The Gen Z Movie Focus Group

27:23Yeah. I mean, listen. Yeah. I was in college. This is my - Oh, my God. Anyway. You guys are almost 30, guys, so just, like, relax. I know I was dating my now husband because he turned over - When the Millennium Falcon showed up, he turned to me and he was like, that's the Millennium Falcon. And I was like, I'm not that stupid. But anyway. No, I think I can vividly remember the first movie I saw in theaters. And it was Monsters, Inc. Same. That's so nice. Because my dad was like, is this movie going to scare you? And I was like, I'm tough. Don't worry about me. And it scared the hell out of me.

28:01But it was fine. No, for me, like, it was always, like, trying to get my parents to take me to theaters was always a challenge. So anytime they did, it was always, like, a thrill, you know? I remember dragging my mom to go see the first Fantastic Four movie in theaters. Oh, that's nice. It was bad, right? No, no. Well, how old were you? I was 2005, 8, 9. Okay, so to you it was perfect. To me, cinema. Yeah. Cinema. I mean, look, now, it's fine, all right? Let's chill on the slander. But to your point, watching movies as a kid was always cool. We had the Nickelodeon VHSs, the orange ones. Yeah, the orange ones.

28:42Yeah. What were those? Those were Rugrats. Oh, the Rugrats movie. Take me there. I want to go there. Take me there. Listen, I was part of that. We had those. But the movies that really made me came out when I was 12, 13. Okay. Which were those? No, no, no. No, no, you say this. You say this, Amanda, but I'm going to list some movies. That, by the way, all came out within a 62-day radius, right? Of each other? Yes, in 2010. All came out about eight weeks. Yes. And so you were just, you were there and... When I tell you I was locked in, I think it was the first time I ever locked in. Yeah. This is beautiful.

29:27I had a summer like this, but it was in 1995 before any of you were born. So continue. you if i was brave enough to share my letterbox uh publicly like my top four this would be my top four i need everybody to just just relax when you hear this okay iron man too okay the losers okay a team oh god night and day shaped me shaped me amanda they made me who i am beautiful kicker wow uh that that's beautiful because that can really only happen when you're 12 yeah and you have did you like get dropped off at the at the mall or how are you getting to and from the movie theater it was basically so that was that would have been with 2000 2010 so that was the summer before high school right so you graduate you know you're like the lakers in the playoffs everybody's feeling good you know what i mean right you know going back-to-back tips so i'm just like hey yeah you know what I'm saying?

30:27Working in. Yeah. I'm doing great in school. Can I go to movies? And he just did that like every two two or so weeks. Okay. And then you have the best me of your life essentially. Wow. Okay. But are your parents going with you or are you old enough to go by yourself? I was old enough to go by that time. Yeah. That's an amazing feeling. It was fantastic. Yeah. Okay. I feel like I have a sense of what your favorite movies growing up were as a result of that incredible Letterboxd 4. Jack like what Stan And what were the movies that you remember loving, that you remember being like, I want to see more?

31:01What was your summer of 2010? Well, I think when you're talking about like the when things went technicolor moment. Yes. For me was Moonrise Kingdom. Oh, beautiful. Way different than mine. Just way different than movies like mine. Wait till you hear mine. Who's Sean right here? That's his favorite. I was 11 years old when it came out. So talk about fucking target audience. I mean, I looked at the screen and I was like. I don't know if an 11-year-old is the target audience. That kid is supposed to be like 12 years old. Yes. I understand what you're saying. Yeah, no, but it's beautiful that you saw yourself.

31:34And yeah, I just remember being like, I can't believe movies can be like this. That's so nice. And really loving it. Still love Wes to this day. But so is Night and Day. So, you know. Yeah. That's beautiful. Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz. It doesn't get any better than that. Exactly. Jane? Paul Dano? All right. We're going to take a little bit of a turn. Okay. I don't know how we can take a turn. The movies that really made me. See, I love, I pride myself in loving those movies that are often left behind. Are often, you know, taking a backseat from like the mainstream. Right. So no one else understood it, but you, yeah, you saw it.

32:18my movies were number one Johnson's Family Vacation with Cedric the Entertainer okay you seen it? yeah of course Solange Knowles you know what I mean I have not seen this oh you will chuckle the whole time certified hood classic yes classic another one Roll Bounce these are all like 2005, 2006. Okay. Like, I just love kind of a feel-good family movie. Again, The Cheetah Girls. Okay. I just... There was a ton. The soundtracks. Specifically Cheetah Girls 2. Okay. That really made me. So, where and like, how are you seeking these movies out? DVD. DVD. They were all on DVD. Okay. So are you like, where are you buying your DVDs in 2005?

33:22Or are you renting them? Well, I would say like my parents were like, I don't even know how they all got there. I was born and I'd go to the cabinets in our kitchen. There was just stacks of movies. Oh, so your parents are. Well, my dad's a filmmaker. I did know that. Yes. Yes. So, and you know, my parents have been in entertainment and film and TV. So like we do have two L.A. kids here as well. So film was like a very big like having movies, watching them. But like I was definitely the kid who was like rewatching the same ones. Like I found my favorites. I'm good. I'm sticking to them. Love them.

34:00Your favorites of your parents collection or you found your favorite at Blockbuster or at Target or like, you know, talk me through the acquisition process. Like when it came to like Cheetah Girls, High School Musical, Disney movies. Like I used to love 17 again with Zac Efron. Yeah, of course. Those kinds of movies. And Matthew Perry. Yes. Yeah, exactly. The other half of that. Absolutely. Equations. You know, I, look, I loved Zac Efron. Yeah. But I think those were like, we would probably buy them at like a Target or like a Walmart or something like that. But we would also go to Blockbuster a lot.

