The Big Picture – The 2022 Movie Draft

Podcast from The Ringer | Host: Sean Fennessey with Amanda Dobbins & Chris Ryan | Aired: December 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively episode reunites Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins, and Chris Ryan for their annual movie draft, looking back at the eclectic cinematic landscape of 2022. With humor, friendly rivalry, and irreverent insights, the trio reminisce about the year’s movies, share personal memories, and—through their friendly competition—offer a snapshot of the changing film industry post-COVID. Along the way, they also reflect on their own lives, the state of Hollywood, and those all-important theatrical comebacks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: 2022 in Movies

Timestamps: 01:23–07:13

The panel remembers emerging from pandemic quarantines, noting the “wake” of Project Popcorn (Warner Bros.’ streaming era) and how it reshaped the release landscape (03:02).
They comment on the overwhelming slate of releases:

“I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stuff and also the unbelievable amount of films. I was like, what is that?” – Chris (07:29)
There’s acknowledgment that the year was marked by dramatic shifts: less middle-tier, more ‘slop’ (mediocre, overlong, poorly executed genre movies), but several standouts that defined the theatrical “we’re back” moment (10:27–11:53).
The hosts debate the continued dominance of sequels at the box office, citing Top Gun: Maverick, Avatar 2, and Black Panther 2 (12:28–13:22).

2. The Aftermath of the Pandemic on Cinema

Timestamps: 07:13–12:27

Chris highlights how the film landscape felt fundamentally different post-COVID, with streaming releases influencing theatrical schedules, noting,

“Not even the competency, but the foundation of movies that I ordinarily would be like this is pretty cool… Why is this 2 hours and 20 minutes? Looks like it’s been through four reshoots and shot with an iPhone 11.” – Chris (11:02)
The team discusses the emergence of “meme flops” and the fragmentation of viewing habits, but also the sense that a handful of films stood above the rest—“Five to ten movies that sort of stand above everything else.” – Chris (11:44)

3. Personal Stories & 2022 Moviegoing

Timestamps: 13:22–17:15

Amanda recounts returning to theaters post-birth, with Top Gun: Maverick as her celebratory re-entry (15:20).

“My first back movie in theaters was Top Maverick… it was exciting.” – Amanda (15:20)
Sean reflects on his own difficult year with a newborn and home issues due to California rain, feeling it was a “very challenging period” (17:41).
Chris reminisces about traveling post-lockdown and his affinity for working in a record store, which he’s nostalgic about but doesn’t regret leaving (16:59–17:22).

4. Draft Preparation & The Philosophy of Completionism

Timestamps: 18:22–20:26

Sean, ever the completist, checked off all 309 theatrically released American films in 2022:

“I saw all of these movies that are on this list from the release this year... I really do feel lucky to get to do this with you guys… So I see it as a responsibility to try to see as much as I can.” – Sean (19:16)
He admits to diminishing returns, “...it’s usually diminishing returns, and the ones that you put off… you know you won’t like” (19:41).

5. Kicking Off the 2022 Movie Draft

Timestamps: 22:09–31:45

The Rules

Six categories: Drama, Action/Horror/Thriller, Oscar Nominee, Sequel, Blockbuster (>$100M), and Wildcard.
Each host drafts a movie per category.

Draft Order

Chris Ryan (CR)
Sean Fennessey
Amanda Dobbins

The Picks – Notable Choices & Quotes

1st Overall:

Chris takes Top Gun: Maverick for Oscar Nominee:

“Top Gun Maverick was just… the clarion call, the battle cry of ‘we’re so back.’” – Chris (30:30)
Amanda thanks Chris for comforting her son with “Top Gun” during tough times (30:40).

Sean’s Top Pick:

Babylon in Drama

“A movie that I helped construct with many millions of people, a beautiful hive.” – Sean (31:45)

Amanda’s Big Moment:

Tar (Oscar nominee), her “favorite”:

“...I started, like, laughing with joy and I can’t believe you’re doing this at the end of this movie. Which is just a feeling that is so rare in movies at all now.” – Amanda (35:04)

6. Draft Highlights: Debates & Memorable Exchanges

Timestamps: 31:45–84:22

The Fabelmans is praised as “under-celebrated” and “episodic, but with a lot more going on” (39:48–40:11).
Sean touts Nope as his favorite of the year, lauding Peele’s “deep and complicated” take on spectacle and race (41:53–43:15).
Chris’ chess move: The Banshees of Inisherin “... probably his most satisfying film for me since In Bruges.” (44:44)
The Batman is described as “really good visualization of a world,” with intrigue about future casting and the mythos of Batman villains (45:24–47:44).
Amanda’s blockbuster wildcard: Minions: The Rise of Gru

