The Extra Credits
Kelsi and Trey
The Extra Credits is hosted by two teachers searching for meaning in your favorite movies and shows. We cover new releases with movie drafts, ranking games, interviews, and more!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 10, 2025 • 5min
Alfred Hitchcock's 'North by Northwest' (1959) | Patreon #58
Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest is the sleek, stylish spy thriller that basically invented the modern action movie and laid the blueprint for the Mission: Impossible / James Bond franchises. We break down its iconic set pieces, paranoid energy, and why Cary Grant running from a crop duster still rips. This is a 5-minute sample from our full #1 Boy Movie Club episode. To hear the entire deep dive, head to our Patreon below.The Extra Credits YouTube ChannelBecome a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon hereHow to link Patreon to Spotify and AppleLetterboxd: The Extra CreditsTikTok: The Extra CreditsReddit: r/TheExtraCreditsInstagram: @theextracreditsTwitter: @theextracreditsSend requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
Jun 9, 2025 • 15min
Cameron Crowe's 'Jerry Maguire' (1996) + The Career of Tom Cruise | Patreon #57
In our episode on Jerry Maguire, we dive into Tom Cruise and Cameron Crowe’s genre-blending masterpiece as both a rom-com and sports drama that dissects the emotional and professional crash out of a self-interested man. Alongside this, we break down the broader arc of Cruise’s career—from 1980s heartthrob to 1990s dramatic powerhouse to post-2000s action icon—and how Jerry Maguire stands at a critical turning point: a film that bridges the emotional vulnerability of his early work with the self-aware myth-making of his later persona.The Extra Credits YouTube ChannelBecome a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon hereHow to link Patreon to Spotify and AppleLetterboxd: The Extra CreditsTikTok: The Extra CreditsReddit: r/TheExtraCreditsInstagram: @theextracreditsTwitter: @theextracreditsSend requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
Jun 5, 2025 • 1h 12min
The Five Eras of Wes Anderson + 'The Phoenician Scheme' Review
Kelsi and Trey review Wes Anderson's newest film The Phoenician Scheme and also trace the five distinct eras of Anderson’s career. Anderson’s latest pastel-laced genre experiment is part espionage caper, part theological road movie, and part anti-capitalist fever dream. We break down how this film fits into the “post-Grand Budapest” phase of his work, explore its sub-narratives and surreal spiritual detours, and celebrate its quietly brilliant three-hander core: Benicio del Toro as the morally compromised war profiteer, Mia Threapleton as his estranged nun-daughter, and Michael Cera as a bug-loving tutor.The Extra Credits YouTube ChannelBecome a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon hereHow to link Patreon to Spotify and AppleLetterboxd: The Extra CreditsTikTok: The Extra CreditsReddit: r/TheExtraCreditsInstagram: @theextracreditsTwitter: @theextracreditsSend requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
Jun 4, 2025 • 5min
Billy Wilder's 'The Apartment' (1960) | Patreon #56
This is a 5-minute sample of our full podcast episode on Billy Wilder’s The Apartment — a film that somehow blends mid-century office politics, romantic dysfunction, and existential comedy into one perfect holiday movie. To hear the full conversation and unlock over 200 hours of movie deep dives, including more classics, new releases, and filmmaker spotlights, head to our Patreon and become a member in the link below.The Extra Credits YouTube ChannelBecome a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon hereHow to link Patreon to Spotify and AppleLetterboxd: The Extra CreditsTikTok: The Extra CreditsReddit: r/TheExtraCreditsInstagram: @theextracreditsTwitter: @theextracreditsSend requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
May 26, 2025 • 2h 12min
Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible' Franchise Ranked + 'The Final Reckoning' Reaction
Kelsi and Trey react to Tom Cruise's final MI film in 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' plus we rank all eight Mission: Impossible films, from De Palma’s paranoid thriller to McQuarrie’s AI-fighting epics, and trace how the franchise evolved from emotional espionage to Cruise-as-messiah spectacle. We dive deep into each entry’s themes, set pieces, and shifting tone, debating what was gained in stunt-driven mythmaking and what was lost in Ethan's emotional core. Along the way, we probably say “MI3 is underrated” a dozen times and that 'Fallout' is a bit overrated, but this is a fun-subjective list!The Extra Credits YouTube ChannelBecome a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon hereHow to link Patreon to Spotify and AppleLetterboxd: The Extra CreditsTikTok: The Extra CreditsReddit: r/TheExtraCreditsInstagram: @theextracreditsTwitter: @theextracreditsSend requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
May 17, 2025 • 1h 51min
The Return of Star Wars: 'Andor' Review + Franchise Chat
Somehow Star Wars Returned! Trey and James Steck dive deep into our personal history with Star Wars—how it shaped our childhoods, our friendships, and how Andor Seasons 1 and 2 reignited our passion. We reflect on the highs, lows, and evolution of the franchise across movies, TV shows, games, and why Tony Gilroy’s Andor redefined what Star Wars could be: smart, political, emotionally rich, and unafraid to explore the slow burn of rebellion and the systems that crush hope. This is Star Wars at its most radical and relevant, and for us, it brought the franchise back to life!The Extra Credits YouTube ChannelBecome a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon hereHow to link Patreon to Spotify and AppleLetterboxd: The Extra CreditsTikTok: The Extra CreditsReddit: r/TheExtraCreditsInstagram: @theextracreditsTwitter: @theextracreditsSend requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
Apr 20, 2025 • 25min
Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar' at 10 with Kira and James!