34:38Like that was kind of like every Friday type of thing. Oh, that's nice. We'd go to Blockbuster and South Pass. Oh. Right by the Vaughns. Okay. And the pavilions. Sure. Yeah, we'd go right there. I want to tell you about the South Pass farmer's market experience I had last week later. Oh, I'd love to know. Because I haven't been over there in a long time. It's very charming. Yeah. Okay. Love that place. But yes, we were definitely Blockbuster heavy. Was Blockbuster Jomie, Jack, still in your, yeah? Blockbuster Friday was definitely. Wow. Blockbuster Friday. This is beautiful. we also I also had that I mean it was VHS but like we had it yeah they still had VHS as though like for renting when we were well when I would go you're familiar with the technology you're not like what is that we still have our VHS like it's in the garage but sure but also you guys it's a physical media house which is beautiful you know Jack Blockbuster not really not really Redbox and I'm also not like what is VHS like I've watched movies on VHS but it was never a part of like the regular routine of movie watching.

35:39I'm like 99 % sure the Hitch DVD and the Spider-Man 3 DVD we took from Blockbuster just never gave back. And you know, sometimes that happens. It does. This question I gave you, well, I gave you, I let you guys know generally what we would be talking about because I'm not cruel. But this one, I asked you to tell me your answers in advance so I could make sure that I saw it. Jade forgot to do that. So we'll see whether I've seen it. Okay. So this is and this is a this is a broad and stupid question but it will start a conversation what is in your opinion the most important movie to gen z like what is and it doesn't have to be the only answer you know but something that you think represents what movies are to people your age a movie that you have in common i don't know what however you define important important um Um, Jack, I'm going to let you go first.

36:37Okay. I told you I had two. Yes. I lied. There's really more. I promise I'll be quick. Okay. Well, I actually, I want you to start with your two because you told me and I thought they were both really fun. You want me to just say the two off rip? Yeah. Avengers Endgame. Okay. And Lady Bird. I'm 100 % serious. So how do you, how do you bring those together? I'm going to get there. I'm going to get there. Because I feel like it's a, it's a, it's a Venn diagram. I'm going to get there. But it's just two circles. I'm going to get there. All right. Hear me out. Ready? The first way I looked at the question, I spent way too much time on this question, was the big box office movies that take up the cultural mindshare.

37:13The first, in chronological order, I had three. Twilight, Hunger Games, Avengers. Twilight, I think, is a little too old. I think that's closer to Millennial. Is that important to you? That was one of my answers. Oh, great. Okay, I look forward to talking about it. It's definitely up there. I was a part of that experience. I saw that opening weekend. But the problem is Gen Z is 97 to 12. And I know we can only represent ourselves, but I think 08 is just a little too early for it to be the answer. Hunger Games, I think, is in real contention. But then I landed on Endgame because it's 2019. Most of Gen Z is able to see it when it comes out.

37:51And I think two things. One, if you polled every single Gen Z person on planet Earth, I think this is the movie that you would get the highest percentage of people saying they have watched. And two, I think the digital... Digital age has really spawned just tremendous FOMO. And it's the biggest event film of our generation where even if you didn't care about Avengers, even if you didn't watch it, I think when it came out, you can remember what the scene was like when that movie was in theaters. Can I just tell you a great answer? Thank you. That's a wonderful answer. The big picture is very proud of you.

38:23Thank you. Today and every day. But that was good. Okay. The other one you're going to have to make a case for. I will. I have a case ready. So then I was like, okay, I hate thinking about movies just in a vacuum of how much money they made. What are some of the less commercially successful movies that represent Gen Z? And I'll say before Lady Bird, I think the two films that actually represent what growing up in the digital age best are Booksmart and 8th Grade. But those really don't take up any cultural, very niche in whatever echo chamber you're in. I landed on Lady Bird because not only did it have more commercial success, it also had more critical acclaim.

39:01And I think it's very well remembered. And there's a couple of things. One, there's yearning for a time where phones didn't exist. But it's also, it's a period piece, but it's not so far gone that it feels modern and rooted, like, in the world that we were growing up in. It's literally about someone my exact age. So thank you so much. That's what I'm saying. I feel modern and rooted in the world that we live in. And it's nice to hear. You know, 2002, 2017, that's not too far away. Yeah, no, you're right. Yes, as we're discovering on this podcast right now. And I mean, it's just probably one of the greatest coming-of-age movies ever made that also coincidentally came out when a large percentage of Gen Z was in the sweet spot of like ages 13 to 20.

39:42Right. Usually a genre filled with cliches, you know, heavy-handed stuff overwrought. And it was genuine and raw. and also features three key collaborators in Hollywood that really started blowing up during Gen Z. Okay. In Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, and Greta Gerwig. Now, obviously, Greta was an actress before, and she had acclaim, but this was her directorial feature, and obviously, that spawned everything we've seen over the last decade. So I think all of those things both represent Gen Z and was a good sweet spot of right age, right time, right movie. Be honest. had you ever heard a dave matthews band song before seeing lady i had because my elementary school music teacher was obsessed with dave matthews did you have to like perform them in recitals no okay i mean i kind of wish that you had so in what context is your elementary school teacher playing you dave matthews band just like end of class two minutes you guys need to know about this band they're awesome i swear to god yes i swear to god hey listen to my band's She was obsessed with them.

40:48She loved them. Okay, well, that is an A24 movie coming soon. Okay, Jomie. Answer Shrek. Is that your answer, Jade? I had a few answers. Okay. They both said two of them, but I have some more. The answer is Shrek. I agree. I can't tell you. This is a hilarious and very legitimate answer, but explain. I can't tell you how much my life, I don't want to say ruined, but has been dictated by Shrek, Shrek memes. Absolutely. I have a friend, actually. Her name is Abby, who collects Shrek DVDs. She goes to the Walmart. She's going to the bin. She's buying a Shrek DVD, and she's putting it on her wall.

41:30She's got, like, hundreds of them. Green case. She's got tattoos, the whole thing. This is anecdotal. Yeah, sure. This is all anecdotal. No one's a data scientist here. Okay. So she's buying the same Shrek DVD? Okay. The same DVD. How many does she have? Just Shrek, not Shrek 2? Not Shrek 3? Hundreds. Maybe. But as it was portrayed to me, the same Shrek DVD. Okay. Right? How much is a Shrek DVD going for these days? You bargain, man, probably like five. You go to the Winco. I've straight up never wanted to be friends with someone more than this person. I need you to introduce me to this person.