“There’s a Minion Squire that shows up from nowhere, and they just start singing, like, the choral part of ‘you can’t always get what you want’…” (76:51) – which sends her into laughing fits and causes much ribbing from Sean and Chris.
Wild-card picks range from Jennifer Lopez’s Halftime (“...she thought this was gonna be her moment and she took it so seriously...” – Amanda, 79:34) to the genre-bending crime indie Emily the Criminal.
Discussion on the legacy of Everything Everywhere All at Once, its awards backlash, and why the hosts still appreciate it amid the discourse:

“I like that movie, and I always did...I think it hurt the movie’s reputation weirdly. But I really liked the movie as a genre mashup and as a pretty sincere portrait of an immigrant family…” – Sean (82:11)

7. Meta-Commentary, Podcast Banter, & Reflections

Timestamps: Throughout, esp. 20:26–22:15, 61:35–65:50, 85:16–end

The team frequently drifts off-topic, discussing everything from the importance of good pants to their supplement/creatine regimes, workout routines, and theoretical podcasts about tubing (e.g., “Just Tubin’”)—all part of the show’s casual, funny tone.
Amanda’s draft anxiety is met with gentle jokes; Sean tries to console her with, “I need you to perform a good podcast here” (31:28).
Running gags include the “wellness cliff” (“I think doing Pilates would be helpful for me…” – Sean, 61:48), joking about AI and podcasts with Benjamin Franklin, and whether anyone really cares who wins the drafts (25:27–25:46).
The hosts remark on the changes in their lives since 2022—how “things start to settle” in your 40s, memories of parenting, and their sense of gratitude for getting to watch and discuss movies for work.
Final thoughts include gratitude to Minions, the Rolling Stones, and Mia Goth (TI West’s “Pearl”), exemplifying the group’s affection for both highbrow and pop culture.

Notable Quotes & Moments

On 2022’s film glut:
“There are two DJ Caruso films here—when did those come out?” – Chris (07:29)
On Top Gun: Maverick as the Re-Entry Film:
“That was part of the reason that I feel as affectionately toward that movie as I do. But it was also... like, vaccines are in a decent place. We're all done. Let's fucking go.” – Amanda (15:20)
On completionism as a duty:
“...I see it as, like, a responsibility to try to see as much as I can.” – Sean (19:16)
On Pearl & Moviegoing Aftermath:
“I was really charmed by Pearl... great Mia Goth performance. Even when it gets gnarly, it’s like amusing gnarly instead of freaking me out.” – Amanda (58:01)
On the “We’re Back” Moment:
“Top Gun Maverick was just… the clarion call, the battle cry of we’re so back.” – Chris (30:30)
On the 2022 Draft Mood:
“There are good films to see.” – Chris (28:44)
On Wildcards:
“I’m picking the movie that I've thought about the third most in 2022... Jennifer Lopez Halftime. Because here's the thing…” – Amanda (78:18)
On Everything Everywhere All at Once Discourse:
“I think it hurt the movie’s reputation weirdly. But I really liked the movie as a genre mashup and as a pretty sincere portrait of an immigrant family and how the generation gap between people and how they can’t communicate with each other.” – Sean (81:06)

Draft Recap

Sean:

Drama: Babylon
Action/Horror/Thriller: Barbarian
Oscar Nominee: Avatar: The Way of Water
Sequel: Prey
Blockbuster: Nope
Wild Card: Everything Everywhere All at Once

Amanda:

Drama: The Fabelmans
Action/Horror/Thriller: Pearl
Oscar Nominee: Tar
Sequel: Downton Abbey: A New Era
Blockbuster: Minions: The Rise of Gru
Wild Card: Jennifer Lopez: Halftime

Chris:

Drama: The Banshees of Inisherin
Action/Horror/Thriller: Ambulance
Oscar Nominee: Top Gun: Maverick
Sequel: Confess, Fletch
Blockbuster: The Batman
Wild Card: Emily the Criminal

Timestamps for Key Segments

Setting up the 2022 Movie Landscape: 00:14–12:27
Personal Reflections on the Year & Moviegoing: 13:22–17:41
Draft Introduction & Rules: 22:09–22:47
Draft Order & First Reactions: 22:53–25:56
Individual Draft Rounds: 31:45–84:22
Wild-Card Picks & Final Riffs: 78:00–84:22
Episode Wind Down & Gratitude: 85:16–87:10

Closing Thoughts

The episode captures the distinctive humor and camaraderie of The Big Picture crew, blending rigorous (yet loving) film analysis, nostalgia, and refreshing transparency about how film culture is shaped by both industry trends and personal milestones. Whether you’re a cinephile or a casual moviegoer, their 2022 draft offers a roadmap to the year’s best and weirdest, along with a lot of laughs—and maybe a few future ideas for AI-powered podcasting with Benjamin Franklin.

