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Welcome to Almost Classic Movies, the podcast where two movie fans talk about movies. From epic adventures like Lord of the Rings to iconic comedies like Wayne's World and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, we explore a blend of almost classics, cult favorites, seasonal gems, and even actual classics. ("Almost Classic Movies" is frankly just a catchy title that riffs off a particular TV program).
It's just two friends talking movies—one loves production trivia, while the other enjoys simply watching and soaking in the story. We strive for evergreen content, so you can pick an episode anywhere and dive right in. If you like what you hear, share it with a friend, family member, or maybe even Chris Hemsworth or Ryan Reynolds... That'd be pretty cool.
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75 Episodes
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Send a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald take on Ghost in the Shell (1995), one of the most philosophically dense and influential sci-fi films ever made. What begins as a cyberpunk crime story quickly turns into a meditation on identity, consciousness, memory, and what it actually means to be human in a world where bodies can be replaced and minds can be hacked. The conversation explores cybernetic humanity, the Ship of Theseus, AI as a new form of life, and why Gh...
Send us a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon, Don, and Daniel dive into the anime film Summer Wars, a surprisingly heartfelt story that blends digital disaster with family drama. What starts as an awkward fake engagement quickly turns into a global crisis when a rogue AI hijacks a virtual world that controls real-life systems. As traffic grids fail, satellites fall, and chaos spreads, one extended family bands together using math skills, gaming strategy, and old-school connect...
Send us a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don kick off their annual anime series with a deep dive into Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, the record-breaking anime film that captivated audiences worldwide. They explore the film’s breathtaking animation, powerful emotional moments, and unforgettable battle between Flame Hashira Rengoku and Upper Rank demon Akaza. From dream sequences that reveal each character’s subconscious to the massive box office success that rivaled Disney...
Send us a text F1 isn’t really a racing movie. It’s a movie about aging, ego, legacy, and what happens when you get one last shot to prove something to yourself. In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald break down F1, the Brad Pitt–led Formula 1 drama that feels more like Top Gun Maverick than a traditional sports film. Even if you’ve never watched a race, this movie does something rare. It makes the sport understandable without dumbing it down, and emotional without becoming ...
Send us a text What happens when the President of the United States becomes the action hero? In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, we break down Air Force One (1997), the Harrison Ford thriller that defined an entire era of patriotic, high-stakes action films. From Gary Oldman’s operatic villain to Glenn Close’s quietly groundbreaking Vice President, this movie is far more than a popcorn blockbuster. We explore why Air Force One feels so confident, so direct, and so unmistakably ’90s—and ...
Send us a text The Italian Job (2003) is often remembered as a slick, early-2000s action movie packed with Mini Coopers and car chases—but there’s more going on under the hood. In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don revisit the film to unpack why it still works as a heist movie, how it subverts common caper tropes, and why its focus on competence, planning, and non-lethal revenge gives it lasting appeal. From standout ensemble casting to practical stunt work and a surprisingly ...
Send us a text Poker in the desert. A riverboat full of con artists. And Mel Gibson at peak charm. In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don revisit Maverick (1994), the self-aware Western comedy starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner. What starts as a simple poker tournament quickly becomes a layered game of cons, reversals, and playful deception that reminds us why movies can still just be fun. The hosts break down why Maverick works so well, how its tone separates ...
Send us a text The Muppet Christmas Carol is often remembered as cozy, musical, and kid-friendly — but beneath the felt and jokes is one of the darker, more faithful adaptations of Dickens’ original story. In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald revisit the film with fresh eyes, breaking down why Michael Caine’s performance grounds the movie, where the adaptation succeeds, and where it quietly undermines its own emotional stakes. From ghost lore and missing character beats to...
Send us a text The Star Wars Holiday Special is infamous for a reason. In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon, Dan, and Donald subject themselves to one of the most baffling television experiments ever broadcast. What was meant to be a festive Star Wars event turned into a surreal variety show filled with awkward musical numbers, untranslated Wookiee dialogue, and creative decisions that still confuse fans decades later. We break down what went wrong, what (barely) worked, and why this...
Send us a text This week, Jon and Donald unwrap The Santa Clause and everything that makes it a quintessential (and unexpectedly weird) 90s Christmas movie. From Tim Allen’s smooth-brain dad energy to the surprisingly dark early script drafts, the guys break down what still works, what doesn’t, and why this movie feels completely different when you watch it as a parent. They analyze the film’s timeline problem, the custody battle dynamics, the underrated brilliance of Bernard the Elf, and how...