42:07She listens to the pod. She's going to hear this. Okay. We can make the connect. Okay. That's incredible shit. legendary stuff. Yeah. I mean, the memes, Shrek is love, Shrek is life. I'm sure we're all familiar. Like, just a generation of, I remember they announced Shrek 5 coming and everybody, everybody went crazy. In shambles. Everybody went nuts. I mean, the motion is wild. We haven't had a movie come out in how many years? And people are still, the musical. You know? Let's talk about the musical. Let's talk about Universal Studios. Rides. Like, crazy motion. Crazy impact. Crazy motion. Impact is there.

42:47This is why we did this podcast. We happen to both be wearing green right now. That's true. That's true. Like, obviously a very successful movie. So a lot of, did you all see it in theaters? Yeah. Well, Jack, yeah, you're, you're our baby and we respect you. The first one. I saw it in theaters. But the, the other, the second, third, and fourth one, they were all DVD. Oh, okay. I think I saw the, I can't remember the first one, maybe, but the second and third one, I definitely saw in theaters. And then the fourth one, yeah, let me get that on DVD. Y 'all got it. Yeah, let me just watch that crib.

43:24I think that's a great pick. So Jade, two of yours have been at least mentioned. Yes, Twilight and Shrek were both two of my, but the third one, which is funny because I watched the first and second, but I wasn't like a part of the fandom of it. but I would say Harry Potter. Yeah. I wondered whether someone was going to bring this up. I feel like that's a little bit older. Not older than Shrek. Yeah. I mean, with the movies, but the books. Not the book. The movies specifically. I feel like we're very much like Gen Z coded in terms of just like the amount of people our age were like gravitating towards that.

44:07I mean, I think that's true in that they were still... Yeah. They were trying to do this thing of being a kids movie that also included all of the adults such as myself. I agree. But they were released when you were younger. And the first couple are for children. Yeah. They're very small. The only reason I brush up against it is because when you get online, every time you see a Gen Z or trying to make fun of a millennial. It's, ha ha, you went into you're a Hufflepuff or you're a Gryffindor. Like, that's the joke, right? I could see that. I could see it being like, I do think Shrek was more Gen Z than Harry Potter.

44:52The first Harry Potter film is 2001 and Shrek is also 2001. I also would like to add this as maybe a secondary. It's not top. but Spongebob the movie. I had this in my short list as well. I had this too. I have to say, I have to be honest. I have to be real with everybody. It moved away. Spongebob the movie. Listen, I have worked at The Ringer for a long time and have interacted with people younger than me for a long time, so I'm familiar with the impact that Spongebob had on all of you. That was originally a TV show. Originally, but the movie specifically. Okay. Is like. Say more. very much embedded into a lot of Gen Z's brains and minds.

45:39I think that... What have you learned? What did you learn from SpongeBob the movie that you're taking with you? What have I learned? I think one of the biggest things is, I mean, this is a different quote, but adventure is out there. Yes. Adventure is out there. See? There you go. That's beautiful. I have a question for you. It was a great movie. Are you a goofy goober? Are you a goofy? I mean, I don't know, but here's a real question for you guys. Like, is SpongeBob over or are my kids going to get into it? So here's the thing, right? If we beat it, if we beat it. Listen, you don't even know.

46:11My sons deserve adventure that is out there too. And they do. I think there's other adventure. No, no, no, no, hold on. They do. What you do is you can't, I can't co-sign anything. You guys were really, really, really gatekeeping. No, not at all. No, no, no, no, no. It's not about gatekeeping. It's not about gatekeeping. I can't co-sign nothing after 2010. Right, that's the thing. Okay, what happened? You know, animation difference. Shift, there's a shift. You know, priorities shifted. Budget, money. Where is it going to recycle? Yay. Okay. So what you do is you go on. I'm pretty sure it's probably on.

46:46I'm plugging a lot of Paramount today. Cut me a check. You go on Paramount Plus and you put on episode one, Help Wanted, and you let them ride until you get to about 2009, 2010, and then you cut it off. Agreed. Okay. Agreed. All right. Yeah. Because also, I would say, like, that's similar with Disney Channel. Disney is not... There was a point in time between, like, 2003 when, like, That's So Raven came out. And then going, like, up to, like, 2011, 2012. Like, when, like, the last shows of, like, Phineas and Ferb. Like, those were the times where I feel like had the most impact on, like, kid TV.

47:28We used to make real TV, man. Real TV. You know what I'm saying? It's a movie podcast. Yes. But real Disney original movies. Sure. Smart House. The Luck of the Irish. Great movie. Yeah. Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off. You know what I'm saying? I think there was this time where the creative juices were really flowing between Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, R.I.P., Disney Channel. Now the kids have the descendants. Which. You know, good for them, man. Good for the kids. You know, I'm so happy for them. I hope they enjoy it. It is interesting that you're talking more about like the Disney Channel originals and the TV stuff as opposed to, you know, whatever.

48:10I mean, I'm ruined forever because I was Disney Princess era, but I can't tell you what the 2008 like Disney Princess. I think the thing about it is that Disney specifically. And then I think Nickelodeon started doing it, too, is they would have the shows. Yeah. And then they would make movies. Right. With the show. Wizards of Waverly Place had a movie. Even Stevens had a movie. Aren't they making a new show? Lizzie McGuire, they did. I think they started. Yeah. It's like the. I know that's a big deal. Lizzie McGuire too, she goes to Rome or something? Yeah, you and Juliet taught me about this.