In this special Extra Credits+ episode, we're joined by guests Kira and James to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar. Together, we dive deep into Nolan’s career arc, unpacking how Interstellar stands out as his most spiritual and vulnerable film. Along the way, the group breaks down iconic performances by Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Matt Damon, and explores the movie’s big ideas—grief, love, time, and legacy. From real astrophysics like time dilation to theoretical concepts like wormholes, fifth-dimensional beings, and the bootstrap paradox, this episode navigates the emotional and scientific ambition behind one of the boldest blockbusters of the 21st century. The Extra Credits YouTube ChannelBecome a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon hereHow to link Patreon to Spotify and AppleLetterboxd: The Extra CreditsTikTok: The Extra CreditsReddit: r/TheExtraCreditsInstagram: @theextracreditsTwitter: @theextracreditsSend requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
Apr 19, 2025 • 1h 20min
A Critical Dive Into Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’
In this critical deep dive, we explore Sinners, the bold, genre-blending vampire-western-horror-musical from director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan. We unpack its ambitious themes of assimilation, artistic legacy, cultural survival, and spiritual freedom—all wrapped inside a chaotic IMAX-sized spectacle. From standout newcomer Miles Caton’s lead performance to the film’s uneven third act and rich but overloaded symbolism, we ask whether Sinners is a flawed masterpiece or a fascinating misfire. Plus, on our Patreon, we’re offering a free bonus episode—a live commentary on Creed, diving into the roots of Coogler and MBJ’s collaboration.The Extra Credits YouTube ChannelBecome a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon hereHow to link Patreon to Spotify and AppleLetterboxd: The Extra CreditsTikTok: The Extra CreditsReddit: r/TheExtraCreditsInstagram: @theextracreditsTwitter: @theextracreditsSend requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
Apr 18, 2025 • 16min
Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' is Anti-Genre Chaos...GO SEE IT!
Trey reviews Ryan Coogler’s Sinners: a $100-million genre-bending vampire western horror musical set in 1930s Mississippi. It’s Coogler’s boldest, weirdest, and most ambitious film to date, blending myth, legacy, identity, and the cost of assimilation into a chaotic cinematic experiment. Trey unpacks the film’s anti-genre intentions, its Faustian themes, its wild tonal swings, and the standout performances from Michael B. Jordan and breakout star Miles Caton. Is it a masterpiece? A mess? Both? This is a conflicted breakdown of a movie that might not work...but absolutely demands to be seen.(00:00) Ryan Coogler(01:26) Non-Major Spoiler Review(02:03) What Works(08:24) What Struggles(12:49) The Extra Credits of Sinners(14:56) Final ThoughtsThe Extra Credits YouTube ChannelBecome a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon hereHow to link Patreon to Spotify and AppleLetterboxd: The Extra CreditsTikTok: The Extra CreditsReddit: r/TheExtraCreditsInstagram: @theextracreditsTwitter: @theextracreditsSend requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
Apr 9, 2025 • 5h 44min
The 30 Best Movies of 2024
Kelsi and Trey count down and critically discuss our picks for the 30 best movies of 2024—an unpredictable, wildly entertaining, and emotionally resonant year for cinema. From studio epics like Dune: Part Two and Furiosa, to international gems like La Chimera and I’m Still Here, to genre-benders like Challengers, The Substance, and Red Rooms, we break down what made these films stand out—formally, politically, emotionally, and narratively. We talk auteur swings, star turns, and cinematic risks, and reflect on what these movies reveal about our current moment. Some spoilers involved, but you can enjoy a mostly non-major spoiler discussion!The Extra Credits YouTube ChannelBecome a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon hereHow to link Patreon to Spotify and AppleLetterboxd: The Extra CreditsTikTok: The Extra CreditsReddit: r/TheExtraCreditsInstagram: @theextracreditsTwitter: @theextracreditsSend requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