Send us a text In this festive episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald dive into Home Alone — a film both iconic and slightly bewildering when viewed through grown-up eyes. They unpack childhood fears (like sprinting up the basement stairs), booby-trap physics that defy medical reality, the unmatched presence of Joe Pesci, and whether Home Alone truly deserves its status as a quintessential Christmas film. From John Hughes’ teen-energy writing style to Chris Columbus’ warm, almost my...
Send us a text This week on Almost Classic Movies, we revisit one of the most iconic films ever made: The Wizard of Oz. Your hosts take a fresh look at the movie’s history, craft, and legacy—without giving away the moments that make it special. In This Episode: Watching The Wizard of Oz today: what holds up and what surprisesHow casting shaped the film’s toneThe impact of Technicolor and early effectsWorld-building choices that set the film apartMemorable musical moments and their influenceSt...
Send us a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald dive broom-first into Wicked (Part 1) — the movie adaptation based on the Broadway powerhouse musical. They unpack why the film is both visually stunning and emotionally frustrating, discuss questionable choreography ("Camp Rock flashbacks"), and debate whether Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship was ever real… or just one long manipulation with good lighting. You’ll also hear: How the movie’s box office success was driven by...
Send us a text In this episode, Jon, Don, and Editor Dan sit down to revisit The Running Man (1987), Arnold Schwarzenegger’s dystopian game-show-meets-gladiator spectacle that somehow predicted 2017 better than anyone expected. The trio breaks down Arnold’s peak-era one-liners, Richard Dawson’s shockingly good villain performance, and why late-80s action movies were legally required to be unhinged. The conversation widens into the film’s political undertones, media manipulation, the blu...
Send us a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald dissect The Apprentice — a provocative biopic tracing Donald Trump’s transformation from ambitious New York builder to cultural icon. With a blend of dark satire and political restraint, the hosts explore how mentorship, ego, and media manipulation intersect in the film’s portrait of Trump and his infamous advisor, Roy Cohn. They unpack Sebastian Stan’s unnerving performance, Jeremy Strong’s haunting portrayal of Cohn, an...
Send us a text In this Halloween-meets-Christmas episode, Jon and Donald tackle one of the most iconic stop-motion films ever made: The Nightmare Before Christmas. From Jack Skellington’s existential boredom to Oogie Boogie’s degenerate gambling habits, they unpack the film’s twisted charm, timeless animation, and odd moral compass. The hosts debate lore inconsistencies (How do the holiday doors even work?), the unsettling obsession with capital punishment, and why the movie’s musical diction...
Send us a text Jon and Donald dive headfirst into Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)—Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel to the 1988 cult classic. Thirty-six years later, the ghost with the most is back, and the hosts debate whether the chaos, nostalgia, and practical effects deliver a worthy return… or just a messy séance of the past. From generational ghost stories to plotline overload, this episode unpacks it all: The tangled web of Lydia, Astrid, and BeetlejuiceWhy Michael Keaton still owns the ...
Send us a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald kick off spooky season with Tim Burton’s 1988 masterpiece, Beetlejuice. The hosts dive deep into the movie’s strange charm—where the macabre meets the hilarious—and unpack what makes it such a beloved cult classic. They debate whether being an exterminator counts as “a trade,” discuss how Beetlejuice may have unfairly tarnished the profession, and marvel at the wild practical effects that define Burton’s world. Along the ...
Send a text Neon grids, Daft Punk beats, and some questionable CGI Jeff Bridges — this week we dive into Disney’s Tron: Legacy (2010). Jon and Donald are joined again by fan-favorite Editor Dan for a wild ride through the Grid, complete with light cycles, disc battles, and theology that somehow feels like “bad Christian mythology” wrapped in a Mickey Mouse glow. The trio debates whether the movie is underrated or just a product of its 2010 vibes, explores Joseph Kosinski’s rise from commercia...
Send us a text Grab your light disc and step inside the grid as Jon and Donald revisit Tron (1982)—Disney’s groundbreaking cult classic that fused early CGI with a video-game aesthetic decades ahead of its time. From arcade nostalgia to AI paranoia, this episode explores why Tron still sparks debate about technology, storytelling, and the future of digital worlds. We dive deep into: First Impressions & Ratings: How the film’s visuals wowed audiences in 1982 and where the script still fall...
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