48:39Sure. And she got her twin. Yeah, the only important thing that's ever happened at the Trevi Fountain in Rome and cinema. Yes, exactly. I think what's important about it too is like, we talked about this earlier. It's hard to get your parents to take you to the movies, but it's easy when Disney Channel is just airing Husky Musical 2 over and over and over again. You got your movies and TV. There was an event film aspect of it too, where it would be advertised weeks before that, mark your calendars, Friday, April 21st. We are going to have the Lizzie McGuire movie on 7 p.m. Eastern. And you would make plans around the release of the Disney film.

49:16Brother, let me tell you something. Me and my family were on a road trip. We were going to San Diego for a week vacation. And we knew that High School Musical 2 was premiering that Sunday. and so I have like we got there maybe starting like 45-30 minutes I have never unpacked a car faster to be in front of my television to watch High School Musical 2 the premiere I'm telling you like you're absolutely correct it was a moment but it was it was access part of it Jomie's point is interesting that it was easier to see those at home than it was to get to the movie theater but there was even like High School Musical 3 yeah I saw El Capitan yeah Oh, look at you.

49:56LA privilege. In those tiny scenes. So it was for my friend. It was her birthday that I went to school with. And she, I don't know, LA privilege, LA connect. She had a connect. So we watched a premiere there. Okay. And it was a whole theme was High School Musical 3 theme. Wow. Whole thing. High School Musical was so big that they had posters. They advertised posters in the hallways at my school. like they bought they bought ad space in the hallway elementary school I'm telling you that might have honestly that might have been one of the Gen Z top like what it kind of defines because there was just so I mean I had high school musical shoes I mean that's great it was like it was everywhere I'm happy for you that you're you know were you allowed to wear those to school yeah I don't know some schools oh yeah yeah they were pretty loose on the this was not on the list but this just occurred to me based on this story.

50:55Did any of you ever have a movie-themed birthday party? Where your birthday party was go to the movies or watch a movie? We... Oh my God. Jomie, I think you're a summer birthday like me. Yes. If I'm remembering correctly, I think... Oh, this is so embarrassing. I think... I went to go see Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer on my birthday. Okay. And that sucked. Yeah. Because the movie sucked. Alright. And did you have friends come or that was like it was just my family it was just it was just my family because yeah we wasn't made of money Amanda you know we shell out so much when we took the five of us and yeah the movie stunk and uh my birthday uh stunk but it was okay it was still a good time all right but that was what you wanted to do I was like I want to go see Fantastic Four yeah Jack I don't think I did okay I might not just have been it Sean and I both did but we are ancient and also summer birthdays and were also movie nerds.

51:56So like a thing that you would do is go to the mall and everyone would like go see it. Mine was like I went to see Elijah Wood in North which is a completely none of you have seen this movie and there's no reason you should have because much like you Jomie it turned out to be bad but you don't know when you're picking your birthday movie. Okay. Alright. Here's another very important Gen Z question. according to you, who is the biggest movie star in the world? Who's first? Jomie. I mean, so. It doesn't have to be a Gen Z person. I just want to know your perspective. But it's so on the nose. I got to go with my goat.

52:34I got to go with RDJ. You know? They bring him back. Here's the thing, right? He's got all the stuff in the 90s. He becomes toxic. Nobody wants to work with him. Kevin Feige and Jon Favreau are like, here. here's a lifeline and he changed changed their lives he changed those broke people lives now there's a whole now the now movies are fundamentally different because robert daniel is like yeah i'll play iron man sure why not okay right uh and then he leaves wins an oscar for abenheimer then it's like you know what i got my award let me go get this bag back comes back to do avengers doomsday and secret wars that's my goat i don't know what to tell you i'm sorry okay so i just want to let you know that robert downey jr turned 60 on friday so which is you know as as i show every every day age you know is not a limitation towards tom cruise uh what that he's turning 60 yes no i'm just kind of this is a podcast about how you guys are young and and what you think about the movie world and you're picking a 60 you know because i don't respect these young these young actors they don't want it no more they don't want hard enough tell me the only one like let's be like perfectly honest timmy the only one who got that dog in him okay i right yeah what happened to what and maybe this and this is also got that dog in her yeah so they do got that dog in her this is where i and i show my age in terms of like i'm like when i think about movies yeah because i'm like what happened to the rom-coms man people used to earn people used to earn their way into this thing yeah you know i saw like it's a it's it's really the state of the industry when I'm looking at anyone but you, with Sidney Sweeney and Glenn Powell, I'm like, wow, man.

54:19Movies are back, bruh. This changed my life. Right. It's a regular run-of-the-mill joint. It's not even very good. We should be getting two of these a week. All right? Of just mid-level rom-com joints. That's called television. But I broadly agree with you. What's tough is that they actually are making them again, but they're all on streaming services, starring women who were in those rom-coms 30 years ago when they released in theaters. It's called Garbage Women. We did an episode about it on Friday, Yassi and I. Also, some great hairstyling tips in that one. But speaking of, have you seen the Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman rom-com, Jade?

55:00A Family Affair on Netflix. That is something that happens. But as Miss High School Musical, you'll have to check it out. So besides Zac Efron, who to you is the biggest movie star in the world?

55:14I was going to say Tom Cruise. Okay. I just feel like as someone who's not necessarily well-knowledged or well-versed in the depths of movies. No, no, no. Tom Cruise. When you hear movie star, you say Tom Cruise. I'm thinking Tom Cruise. I'm thinking Leonardo DiCaprio. Okay. I'm thinking like Viola Davis too, though. Yes. Or I'm thinking Samuel L. Jackson. Sure, but you're not thinking anyone under 30. Okay. Zendaya would be the only one. Yeah. I mean, she's getting that. I mean, you guys did. It's Zendaya, Timothy, and Margot Robbie. After that, you could take a leave. I think it's telling for both of you that your answers are not peers.

55:58They are, I say movie star, and you think of a relatively old. It's an older concept. You think people who have had longevity in their career, who have been in multiple lead roles, who have been award-winning to some degree. That's what I think of. It sucks, too, because Tom Holland should be in this conversation. He's not doing enough. Oh, he's not. He's got to be in a Christopher Nolan movie. He's got to be in a Christopher Nolan movie. You know what I'm saying? Spider-Man 4. It might turn, but these are the conversations he should be in. We mentioned Timothy. We mentioned Zendaya. He's got to be here somewhere.

