The Big Picture

The Ringer

4.3 (5.1K)
TV & FILM
UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more, featuring a rotating cast of Ringer colleagues like Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Bill Simmons.

18H AGO

The 1990 Movie Draft

We are drafting again! Before their draft, Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to briefly discuss Matt Damon’s shredded appearance for Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ and the new trailer for Ari Aster’s ‘Eddington’ (1:03). Then, they talk about who they were in 1990 and draft the best movies from the year (10:37). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Bobby Wagner Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 44m
4D AGO

The 10 Most Intriguing Movies at the Cannes Film Festival. Plus: ‘Warfare’ Is Hell, With Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza.

Sean and Amanda begin the episode with their instant reactions to the official announcement of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival lineup. They share their overall mixed feelings about the slate, attempt to figure out why some notable films missed the cut, and debate whether or not Sean would be capable of taking a three-month movie sabbatical (1:45). Then, Chris Ryan joins the show to cover Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s new combat drama, ‘Warfare,’ to discuss how emotionally affecting the film is and examine its use of differing perspectives (29:22). Finally, Sean is joined by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza to explore the intentions behind ‘Warfare,’ then work through the importance of memory and examine how it plays a critical part in the storytelling of the film (1:02:40). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Alex Garland, Ray Mendoza, and Chris Ryan Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 43m
6D AGO

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 23, ‘Something’s Gotta Give’

Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. They discuss Nancy Meyers’s ‘Something’s Gotta Give,’ the 2003 romantic comedy starring Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson, which featured some of the most realized and developed characters of the century. They highlight and celebrate Meyers’s auteurist vision, argue why it’s the last great studio romantic comedy, and remember one of Jack Nicholson’s final performances that featured an incredible balance of his powerful charisma and uglier, stranger side. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

48 min
APR 7

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Is the Most Important Movie of the Year So Far. And These Flicks Are the Best …

Sean and Amanda cover the absolute box office phenomenon ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ a video game adaptation starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa. They explore the event film of the year and discuss why the theatergoing experience of the film is such a great thing for the industry at large (1:08). Then, they give a Movie State of the Union, where they work through the troubling slate of early 2025 movies and consider whether television is currently “beating” movies (22:05). Finally, in an attempt to end the episode on an optimistic note, they highlight some movies they’ve enjoyed in 2025 and share their list of the best movies of the year so far (54:05). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 31m
APR 5

The 15 Most Anticipated Movies at CinemaCon, and Our Trip to Las Vegas!

Sean and Amanda recap their recent trip to Las Vegas for CinemaCon and catch up on the latest news from around the industry, including some exclusive insight on the ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood’ sort-of sequel, which will reportedly be directed by David Fincher (0:45). Then, they are joined by Puck’s Matt Belloni to talk about their 15 most anticipated movies from CinemaCon (28:43). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Matthew Belloni Producers: Jon Jones and Marcelino Ortiz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 38m
APR 1

The Gen Z Movie Focus Group

Amanda is joined by The Ringer’s very own Jomi Adeniran, Jade Whaley, and Jack Sanders to convey the first (and possibly last) Gen Z Movie Focus Group! They discuss how they watched movies growing up versus today, debate what is the most important movie to Gen Z, and assess whether movies are “so back” or “so over.”Host: Amanda Dobbins Guests: Jomi Adeniran, Jade Whaley, and Jack Sanders Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Video Producers: Jack Sanders and Cory McConnell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 30m
MAR 28

The Garbage Women Canon! Plus: 'Holland' and 'Kinda Pregnant.'

Amanda is joined by Yasi Salek to create a new mini-genre called "Garbage Women," a list of mediocre to bad streaming movies starring the greatest actresses of our generation. Before officially forming the canon, they cover some recent releases that fit into the genre, ‘Holland’ (2:54) and ‘Kinda Pregnant’ (20:44). Then, they get into the list, working through the official criteria, discussing what they love and hate about these types of movies, and sharing their notes for future Garbage Women films (32:04). Host: Amanda Dobbins Guest: Yasi Salek Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Video Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 36m
MAR 26

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 24 - ‘The Handmaiden’

Sean and Amanda return to continue their year-long project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far with a discussion of Park Chan-wook’s ‘The Handmaiden,’ the 2016 erotic thriller period piece starring Kim Tae-ri and featuring some of the best camera work and production design of the century. They talk about Park Chan-wook’s incredible ability to complicate simple stories with depth of design, how it portrays the complicated power dynamics of sex, and why its layered portrayal of shifting psychological perspectives is so impactful. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Video Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

43 min

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TRAILER

The Big Picture: A Ringer Movies Podcast

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and conversations with Hollywood's biggest filmmakers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10/31/2020

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2 min

4.3

out of 5

5,093 Ratings

Wish it was just Sean and anyone but Amanda…

Apr 7

istlfan1

Would give this show 6 stars if it was just hosted by Sean and 2 if it was just hosted by Amanda. Honestly for every interesting piece of movie analysis and state of the industry that Sean provides, Amanda just brings up the monotony of her son Knox. I understand some listeners wants that yin and yang and maybe this was an intentional counterbalance to Sean’s legitimate movie critiques… but come one seriously she is not a professional. “So… you know… my son Knox…”
Not Really about Movies

2d ago

Achart

If you’re looking for a parenting podcast that occasionally touches on movies, this may be for you. It’s not for me tho
Amanda must go

3d ago

Not Tom Selleck

This podcast features Amanda Dobbins, the biggest, most annoying troll on the planet. She’s proudly ignorant and seems to hate movies and people. She’s thin skinned and lashes out at everything like a petulant child. What other job in the world could you be as ignorant, unprepared, and lazy as she is continue to keep your job? Anyone who refers to movies as “boy movies” & “girl movies” or themselves in the third person in 2024 is just plainly an idiot not worth your time. Replace Amanda with literally anyone else! PS-no one is here to listen about your kid. Not one person. Those months without Amanda making everything about her narrow tastes and apathy towards movies was a glorious time for the pod. It blossomed without her and her atrocious vibes. Check the game tape. Your listeners hate Amanda!! She needs shut up and go away forever.
Why so mean?

4d ago

tchoubacca

Do Amanda and Sean hate each other? He never picks up a joke when she volleys a setup to him and she belittles his opinions.

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more, featuring a rotating cast of Ringer colleagues like Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Bill Simmons.