No genre is off limits, but our archive is especially deep in action, adventure, science fiction, superhero, and horror films. Those genres naturally lend themselves to the retrospective series that have become the show's trademark, allowing us to review entire franchises from beginning to end.

Beyond blockbuster franchises, Now Playing Podcast also reviews dramas, comedies, thrillers, mysteries, fantasy films, crime stories, westerns, animated features, family films, documentaries, romances, war films, holiday films, and more. We've covered everything from Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Friday the 13th, and King Kong to Casablanca, the Before trilogy, The Devil Wears Prada, Moneyball, and Sinners.

Ultimately, we don't choose movies based on genre. We choose them because they tell an interesting story as part of a retrospective series, connect to another film we've covered, or are selected by our listeners and supporters.

No. While we regularly review new theatrical releases, they make up only part of what we cover.

The hallmark of Now Playing Podcast is the retrospective series. Rather than reviewing a sequel or reboot on its own, we often revisit every previous film in the franchise first, giving listeners the full story leading up to the newest installment. Whether it's Star Wars, the Conjuring films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, James Bond, or another long-running series, we believe every movie deserves to be viewed in context.

We also release standalone reviews of classic films, cult favorites, listener requests, Patron Choice selections, and other movies that deserve a closer look, regardless of when they were released.

Whether a movie premiered last weekend or over 100 years ago, if it makes for an interesting discussion, it's a candidate for Now Playing Podcast.

Yes. Complete retrospective series are the foundation of Now Playing Podcast.

Rather than reviewing only the newest installment in a franchise, we usually begin at the beginning, reviewing every previous film before discussing the latest release. This approach allows us to examine how characters, stories, filmmakers, and audiences have evolved over time while placing each new movie in the context of everything that came before it.

Over the years, we've produced retrospective series covering franchises such as Halloween, Star Wars, James Bond, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Mission: Impossible, King Kong, Rocky, and hundreds more. We've also explored the complete filmographies of selected directors, collections of connected films, and other themed series.

Not every retrospective leads to a brand-new theatrical release. Sometimes we revisit a classic franchise simply because it's an important part of film history or because listeners have requested it. Whether a series spans two movies or dozens, our goal is to provide a complete look at the films that shaped it.

The simplest answer is that we can't review everything...at least not yet.

Unlike podcasts that focus primarily on the latest theatrical releases, Now Playing Podcast is built around retrospective series. Much of our schedule is devoted to reviewing complete franchises, directors, or connected groups of films, often leading up to a new theatrical release. That means many new movies simply don't fit into our schedule when they first arrive in theaters.

With more than a century of film history to choose from, there are also thousands of older movies we'd love to review. Every year, we have to make difficult choices between covering a new franchise, revisiting a classic, or finally getting to a long-requested series.

Sometimes we simply miss a movie that later proves to be far more significant than anyone expected. When that happens, we often go back and include it in a future retrospective or schedule it as a standalone review. Many films originally overlooked have eventually found their way into the Now Playing Podcast archive.

If there's a movie you'd like us to cover, let us know. While we can't promise every request will become an episode, listener feedback plays an important role in shaping future review series and standalone reviews.

Many of our retrospective series are designed to unfold over several years rather than all at once.

Whenever possible, we prefer to review new entries as they are released. That means series like Stephen King adaptations, video game movies, and long-running franchises continue to grow alongside Hollywood. Rather than declaring a series "finished" only to return a year later for another sequel, we revisit them as new movies arrive.

Some retrospectives are intentionally paced. Our Universal Monsters series, for example, explores the classic monsters one at a time over multiple years before eventually bringing them together for the crossover "Monster Mash" films. Other series are timed to coincide with theatrical releases, allowing us to revisit earlier films and catch up on related television series before reviewing the newest movie.

Sometimes a long gap simply means we're waiting for the right opportunity. Balancing ongoing retrospectives with new franchises, standalone reviews, and listener requests means not every series can return every year. Rest assured, if a retrospective is still open, we haven't forgotten about it. We're simply waiting for the right time to continue the journey.

Choosing what to review is one of the biggest challenges we face. With more than a century of film history and new movies arriving every week, there are far more worthy candidates than we could ever fit into our schedule.

Our first priority is continuing franchises we've already started. If we've reviewed previous installments in a series, we make every effort to return whenever a new sequel, reboot, or related film is released.

Beyond that, we look for opportunities to introduce new retrospective series, revisit classic franchises, and explore films connected by a common director, theme, or subject. Stuart spends considerable time planning the release calendar, balancing theatrical release dates, anniversaries, seasonal programming, and the time required to produce each series.

Listener feedback is also an important part of the process. Suggestions from email, social media, listener surveys, and our supporter community regularly influence future schedules. While we can't review every requested movie, many of our most popular series began as listener recommendations.