56:37It is hard when, and Sean and I are like broken records on this, but everyone your age, and Tom Holland is a great example, became famous by playing a superhero. So he's not really Tom Holland in most people. He's Spider-Man. Spider-Man. So then it's hard to become known on your own if you are Captain America or Spider-Man or Batman or the Silver Surfer. Who played the Silver Surfer? I can't remember who did the mocap, but he was voiced by Lauren Fishburne. Oh, okay. Lauren Fishburne. Lauren Fishburne. Jack, who's your movie star? In my heart of hearts, I think it's Chalamet or Cruz. And then I'd lean Chalamet because of the upward trajectory.

57:17Sure. Yeah. But I just want to throw this out. Okay. So I did a little digging. Great. And I was looking up how many movies since 2016 has an actor or an actress been in that have grossed$200 million at the international box office. Okay. And no disrespect, but I wanted to look outside of the Avengers window. because that's kind of in the past and not looking forward to the future. That's not like an asterisk to me. Yes. That's not like an asterisk to me. But for the same reason that we're, you know. Projecting towards the future. Well, and also the Avengers are the, that's the draw. Yes. Okay.

57:51So I looked at DiCaprio. He's been in one. I looked at Cruz and Chalamet have both been in three. Yes. Zendaya's been in six, but they're all mainly supporting roles. Right. Can you guess how many Dwayne the Rock Johnson has been in since 2016? Yeah. But this is a little, I mean, okay, let me guess. Hold on. I'm going to say 12. I'm going to say 13. I'm going to say 8. It was 12. Oh my gosh. Now, some of the parts are, you know, a cameo in a Fast movie or a voice credit in Moana. Right. But even if you cherry pick and take five of those off, he still has more than almost anybody else. And I'm not saying that box office success directly translates to movie stardom.

58:35Yeah. But it's hard not to. That number was staggering to me. No, it's a great point. And I think his career sort of. I think people. He realized that. People in his circle realized that. And then tried to capitalize on it. But wound up making movies like Jungle Cruise and Red Notice. And it turns out that. We don't like Red Notice over here? Are you serious? Okay. I mean. It's not the worst thing I've ever watched. It's quite bad. But it's not great. It's not great. You're absolutely right. But, you know, I guess it turns out that the movies have to at least be watchable in order for people to want to keep investing in your career.

59:19Maybe the quality is the quality of... And I'm glad you did it. I'm glad you brought it up. And like I said, my heart of hearts, I say it's Chalamet. I just wanted to present the point because I was shocked by that. No love for Zoe Zaldana? No. I mean she's two franchises where one of them she is blue the whole time I mean Star Trek Avatar I mean your favorite movie Amelia Perez wait why would you say that to me I was going to yes and that but I'm not in that slide no way I'm not having that attached to me no but I mean you talk about box office I don't have the number off the top of my head but literally one of the highest I remember when Endgame passed Avatar and then Avatar passed Endgame again it's just like Zoya Danya switching teams every time because she was in both those movies and I think the answer really is that like the Avengers or Avatar, I guess not really but you know Guardians, all of those things can we name the guy in Avatar, this is a movie podcast Can we name the guy who plays the main dude in Avatar?

1:00:31Oh, I can. Yes. Can I? Any of you? No. I can, but only because he's the guy from Avatar. Right. Scott Worthington? Sam Worthington. Sam Worthington. Damn it. Plus. I did this when I was there. It's fine. He looks like a Scott. It could have been Matt Damon. Matt Damon's old guy. Yeah, I know. But yeah, it's just like, it's incredible how forgettable those movies are, but yet when Got another one this year. Fire and Ash comes out. I'm going to be there. gonna make i'm gonna make a billion so many so many billions watch that three-hour green screen okay i've got i've i've got some some lightning round ish questions but the first is you three are are i think quite representative but you do also work at the ringer so you consume pop culture and sports at a um intense rate so i want to talk about like movies and your friends and this will be like super anecdotal but like do you talk about movies with your friends do you go see movies with your friends?

1:01:28Is it, you know, is it in the group chat? Is it, I sound like a thousand years old, but I don't, you actually don't use group chats. Um, is like, it is, is it a shared cultural? Are they a shared cultural thing for people your age? Absolutely. What was the last movie you saw? Like with friends? Yeah. Wicked. Saw Wicked with friends. Sure. Saw Barbie with friends um group chat discourse all over the place okay um I think it's very and and then like again with my partner like again he's a movie guy so like we talk about movies all the time and I think too like after just watching a movie it's natural to be brief and just talk and discuss about the movie um but so you mostly named like event movies event movies yeah you would say that that is what really captures yes because I mean that's their design going like you know not to get off movies and onto TV, but like we kind of do the same thing with TV.

1:02:25It's like if we watch the same shows, you know, have to talk about it. What's going on? Jack? Yeah, but I also think I'm like biased because I've locked myself into a comfort bubble of Ithaca College film school graduates. That's right. I forgot you were Ithaca College. It's kind of tough. Yeah. I mean, like we have people in our friend group that like we've met outside that are apart, but by nature, it's jests. I would say movies are the number one thing we talk about. Movies are a way of making friends. Almost. I don't mean that in a pathetic way. I mean that in a cool way. It's hard to make friends as grown-ups.

1:03:00We made the friendships not directly through movies, but it's a through line of our relationships with each other. The relationship. I think that's great. Jomi? Definitely. I think I mean, you mentioned Working the Ringer. I have like two, if I could put my friends into two groups. It's either friends who talk about sports or friends who talk about TV movies and culture. Right, right, right, right. And the overlap of those people are really my closest friends and people that work here. Yes. Essentially. And so, yeah, I mean, I have a podcast where I talk about movies. I love to talk about movies.

