AI Summary
5 min readHosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins catch up on midway 2026 releases amid a crowded slate of streaming, festival catch-ups, and studio films, naming favorites while reviewing 15+ overlooked titles. They note how the volume—far beyond 1995's four weekly releases—makes completism impossible, shifting podcast focus to synthesis over exhaustive coverage.
Release Date Battles and News
Jumanji 3 shifts to Christmas 2026, clearing December 11 for Warner Bros.' Dune Part Three (or "Dune's Day") against Marvel's Avengers Doomsday, prioritizing IMAX access for large-format revenue. Project Hail Mary exemplifies smart timing, holding strong in week two with 54% of box office from premium screens. Other updates include a Jamie Lee Curtis-led Murder She Wrote film (directed by Jason Moore), evoking cozy mysteries like Knives Out but risking overexposure; Ryan Gosling's sci-fi comedy with Daniels at Universal, following his Hail Mary and Star Fighter; and Oscars relocating to the larger Peacock Theater in 2029, trading Hollywood glamour for corporate convenience and capacity.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:03) **Episode Intro and Preview** - Hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins outline the show: best movies so far, 15+ missed releases, and interview with Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice director.
- 2 (02:06) **Jumanji 3 Delay and Avengers Doomsday Screen Wars** - Jumanji 3 shifts to Christmas 2026, clearing path for Avengers Doomsday vs. Dune Part Three on Dec 11.
- 3 (06:12) **Murder She Wrote Movie Announcement** - Jamie Lee Curtis to star in Murder She Wrote film directed by Jason Moore; hosts debate IP revival and cozy mystery tone.
- 4 (11:33) **Ryan Gosling Daniels Sci-Fi Project** - Gosling teams with Daniels for Universal sci-fi comedy, his third straight genre film post-Hail Mary and Star Fighter.
- 5 (14:56) **Oscars Venue Shift to Peacock Theater** - 2029 Oscars move from Dolby (3,300 seats) to larger Peacock Theater at L.A. Live for bigger audience.
- 6 (19:52) **Movies Missed Setup** - Hosts catch up on 15-17 overlooked 2025 releases amid streaming, festivals, and theater deluge.
- 7 (22:15) **Reminders of Him Review** - Colleen Hoover adaptation with Maika Monroe; straight-line melodrama of ex-con mom seeking daughter lacks twists or salaciousness.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
Sean and Amanda open the show with a few movie news topics including Ryan Gosling being cast in the highly anticipated next film for the Daniels, and the Oscars' decision to leave the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for the 2029 Academy Awards (1:19). Then, they cover 15 2026 movies they have yet to discuss on the show this year, and share their top five favorite films of the year so far (19:04). Finally, Sean is joined by BenDavid Grabinski to discuss his new film, ‘Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice,’ as well as his long and arduous journey to directing his own material, what it’s actually like to pitch your movie, and why he needs to creatively collaborate with people who genuinely love movies (1:45:52).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: BenDavid Grabinski
Producer: Jack Sanders
Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh
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