Popcorn Podcast
Popcorn Podcast's bite-sized salty episodes will help you decide what movies to watch next. With exciting celebrity interviews, new movie reviews, giveaways, movie news and more, Popcorn Podcast with Leigh and Tim is for movie lovers everywhere. Hosted by entertainment journalist Leigh and movie expert Tim.Got a few minutes? Help us out by filling in this survey: http://bit.ly/popcornpodcast-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Resident Evil: a love letter to the horror gaming experience
Resident Evil returns to the big screen and Popcorn Podcast has recruited Zero Dark Nerdy to talk all about it! Resident Evil is an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around Bryan (Austin Abrams) in chaos. Tim and our friends at Zero Dark Nerdy - Brian and Jordan - unpack the video game adaptation's biggest successes, their mutual adoration for Zach Cregger, why Austin Abrams is the most loveable rage-baiting protagonist you could ask for and revel in the films incredible and effective production value!
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Forgotten Island filmmakers Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado talk Tayo na, inspiration and their films unique animation style
Filmmakers Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado join Popcorn Podcast to talk their new animated film, Forgotten Island. When the two began thinking about writing and directing an original film, they found their way to a story shaped by Filipino culture, mythology and family. Together, they saw an opportunity to build a film from a culture that had shaped both of their lives in intimate ways. Thus was born, Forgotten Island. In our chat, the filmmakers share how crucial the opening of the film was, how they embraced Tayo na creatively, and how they chose to pay homage to the...
Shaun The Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom: big pumpkins and big fun
In a Popcorn Podcast first, special kid-critics Charlotte, Florence and Maggie report for duty as they review Shaun The Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom. With Halloween looming, a clumsy Farmer trashes the Flock's beloved pumpkin patch, leading Shaun The Sheep to turn mad scientist to fix the problem. But things rapidly spiral out of control in this monstrously fun family adventure. Charlotte, Florence and Maggie share their favourite moments from the movie, what snacks they ate while watching and give their scores in the cutest ever episode of Popcorn Podcast episode.
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Zach Cregger talks Resident Evil, Austin Abrams and shares a wild on-set story
Horror auteur Zach Cregger joins Popcorn Podcast to talk all things Resident Evil. This terrifying reinvention of the Resident Evil franchise is the highly anticipated follow-up to Cregger's Oscar winning classic Weapons, reuniting him with actor Austin Abrams. In our chat, Zach shares what his film will deliver for an audience, his admiration of actor Austin Abrams and shares a wild BTS story involving a dog on set!
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Jenny Slate and Manny Jacinto talk their irrational fears and working along side Filipino artists on Forgotten Island
Jenny Slate and Manny Jacinto join Popcorn Podcast to talk their nuanced and colourful characters in Dreamwork's Forgotten Island. Manny voices Bungi Tiyanak, an eight-foot-tall demon baby with three eyes, a cartoonish mustache, gigantic cheeks and the soul of an artist, while Jenny voices Batiba, a tree-dwelling demon who trades peoples memories in exchange for something else. In our chat, Jenny talks about how she found the voice of her character, Manny shares his excitement working with amazing Filipino artists and i accidentally unlock some nightmare fuel for poor Jenny.
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H.E.R., Liza Soberano and Dave Franco talk Filipino representation, sexy cat dads and Forgotten Island
H.E.R., Liza Soberano and Dave Franco join Popcorn Podcast to talk their new animated film, Forgotten Island. In an exciting adventure with a big heart, two best friends become stranded on the mystical world of Nakali, where their only escape might cost them their shared lifetime of memories. Our trio of guests voice Jo, Raissa and Raww in one of the best films of the year. In our chat, H.E.R shares how the film is a celebration of her life while Liza feels very emotional and validated that all her hard work to date has...
Practical Magic 2: Legacy, nostalgia and sisterhood
Gather your coven and a midnight margarita as we cast our critic spell over Practical Magic 2 with special guest, entertainment journalist and podcaster, Anita Anabel. Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, this sequel is 28 years in the making, but does the return of the Owen's sisters cast a curse or charm over the 1998 cult classic? Tim and Anita talk sisterhood, nostalgia and go deep into the legacy the original film left and is hoping to replicate with its legacy follow-up. It is a fun, deep and insightful conversation about one of the most anticipated films of the year.
<...Will Forte and Lana Condor talk Coyote vs. ACME, SNL and their favourite Looney Tunes contraptions
Coyote vs. ACME stars Will Forte and Lana Condor go Looney on Popcorn Podcast. Combining live action with classic 2D animation in the tradition of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Coyote vs. ACME is a warm-hearted, wildly inventive underdog comedy with your favourite Looney Tunes characters. In our chat, Will and Lana talk about this being a career highlight for them both, what they admire about their characters, how Will’s experience on SNL served him well and Lana shares what ACME contraption would be cool to have in real life. All this and so much more.
