Season Eight — Popcorn Podcast episodes

Bonus, Season Eight

Ruben Östlund's Palme d'Or-winning Triangle of Sadness is in Popcorn Podcast's sights. Starring Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean and Woody Harrelson, this wicked and divisive satire follows a fashion model influencer couple (Dickinson & Dean) who join an eventful cruise for the super-rich. Your co-hosts discuss the social commentary Östlund explores within a world of privilege, class and chaos, and Tim feels compelled to traumatise Leigh throughout the episode. Find out if this award-winning film lives up to the hype in a bonus holiday instalment of Popcorn Podcast…

Dec 18

Dec 18 Avatar: The Way Of Water

The time has arrived! Popcorn Podcast returns to the world of Pandora in the final episode of season eight. As the long-awaited sequel to the highest grossing film of all-time, James Cameron's Avatar: The Way Of Water has a lot to live up to, promising a visual and technical spectacle to blow the original out of the water. Does the acclaimed filmmaker deliver a record-breaking follow-up in its more than three hour runtime? Dive into this bite-sized no-spoiler episode with Leigh and Tim to discover if The Way Of Water meets the hype. Plus, DCU's 10-year plan takes shape and casualties; Scream VI heads to New York; Margot Robbie delights as Barbie in first trailer; and the Golden Globe nominations are ripe for discussion…

Dec 11

Dec 11 The Banshees of Inisherin

Leigh and Tim discuss Martin McDonagh's new film, The Banshees of Inisherin, this week, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as lifelong best friends who suddenly call it quits. A stunned Pádraic (Farrell), aided by his sister (Kerry Condon) and a troubled young islander (Barry Keoghan), obsessively tries to repair the relationship with shocking consequences. Your co-hosts dive into the hilarious, yet sad, McDonagh tale which exposes the complex and simple layers of humanity and the ripple effect our choices can have. Plus, Elvis cleans up at the AACTAs; Bong Joon Ho's Mickey 17 teases a compelling sci-fi experience; James Gunn reacts to fiery DCU speculation; Rush Hour 4 is back on the development freeway; Michelle Yeoh joins Wicked; and Taylor Swift calls action on her directorial debut…

Dec 4

Dec 4 Violent Night

Popcorn Podcast brings you seasons beatings with a review of anti-Christmas movie Violent Night. Described as "Die Hard, but with Santa" by director Tommy Wirkola, Violent Night sees a disillusioned Santa forced into a bloody and brutal battle to save Christmas when a group of ruthless mercenaries attacks the estate of a wealthy family on Christmas Eve. Leigh and Tim revel in the action-packed holiday flick and discuss the impressive stunt work, special effects and performances from David Harbour as Santa Claus and John Leguizamo as bad guy Scrooge. Plus, big trailer drops from The Super Mario Bros Movie, Indiana Jones, Guardians of the Galaxy and Transformers; and the 95th Oscars revamps its televised categories in 2023…

Dec 2

Dec 2 Tommy Wirkola (Violent Night)

Popcorn Podcast is thrilled to sit down with Violent Night director Tommy Wirkola – who studied film in Australia on the Gold Coast – to learn how this action-packed anti-Christmas film crossed his path, why he knew Stranger Things' David Harbour was the right man to play a hardened Santa Claus with a score to settle. Wirkola also reveals his favourite "Christmas inspired" kills from the film – and there are some real doozies in Violent Night. We hope you enjoy this Popcorn Podcast interview with Tommy Wirkola…

Nov 30

Nov 30 John Leguizamo (Violent Night)

Popcorn Podcast sits down with iconic actor John Leguizamo to chat about his new action-packed Christmas film, Violent Night, co-starring David Harbour as a disgruntled Santa Claus forced to battle mercenaries to save the holidays. Known for his memorable characters in many beloved films, Leguizamo shares his family holiday traditions, reveals why Beverly D’Angelo made him nervous and reveals his favourite shocking scenes from Tommy Wirkola's new bloody and brutal black comedy. We hope you enjoy this fun interview with the one and only John Leguizamo. It's a (nut)cracker!

Nov 27

Nov 27 Disenchanted

News, Season Eight, Musical

Popcorn Podcast goes on a fairytale adventure this week to review the long-awaited Disney sequel, Disenchanted. Starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey and Maya Rudolph, Disenchanted finds Giselle (Adams) questioning her happily ever after, inadvertently turning the lives of those in the real world and Andalasia upside down in the process. Listen as Leigh and Tim decree if the movie musical hits the right notes or casts a disastrous spell in a magical new episode. Plus, Disney Pixar's Elemental trailer captivates; James Wan and Jason Blum join forces to terrorise us forever; Bradley Cooper cast in Spielberg's Bullitt remake; and Indiana Jones and the de-ageing adventure…

Nov 23

Nov 23 Krew Boylan and Daniel Webber (Seriously Red)

Popcorn Podcast is delighted to sit down with Krew Boylan, the multitalented star and writer of Aussie film Seriously Red, and the Kenny to her Dolly, Daniel Webber, to chat putting wings and feet on your dreams, what makes Dolly such an enduring icon, the secret world of celebrity impersonators and which celebrity Leigh could pass for. We hope you enjoy this very special episode…

Nov 20

Nov 20 The Menu

Popcorn Podcast serves up a delicious review of dark comedy The Menu. The multi-course movie stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult as guests who travel to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive isolated restaurant where the reclusive, celebrated Chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish tasting menu with a few surprise twists. Listen as Leigh and Tim savour the secrets and shocks of The Menu in an unmissable episode. Plus, Margot Robbie's Pirates of the Caribbean film axed by Disney; The Princess Diaries 3 has fans excited; and a first look at Magic Mike's Last Dance.

Nov 14

Nov 14 Emma Holly Jones (Mr Malcolm's List)

Popcorn Podcast welcomes British director – and regency-era film fan – Emma Holly Jones to chat about her new movie Mr Malcolm's List. The period-set romantic comedy puts a clever twist on the genre as a scorned woman (Zawe Ashton) enlists a friend (Freida Pinto) to exact revenge on London's most eligible bachelor, the picky Mr Malcolm (Sope Dìrísù). What unfolds is a game of intrigue with women leading the charge. Jones shares what else sets her first feature apart from its contemporaries and why it was important to challenge the historical inaccuracies of the genre with diverse representation. We hope you enjoy this special episode of Popcorn Podcast…

Nov 13

Nov 13 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Popcorn Podcast returns to Wakanda for Ryan Coogler's Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever. The highly anticipated new MCU instalment closes Phase Four in the wake of Chadwick Boseman's untimely death with a story of loss, grief and hope, while introducing us to mutant antihero Namor (Tenoch Huerta), king of the hidden undersea nation of Talokan. When his kingdom is threatened as a direct result of King T'Challa's (Boseman) decision to reveal Wakanda's true nature, Namor wages war with the surface world – including Wakanda. Does Black Panther: Wakanda Forever tread troubled waters in a way that honours the original? Listen to Leigh and Tim to find out. Plus, the Academy announces its next Oscars host; James Cameron makes a shocking Avatar call; Snoop Dogg's life story coming to the screen; and double the fun with John Wick...

Nov 6

Nov 6 My Policeman

Leigh and Tim go head-to-head this week over Harry Styles’ latest film, My Policeman. The Prime Video original follows three friends in 1950s England caught in a tangle of repressed desires, secret longing and regret who find themselves at a crossroads 40 years later. Popcorn Podcast is torn on this forbidden love story. Listen to the bite-sized and salty episode to find out why. Plus, Jeff Goldblum's magical role in Wicked; Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Sissy Spacek and Megan Mullally are the Fabulous Four; Dodgeball 2 rumours heat up; Avatar: The Way of Water's runtime has your co-hosts stunned; and Hercules joins TikTok?…

Nov 2

Nov 2 Sissy - Bonus

Season Eight, Bonus

You don't want to cross Sissy – and you don't want to miss this episode of Popcorn Podcast where Leigh and Tim dive into Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes' new Australian horror that shines a ring light on childhood trauma, toxic friendship, bullying, influencer culture and identity with a bloody satirical twist. Sissy stars Aisha Dee of The Bold Type fame, alongside a slew of local talent in the triple AACTA-nominated film that's garnering critical acclaim from across the globe. Does it live up to the hype? Join Popcorn Podcast to find out…

Oct 31

Oct 31 Hannah Barlow (Sissy)

Interviews, Bonus, Season Eight, Special

Popcorn Podcast sits down with Hannah Barlow, co-director of AACTA-nominated comedy slasher Sissy, to discuss the Australian-made genre mash-up that tackles childhood trauma, toxic friendship, bullying, influencer culture and identity. In our chat with the talented filmmaker, we cover the finer points of Sissy and discover how Barlow and partner Kane Senes juggled their many filmmaking roles while diving into the pitfalls of social media, how that influenced the story of Sissy – and Barlow reveals her secret morning mantra. We hope you enjoy this very special episode…

Oct 30

Oct 30 The Woman King

Viola Davis is General Nanisca in The Woman King. Popcorn Podcast dives into this action-packed epic – featuring Davis as the leader of all-female warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey – to unpack its rich storytelling, stellar performances and impressive stunt work in an unmissable episode. There's more than meets the eye to this tale inspired by the Agojie and true events…

Plus, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania drops its first trailer; The DCU unveils new heroes in James Gunn and Peter Safran; Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special has us craving Bacon; and Alexander Skarsgård's The Pack.

Oct 27

Oct 27 Nicholas Stoller (Bros)

Popcorn Podcast is delighted to sit down with Bros director and co-writer Nicholas Stoller, who is no stranger to the rom-com genre. We find out how Stoller collaborated with comedian and star Billy Eichner to develop an authentic queer story, why he was convinced Eichner could pull off the romantic lead and explains the difference between bra and underwear sex. We hope you enjoy this special episode…

Oct 26

Oct 26 Bros - Bonus

Bonus, Season Eight

Hey, what's up? Popcorn Podcast is here to talk Bros, the first romantic comedy from a major film studio about two gay men. Starring comedian Billy Eichner, who also co-wrote the screenplay with celebrated rom-com director Nicholas Stoller, Bros follows two men who collide into a relationship neither of them are prepared for and must figure out this thing called love together. Leigh and Tim discuss everything from genre to comedy and the importance of diversity and inclusion in this historic film…

Oct 23

Oct 23 Black Adam

Black Adam is finally here! After 15 years, Dwayne Johnson's passion project promises to shake up the DCEU hierarchy as we know it. The Man in Black (Johnson) is freed after 5000 years in captivity and is challenged by a team of modern-day heroes known as the Justice Society — Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) and Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell) — who seek to return him to eternal captivity. Your Popcorn Podcast co-hosts find themselves between a rock and a hard place with this movie review. Listen to find out why. Plus, Man of Steel 2 looking for writers; Creed III trailer packs a punch; a Twister sequel has Leigh and Tim in a spin; James Wan conjures up another sequel for his popular horror franchise; and so much more…

Oct 16

Oct 16 Halloween Ends