Oscar Wild
Oscar Wild is an entertainment podcast where Sophia Ciminello and Nick Ruhrkraut discuss the latest in film from new releases to old favorites, always counting down to next year's Oscars.
Moulin Rouge! at 25 (ft. Connor and Dylan MacDowell)
The greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love Moulin Rouge! On this week's spectacular spectacular episode, Nick and Sophia are joined by their friends and the hosts of Drama with Connor and Dylan MacDowell to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Baz Luhrmann's maximalist musical masterpiece, Moulin Rouge! The group talks about their relationship to the film, their obsession with Nicole Kidman as Satine, Ewan McGregor's singing voice, the Broadway musical, and more. Like all of Nick and Sophia's collaborations with Connor and Dylan, it's a fun episode you won't want to miss.
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<...Awards Season Check-in: Film Festival Announcement Round-Up
On this week's episode, Nick and Sophia run through the recent marathon of film festival announcements. First, they dig into the Venice International Film Festival lineup, where films like Danny Boyle's Ink, Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine, and Lee Chang-dong's Possible Love will have their world premieres. Next, they discuss the plethora of films headed to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), including world premieres of Sian Heder's Being Heumann and Peter Farrelly's I Play Rocky. They also chat about the films debuting in the Platform section and what the "Canadian Premiere" designation can tell us about Telluride's secret...
The Odyssey
In a time of apparent movie magic, Christopher Nolan has released his latest critical and box office sensation, The Odyssey. Nick and Sophia do a deep dive into Nolan's new adaptation of Homer's epic poem, detailing their favorite moments from the film, like Odysseus' journey to Hades, battle against the Cyclops, and run-in with Circe. They rave about Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway's performances as Odysseus and Penelope, discuss their own familiarity with the story, and share what makes Nolan's adaptation unique. It's safe to say they'll be talking about the film for the entirety of awards season. Finally...
The 2026 Mid-Year Oscars
With the release of Christopher Nolan's latest film, The Odyssey, right around the corner, Nick and Sophia take stock in the first half of the year before the summer box office takes off. In this new game, Nick and Sophia nominate their favorite films, actors, writers, and directors who've released movies in the first half of 2026 for their Mid-Year Oscars. They discuss films like Blue Heron, Send Help, Miroirs No. 3, Voicemails for Isabelle, The Sheep Detectives, The Invite, and more throughout this fun episode. Who would you nominate for Oscars if the only movies eligible were those released between...
Our Very Early 2027 Oscar Predictions
With March's Oscar ceremony in Bob Ferguson's rearview, it's time for Nick and Sophia to begin predicting the nominees for next year's Oscars! In their annual summer tradition, they share their predictions in all four acting categories, Director, and Picture. They also don't miss the opportunity to advocate for some of their favorite performances, share what they're excited to see, and wonder why they've seen a certain movie trailer so many times. Comment with your own predictions and let us know if you agree with our early hot takes!
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Early 2026 Release Round-Up
The May box office is thriving ahead of a summer filled with exciting blockbusters, having surpassed $1 billion for the first time since 2019. Sophia and Nick will definitely be reviewing those upcoming films in the following months, but on this episode, theyâre taking it back to all of the new films they havenât yet discussed this year. Blame a long Oscar season or a rich Cannes festival, but theyâre back with an OW favorite, Nom or Bomb, to recap 30 films that have captured audiences so far in 2026. Which movies will they continue to talk about later this year a...
Cannes Film Festival Recap II
Content de te revoir or Welcome back to an extended discussion of the 79th Cannes Film Festival! Nick and Sophia continue chatting about their experiences abroad including awarding many fun listener-submitted superlatives to films they both liked and loathed. They still mention In Competition films like they did on last weekâs recap, but they also shout out other unique selections from Un Certain Regard, Criticsâ Week, Directorsâ Fortnight, and Out of Competition Midnight films. Enjoy as they bid adieu to CannesâŚfor now!
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Cannes Film Festival Recap I
Sophia and Nick have so much to share about their experience at the Cannes Film Festival that, in this first recap episode, they mostly stick to reactions to the award winners, especially the Palme dâOr-winning Fjord by Cristian Mungiu. Some of their favorite films won some of these big prizes, but listen to hear them break down more about why the jury awarded these and how the 2027 award race could shake out. Will NEON, A24, and Netflix be duking it out once again? They share all of this and more! Stay tuned for fun festival superlatives next week!