Ultimately, every schedule is a balancing act between new releases, long-requested retrospectives, and the practical reality that there are only so many episodes we can produce each year.

Absolutely. In fact, many of our review series and standalone episodes began as listener suggestions.

We welcome recommendations through email, social media, our Facebook community, Patreon, listener surveys, and other ways to connect with the show. While we can't promise we'll review every requested movie, we read every suggestion and regularly use listener feedback when planning future schedules.

Because Now Playing Podcast focuses on retrospective series, adding a single movie often means committing to an entire franchise or connected group of films. That means some requests take longer to reach the schedule than others, and some may fit better as standalone reviews.

If there's a movie, franchise, or filmmaker you'd like us to cover, let us know. Your suggestion may help shape a future retrospective or inspire a standalone review.

Yes, but selectively.

Now Playing Podcast began as a movie review show, and feature films remain our primary focus. As our retrospective series expanded, however, we found that some stories couldn't be told completely without including television. Classic Stephen King miniseries such as The Stand and 'Salem's Lot, along with modern franchise series from Marvel, Star Wars, and other cinematic universes, have become essential parts of those larger stories.

Rather than reviewing every television series, we generally focus on limited series, miniseries, or television seasons that are directly connected to the movie franchises we're covering. In most cases, we review an entire season in a single podcast episode, allowing us to fit television into our retrospective format while keeping the emphasis on the broader franchise.

Many listeners have asked us to review ongoing television series in greater depth. While our primary mission remains reviewing movies, we'll continue to include television whenever it meaningfully expands one of our retrospective series.

The one major exception is Now Peaking, our special podcast devoted to Twin Peaks: The Return. Created to celebrate the 2017 revival of the series, it featured one full-length podcast for every episode of the season. Those episodes remain available through our Patreon digital store.

Yes. While movies remain our primary focus, we've also reviewed books and comic books that deepen our understanding of the films and franchises we cover.

Our book reviews include original novels that inspired major motion pictures, movie tie-ins, franchise spin-offs, biographies, behind-the-scenes histories, and other works connected to the world of film. We also review books that simply make for a great discussion, even if they aren't tied to a specific retrospective series.

On the comics side, we've explored influential graphic novels and comic book storylines, particularly those that inspired film adaptations. For example, our Batman graphic novel series examined landmark stories that helped shape the modern Batman films and their characters.

Like our movie reviews, every book and comic review features spoiler-filled discussion, critical analysis, and conversation from the hosts. While we produce far fewer book and comic reviews than movie reviews, they remain an important part of the Now Playing Podcast archive.

Yes. Since 2007, Now Playing Podcast has interviewed actors, directors, producers, screenwriters, authors, comic creators, and other notable figures from the entertainment industry.

Our interview archive includes exclusive one-on-one conversations, convention interviews, press junkets, and anniversary retrospectives featuring the people behind the movies. Guests have included actors such as Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Lea Thompson, Walter Koenig, Samuel L. Jackson, Seth Green, Keenan Thompson, and others, along with authors including David Morrell, Alan Dean Foster, Harvey Pekar, and many others.

Whether discussing an upcoming release, reflecting on a classic film, or sharing behind-the-scenes stories from their careers, our guests offer unique insights into the creative process and the movies they helped bring to life.

You can browse our complete Interview Archive to explore every guest and listen to the full conversations.

Great movies don't have an expiration date.

While many movie podcasts focus almost exclusively on the latest theatrical releases, Now Playing Podcast believes every film deserves to be viewed in context. Understanding a new sequel often means revisiting the movies that came before it, and many older films continue to influence filmmakers and audiences decades after their release.

Some of our retrospectives are timed to coincide with a new theatrical release, while others revisit classic franchises, influential filmmakers, or important films simply because they're worth discussing. Whether a movie premiered last week or a century ago, our goal is the same: to examine it thoughtfully, explore its place in film history, and determine how well it holds up today.

We also believe that discovering older movies is one of the great joys of being a film fan. Every retrospective is an opportunity to revisit favorites, uncover forgotten gems, and introduce new audiences to films they might otherwise have overlooked.

At the end of every review, each host answers one simple question: Would you recommend this movie?

Every host gives an independent recommendation based on their own opinion. A recommendation is represented by a green arrow on the website, while a "not recommend" is shown with a red arrow. Because each host votes separately, a movie may receive unanimous praise, unanimous criticism, or a split decision.

Movies that get three recommends are marked as "Now Playing Podcast Approved" on the site so you can most quickly find the best movies to watch yourself!

