Next Best Picture Podcast

"Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" is an American biographical musical drama film starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen. Written and directed by Scott Cooper, and based on the 2023 book "Deliver Me from Nowhere" by Warren Zanes, as well as some elements from Springsteen's autobiography "Born to Run," it chronicles Springsteen's personal and professional struggles during the conception of his 1982 album "Nebraska." The film had its world premiere at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival, screened at the New York and AFI Film Festivals, and has received a Golden Globe nomination for White in the Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama category. White 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 available to watch digitally on December 23rd from 20th Century Studios and is up for your consideration for this year's Academy Awards in all eligible categories, including Bes

"Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received just as strong reviews as the first two entries in the franchise, "Knives Out" and "Glass Onion," with praise directed at Rian Johnson's direction, writing, and the performances of the cast. Johnson, along with members of the cast and crew, were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with Next Best Picture over the past few weeks, and you can listen to those conversations below. First, we have my interview with Rian Johnson and Josh O'Connor, followed by Dan Bayer's interview with Johnson and Benoit Blanc himself, Daniel Craig. Then we have Cody Dericks's interview with Academy Award-nominee and on-screen legend Glenn Close, followed by my chat with Mila Kunis and Cailee Spaeny, then Brendan Hodges's discussion with cinematographer Steve Yedlin, and finally my interview with composer Nathan Johnson. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Net

For Episode 470, Nadia Dalimonte, Giovanni Lago, Lauren LaMagna, and Megan Lachinski join me for another packed episode of awards season news and madness. This week, we go over the Golden Globe Award nominations, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) winners, and the Costume Designer Guild (CDG) nominations. We also briefly look over the 2026 Sundance Film Festival lineup announcement and predict what may happen this week with the Oscar shortlists. For this week's poll, for the release of James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire And Ash", we're asking everyone: "Which Is Your Favorite James Cameron Film?" We also reveal the winner of last week's poll, where we sought a temperature check on the Best Picture Oscar race by asking, "Which Film Do You Think is Going To Be The Next Best Picture Oscar Winner?" In addition, we share our reactions to the trailers for "The Drama" and "Supergirl," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more. Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing, especially for epis

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Dan Bayer, Daniel Howat, and Brendan Hodges join me to discuss the latest film from Academy Award-nominee Rian Johnson in the "Knives Out" franchise "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," starring Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. The second film to premiere on Netflix following "Glass Onion" and the third in the franchise overall, this latest murder-mystery sees Craig's Benoit Blanc return in a case that will take him to religious highs and devilish lows, with another electric cast of characters and plenty of twists and turns. What did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the story, performances, characters, cinematography, the blending of spiritual drama, mystery thriller, and playful humor, the future of the franchise, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, a

"Dust Bunny" is an American horror-thriller film written and directed by Bryan Fuller in his feature directorial debut, starring Mads Mikkelsen, Sophie Sloan, Sheila Atim, David Dastmalchian, and Sigourney Weaver. It tells the story of an eight-year-old girl who asks her hitman neighbor to kill the monster under her bed. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and received positive reviews for Mads Mikkelsen and Sophie Sloan's chemistry, Fuller's imaginative direction, and its blending of genres to create a fantastical horror film for kids. Fuller 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 theaters from Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate. 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 - htt

"Goodbye June" is a 2025 Christmas family drama film directed by Kate Winslet in her directorial debut, from a screenplay written by her son Joe Anders. It stars an ensemble cast that includes Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, Helen Mirren, and Winslet herself. The film is set during Christmas, when the characters gather around their dying mother and confront themes of grief, reconciliation, and love. Winslet 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 available to stream on Netflix. 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 support us on Patreon fo

"The Tale Of Silyan" is a Macedonian documentary film produced, written and directed by Tamara Kotevska. It follows Macedonian farmer Nikola Conev and his family against the backdrop of the country's economic instability. While Conev forms a bond with an injured white stork, his daughter and wife move to Germany in search of a better life. The film had its world premiere out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and has been selected as the Macedonian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Director Tamara Kotevska and cinematographer Jean Dakar were both 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 is now playing at the IFC Center in New York from National Geographic Documentary Films. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcas

