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 us 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 commer...
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...
Send us a text The Almost Classic Movies crew is back with an oversized episode on Magic Mike XXL. Daniel crashes the show with a surprise beer tasting, a Big Mac challenge, and a lightning round of “Hot Takes” that call out everything from Hamilton to fast food habits. Jon and Donald debate classic vs. flaccid ratings, share personal movie hot takes, and break down why this sequel delivers more heart and better dance sequences than the original. From unexpected drag club dance ba...
Send us a text Jon and Donald dive into Almost Famous—Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical love letter to 1970s rock journalism. They break down William Miller’s coming-of-age journey, the chaos of touring with a rising band, and the bittersweet lessons behind fame, love, and loyalty. Along the way they debate the difference between groupies and “Band-Aids,” share wild payphone stories, compare Cleveland’s food scene to New York, and confess the movies they still haven’t seen (Scott Pilgrim,...
Send us a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald crank the dial all the way up to 11 as they dive into Rob Reiner’s cult classic This Is Spinal Tap. With the long-awaited sequel on the horizon, the duo revisits the original mockumentary to unpack its satire, absurd stage mishaps, and enduring influence on rock culture. From the infamous Stonehenge debacle to the amps that “go to 11,” Jon and Donald explore why the film still resonates with musicians and movie fans alike...
Send us a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald dive into Doctor Sleep (2019) — the ambitious sequel to The Shining. They kick things off with a listener comment on their Encanto hot takes, sparking a side discussion about pop music, lyrical depth, and Sabrina Carpenter’s evolution. From there, they transition into Stephen King territory, comparing Doctor Sleep to classics like The Green Mile and The Stand, and asking whether Mike Flanagan’s adaptation leans more towar...
Send us a text In this bonus episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald step away from their usual film deep dives for a candid Q&A mailbag session. From favorite comfort movies to hot takes on overrated films, this episode is packed with laughter, nostalgia, and some surprisingly heartfelt movie memories. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🎥 All-time favorite films — why Casablanca and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off top the list.🍿 Comfort movies that never fail — Back to the Future, Empir...
Send us a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald dive deep into Stanley Kubrick’s chilling masterpiece, The Shining. From Danny’s eerie “redrum” visions to Jack Nicholson’s descent into madness, the hosts unpack why this film blurs the line between psychological thriller and horror. They debate whether the Overlook Hotel is haunted or if Jack was doomed from the start, and they don’t shy away from the wild conspiracy theories—moon landing cover-ups, indigenous burial gr...
Send us a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald wrap up their run of under-the-radar Disney films with a deep dive into Encanto. From catchy songs (and some not-so-catchy ones) to messy world-building, they unpack what works, what confuses them, and why Bruno might just be the GOAT. They explore the film’s unique “no real villain” approach, its layered take on generational trauma, and the standout characters that make the Madrigal family so memorable. Along the way, th...
Send us a text Is A Goofy Movie secretly Disney’s version of The Odyssey? Jon and Donald say yes—if Odysseus wore overalls, danced on stage with a pop star, and bonded with his awkward teen son over fishing and Bigfoot. In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, the guys break down one of Disney’s most underrated gems: Why A Goofy Movie still hits as hard for nostalgic 90s kids (and their parents).The hidden brilliance of the soundtrack (yes, “Eye to Eye” is still a banger).Parallels between G...
Send us a text Get ready to set sail through space with Jon and Donald as they dive into Disney’s Treasure Planet—a bold, visually stunning reimagining of Treasure Island that’s equal parts nostalgia and sci-fi adventure. In this episode, the guys: 🚀 Debate if Treasure Planet deserves its “underrated classic” status 🎭 Geek out over the all-star cast (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emma Thompson, Martin Short… and even a surprise Disney trivia drop) 🎶 Relive the emotional father-son dynamic and...
Send us a text This week on Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald kick off a Disney animation run with a cult favorite: The Emperor’s New Groove. Is it an underrated gem or just nostalgic nonsense? The guys revisit their favorite scenes, iconic one-liners, and chaotic production history—including how Sting nearly quit and why the movie was originally supposed to be a serious Incan epic. They discuss: Why The Emperor’s New Groove still holds upDavid Spade and Patrick Warburton’s unbeatable com...
Send us a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald hold their noses and dive into the critically-panned 2015 reboot of Fantastic Four, better known (and memed) as Fan4stic. From questionable casting choices and a gloomy tone to studio meddling and naked rock monsters, the duo unpacks why this Marvel reboot crashed and burned. 🚫 Why did Josh Trank’s darker, body-horror take miss the mark? 🔥 What’s the real story behind the infamous reshoots, wig changes, and creative...
Send us a text Donald and Jon share their immediate reactions to James Gunn's new Superman movie! Fresh from the theater, they discuss David Corenswet's performance, the film's comic book accuracy, and whether this Superman can launch the new DCU like Iron Man launched the MCU. Key Topics Superman movie review and ratingJames Gunn's DCU launch strategyDavid Corenswet vs previous Superman actorsComic book accuracy and "Boy Scout Superman"Comparison to Christopher Reeve filmsCleveland filming l...