1:03:35I love to go. The last movie I saw with folks was Black Bag. We went to go see that at Los Feliz 3. Just like a nice little time. You get there, you watch a movie, then you talk about it afterwards. It's a lost art. I like to see movies by myself. As do I. Because God forbid. Like, I like my friends. I love y 'all. But there is something about walking up to the AMC, getting my Sour Patch Kid watermelon, my large Diet Coke. And maybe, if I'm feeling a little froggy, some chicken tenders. And I go to the theater and I sit in my seat, which sometimes if I got a little extra bread on me, I buy the seat next to me so I can put my jacket on there.

1:04:16so nobody's sitting next to me. Wow. Yeah. Wow. Well, you're an AMC. Stuff, right? So I just go like, yo, let me just toss an extra 21. They ain't going to get that anyway. Boom. Don't sit next to me. You know what I'm saying? When I went to see Tenet, when Tenet came back out, I was like, yeah, I know I'm going to need this extra seat in the IMAX. Nobody bother me. I'm locked in on this cinema. And it was fantastic. That's awesome. I didn't know we were in the presence of a one percenter over here. Yeah. We got second seat money, bro. Listen, brother. Let me get some of that. That's crazy. Let me hold onto some of that, bro.

1:04:51What you mean, bro? I got it from you. You Venmo me the money. That was you. That was all you, Bobby. Come on, now. Appreciate you. Hey, appreciate you letting me borrow your Lambo for the weekend, too, my man. That was real nice. I got you. That was real kind of you, man. I'm more of a Ferrari man myself, but we can roll with that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what I'm saying? I mean, that's just a throwaway, right? That was just for us. I appreciate you, man. Thank you. Thank you. Have you noticed, like, has the place of movies in your world, like, changed at all? Are people paying more attention, less attention?

1:05:27Jack, like, have you always been going to rep theaters? Or is that, like, a new thing? That was a new thing moving to LA. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, that was way harder in suburban New Jersey. It's tough. I'm inclined to say that it's improving and growing. Right. But you are also. I have blinders. Yeah. I'm in an echo chamber, whether it's the algorithm I've curated on social media, the friend group, or my place of work. It's hard for me to not say that. Yeah. It's growing. Yeah. Jade, you mentioned two fairly recent like event movies. Like, can you think back or is, is that like a fairly new phenomenon of, of like, of your, of like you and your friends being like, we're going to make a date to go see this.

1:06:10I would say there was like, like high school that was a big thing like we'd go to the movies all the time Paseo we recently talked about oh yeah the changes Arclight that was a great Arclight yeah it was a great Arclight like we would definitely they recently put those like school desk things like you know in the seats so you can eat yeah so you can eat but it's like you're at a school desk and it it folds in and out I haven't been in there it's fairly confusing but I would say like again it's kind of phases like high school that was a big thing. I went like to movies a little bit in college but I was in D.C.

1:06:48but it was like kind of rare. College is sort of. Yeah. College is a black match for that sort of thing. And then like post college it was a lot of like dates with my boyfriend but like friends would be here and there parents would be here and there. Okay. So like it kind of just varies depending on like what's coming out. Got it. Okay. I have a question and maybe I don't want me to step on your toes but talk about going to movies of people. I'm sure that you've done this. Have you guys ever had to line up for a movie? The movie's coming out. There's no reserved seating. So you gotta stand outside and wait for the movie.

1:07:25Not that I can remember. Not even growing up.

1:07:31But I also feel like I was the kind I wasn't the kind of person or around people who would wait in line for a movie. Have that kind of excitement for that experience. So I might just be an outlier. I think the last time I did, what was the movie that you did it for? Last movie you did it for? I don't remember the last one, but I went to the Arrow a lot last year. And if you ever had a free RSVP, that didn't guarantee you a seat. So sometimes it would go early to get in line and make sure you'd get a seat. I mean, I remember lining up for, the last movie I did it for was Civil War. Captain America Civil War.

1:08:08I was going to say, I was like, I'm right. let's be for real come on let's be for real but I remember going to Avengers Age of Ultron and getting there it was a decent line but my buddy was in the front and so me and my group of friends we you know hey we cut the line hey what are we gonna do but and then the line like wrapped around the theater oh wow uh huh that doesn't happen anymore you mentioned the arc light I mean you go to a theater you book your seat you're in there you don't gotta think about it yeah but that was a moment that was a time where ah the movie starts at 730 We got to get there by 5.30.

1:08:42We got to sit in the front. Right, right, right. Yeah. I do also wonder, again, now we all live in Los Angeles where the theater experience is, you really can find a reserved seat. You know, Oppenheimer was selling out here for three months afterwards. And that was different because you could reserve the seats. But it was hard to get in for a very long time. You didn't answer whether you feel like movies are, more or less important to to like your your social group than they were it depends because again like some of them are sports some of them are yeah it is is it is a thing when you're not locked in you're not caught up and yeah you're talking about let's like oh man mickey 17 was crazy i'm like i i'm not locked in yeah you know so you do feel this kind of pressure to be like well let me make tom go to the theater so i'm not missing out when it's an event type thing like Like, I mean, Barbenheimer was the whole experience, but you couldn't not be like, yeah, I'm not going to go see Barbie.

1:09:42I'm not going to see Barbenheimer. That doesn't make any sense. Right? I mean, people my age felt that way. Right? It's just like a completely different aura about it. But you talk about, like, movies like these days. Again, I use Mickey 17 as an example. Because it's kind of polarizing. People have, like, differing opinions on it. Whether, you know, it was good, Robert Pattinson, this and that, which and which. And so you want to go make your own opinion, right? Like, are these people making sense? I like Ron Pattinson. His accent, this and this, whatever it may be. And so, yeah, which you want to participate in that kind of conversation where it's in person on social media.

