackson Biopic)29:45 - Box Office Update (Now You See Me 3, Predator: Badlands)