...Cannes Film Festival Recap I
Sophia and Nick have so much to share about their experience at the Cannes Film Festival that during this first recap episode, they mostly stick to reactions regarding the award winners, especially the Palme dâOr-winning Fjord by Cristian Mungiu. Some of their favorite films won some of these big prizes, but listen to hear them break down more about why the jury awarded these and how the 2027 award race could shake out. Will NEON, A24, and Netflix be duking it out once again? They share all of this and more! Stay tuned for fun festival superlatives next week!
...2026 Cannes Film Festival Preview
Bienvenue Ă la 79e ĂŠdition du Festival de Cannes! Nick and Sophia are rolling out the red carpet for another glamorous selection of premieres along the French Riviera. Listen as they talk about the jury and list some of their most anticipated films from multiple sections, including In Competition, Un Certain Regard, Criticsâ Week, Directorsâ Fortnight, and more! Stay tuned during the fest as theyâll be reviewing films theyâve seen, spilling the tea about possible Palme d'Or favorites, and prognosticating what could be big Oscar players in 2027!
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Follo...
Oscar Rewind: 2016 Oscars ('La La Land' and 'Moonlight')
Welcome back to Oscar Wildâs Season 7 premiere where co-hosts Sophia and Nick break down one of the most exciting awards races and Oscar ceremonies in recent memory: the 89th Academy Awards and Moonlightâs Best Picture win! First, they celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the releases of Damien Chazelleâs La La Land and Barry Jenkinsâ Moonlight (45:18) with a detailed summary of each film and a lively discussion about their legacies.
Then, they turn to the telecast (and Envelopegate) and answer some fun listener questions (1:20:30). Who did Faye Dunaway vote for? What film was in third place? H...
Oscar Rewind: 2016 Oscars ('La La Land' and âMoonlightâ)
Welcome back to Oscar Wildâs Season 7 premiere where co-hosts Sophia and Nick break down one of the most exciting awards races and Oscar ceremonies in recent memory: the 89th Academy Awards and Moonlightâs Best Picture win! First, they celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the releases of Damien Chazelleâs La La Land and Barry Jenkinsâ Moonlight (45:18) with a detailed summary of each film and a lively discussion about their legacies.
Then, they turn to the telecast (and Envelopegate) and answer some fun listener questions (1:20:30). Who did Faye Dunaway vote for? What film was in third place? H...
âOne Oscar After Anotherâ: Our Recap of the 98th Academy Awards (feat. Bennett Prosser)
Thatâs a wrap on another exciting and satisfying Oscar season! Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson, both now having been nominated in four different categories, have earned their first Oscars! One Battle After Another and Sinners battled head-to-head and both emerged victorious along with 4 of their other Best Picture acquaintances. Listen as Sophia, Nick, and guest Bennett Prosser break down the Oscars telecast, from Conanâs return as host and hilarious opener to the emotional In Memoriam and speeches that left many in tears.
Stick around for a little post-episode scene, like with Conan becoming âHost for Li...
2026 Final Oscar Predictions
If awards season were a video game, itâs now time to face the final boss. You might need three extra lives just to make it through all of the rogue chatter, but Nick and Sophia are here to thoroughly explain their Oscar predictions in every category as simply as possible. Youâll feel confident about that Oscar pool youâve always had your eyes on.
As always, they split all 24 categories into three sections: In The Bag, Toss Up (20:18), and Anybodyâs Guess (38:33). At the end, they provide their Best Picture preferential ballots and see who they wan...
2026 Oscar Contenders VII: Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Casting, Director, and Picture
5 weeks, 7 episodes, 24 categories, 50 films, 232 nominees! On the final Contenders episode of the season, Sophia and Nick break down the nominees for the final five categories: Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay (18:48), Casting (36:14), Director (48:09), and last but not least, Best Picture (1:01:35). And thatâs all she wroteâŚfor now. Thank you for following along on this journey through the nominees and stay tuned for final nomination predictions before the telecast on Sunday, March 15th!
