The Next Best Picture Podcast

For Episode 447, Lauren LaMagna, Dan Bayer, Katie Johnson, Sara Clements, and I are here to discuss which films are our favorites from the first half of 2025 and which we deem to be realistic Oscar contenders. We tie this conversation into this week's poll as we ask, "Which Is The Best Film Of 2025 So Far?" We also reveal the winner of last week's poll for the release of "28 Years Later," where we asked, "Which Is Your Favorite Danny Boyle Film?" We also give our reactions to the trailer for "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. We know the world is a scary place at the moment, but we sincerely hope you enjoy this episode and the show overall as we do our best to provide you comfort during these difficult and uncertain times. We'll see you all again next week. Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's main podcast review, Josh Parham, Alyssa Christian, Cody Dericks & Daniel Howat join me to review and discuss the newest Pixar film, "Elio," starring Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brandon Moon, Brad Garrett & Jameela Jamil. With a long and troubled production that resulted in multiple directors and screenwriters being accredited, the original animated film has finally been released in theaters. Now we're left wondering how it compares to the best Pixar has had to offer. Please tune in as we discuss the themes, characters, voice performances, animation, score, awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"American Primeval" is an American Western television miniseries created and written by Mark L. Smith and directed by Peter Berg. Starring Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Jai Courtney, and Shea Whigham, the series is set in 1857 during the Utah War and received positive reviews when it premiered earlier this year in January. Berg was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work on the series, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream in full on Netflix. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Social Studies" is an American documentary series Lauren Greenfield created, directed, and produced. It follows teenagers over a school year in Los Angeles, exploring how the generation has grown up online. It premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival to positive reviews and later aired on FX in September 2024. Greenfield was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about her work on the series, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream in full on Disney+ and Hulu. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Agatha All Along" is a 2024 American television miniseries created by Jac Schaeffer for Disney+, serving as a spin-off of another Marvel miniseries, "WandaVision." Kathryn Hahn reprised her role as Agatha Harkness, joined by a star-studded cast including Joe Locke, Aubrey Plaza, and Patti LuPone. Titled after the viral Emmy Award-winning "WandaVision" song, the miniseries premiered to positive reviews for its performances, character development, plot twists, and queer representation, earning Hahn a Golden Globe nomination. Locke and award-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the series, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream in full on Disney+. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Industry" is one of the hottest television shows currently airing. It has been steadily building its following over three seasons and has made stars out of its young, talented cast. Finishing its best season yet, the drama series set in the British world of finance is looking to get some Emmy love this season for the first time in its run. Actors Ken Leung and Myha'la were kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the series, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream in full on HBO. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Dying For Sex" is an American comedy-drama miniseries based loosely on the real-life experiences of Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams) and written by Liz Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock; the show depicts her being diagnosed with terminal cancer and leaving her husband in search of an orgasm. It has received positive reviews for Williams and Jenny Slate's performances, the direction from Shannon Murphy, and sharp writing. Murphy, Meriwether, and Rosenstock were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the miniseries, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream in full on Hulu and Disney+. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's third podcast review, Ema Sasic, Dan Bayer, Megan Lachinski, and Giovanni Lago join me to review and discuss the latest film from Academy Award-nominee Celine Song, "Materialists," starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Zoë Winters & Marin Ireland. Following the success of "Past Lives," many greatly anticipated how Song would follow up on her previous beloved romance. Well, she did with another romance, although this one has garnered more than a few divisive reactions. Where do we fall on it? Please tune in as we discuss the themes, characters, performances, direction from Song, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening. We hope you enjoy it! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Black Mirror" is now in its seventh season, and the British anthology television series is still going strong under the leadership and direction of series creator Charlie Brooker. Paul Giamatti received fantastic reviews for his performance in Episode 5, "Eulogy," and there was a ton of anticipation for the sequel to one of the show's most acclaimed episodes, "USS Callister" with "USS Callister : Into Infinity." Gigmatti, Brooker, Stephan Pehrsson (Cinematographer for "Bête Noire" & "USS Callister : Into Infinity"), and James MacLachlan (VFX Supervisor) were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the series, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream in full on Netflix. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's second podcast review, Megan Lachinski, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, and Cody Dericks join me to review and discuss the latest film from beloved filmmaker Mike Flanagan, "The Life of Chuck" starring Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Carl Lumbly, Benjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay & Mark Hamill. Based on the novella of the same name by Stephen King, the existential film premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the coveted People's Choice Award. Now that more people have seen it, what do we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the themes, reverse chronological structure, performances, score, awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening. We hope you enjoy it! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices