Popcorn Podcast new episodes

Interviews, Bonus, Season 12

Filmmakers Asif Akbar and Vincent E. McDaniel join Popcorn Pals to discuss their new indie film, Boneyard. Starring Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Mel Gibson, Boneyard is inspired by the West Mesa Murders where the skeletal remains of eleven women and girls were discovered in the New Mexico desert as they search for a killer within a angled web of intrigue and suspicion. In our chat, Asif and Vincent reveal why true crime stories grip audiences, how they walked the entertainment and thriller tight rope, and what it was like working with iconic actor Mel Gibson.

Jun 25

Jun 25 Rachel House interview (The Mountain)

Interviews, Bonus, Season 12, Special

Rachel House opens her heart to discuss her brilliant feature film directorial debut, The Mountain. Starring Elizabeth Atkinson, Terrance Daniel and Reuben Francis, The Mountain is about three children on a mission to find healing under the watchful eye of Taranaki Maunga (Mountain), where they learn the true spirit of adventure and the magic of friendship. The conversation begins with Tim's new Gandalf tattoo, but quickly ventures into the personal layers House brings to her story; the power of using kids as vessels to communicate profound things about culture and identity; and a look back at a film that brought her joy…

Jun 13

Jun 13 Joshua John Miller interview (The Exorcism)

Bonus, Interviews, Season 12

The Exorcism writer/director Joshua John Miller drops by Popcorn Pals to discuss his new meta horror film starring Australia's Russell Crowe and Sam Worthington. The Exorcism is a movie within a movie about a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a remake of the 1973 Oscar-winning horror, The Exorcist. As if that wasn't meta enough, Miller's own father (Jason Miller) starred in the original as Father Karras! In our chat, Miller reveals what his multi-layered movie says about redemption and forgiveness – and the "hellscape" of Hollywood – the importance of queerness in the story and so much more…

May 18

May 18 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Sci-Fi, Season 12, Bonus

Popcorn Pals travels 300 years into the future with entertainment journalist Connor Dalton to chat Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Set many years after the reign of Caesar, Noa (Owen Teague), a young ape, goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike. Tim and Dalton talk The Simpsons connections, sequel fever, flawless visual effects and jet lag-afflicted double features. All this and much more!…

Nov 9

Nov 9 Alice Englert Interview (Bad Behaviour)

Bonus, Interviews, Special, Season Ten

Popcorn Pals interviews Bad Behaviour writer/director Alice Englert about their exciting directorial debut starring Jennifer Connolly in a typically stellar performance. In our chat, Alice discusses the slippery slope that is catharsis, what her film is trying to say about enlightenment, how focusing on making a drama helped deliver its dark, satiric laughs and much more…

Apr 19

Apr 19 Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan (Evil Dead Rise)

Interviews, Special, Season Nine, Bonus

Evil Dead Rise stars Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland take Popcorn Podcast behind the scenes of the fifth instalment in the Evil Dead film series. The story tells the tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by flesh-possessing demons, thrusting the family into a primal battle for survival as they face down a mother of a nightmare. In our special interview, Sutherland and Sullivan dive into Sutherland’s shocking transformation as a murderous mum and Sullivan’s big Evil Dead moment. The pair also shares how much fun they had playing with the more than 6,500 litres of fake blood used in production and a spooky story that will have the hairs on your neck standing up…

Apr 9

Apr 9 The Super Mario Bros Movie

Season Nine, Bonus

Let's-a-go! It's time for Popcorn Podcast's The Super Mario Bros Movie review. Based on the world of Nintendo’s Super Mario video games, Illumination Entertainment's latest brings Brooklyn plumber brothers Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) to animated life on the big screen. Join Popcorn Podcast on a journey to the Mushroom Kingdom as Mario embarks on an epic quest to help Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) defeat Bowser (Jack Black) and find Luigi. Does this animated adventure level-up your co-hosts expectations or hit them like a Bowser Bomb? Listen to find out in this unmissable bite-sized episode. Wahoo!…

Mar 12

Mar 12 Scream VI

Bonus, Season Nine

Get set to scream with Popcorn Podcast's no-spoiler review of the latest instalment in the slasher franchise: Scream VI. The requel sequel follows the core four Woodsboro survivors – played by Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmine Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding – as they start a new life in New York City, but there's another Ghostface out for blood and no one is safe when playing by the franchise rules. Leigh and Tim break down all you need to know about Scream VI…

Feb 6

Feb 6 Knock At The Cabin

Bonus, Season Nine

M Night Shyamalan returns with apocalyptic thriller Knock At The Cabin, starring David Bautista, Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge. Leigh and Tim get into the nitty-gritty of the film, which follows a young girl and her parents taken hostage at a remote cabin by four armed strangers who demand the family make an unthinkable choice. Much like its characters, Popcorn Podcast must decide what they believe. Is this a return to form for Shyamalan or another miss for the enigmatic director?…

Jan 29

Jan 29 The Whale

Bonus, Season Nine

Darren Aronofsky's The Whale sparks a deep and profound conversation this week. The character study of a reclusive English teacher (Brendan Fraser) living with severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter (Sadie Sink) has garnered criticism for its subject matter, but Popcorn Podcast dives into the film's symbolism, message and the incredible Oscar-nominated performances of Brendan Fraser and Hong Chau to bring you all you need to know about The Whale. We hope you enjoy this bonus episode of Popcorn Podcast…

Jan 1

Jan 1 The Lost King

Bonus, Season Eight

Leigh and Tim discuss British film The Lost King, starring Sally Hawkins and Steve Coogan. In Steven Frears' (Philomena) latest offering, Philippa (Hawkins), an amateur historian, defies the stodgy academic establishment in her efforts to find King Richard III's remains, which were lost for more than 500 years. Join Popcorn Podcast in their quest to excavate the truth from brilliant performances amid this story of a woman determined to find her voice (and King Richard) against the odds. We hope you enjoy this bonus holiday movie review…

Dec 28

Dec 28 Gabriel LaBelle (The Fabelmans)

Interviews, Season Nine, Bonus, Special

Popcorn Podcast is thrilled to welcome Gabriel LaBelle, the rising star tasked with playing a young Steven Spielberg in his autobiographical drama The Fabelmans. Spielberg's latest is a deeply personal story, based on his childhood and formative years, that offers a window into the experiences that shaped him as one of the greatest directors of all time. LaBelle, the 20-year-old son of character actor Rob LaBelle, shares some lovely anecdotes of his time working with Spielberg, as well as what an emotional experience it was for all involved and how this role has changed his life. We hope you enjoy this very special interview episode of Popcorn Podcast…

Dec 25

Dec 25 Triangle of Sadness

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 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 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 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 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)