Off The Break Podcast

Alyssa, Codi, and Kyle are pleased by the opening of Iron Lung and explain how being an independent distributor is beneficial for theaters and film bookers. They also share updates on some release changes in March, including a change to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's release date, while giving quick insight into Project Hail Mary's potential.

Shayla and Kyle sit down with Adam Howe from GoTab, a company that designs and sells point-of-sales technology. Adam breaks down how their technology works, why it's effective, and how movie theaters can utilize this in their complexes.

If you're interested in GoTab, please reach out to Adam (adam.howe@gotab.io) or visit their website.

Codi, Alyssa, and Kyle explain the role of a film booker for movie theaters and why they can be very beneficial for running a cinema. The three of them also bring optimism for the Masters Of The Universe movie and explain why certain horror movies struggle to perform well in January.

How A Film Booker Is Beneficial article

Shayla, Ken and Kyle return to discuss which movies in February could be successes. They also break down an IndieWire article that explains how Iron Lung found a distributor.

Shayla, Ken, and Kyle are back from the holidays, and so they play catch-up to see how the movies performed. The three of them also criticize the Oscars for finally enforcing voters to watch all the films, which should've been a rule already.

The whole darn crew, Codi, Ken, Shayla, Alyssa & Kyle all gather for the first episode of 2026! We look through the 2026 release calendar to see what movies theaters everywhere should be aware of, and also discuss their favorite Popcorn Bucket Picks of 2025.

Shayla, Kyle, and Alyssa all celebrate the final day at the office by making last-minute announcements regarding trailers attached to the Avatar movie. They also discuss the importance of discovering new movies for Gen Alpha and how Iron Lung could serve as an example of that. Finally, they create a new guessing game involving film ratings for some iconic and lesser-known movies.

Shayla, Kyle, and Ken don't know a lot about business, but they still take it upon themselves to discuss Paramount's last big attempt to claim Warner Bros from Netflix. They predict Avatar: Fire & Ash's opening weekend, discuss the struggles booking the finale of Stranger Things, and explain (as best as they can) the big deal with the upcoming movie Iron Lung.

Be prepared, because no one of this episode is happy about Netflix buying out Warner Bros. studios. Listen to Codi, Kyle, and Ken discuss why this has happened, and what movie theaters should prepare for as the industry makes another massive change.

Brandon Smith, filmmaker and business partner of Nova Vento Entertainment, stops by the studio to chat with Ken and Kyle about all things related to theatrical distribution. He shares everything from Nova Vento's plans for distributing movies and his upcoming projects, to why movie theaters are special to him and still matter.

Visit Nova Vento Here

Codi, Kyle, and Ken explain why streaming services are prohibited from being used by movie theaters, despite some of them being free. They also cover the movies coming out for the holidays, such as Five Nights at Freddy's 2 and The Housemaid. And for the 1,000th time, we find something new that makes us all feel old.

Wicked: For Good is just around the corner! Alyssa explains to Kyle and Shayla what is so different about Act 2 versus Act 1, followed by the three of them gushing over the upcoming spoof movie from Bleecker Street, Fackham Hall. Then, Ken jumps in for Shayla, and everyone talks about watching The Running Man together!

Alyssa, Ken, and Kyle saw Predator: Badlands on opening night, and now share their opinions on it! However, before that, they discuss how December looks for movie theaters and give reassurance that Avatar: Fire & Ash will not be a box office bomb.

Ken and Shayla get festive for Halloween, but Kyle missed the memo. The three of them discuss whether Netflix is inching towards going theatrical due to the latest news. They also discuss why the status quo on early showings shouldn't change, and Kevin Costner's latest crisis.

Shayla, Alyssa, and Kyle gather to discuss their feelings on the state of the film ratings system and give resources to help theaters and parents. They also discuss preparing for Zootopia and Wicked For Good, while also getting excited for A24's Eternity.

Film Ratings Blog Available Here.

Film Ratings Resources Available Here.

The future may hold a glimmer of hope, as a new study suggests that Gen Alpha is receptive to watching movies in theaters. We break down the study, warn movie theaters about the upcoming Chainsaw Man movie, and more!

Full study available here

Alyssa, Kyle, and Ken discuss how there is no way The Fast & The Furious franchise is leaving movie theaters on a cliffhanger despite reports of trouble behind the scenes. They also recap the release of Taylor Swift's newest movie, great expectations for Tron: Ares, and discuss how Barbarian is one of the most disturbing horror movies in recent years.

Codi, Kyle, and Ken are all back from the Rocky Mountain Theatre Convention and share their entire experience and why they recommend attending. They also complain more about Taylor Swift's relationship with AMC, the troubles with re-releases, and realize maybe every movie they recommend to their office is not work-appropriate.

Shayla and Kyle welcome Hannah Hockman, a Gen-Z theater manager who describes her journey in reopening The Beach Theatre in St. Pete Beach, Florida. She shares many stories about the upgrades to the theater, her dedication to bringing back movie events to her community, and even recounts tales of being haunted by spirits.

Bids are being made for WB by Paramount and Netflix, so Shayla, Codi, and Kyle are at the mics to discuss all the aspects around this news. Codi gets to pump her fist for Demon Slayer's big opening, but shakes her fist at Taylor Swift for coming back to theaters.