"The Long Walk" is an American dystopian survival thriller film directed and produced by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by JT Mollner, based on the 1979 novel of the same name by Stephen King. The film stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill and has been awarded the Robert Altman Award for Best Ensemble at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Screenwriter JT Mollner and casting director Rich Delia were 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 is now available to rent and own at home from Lionsgate. 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 -

"Resurrection" is a science fiction drama film written and directed by Bi Gan. It follows Miss Shu (Shu Qi) in a future where most of humanity has lost the capacity to dream, who discovers that one inhuman creature (Jackson Yee) is still able to experience them. She enters the monster's dreams, using her ability to perceive illusions to determine the truth in its visions of Chinese history. The film is structured into six chapters, each corresponding to one of the six senses recognized in Buddhist thought: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and mind. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Prix Spécial. Bi Gan 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 December 12th from Janus Films. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts

"Come See Me In The Good Light" is a 2025 American documentary film directed by Ryan White, following poet/activist Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley as they navigate an examination of love and mortality after Gibson is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. Singer-songwriters Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile serve as among the executive producers; they co-wrote a song for the documentary, "Salt Then Sour Then Sweet," with Gibson. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews and won the Festival Favorite Award. Bareilles was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about her work and experience working on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Apple TV+. 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.co

"Highest 2 Lowest" is an American crime thriller film directed by Spike Lee from a screenplay by Alan Fox. It is an English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 Japanese film "High and Low," itself based on Ed McBain's 1959 novel "King's Ransom." The film stars Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, ASAP Rocky, John Douglas Thompson, Dean Winters, LaChanze, Princess Nokia, and Ice Spice (in her film debut). The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival out of competition, where it received positive reviews for its performances, music, and direction from Lee. Composer Howard Drossin and songwriter/performer Aiyana-Lee, who collaborated on the film's title track, were both kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work and experiences working on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Apple TV+. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on...

"Materialists" is an American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Celine Song, starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. Set against the backdrop of New York City's luxury-driven dating culture, it follows a love triangle among a matchmaker, her ex-boyfriend, an aspiring actor, and a charming millionaire. Released over the summer by A24, it received generally positive reviews from critics and grossed $108 million worldwide, becoming A24's third-highest-grossing film and Song's highest-grossing film. Japanese Breakfast vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter Michelle Zauner wrote the end-credits song "My Baby (Got Nothing At All)" for the film and was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about her work and experience making the song, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to own or rent at home from A24. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - http

"The Secret Agent" is a historical political thriller film written and directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho that follows Armando (NYFCC Best Actor winner Wagner Moura), a former professor caught in the political turmoil of the final years of the Brazilian military dictatorship, attempting to flee persecution and resist an authoritarian, deceitful regime. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received widespread acclaim and was the festival's most awarded film, winning the Best Actor award for Moura, the Best Director award for Mendonça Filho, the Art House Cinema Award, and the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Film. At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, it became the first Brazilian film nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama (Moura), and it also received a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. It has been selected as Brazil's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Kleber Mend

"No Other Choice" is a 2025 South Korean satirical black comedy thriller film co-written, produced, and directed by Park Chan-wook and based on "The Ax" by Donald Westlake. The film stars Lee Byung-hun as a desperate paper industry expert who decides to kill his competitors to secure the job he seeks and maintain his way of life. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where it received universal critical acclaim for its writing, direction, editing and lead performance from Lee Byung-hun. At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, it was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Lee Byung-hun). It was also selected as South Korea's entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun were kind enough to spend some time talking with Giovanni Lago about their work and experiences

"The Chronology Of Water" is a biographical psychological drama film written for the screen, co-produced, and directed by Kristen Stewart in her feature film directorial debut, based on the 2011 book of the same name by Lidia Yuknavitch. It stars Imogen Poots as Yuknavitch, along with Thora Birch, Susannah Flood, Tom Sturridge, Kim Gordon, Michael Epp, Earl Cave, Esmé Creed-Miles, and Jim Belushi in supporting roles. The film had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive reviews from critics. Stewart and Poots were both 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 is now playing in NY and LA theaters and will expand nationwide on January 9th from The Forge. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-

For Episode 469, Josh Parham, Giovanni Lago, Daniel Howat, and Tom O'Brien join me for what is one of the biggest episodes of the year. We knew heading into this week we would have to discuss the Gotham, NYFCC, and NBR winners, the AFI Top 10 films of the year, the CCA and Spirit Award nominations, and briefly touch on the Golden Globe Award nominations before they're announced. But then the industry dropped a bombshell: Netflix will acquire Warner Bros., a power move that threatens to be a seismic shift across the industry, with many implications for the future. For this week's poll, we ask our famous question: "Which Film Do You Think is Going To Be The Next Best Picture Oscar Winner?" We also reveal the winner of last week's poll, for the release of "Jay Kelly," where we asked, "Which Is Your Favorite George Clooney Performance?" In addition, we share our reactions to the trailers for "Mother Mary," "Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come," "Scarlet," "Midwinter Break," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more.

For this week's main podcast review, Megan Lachinski, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, and Brendan Hodges join me to discuss the latest film from Academy Award-winner Chloé Zhao, "Hamnet," starring Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, and Noah Jupe. The historical drama film co-written by Maggie O'Farrell, the author of the title novel this film is based on is a largely fictional story dramatizing the marriage between Anne Hathaway (Agnes Hathaway in the novel and film) and William Shakespeare, and the impact of the tragic death of their 11-year-old son Hamnet on their relationship, which inspired Shakespeare's iconic play "Hamlet." The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and has been drawing tears from audiences everywhere it plays, including the Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the People's Choice Award. What did we think of it, though? Please tune in as we discuss the story, performances, cinematography, score, whether it made us as emotional as

"Jay Kelly" had its world premiere at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival and later screened at the Telluride Film Festival, the New York Film Festival, and the AFI Film Festival. It received positive reviews for its casting and performances, particularly from George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and Billy Crudup; the direction and writing by Noah Baumbach (co-written with Emily Mortimer); and the score by Nicholas Britell. Members of the cast and crew were kind enough to spend some time speaking with Next Best Picture over the past few weeks, and you can listen to those conversations below. First, we have my interviews with Clooney, Sandler, Dern, Crudup, Baumbach, Mortimer, and Britell. Then, we have Will Mavity's interview with the film's casting directors, Nina Gold and Doug Aibel. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Netflix, and is up for your consideration for this year's Academy Awards in all eligible categories. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more

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 For this week's second podcast review, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, Daniel Howat, and Will Mavity join me to review and discuss the latest film from Noah Baumbach, "Jay Kelly," starring George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacy Keach, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, Greta Gerwig, Alba Rohrwacher, Josh Hamilton, Lenny Henry, Emily Mortimer, Nicôle Lecky, Thaddea Graham & Isla Fisher. The Netflix film follows a friendship between a famous actor (Clooney) and his manager (Sandler) as they travel through Europe and reflect on their life choices, relationships, and legacies. It had its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and received positive reviews for its performances, writing, and direction from Baumbach. What did we think of it, though? Please tune in as w

"Fackham Hall" is a period parody comedy film set in 1930s England that crosses "Downton Abbey" with "Airplane!" and "Monty Python." It is directed by Jim O'Hanlon and written by comedian Jimmy Carr (in his screenwriting feature debut) with Patrick Carr and The Dawson Brothers. It stars Damian Lewis, Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Radcliffe, Katherine Waterston, Tom Felton, and Jimmy Carr. It follows loveable pick-pocket Eric Noone (Radcliffe) as he lands a job at a unique English manor house. He quickly rises through the ranks, and a forbidden romance with the lady of the house, Rose Davenport (McKenzie), blossoms. But when an unexpected murder occurs, Eric gets framed - leaving Rose and her family's future perilously uncertain. McKenzie, Radcliffe and O'Hanlon were all kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters on December 5th from Bleecker Street. Thank you, and enjoy! Ch