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Filmmaker Selina Miles on documentary Silenced: art as power and feeling inspired by Amber Heard and Brittany Higgins
Filmmaker Selina Miles joins Popcorn Podcast to discuss her new documents Silenced. In Silenced, international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson takes audiences inside the courtroom and behind the global headlines, to fight against the weaponisation of defamation laws by alleged perpetrators to silence survivors and journalists. In our chat, Selina shares how she adapted a fairly dense legal text to become her narrative documentary, why Jennifer Robinson is a national treasure, the importance of sitting in the uncomfortable, and the inspiration she feels from Amber Heard and Brittany Higgins.
Content warning: This episode's discusses gender violent a...
The Dog Stars: magic Donkeys, plane porn and this year's biggest misfire?
Popcorn Podcast head into the post-apocalyptic world of The Dog Stars where a virus wipes out humanity - and all whose left is film critic and celebrity interviewer Nick L'Barrow and Tim Iffland. Starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley and Josh Brolin, Ridley Scott's latest blockbuster has the internet divided from paid creator reviews to fans of the book. So is it any good? Tim and Nick discuss its book to screen adaptation and its major identity crisis, the films endless plane porn, and reveal that Jacob Eloridi's character Hig is in fact dressed by Mugatu's Derelict fashion range. All...
Tina Arena on 50 years as an artist and speaking her truth
Iconic artist Tina Arena joins Popcorn Podcast to talk her new film, Tina Arena: Unravel Me. Marking 50 years in the spotlight, Tina Arena: Unravel Me is an intimate and cinematic portrait of one of Australia’s most enduring and enigmatic artists. Her music provides the soundtrack to the lives of generations of Australians. In our chat, Tina shares how she wanted to share the beauty and hardship of her celebrated 50 year career, the complexities of being a public figure, and how massive adulation is unnatural and unhealthy for artists, especially for child stars. We got you enjoy this special inte...
Corpus stars, Brodie Townsend and Lily Cowles, talk seduction, terror and collaboration
The stars of genre bending erotic body horror Corpus, Brodie Townsend and Lily Cowles, are here to talk about the seduction and terror of their new film. With Corpus making waves on the festival circuit at Fantasia and MIFF, it's exciting to welcome them on the show. In our chat, we talk about the almost contagious feeling of sharing a film with a live audience, finding the pocket with director and co-writer Corrin Evans, the interplay between the spirit and the body in the film, how every character becomes a part of you, and the importance of costume and...
The End of Oak Street explores family, Dino sex and split-diopter shots
Entertainment reporter Steven Christie joins Popcorn Podcast to journey to pre-historic 1982, at The End of Oak Street. Starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor find themselves fighting against Dinosaurs and discover that their very survival depends on them sticking together as a family. Tim and Steven get hard for science, Dino sex and split-diopter shots. They also discuss whether the film successfully pins down its emotional heart and allegory, and unpack what the cinematic language of dinosaurs entails. NB: this episode contains spoilers.
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One Night Only director Will Gluck on his Bondi Icebergs winter plunge with Callum Turner and what Molly Ringwald said to him on set that made him emotional
One Night Only director Will Gluck takes Popcorn Podcast behind the scenes of his new high-concept romantic comedy. Starring Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro, One Night Only see’s two New Yorkers in search for love on the one night of the year when sex is legal. In our chat with the celebrated director, Will talks about his love of Australian coffee, shooting the “lived in New York” experience for the film, the undeniable talent of Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro, his freezing ocean pool plunge with Callum turner in the middle of winter, and the thing Molly Ringwald said to...
RuPaul's Drag Race icons Ginger Minj and Jujubee talk STOP! THAT! TRAIN!, ghost wardrobes and why nothing beats a jet 2 holiday
Ginger Minj and Jujubee join Popcorn Podcast to talk their new comedy disaster film Stop! That! Train! Stewardesses Tess and DeeDee trade their miserable shifts on the low-budget Stank Rail to scheme their way onto the high-glam, elite bullet train known as the Glamazonian Express. But a catastrophic Stormaganza threatens to derail the high-speed train and crash it into Florida. In our chat, Ginger Minj and Jujubee talk ghost wardrobes, why drag queens are super-heroes, the conversation with director Adam Shankman that shifted their perspective on their characters, what iconic moment from drag race had to be explained to t...