1:10:17Right. Go see the movie. Yeah. Okay. Lightning round. What's the best movie you've seen in the last year? Jade. Ooh. Do you want to think about it? Yeah. Okay. Jack. Dune part two. Wow. Okay. You're just coming in. That is technically still calendar year. you know because it was March last year right yeah yeah yeah oh it's close I see what you're saying well listen we'll allow it okay sorry if we're counting Dune 2 then the answer is Dune 2 okay if we're not counting Dune 2 what is it just for a variety's sake I really liked Black Bag so did I a lot I love everyone who has seen it I love Soderbergh Ocean is one of my favorite films I Kate Benchet and Michael Fassbender do their thing.

1:11:06If I had to pick one of the last year, I'd say that. Okay, great answer. Jade? I can't really remember all the movies I've watched this year, but I'll say Wicked. I only watched like six. I'll say Wicked. I was gonna, yeah, just... So, go ahead. Super fans review of Wicked. Oh, I loved it. I thought it was great. You know, they're pretty much on point with the whole entire script, so it's like You kind of know it front and back. Singing was beautiful. I don't know. Some of the design of it, I was a little like, okay. Maybe not my personal style. But, I mean, acting, singing, dancing, all great.

1:11:49Quick, quick, quick, wicked question. Can I hate Ariana Grande's character in that movie? Because I was mad. You were mad at her? You felt good? Well, because she was doing Cynthia Eribe's character crazy. Yeah. The whole movie. I think there is a point that her character is kind of meant to make you feel like she is kind of polar opposite to. Right. They're ops, right? Yes. And then they come together. But the movie opens with her burning her homie's effigy. I can't let that slide. I can't let that slide well that's a isn't that a preview yeah that's kind of yeah that's the kind of point to understand that their relationship is very complex and the way in which they get to that point is like you have to go back and see all of how it played out it is wild including part two including part two which you haven't seen yet so I'll be there I'll be there I think you're not wrong or you're not your opinion isn't invalid in not liking Glinda.

1:12:58Like, a lot of people don't. And I think a point, she is the kind of person, like, the perspective in which Wicked is made, you're supposed to like Elphaba. And you're supposed to see how Glinda treats Elphaba in this way and kind of grows into understanding her more. But then, part two, which you'll find out, like, stuff happens. Apparently it's crazy. I mean, it's already happened, but, like, stuff happens where their relationship kind of gets compromised. Okay. How are you, Jade, super fan of Wicked and Wicked alumnus? Or what's this? Shit? What is it? Shiz. Yeah. Okay, great. That was like a real, my grandma.

1:13:38But that was more about Wicked. Shiz University. Do animals sing in part two? Be honest. Because in part one, they're in that transition period of like, Like, they're starting to lose their voice. They can't really. So I'm trying to remember if in part two they sing. But I would say, like, maybe towards the beginning. But by the end, no. Are you looking forward to part two? Very much so. Do you have any concerns that among the Wicked people, there is a belief that part two might not be as strong in terms of songs as part one? Yeah. I agree. I think the stronger songs are in part one. So I do think for people who maybe don't have that much knowledge or have seen Wicked like that, the songs might be a little more dragged out, a little more.

1:14:38Because those songs are more for storytelling. I feel like the part one is more like I'm just singing to Belt and sing out and evoke an emotion. whereas the songs in part two are more like, I'm telling this and I'm doing this and stuff like that. So I kind of agree with that. But I think if you like Wicked, you know the song. So you'll enjoy it. Okay. I'm dreading it, but I'm happy for you. It's whatever. We're all being honest here. Jack, the best movie that you've seen in the last five years. This doesn't have to be exact. I think what I'm going for. I thought it was the last year. Well, that was...

1:15:20Oh, that was a previous question. Yeah, this is a new question. Yeah, this is a new one. What I'm going for here, you know, in your adulthood. Can I give you three? Yes, you may. I'll be so fast. I won't have to speak on it. They'll be so fast. Worst Person in the World. Great pick. West Side Story. The Steven Spielberg version. Yes. Yes. Okay. I thought we were only doing, like, last five years, the calendar release. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And Tar. Love Tar. As you know, I love all those. Have you seen the original West Side Story? Yeah. Okay, good. All right, I just wanted to make sure. both are very good Jomie Black Widow Eternals Spider-Man No Way Home no I'm cheating

1:15:59that's a good one am I a loser if I say everything everywhere all at once no you're not it won best picture I think that was again one of those movies where like oh you gotta see this one you gotta see this one and I went to the I went to Alamo I think for the first time to watch it wow And I was just, I was blown away. Yeah. I think if I had to pick one movie the last five years. Is that one that you revisit? I've seen it once or twice on streaming. And it's not, I mean, it's not as magical the first time because, you know, you're not inhabiting the world for the first time. You get to learn the rules a little bit more.

1:16:30But it's still a lot of fun. It's still a lot of fun on a rewatch. No, but I mean, that is a great pick of, like, going to the movies and just having, like, a completely immersive magical experience that then goes on to win Best Picture. Yeah. I mean, and then sometimes a lot of people win Best Supporting Actress that might not have deserved it, but that's fine. That is true. That was really tough. Yeah. The Carrie Condon erasure is crazy. Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. Respect my Queen Angela Bassett. Oh, that's fair, too. Either one would have been better. Probably. That's true. It's all true. Jade. I don't have an answer for this one.

1:17:02Okay. So you haven't seen any movies that you're passionate about?

1:17:09I don't think so. That's a valid answer. think so certainly says something about the state of movies yeah like i i can't like think of one that i like again like i really enjoyed wicked um but i can't think of one in the past five years where i was like oh my god like this changed my life um well there you go that's your answer that's my answer when did in game come out 2019 i was gonna say i really liked okay that's we can extent that's i think you know it's also you know five years sort of corresponds to that i didn't intentionally do this but it corresponds to the pandemic that obviously changed gonna say that too because it's like i again i do think that like growing up i was way more into movies but like kind of phased out of like that kind of experience until things started opening up again and we kind of started seeing more movies but and it's been real up and down so yeah i hear it's been it's been interesting okay um what movie if any jane you can you can pass again uh are you most looking forward to i mean there's a whole summer full of stuff well for me i mean let's go it could be 2010 all over again for you honestly yeah mission impossible the final reckoning yeah fantastic four first steps you saw me in the merch yeah and superman all come out with like superman and in fact, Sephora will come out within like two weeks.

