MUBI Podcast

GRAND THEFT HAMLET tells the radical tale of a band of artists who stage a virtual production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet inside the online video game Grand Theft Auto. But it’s hardly the first time filmmakers have messed with Shakespeare’s great Dane.Host Rico Gagliano learns the history of Hamlet on screen, with help from the movie’s cocreators, Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane, director Michael Almereyda (HAMLET 2000), and Rico’s own playwright father.GRAND THEFT HAMLET is now streaming exclusively on MUBI worldwide.To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

Magnus von Horn, a Swedish director known for his thought-provoking film 'The Girl with the Needle', joins guest host Anna Bogutskaya to discuss the chilling origins of his horror narrative. They explore how the film intertwines fears of parenthood with historical oppression, shedding light on the societal issues facing women in Copenhagen's dark past. Von Horn shares insights into the complex casting process and the collaborative nature of character development, while connecting themes of villainy and systemic oppression to contemporary struggles for women's rights.

For their first project together since last year's steamy hit CHALLENGERS, director Luca Guadagnino (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME) and writer Justin Kuritzkes tackle another story about a sensuous 1950s romance of desire and longing: an adaptation of William S. Burroughs' novel QUEER. The pair tell host Rico Gagliano about why they vibe, how they make audiences feel the heat, and how their films are like a MAD MAX movie.QUEER is streaming exclusively on MUBI in the UK, Ireland, Latin America, Germany, Canada, India & more from January 31.To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

After THE MATRIX and V FOR VENDETTA, the Wachowskis were ready to turn from darkness, into the bright, bright candy-colored light. The result was SPEED RACER, an eyepopping postmodern explosion that honored the gravity-defying spirit of old-school anime… and which audiences couldn’t quite figure out.Host Rico Gagliano talks with the SPEED RACER star Roger Allam (THE THICK OF IT), legendary special effects artist John Gaeta (THE MATRIX), and more about how the movie was made, why it tanked, and why a growing army of acolytes start their days by watching its final action sequence. The latest season of The MUBI Podcast – BOX OFFICE POISON — dives into six visionary films... that were also notorious flops. Inspired by the new book of the same name by Tim Robey, film critic for The Telegraph, every episode is a wild ride through a great movie's rise, and fall, and rise.THE FALL is now streaming on MUBI globally. Subscribe to receive a copy of Notebook Issue 6 at mubi.com/magazine.To watch some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

Tim Robey, a film critic for The Telegraph and author of 'Box Office Poison,' dives into Charlie Kaufman's intrepid directorial debut, 'Synecdoche, New York.' He shares insights on how the film, initially a flop, has grown into a celebrated classic. The discussion explores Kaufman's unique storytelling style, the emotional complexities within the film, and the hurdles he faced in production. Robey reflects on the impact of this poignant narrative on the indie film landscape and how it speaks to the struggles of neurotic artists.

In 1994, indie darlings the Coen Brothers went for the big time with a playful pastiche of classic Hollywood movies that pulled out every visual and comedic stop… and still crashed and burned at the box office. Host Rico Gagliano tells the story of the soaring Coens movie that paved the way for the flatlands of FARGO. Guests include HUDSUCKER’s legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins (BLADE RUNNER 2049), acclaimed film podcaster Karina Longworth (YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS), and more.The latest season of The MUBI Podcast – BOX OFFICE POISON — dives into six visionary films... that were also notorious flops. Inspired by the new book of the same name by Tim Robey, film critic for The Telegraph, every episode is a wild ride through a great movie's rise, and fall, and rise.This holiday season, to gift the world's best movies visit mubi.com/gifts. To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

It’s hard to imagine Katharine Hepburn as anything but a Hollywood icon. But in 1935, director George Cukor’s dreamy, gender-fluid comedy SYLVIA SCARLETT derailed her career for years. Host Rico Gagliano tells the story of a movie with sexual politics way ahead of its time — and which paid for it dearly at the box office. Guests include movie star and Hepburn devotee Rebecca Hall (THE PRESTIGE), film scholar Elyce Rae Helford (WHAT PRICE HOLLYWOOD), and arts writer Lesley Chow (YOU’RE HISTORY).The latest season of The MUBI Podcast – BOX OFFICE POISON — dives into six visionary films... that were also notorious flops. Inspired by the new book of the same name by Tim Robey, film critic for The Telegraph, every episode is a wild ride through a great movie's rise, and fall, and rise.QUEER comes to cinemas in Mexico on December 12, in the UK, Ireland & Canada on December 13, and to Germany on January 2.To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country. MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

James Cromwell, known for his role as Farmer Hoggett in the beloved Babe films and his recent work in HBO's Succession, joins the discussion to explore the striking tonal shift in Babe: Pig in the City. The conversation dives into the unexpected darker themes of the sequel, reflecting George Miller's creative risks and his background as a doctor. Cromwell shares behind-the-scenes insights on training over 700 animals for the film, and the challenges faced while appealing to both children and adults in a story filled with emotional depth.

In the mid-’70s, legendary director William Friedkin — fresh off THE EXORCIST — helicoptered into South America with tens of millions of dollars… and emerged with malaria and a bleak, thrilling masterpiece called SORCERER. The only problem was the competition: A little movie called STAR WARS.Host Rico Gagliano tells the story of how SORCERER crashed and burned at the box office — with help from the film’s screenwriter Walon Green (THE WILD BUNCH), Oscar-winning producer Mark Johnson (THE HOLDOVERS), and more.The latest season of The MUBI Podcast – BOX OFFICE POISON — dives into six visionary films... that were also notorious flops. Inspired by the new book of the same name by Tim Robey, film critic for The Telegraph, every episode is a wild ride through a great movie's rise, and fall, and rise. BIRD is now showing in theaters across the US, UK, Canada and Ireland. Visit mubi.com/bird for showtimes and tickets. COW is streaming on MUBI in many countries. You can also check out our special episode with Andrea Arnold about the film - listen here. To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.Check out the latest MUBI Podcast Expanded piece - an exclusive preface to Tim Robey's book, Box Office Poison, which inspired this season. Read the article here.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators.

Join Mary Beth McAndrews, editor-in-chief of Dread Central, as she unpacks the eerie world of 'Skinamarink.' This conversation reveals how childhood nightmares inspired the film's chilling narrative and taps into shared fears of isolation. Discover the movie's rise from festival gem to viral sensation, propelled by social media and unexpected leaks. McAndrews also examines the analog horror trend on platforms like YouTube, highlighting its ability to evoke nostalgia and dread, especially in a post-pandemic era.