Flying Bark Animation Director Christian Barkel takes us behind the scenes of Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender
Christian Barkel, animation director at Flying Bark productions, joins Popcorn Podcast to take us behind the scenes of their work on Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. In our chat, Christian talks about the integral role of an animation director across the entire production, the massive creative pay off in bringing to life an animated project, recapturing the awe and exciting and inspiration of the original Avatar series in their latest project, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender and what sets the new film apart with a hybrid animation style, and ponder if AI is a threat or opportunity.
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CEO of Flying Bark, Barbara Stephen on creative culture and diversity in animation
Barbara Stephen, CEO of Flying Bark productions, joins Popcorn Podcast to discuss her role in leading the prolific independent producer of family-focused animated content. With over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, Barbara manages the studio's creative and business operations across its three locations and has been essential to Flying Bark's growth and success. In our chat, Barbara talks to the diversity in the animators and artists they hire and the importance of creative culture, the desire to do something exceptional - such as their work on Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender and gives a tease as...
Spider-Man: Brand New Day SPOILER review - who does Sadie Sink play and why this is the best MCU film in years
Popcorn Podcast is going FULL SPOILER in our review of Spider-Man: Brand New Day with special guest, creator Kai Munton. Tom Holland and Zendaya are back as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and MJ as a forgotten Peter Parker lives alone as a full-time Spider-Man until mounting pressure triggers a dangerous change and a powerful new enemy emerges. Tim and Kai discuss why Peter Parker is such a relatable hero, how the movie explores grief, trauma and themes of belonging and connection. Meanwhile, Tim reveals his recent run in with a spider, we talk Sadie Sink's performance as [REDACTED], theorise what...
Callan Mulvey on the art of collaboration and his process in building a character
Australian actor Callan Mulvey joins Popcorn Podcast to talk his dystopian action drama, The Run. In a post-pandemic world crippled by a global fertility crisis, an aging smuggler (Callan Mulvey) struggles to protect a runaway teenager and her baby from ruthless criminals, while trying to complete his run for his vicious employers. It is a deeply nuanced and layered performance that Callan brings to life beautifully. In our chat, Callan talks about how he feels about scenes getting cut that he is passionate about, how much he loves the collaborate process and surrendering to it, how his characters costume...
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey explores our humanity while delivering on spectacle
Help us take Matt Damon home with special guest, film critic and journalist, Thuy Ong to review Christopher Nolan's, The Odyssey. The Odyssey is a mythic action epic, bringing Homer’s foundational saga to the big screen. After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops, Sirens, and Calypso along the way. Starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and a murderers row of Hollywood heavyweights, Tim and Thuy uncover the films underlying sense of empathy amongst the sheer spectacle of this story. From body horror, to ellite eye acting, sticking it t...
Andy Serkis on power, freedom and his spiritual home
Andy Serkis is on Popcorn Podcast to talk his latest directorial effort, and animated retelling of George Orwell’s classic novel, Animal Farm. Starring an all-star voice cast including Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close, Laverne Cox, Kieran Culkin and Woody Harrelson, this adaptation shifts George Orwell’s allegory from Stalinism to modern corporate corruption, trading a dystopian tone for "something a little more uplifting." In our chat, Andy shares how the origins of his adaptation were originally much darker, how the corruption of power is explored in his film, what he considers to be his spiritual home...
Obsession writer/director Curry Barker on success and the type of director he aspires to be
Obsession writer/director Curry Barker is on the podcast for this very special interview episode. Curry Barker is the talk of Hollywood with his horror hit making more than US$400m at the box office on a budget of US$750K. But it’s not just the financial success that is making headlines. Obsession has become part of the cultural zeitgeist with the likes of Steven Spielberg and Tom Holland praising the movie and the talents of the cast and Curry. In our chat, Curry talks about the film club he is now part of, his reaction to people ge...
Moana: culturally important, but is it worth reimagining?
Make way for our review of Disney's live-action reimagining of Moana, with special guest Justin Hill. Starring Catherine Laga’aia and Dwayne Johnson, Moana follows the adventurous, strong-willed daughter of a Polynesian village chief who sets sail to save her island. Justin and Tim go beyond the reef to discuss everything from how significant and beautiful the Polynesian culture representation is to the divisive discourse about this film even existing. From Laga'aia's star-making performance to Johnson's potential miscasting, as well as the wigs, CGI, music and action, Tim and Justin leave no coconut unopened in an in-depth conversation for an...
Zoe Deutch, David Wain and Ken Marino on Gail Daughtry’s absurdist comedy and its hidden Australian characters?