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2026 Oscar Contenders VI: Actor and Actress
Sophia and Nick follow up their chat about the wonderful Oscar-nominated supporting performances with their leading counterparts, which leave an equally indelible mark on this yearâs awards season. The ten nominees in Actor and Actress (22:23) challenge both the actor and the audience to search the deepest parts within oneself to find what differentiates the body and spirit from the collective hive mind of humanity. Michael B. Jordan tackles being twins AND a vampire while Leo DiCaprio plays a father racing to the ends of the earth to protect his daughter. Also, Rose Byrne, Jessie Buckley, and Kate Hudson sh...
2026 Oscar Contenders V: Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress
You know the Oscars are near when itâs time for the above the line categories! Nick and Sophia continue their Contenders series with Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress (34:39), getting to highlight some of their favorite performances of the year (thankfully with fewer instances of category fraud). And itâs especially fun to see veteran actors and first-time nominees duke it out in a tight race, so comment with your favorite nominee!
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2026 Oscar Contenders IV: International Feature, Documentary Feature, Animated Feature, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, and Documentary Short Film
A mega episode covering 15 feature films and 15 short films calls for plenty of homework and a whole lot of fun. The big nominee getters are just as exciting of watches as this group of films Sophia and Nick discuss today, two-thirds of which are only featured on this Contenders episodes. So follow along for a quick recap about each film, how they enjoyed each nominee, what other film they would write in, and which they hope will win. The time stamps for the categories are as follows: International Feature, Documentary Feature (19:58), Animated Feature (35:44), Animated Short Film (48:28), Live Action Short...
2026 Oscar Contenders III: Film Editing, Cinematography, and Visual Effects
Dive deeper into this yearâs Oscar nominees as Nick and Sophia break down three more technical categories: Film Editing, Cinematography (23:03), and Visual Effects (41:14). Whether you gush over aspect ratios or have no idea how digital effects like in Avatar: Fire and Ash exist (guilty!), they excitedly share fun facts and BTS tidbits that really make these movies come alive. As always, they also include a write-in vote and share who they think should win. Listen and comment on socials which nominees you would vote for!
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2026 Oscar Contenders II: Original Song, Original Score, and Sound (feat. Bennett Prosser)
The second part of the Contenders Series dives into the audio component of the cinematic experience and features frequent guest and Original Song aficionado, Bennett Prosser. Sophia and Nick are excited to hear about all of his insights into the nominees, including sharing their favorite songs and tracks, write-in votes and who they think should win in Original Song, Original Score (38:04), and Sound (1:06:48). Listen along for lots of unexpected laughs, score and soundtrack recommendations, and Academy Awards banter! #TeamDianeWarren
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2026 Oscar Contenders I: Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design, and Production Design
Now that this yearâs crop of Oscar nominees has been announced, follow along as Nick and Sophia embark on their extensive Contenders series leading up to the 98th Academy Awards in March. They discuss every person nominated for every film in all 24 categories and showcase their talents by sharing astounding facts and details that help create the collaborative artwork onscreen. In this first episode, they look at Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design (33:29), and Production Design (56:19).
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2026 Oscar Nominations Predictions
Weâre just days away from one of the most exciting announcements that will surely change many lives forever. Sophia and Nick lock in as they announce and defend their final Oscar nomination predictions, so listen to find out who could be on the chopping block and which categories are most likely to surprise. Tune in on January 22nd at 8:30am ET to find out this yearâs crop of Oscar nominees!
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2026 Golden Globes Recap & Guild Updates
Only one more week until Oscar nominations! And to prepare with some last minute prediction changes, Nick and Sophia are back to recap the Golden Globes and share the many guild updates that happened since the Critics Choice Awards. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as they debate Timmyâs Oscar chances, Hamnetâs surprise Picture win, the possibility for The Secret Agent to significantly shake up the race, and so much more!
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2026 Movie Preview SpecialÂ
Flipping the first few pages on that crisp calendar symbolizes the start of something new (no toxic mom group drama here!), including a fresh start, a much needed detox, and another exciting Criterion Challenge underway. It also means an entirely new slate of films to anticipate, which Sophia and Nick highlight on todayâs new episode! They discuss everything from imminent releases, like Send Help and Emerald Fennellâs bold Wuthering Heights adaptation; to blockbuster sequels and adaptations, like Shrek 5, Dune: Part III, and Christopher Nolanâs epic The Odyssey. Curious to learn about what could be potential 2027 Oscar bound...