The arrows are only a quick summary of each host's opinion. During the review, we explain why we reached our recommendation, discussing the film's strengths and weaknesses, our expectations, and how strongly we feel about it. Not every recommendation is equally enthusiastic, and not every "not recommend" is a complete condemnation. The full review provides the context and nuance behind each vote.

The show also has one special rating: the Brown Arrow. This "honor" recognizes movies that are entertaining for all the wrong reasons. These "so bad they're good" films may be poorly made, but they can still provide a uniquely enjoyable viewing experience. Brown Arrow picks are listed together in their own section of the website for listeners looking for some unforgettable unintentional comedy.

The Brown Arrow is one of Now Playing Podcast's most distinctive ratings.

Created by Stuart, the Brown Arrow is reserved for movies that are entertaining for all the wrong reasons. These are the films that may fail as serious filmmaking but succeed as unforgettable experiences thanks to outrageous performances, bizarre creative decisions, spectacular misfires, or glorious moments of unintentional comedy.

A Brown Arrow is still a recommendation. If a movie earns one, we're saying it's worth watching, just probably not for the reasons its creators intended.

On the website, Brown Arrow reviews appear with a standard green recommendation arrow because they are, ultimately, recommendations. However, they are also collected in their own section of the archive, making it easy to find movies perfect for a "so bad it's good" movie night. Whether it's Tommy Wiseau's The Room, the infamous duck romance in Howard the Duck, or another cinematic train wreck, Brown Arrow movies often become some of the most memorable reviews we record.

Not at all. In fact, we rarely do

Every Now Playing Podcast review is built around a panel of three hosts, each bringing a different perspective to the discussion. Some may be lifelong fans of a franchise, while others are experiencing it for the first time. One host may love a movie that another strongly dislikes, and those differences often lead to the most interesting conversations.

While opinions can be passionate, the discussions are always about the movie, never about each other. We encourage honest disagreement, respectful debate, and different points of view because we believe listeners are better served by hearing multiple perspectives rather than a room full of people who all feel the same way.

At the end of every review, each host gives an independent recommendation. There is no requirement that everyone agree, and many of our most memorable episodes feature lively debates between hosts who walked away with very different opinions of the same film.

No. Now Playing Podcast reviews are intentionally spoiler-filled.

Our goal is to have an in-depth conversation about every movie we review, and that means discussing the entire film from beginning to end. We examine major plot points, character arcs, twists, endings, themes, production decisions, and how each movie fits within its franchise or genre. Nothing is considered off-limits.

If you're trying to decide whether to see a movie without knowing what happens, we recommend watching the film first and then listening to our review afterward. Most listeners treat the podcast as a companion discussion rather than a substitute for seeing the movie.

Whenever possible, we clearly identify the movie or television episode being discussed, so you'll know exactly what spoilers to expect before listening. That said, movies don't exist in a vacuum. When relevant, we may also reference important moments from other films as part of the discussion, particularly classics and other movies we've previously reviewed.

Our goal is simple: every episode should be exactly as long as it needs to be, and not a minute longer.

We work hard to keep our reviews focused through disciplined recording and careful editing. Every discussion is shaped to deliver the best listening experience, removing tangents, repetition, and anything that doesn't improve the conversation. As a general rule, we try to keep our main review shorter than the movie we're discussing, though some especially complex films naturally require more time.

As the podcast has evolved, so has the depth of our discussions. Early episodes often ran under an hour, while today's retrospective reviews may run two hours or more when a movie deserves that level of analysis.

Occasionally, we release extended or lightly edited versions of reviews through Patreon and other supporter channels. Those editions are intended as bonus content for listeners who want every minute of the conversation. Our standard podcast release is always the definitive version, carefully edited to present the discussion at its best.

Not yet, but that's our goal.

Now Playing Podcast has produced thousands of hours of movie discussions since 2007, and we're in the process of creating transcripts for the entire archive. Newer episodes are more likely to include transcripts, while older episodes are being added as they're processed and reviewed.

Transcripts make our reviews more accessible, easier to search, and simpler to reference. They also help listeners find specific discussions and improve the discoverability of our archive.

If a transcript is available for an episode, you'll find it on that episode's page. We're continually expanding our transcript library, so if one isn't available today, check back in the future.

A small number of Now Playing Podcast reviews are no longer available.

Episodes including A Clockwork Orange, Super 8, Xanadu, and Shocker were produced exclusively as rewards for supporters of our Now Playing Podcast: Underrated Movies We Recommend Kickstarter campaign. They were later included on our 10th Anniversary DVD collection, which contained every episode produced during the show's first decade.

Those Kickstarter-exclusive reviews are no longer available through the website, Digital Store, Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or other distribution channels.

Fortunately, these are the exception rather than the rule. The overwhelming majority of Now Playing Podcast reviews remain available through our free archive, supporter programs, or the Digital Store.