About the Podcast
What is Now Playing Podcast?
Now Playing Podcast is a long-running movie review podcast dedicated to thoughtful, in-depth discussions of films. Since launching in 2007, the show has built one of the largest archives of feature film reviews in podcasting, with 1,612 movies covered across nearly every genre.
The show's signature format is its retrospective series. Rather than reviewing only the latest theatrical releases, Now Playing Podcast typically examines an entire film franchise, director, or connected group of movies, exploring how the films relate to one another, how they have aged, and which entries stand the test of time.
In addition to retrospective series, the podcast also releases standalone reviews every month. These one-off episodes cover everything from classic films like Casablanca and Gone with the Wind to current releases and listener-requested favorites, creating a library of more than 200 individual movie reviews alongside the larger series.
Every episode features detailed plot discussion, behind-the-scenes information, production history, critical analysis, and a final recommendation from each host. Because the reviews examine the films in depth, episodes contain major spoilers.
Now Playing Podcast has released a new free movie review almost every week since 2011, while supporters receive access to an even larger archive of exclusive reviews through the show's donation program.
Beyond movie reviews, Now Playing Podcast has also produced 39 book reviews, interviews with filmmakers, actors, authors, and other notable guests, and special episodes exploring the people and stories behind the movies.
Who hosts Now Playing Podcast?
Now Playing Podcast features a rotating panel of hosts led by Arnie Carvalho and Stuart Atkinson. Depending on the review series, they are joined by Brock Cottington, Justin Vactor, Marjorie Kelton, and Jason Eakin. Each retrospective series and standalone review is recorded with a consistent panel of hosts from beginning to end.
Over the years, the podcast has also featured former co-hosts including Jakob Conkling, who appeared on more than 1,000 reviews, and Jerry Smith. You can learn more about every current and former host on our Team page.
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What book has Now Playing Podcast published?
The hosts of Now Playing Podcast are the authors of Now Playing Podcast: Underrated Movies We Recommend, a collection of 375 individual reviews of 125 films. Written by Arnie Carvalho, Stuart Atkinson, Marjorie Carvalho, and former Now Playing Podcast host Jakob Conkling, the book expands on the podcast's film criticism and brings together reviews spanning a wide range of genres and eras in a printed collection for movie fans and collectors.