1:18:35And then beginning of May or the end of May, Mission Impossible comes out. I will be there no matter what. Like this means something to me, you know? That's great. I'm excited. That's why I keep that A-list around. You know what I mean? Because I'm going to be in the theaters. Jack? I can't lie. I'm really excited. New West, new PTA, new Safdie, new Koganada, new Trier. Okay. Those are five heavy hitters. You want to share the names of those titles? Sorry. I knew as well. This is, again, this is so funny because we're, I don't know if you guys seen that meme of John David Washington and his brother at the Criterion Closet.

1:19:20You're John David Washington's brother. You're like, yeah, man, I love the philosophical meaning of this film, man. And I'm John David Washington. Hey, Jackie Chan boxing. You know. That's beautiful. Yeah, share the full titles. The Phoenician Scheme is Wes's new movie, which we were supposed to... Yes, Wes Anderson. Yeah, let's do that. Sorry. Which we were supposed to have a trailer. Still no trailer. Like I said, I don't know if I need a trailer. I know it's going to be a Wes Anderson movie that I love. I just want a little taste, you know? I know. I think we're getting too hooked on the trailers.

1:19:49One battle after another. Sure. Paul Thomas Anderson's new movie. Great trailer. Yes, great trailer. We've seen it. Marty Supreme. Yes. Josh Safdie's, right? Yes. Josh Safdie's movie about a ping pong player starring Timothee Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow. There's already been some controversy about that film. Yeah. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey directed by Koganada. This will be starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, two of our greatest actors. Yes, and it was recently moved to September and sort of Prime Awards. Yes. And he directed After Yang and Columbus. Those are his two first movies. And then Sentimental Value, same director of The Worst Person in the World.

1:20:27Will also be starring Renat Rensve. Don't really know what it's about, but those two together I'm locked in. I think that's a great list. I think we're in store for a great summer. I love this. I'm so locked in on your answers. The next generation of big pickers is really. Love that. Big pickers. Yeah, big pickers is really. Yeah, the psychos are strong. Okay, Jane, any movie? You don't have to look forward to a movie. No. If I see something that I see that sounds interesting. All right, so my last question was going to be movies. Are we so over or so back? And I think I know your answer. I'm in the middle, actually.

1:21:00Like, I don't think they're over. Okay. Because I do think, I don't think they're over because I do think that there are moments when people who are not like movie heads like myself can get involved. Okay. One of them days I was locked in. Incredible. Barbie, Barbenheimer, locked in. Yeah. Like, I do think that there are waves of when movies come out, even like challengers. Like, you know, like I think there are periods where like people can really get into it. But I would say they're more like big heavy hitters with big names. So the ones... All right. So we're not so over. No. Jack, so over, so back.

1:21:44I think we'll never be as back as we once were, but it's definitely not over. Isn't that the way of life, Jack? It is. I mean, I think the pandemic fast tracking every movie available at your fingertips at all times, accelerated this whole problem we're currently facing. But I just find it hard to believe that movies will ever be entirely erased from the culture. I just don't think it's going to happen. I was actually hoping for more optimism from you. But okay, Jomie, so over, so back. Amanda, movies have never, ever been so back. Thank you so much. Thank you. I can't. I mean, between my list of movies I'm excited for, your list, we've got such a mix of things coming down the pipeline.

1:22:31It's like, you know, medium warm anticipation of Wicked 2. Wicked 2. Here we are. That's the movie I'm looking forward to. There we go. I'm on Chris Ryan Odyssey watch. Yes. You know what I mean? We're getting like, you know, Tom Cruise is going to make Top Gun Maverick until he's 175. You know what I mean? I mean, like, as long as we, the movie people, stay watching these movies, going to theaters, stay watching movies, the movie theaters will never die. And that's ultimately what happens. I actually have a question for you. Yes. Because you were talking about you grew up on the Disney princesses.

1:23:04Yeah. How are you feeling about this Snow White? I didn't. I haven't even seen it because I grew up in the, I mean, this is the opposite of a Gen Z movie podcast. and I guess we'll do like My Diseased Millennial Brain podcast sometime along with Disney Princess Dad, Sean Fennessey. Yes. I don't feel good about it. I don't feel good about having been raised in that generation, but I've seen all of those movies 4 ,000 times. Yeah. So, and I don't really understand why they keep making those live action movies. I was going to ask you this. Go ahead, Jomie. Bread. Yeah, well, you know. Well, obviously, I think that's obvious.

1:23:40But like, yeah, like I agree. Like I feel interesting. I feel weird about all these live action. Yeah. Okay. So you would like to be on Disney Princess Hell when that happens? Yeah. Like, I don't think I'm personally going to go and see it. Like, I just don't have interest. But I was curious about your ideas with that. Not good. You know, I would say in general, being a millennial, I just, you know, I don't feel that great about it. This is, it's been way better to talk to you guys. So, movies are back. Millennials are not. Thank you. There we go. Listen, it's what we've learned. I'm sorry, Bobby.

1:24:17It's your birthday and you're a cusp millennial, but it's just how it happens. Anyway, thank you to Jade, to Jomie, to Jack. You guys were wonderful sports. I really appreciate you. Thank you to Bobby Wagner for his work on this episode. Later this week, Sean is back. And we will share a report from literally my first ever trip to Las Vegas. I have never been to Las Vegas. You hit Amia? And I am going tomorrow for CinemaCon. Oh, we got to talk. Oh, my gosh. All right. Oh, my gosh. Okay. We're going to listen. We will do this offline. I can't wait. I can't wait. Then we will do the report. Everyone, say a prayer for me.

1:24:55Is this on the ring or dime? Yeah. Oh, my gosh. We'll see you next week. Cut the cameras. Goodbye. Cut the cameras. Let's talk business.

1:25:12Thank you.