Our Favorite Movies of 2025
As the countdown changes to this yearâs Oscars, Nick and Sophia look back on another wonderful year of film with plenty of ups and downs. Check out all of their episodes out for a deeper dive into some of their noted watches and mentions on this episode, but everything is fair game as they award numerous hilarious superlatives for performances, scenes, line deliveries, and more! Thank you to everyone for tuning in and especially for submitting questions and content throughout the year. Stay tuned for plenty more in 2026 leading up to the Academy Awards in March!
Fo...
2026 Oscar Shortlists Recap (ft. Bennett Prosser)
Between critics groups and different awards bodies, we can finally glean some much needed information about the Academyâs true love love from this yearâs diverse slate of films. How predictable will the list of inaugural Best Casting nominees be? Will Neon be able to successfully nominate all five of the international films in their slate? What were the biggest surprises announced? And most importantly, will Diane Warren earn her 17th (!!!) nomination? Tune in for this and much more as Sophia and Nick debate and analyze all 12 feature film shortlists with frequent guest and Original Song extraordinaire, Bennett Pros...
Awards Season Check-In: Critics Prizes, The Gotham Awards & Golden Globe Nominations
The first set of big critics prizes, including NYFCC, LAFCA, NBR, and AFI, have arrived along with the Gotham Awards winners and nominations at the Film Independent Spirit Awards and Golden Globes (a mouthful!), all showing a clear consensus and complete rallying behind One Battle After Another. To talk about all of these important awards season updates, Nick and Sophia are excited to welcome back returning guest Bennett Prosser. They discuss all the trends and possibilities with Best Picture contenders, whoâs on the bubble, and which films have lost the most steam. With Rose Byrne winning the trifecta an...
âWicked: For Goodâ Review (feat. Connor and Dylan MacDowell)
Itâs been a clock tick since DRAMA.âs Connor and Dylan MacDowell have joined Sophia and Nick on the pod, so what better way to rejoicify than by discussing the movie adaptation of Act II of the thrillifying musical, Wicked. Some may call it hideoteous, but the box office numbers show a very different story.
Elphaba and Glindaâs troubled friendship is further examined in Wicked: For Good, especially under the tyrannical rule of the Wizard and Madame Morrible. Listen as they all share their opinions of the follow-up along with an in-depth discussion of the songs...
Fall Release Round-Up: âBugonia,â âFrankenstein,â âDie My Love,â and âJay Kellyâ
Sophia and Nick are excited to chat about some buzzy films that have delighted festival audiences throughout the year and now have had wider releases for more to enjoy. But first, they mention some industry updates, including the Gotham Awards nominations and tribute winners and if these are a barometer for whatâs to come. Then, they share their spoiler-free opinions on Bugonia, Frankenstein, Die My Love, and Jay Kelly (streaming on Netflix December 5th) and see what Oscar potential they might have.
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Frequent Cinematic Collaborators (& Lovers): Lauren Bacall & Humphrey Bogart
Old Hollywood is full of hot gossip and today, Nick and Sophia are here to spill all of the piping hot tea between Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. Their romance began as a Warner Bros. production on the set of their first collaboration, To Have and Have Not, and continued until Bogartâs passing 13 years later. Listen to this juicy episode to hear all about their secret affair, how Bacall almost lost her contract way before she became a household name, and a discussion of the other three films on which they worked together, including: The Big Sleep, Dark Pa...
Updated 2026 Oscar Nomination Predictions
Welcome to the first purgatory of awards season: the period after fall festivals have ended and before the first set of major nominations and awards have been announced (except for the Gotham Film Awards nominations which came out last week). Since Sophia and Nick havenât shared their Oscar predictions on the show since June and collectively theyâve seen most of the remaining 2025 releases, they figured itâs time to share their updated picks on air. Remember, you can always find them including more categories here! Listen to find out how they think Picture, Director, and all Acting catego...
Frequent Cinematic Collaborators: Alfred Hitchcock & Edith Head
As another Halloween approaches, Sophia and Nick are excited to celebrate Hitchcock-tober once again! This time, they marvel at the outstanding collaboration between the famed director and the costume designer with the most Oscar nominations and wins, Edith Head. Their eleven films together spanned three decades, multiple studios, and the transition from B/W to color. Listen to find out how Head uses different materials and colors to create looks that accentuate an actorâs figure, develop a characterâs identity, and provide narrative function, all the while dazzling audience with unforgettable designs. Should she have been nominated for more...