Zoey Deutch, David Wain and Ken Marino are here to talk Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass - a high-concept cliché machine that plays dumb so smart. It’s so bonkers and is so gleefully committed to its absurdity as it follows midwestern bride-to-be Gail Daughtry who has a “free celebrity pass” agreement with her fiancé — who uses it. With her relationship in crisis, Gail sets out on an epic journey through Hollywood to even the scales. In our chat, Ken and David reveal who they write their films for, what it was like for Zoey to join the Wain/M...
Could The Invite be the best film of the year, so far?
This is your offical invitation to join special guest, movie obsessive, Brad Ellmoos on Popcorn Podcast to talk all things The Invite. Directed by and starring Olivia Wilde alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton, The Invite follows a couple who invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbours for a dinner party, where the night spirals into unexpected places. Tim and Brad delight in the films wit, hilarity and heart, why its award worthy performances from Seth Rogen and Penélope Cruz can't be understated and why this film might just be the most fun you'll have at the mo...
Jeff Bridges and Bobby Moynihan talk Minions, monsters and monoliths
Hollywood icon Jeff Bridges and SNL alum Bobby Moynihan join Popcorn Podcast to talk Minions & Monsters. The Minions are back and become Hollywood stars, before unleashing real monsters into the world then banded together to try to save the planet from the mayhem they had just created. Once again, beautiful chaos. In our chat, Jeff and Bobby share what the most rewarding part of the filmmaking process is for them, how their research influenced their voice work and what iconic movie props they would display in a film history museum - all this and so much more.
Does Supergirl stick its superhero landing?
Look up and look out, because our review of Supergirl is here with, special guest film reviewer and creator, Ashlee Pradella. Australia's own Milly Alcock dons the red cape as Supergirl in a gritty, mature interstellar journey of vengeance and justice. Tim and Ashlee unpack the films dark tone, alien world and the balance of characters, including Jason Momoa's Lobo. From birthday week icks and the impact of Krypton on our emotions, Tim and Ashlee decide if this new DCU entry sticks its superhero landing, or drifts off into space.
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Check out Ashlee...Supergirl director Craig Gillespie on the zero fucks nature of Kara
Director of Supergirl Graig Gillespie is on Popcorn Podcast to take us behind the scenes of the DCU space opera. Supergirl which proves the range Craig has as a filmmaker, from critically acclaimed indie cinema to this big budget comic book adaptation. In our chat, Craig talks about the tonal balancing act he was going for, how he and Milly Alcock were “co-conspiritors” on set each day and the zero fucks nature to Kara that he loves.
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Supergirl writer Ana Nogueira on being free to play
Supergirl writer Ana Nogueira is on Popcorn Podcast in an interview DC fans won't want to miss. We first got a taste of Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El in 2025’s Superman, but Ana is giving us the true introduction to the hero in her first feature length appearance since 1984’s Supergirl. In our chat, we talk about how Ana was mining Kara’s complexities and grief, that Krypton as a symbol of home, the films connection with The Princess Bride and James Gunn’s brief to Ana about the DCU world she was to play in.
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Toy Story 5: a franchise that continues to prove it has more to offer
You've got a friend in Popcorn Podcast because we are reviewing Toy Story 5 with special guest - broadcaster, comedian and podcaster Mitch Churi! Pixar return to the characters that started it all with another adventure as Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang's jobs are challenged when they're introduced to electronics, a new threat to playtime. Mitch and Tim take a trip down nostalgia lane and talk to the impeccable and inventive animation style, If Taylor Swifts song hits the mark and why Conan O'Brien's Smarty Pants and Greta Lee's Lilypad steal the show. All this and...
Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day: tense, exciting and empathetic
Full disclosure...you're going to love this episode. Special guest, comedian, film critic and host of the podcast The Last Video Store Alexei Toliopoulos is on Popcorn Podcast to unpack Steven Spielberg's latest summer blockbuster, Disclosure Day. Spielberg asks the question: if you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? Tim and Alexei interrogate the weird and wonderful layers of the film, the exceptional performance of Emily Blunt, the big swings the film takes and the undeniable steady hand of a Spielberg film. It's a jam packed episode film l...
Joe Bird, Adrian Chiarella and Mia Wasikowska talk fear, homophobia and love in Leviticus
Actors Joe Bird, Mia Wasikowska and writer/director Adrian Chiarella are on Popcorn Podcast to talk new queer horror, Leviticus. Leviticus is a bold and haunting queer horror that follows two teenage boys whose first love turns deadly after a brutal conversion-therapy ritual leaves them stalked by a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most – each other. We recently sat down with Joe, Mia and Adrian to discuss how the universality of fear connects us, how our primal fear plays a role in unlearning things, how horror is a safe space for the queer co...