Alyssa, Shayla and Kyle get together to understand how the popcorn bucket trend has grown, and if it is a successful business strategy. They also praise the success of the latest Conjuring movie opening, while explaining why theaters shouldn't be scared away by horror and R-rated movies.

Shayla, Kyle, and Ken reunite to discuss the October releases after Mortal Kombat 2 and Shelby Oaks moved their dates. The three also debate whether HIM and The Long Walk could pop while The Conjuring: Last Rites takes over September, and decide if Jordan Peele is about to move on from Universal.

Shayla, Ken, and Kyle offer reasons why K-Pop Demon Hunters resonated with audiences at the theater, so they propose what Netflix could do to meet movie theaters halfway. They also discuss the rising trend of repertory titles in cinemas, and Kyle recommends a dramatic (and maybe funny?) movie from New Zealand.

Netflix threw out a surprise theatrical release with their movie K-Pop Demon Hunters this August, and Ken, Kyle, and Alyssa will be trying to figure out why they are doing this. The three of them also give Warners their props for the success of Weapons. Kyle and Alyssa also recommend a new Sony Pictures Classics movie, Eleanor The Great, and gush over the amazing June Squibb.

Shayla, Kyle, and the rest of the crew will be attending this year's Rocky Mountain Theatre Convention, but they want to know what it is and what to expect. They are joined by Regional Director Diane Eve, who answers all their questions and gushes about what makes this event so special for theater owners and managers.

For more information, check out their website here.

Codi declares herself the bearer of bad news, warning us to prepare for a fall season that will require cinemas to adjust. She and Ken also debate whether studios should be satisfied with the box office of Superman and Fantastic Four, while Kyle is just happy that both were successful.

*This episode was recorded on 7/29/25

On this special episode, Emily Johnson of the Empire Twin Theater in Livingston, Montana, stops by our studio to discuss her experiences as a new manager and her insights into running the business. She also shares many stories about her years as a script supervisor for numerous westerns filmed in Montana, including the recent theatrical release, The Unholy Trinity.

Codi shares her adventures in South America, Ken feels disappointed by the newest Predator: Badlands trailer, and Kyle does not want summer to end. The three hosts also discuss the large gap between Fantastic Four and the next Marvel movie, and how it could pique audiences' interest in other films, as well as complain about Wednesday openings.

Kyle has a theory that runtimes are becoming shorter, so he pitches it to Alyssa and Shayla to see if they agree with him. They also discuss the response to Superman's opening weekend and what theaters should expect for the remainder of the summer. Shayla also explains the appeal of TikTok for being entertaining and reliable, while Alyssa and Kyle grow more gray hairs.

We are back from the 4th of July, and our hosts went out to the movies to celebrate! Listen to each of them talk about what summer movie they saw, while also updating our expectations for Jurassic World: Rebirth and Superman. Additionally, we discuss why the word-of-mouth culture has become more difficult in selling movies.

We are at the halfway point of 2025, and movie theaters will be kicking off the second half with big successes from Jurassic World: Rebirth and Superman! Ken, Shayla, and Kyle share their final thoughts on how they'll perform, what we expect from F1 after its surprise opening, and what Pixar needs to have an original hit again. Finally, the three discuss the magic of the 90s action movie, Speed.

Shayla and Kyle get to sit down with Ann Sanders, who runs the Liberty Theater in Pagosa, CO. Ann talks about how she got the chance to take over the Liberty Theater, what she has learned during her time in the industry, and the many ways to boost the theater's community outreach through the town and on the internet.

Shayla, Alyssa, and Kyle break down AMC's plans for adding more commercials before movies and the pros and cons that led to that decision. They also discuss whether Jurassic World and Superman will or won't cannibalize each other, and if it's wise for the industry to focus on the first 2 weeks of a movie's release.

Disney has officially acquired all of Hulu, prompting Codi, Ken, and Kyle to discuss the current state of streaming. They also debate the opening projections of Jurassic World: Rebirth, F1 & M3GAN 2.0, and get a brutal reminder of how long ago the 90's was.

Mystery movies and early access screenings are gaining popularity among cinema chains, but are they viable options for independent theaters? Codi, Kyle, and Ken break down whether they are and how to advertise them. They also discuss projections for How to Train Your Dragon and a potential big weekend for Elio and 28 Years Later.

We are celebrating a record-breaking Memorial Day weekend! As we celebrate, we discuss whether this is affecting the projections for the How to Train Your Dragon remake. Alyssa also had us watch The Predator this week, which led Ken to dive into all the trivia and knowledge he knows about one of his favorite movies.

Ken, Kyle, and Shayla are all giddy for an amazing Memorial Day weekend for theaters everywhere. They share their predictions on the openings for Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible 8, their opinions on the newest Superman and Jurassic World trailers, and why they love Raising Arizona.

AMC will offer its Stub members 50% discounts this summer, but will this test pay off for everyone? Codi, Kyle, and Alyssa also discuss what they expect from the June releases, studios fumbling their names for movies, and a Jim Carrey gem involving sex and vampires.

Alyssa, Shayla, and Kyle discuss the joys and stresses of booking kids' shows for movie theaters, Netflix's favoritism toward Greta Gerwig and IMAX theaters, and the magic of The Blues Brothers.

Codi, Shayla, and Kyle break down the rising number of re-releases from a cultural viewpoint and which ones theaters should play at their venues. They also discuss the historic drop from Sinners, proving there is no way to know which movie will hit the zeitgeist, and whether Weird Science has aged poorly or not.