The 63rd New York Film Festival Week Two Recap
This yearâs NYFF may have concluded but Nick and Sophia are back to chat about many of the other films that made up this yearâs incredible slate! From documentaries such as Cover-Up, another riveting portrait made by Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, to international dramas, like Jafar Panahiâs Palme dâOr winning It Was Just an Accident or Oliver Laxeâs divisive and hellish rave, SirÄt, thereâs always a vast array of filmmaking styles on display. Listen for more titles, what they think will show up during this yearâs Oscar race, and what secret screenin...
The 63rd New York Film Festival Week One Recap
The return of pumpkin spice lattes on every corner might be the biggest sign that fall has returned, but for Sophia and Nick, the crisp air and earlier sunsets can only mean one thing: the New York Film Festival is back! They are excited to recap their first week of the festival on this weekâs spoiler-free episode, discussing multiple premieres like Amazon MGMâs After the Hunt and Netflixâs A House of Dynamite and Jay Kelly. They also discuss Oscar potential for the many films they opine, including Park Chan-wookâs upcoming release and TIFF International People's Choice A...
âOne Battle After Anotherâ Review
The most anticipated release of the year for many has finally arrived! Paul Thomas Andersonâs latest work, One Battle After Another, kept mostly under wraps until recently, is a feat of a true artist and lives up to its many expectations. Nick and Sophia are back to review the film and talk through some of its highlights, including what makes it such a critical release with bold perspectives on current affairs that have plagued generations.
A short discussion with spoilers comes at (34:31) before a run through of many possible Oscar nominations (46:13). Theyâre excited to see how...
Fall Festival Recap 2025: Venice, Telluride, and Toronto
Happy TIFFty! With festival season in full swing, Sophia and Nick are back to share updates about big award winners and plenty of first-hand insights from multiple festivals. Bennett Prosser joins them to discuss Venice, Telluride, and TIFF, especially since they were all together at Torontoâs golden jubilee! Listen as they discuss their experiences and reactions at each festival, which films will most likely sustain Oscar buzz and which may peter out, and whatâs to come that may shake all of this up even more.
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2025 Fall Festival Movie Preview
The best time of year is quickly approaching and you know what Sophia and Nick are counting down to⌠Fall festival slates have been (mostly) revealed and with trailers and release dates also being shared, itâs time to figure out which films will become each studioâs big players. Listen as they list a number of films premiering or being shown at Venice, Telluride, Toronto, and New York and debating which may rise to the top before the next Academy Awards. Will Timothee reign âsupremeâ this time around? Itâs surely no âaccidentâ that Neon and Mubi each collected a stac...
Oscar Rewind: The 1965 Oscars (âThe Sound of Musicâ)
Sixty years later and the hills are still very much alive with the sound of music! In fact, Maria helped the Trapp Family (yes, based on a real singing family) live on through her memoir which was adapted into the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and Oscar-winning film widely loved today. Nick and Sophia share the tumultuous history behind what would become a memorable Best Picture winner along with their favorite songs and scenes.
Then, they open up their discussion about the 38th Academy Awards to figure out how Julie Andrews lost Best Actress, which other big players...
Summer 2025 Release Round-Up
From Pedro Pascal stretching his limbs to blue cartoon creatures wreaking havoc in their worlds, movies this summer have provided audiences some much needed relief from the intense heat and some hope for the future of theater releases thanks to multiple healthy box office returns.
Sophia and Nick are back to discuss many of this summerâs biggest releases, including blockbusters like Superman, Mission: ImpossibleâThe Final Reckoning, and F1, summer scares (15:08), and other films including a few future releases theyâre excited for (25:42). Listen to find out whether they would Nom or Bomb each movie and if any...
'Mad Max: Fury Road' at 10 (feat. Kyle Buchanan)
If youâre an action, adventure, or adrenaline junkie, then surely youâve heard of or seen the insanity that is Mad Max: Fury Road. George Miller ratchets the dial well past its maximum setting in his fourth installment of a saga he hadnât touched in thirty years. Or so you thinkâŚ
Kyle Buchanan, pop culture reporter and awards season columnist at the New York Times, captures over 130 perspectives from cast and crew while detailing the film's decades long development and production in his book, âBlood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road...