Hoppers stars Piper Curda and Bobby Moynihan on life lessons and tiny crowns
Piper Curda & Bobby Moynihan join Popcorn Podcast to celebrate Disney Pixar's Hoppers streaming on Disney+. In Hoppers, Piper voices 19-year-old Mabel Tanaka, a passionate animal-lover who goes undercover in the animal kingdom after stumbling upon technology that can transfer human consciousness into lifelike robots. On her adventure, she meets King George, voiced by Bobby - the undeniably optimistic leader of the pond and king of the mammals. In our chat, Piper and Bobby talk about their amazing Beaver Sanctuary experience in the UK, what momentoes they now hold from their experience on the film, why their director got them...
Masters of the Universe: have Mattel hit another home run?
We have the POWER on Popcorn Podcast reviewing Masters of the Universe with Special guest, YouTuber Chris Stanley. Starring Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto and Idris Elba, Mattel's latest big-screen adventure is nothing short of fantastical. From discussing the "muscles on muscles" of He-Man to the immersive and impressive in-camera craft of director Travis Knight and his crew, Tim and Chris travel to Eternia to dive headfirst in this highly anticipated summer blockbuster. Does it live up to the expectations of fans? Does the world building establish a world audiences will connect with? Does the comedy stick the...
Masters of the Universe director Travis Knight on practical filmmaking and working with Queen guitarist Brian May
Academy award nominated filmmaker Travis Knight is on Popcorn Podcast to talk his new blockbuster fantasy epic, Masters of the Universe. Travis Knight has a history of reviving nostalgic favourites, having directed Bumblebee, the 2018 solo film focused on the yellow-hued shapeshifting robot from the Transformers franchise. As a kid, his own collection of Masters of the Universe plastic heroes gave him his very first experiences crafting narratives and dramas on the floor of his bedroom; and now he is directing the first live-action adaptation of the beloved Mattel toys since 1987. In our chat, Travis talks about his very clear vis...
Is Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu worth a trip to the cinemas?
This is the way to our review of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, with special guest entertainment journalist and "professional fan", Deeny Guide. The first Star Wars film since 2019 follows bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice Grogu as they are enlisted by the New Republic to track down Imperial war criminals. Tim and Deeny unpack everything from the films transition from TV show to the big screen and just how much they think Pedro Pascal is actually in the film. From admiring the puppetry, lore and IMAX experience, Tim and Deeny share their unfiltered thoughts on...
Zoe Pepper on Birthright’s satire and moral grey area
Australian filmmaker Zoe Pepper is here to talk her satirical dark comedy, Birthright. The film follows Cory and his pregnant wife who find themselves evicted, jobless, and forced to stay with his parents. What transpires is a battle of the generations as the edges of Cory’s reality slip away leading to an unexpected path that detonates the family. In our chat, Zoe talks about the films power dynamics, satirical tone and why she gravitates towards things that are dark and political. She also shares the intention behind the films heightened music and the moral grey area the story pl...
Mother Mary: big swing cinema and its place in art
Freelance critic and filmmaker Andrew Fraser joins Popcorn Podcast to talk David Lowrey's Mother Mary. Long-buried wounds rise to the surface when iconic pop star Mother Mary (Anne Hathaway) reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer, Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel), on the eve of her comeback performance. Tim and Andrew interrogate the film at a cellular level, uncovering the many layers behind the two-hander between an artist in crisis and her creative collaborator. Does the film stick the landing as it juggles allegorical messages, healing deep wounds and a ghost story that connects it all? From...
Jasmin Tarasin and Courtney Collins on the destructive cycles of coercive control means to let go and begin again
Life Could Be A Dream director Jasmin Tarasin and screenwriter Courtney Collins discuss their deeply important film about the destructive cycles of coercive control. Life Could Be A Dream aims to examine the cultural scripts that shape peoples expectations of love and help equip them to recognise financial abuse and other forms of coercive control while taking steps towards financial independence and safety. In our chat, Jasmin and Courtney share how the film came to be and the unique creative process that beared fruit between writer, director and actor. They also discuss how they extended their web of knowledge to...
Is Mortal Kombat II the flawless victory fans were hoping for?
Our Mortal Kombat II review is here, with content creator and Mortal Kombat expert and Movie Nerds Founder, Ryan Adams. Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade and Kano are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders. Sounds exciting, right? Well buckle up as Tim and Ryan examine the origins of the Mortal Kombat game and whether this highly anticipated sequel gets it right. From its IMAX release to the tight action, stunts and set pieces, this chat is a flawless victory...