Memorable Sign-Off:
“Thank you to the Minions and the Rolling Stones. And to Sean and Chris.” – Amanda (87:02)

The Big Picture – The 2022 Movie Draft

Podcast from The Ringer | Host: Sean Fennessey with Amanda Dobbins & Chris Ryan | Aired: December 17, 2025

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: 2022 in Movies

Timestamps: 01:23–07:13

The panel remembers emerging from pandemic quarantines, noting the “wake” of Project Popcorn (Warner Bros.’ streaming era) and how it reshaped the release landscape (03:02).
They comment on the overwhelming slate of releases:

“I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stuff and also the unbelievable amount of films. I was like, what is that?” – Chris (07:29)
There’s acknowledgment that the year was marked by dramatic shifts: less middle-tier, more ‘slop’ (mediocre, overlong, poorly executed genre movies), but several standouts that defined the theatrical “we’re back” moment (10:27–11:53).
The hosts debate the continued dominance of sequels at the box office, citing Top Gun: Maverick, Avatar 2, and Black Panther 2 (12:28–13:22).

2. The Aftermath of the Pandemic on Cinema

Timestamps: 07:13–12:27

Chris highlights how the film landscape felt fundamentally different post-COVID, with streaming releases influencing theatrical schedules, noting,

“Not even the competency, but the foundation of movies that I ordinarily would be like this is pretty cool… Why is this 2 hours and 20 minutes? Looks like it’s been through four reshoots and shot with an iPhone 11.” – Chris (11:02)
The team discusses the emergence of “meme flops” and the fragmentation of viewing habits, but also the sense that a handful of films stood above the rest—“Five to ten movies that sort of stand above everything else.” – Chris (11:44)

3. Personal Stories & 2022 Moviegoing

Timestamps: 13:22–17:15

Amanda recounts returning to theaters post-birth, with Top Gun: Maverick as her celebratory re-entry (15:20).

“My first back movie in theaters was Top Maverick… it was exciting.” – Amanda (15:20)
Sean reflects on his own difficult year with a newborn and home issues due to California rain, feeling it was a “very challenging period” (17:41).
Chris reminisces about traveling post-lockdown and his affinity for working in a record store, which he’s nostalgic about but doesn’t regret leaving (16:59–17:22).

4. Draft Preparation & The Philosophy of Completionism

Timestamps: 18:22–20:26

Sean, ever the completist, checked off all 309 theatrically released American films in 2022:

“I saw all of these movies that are on this list from the release this year... I really do feel lucky to get to do this with you guys… So I see it as a responsibility to try to see as much as I can.” – Sean (19:16)
He admits to diminishing returns, “...it’s usually diminishing returns, and the ones that you put off… you know you won’t like” (19:41).

5. Kicking Off the 2022 Movie Draft

Timestamps: 22:09–31:45

The Rules

Six categories: Drama, Action/Horror/Thriller, Oscar Nominee, Sequel, Blockbuster (>$100M), and Wildcard.
Each host drafts a movie per category.

Draft Order

Chris Ryan (CR)
Sean Fennessey
Amanda Dobbins

The Picks – Notable Choices & Quotes

1st Overall:

Chris takes Top Gun: Maverick for Oscar Nominee:

“Top Gun Maverick was just… the clarion call, the battle cry of ‘we’re so back.’” – Chris (30:30)
Amanda thanks Chris for comforting her son with “Top Gun” during tough times (30:40).

Sean’s Top Pick:

Babylon in Drama

“A movie that I helped construct with many millions of people, a beautiful hive.” – Sean (31:45)

Amanda’s Big Moment:

Tar (Oscar nominee), her “favorite”:

“...I started, like, laughing with joy and I can’t believe you’re doing this at the end of this movie. Which is just a feeling that is so rare in movies at all now.” – Amanda (35:04)

6. Draft Highlights: Debates & Memorable Exchanges

Timestamps: 31:45–84:22

The Fabelmans is praised as “under-celebrated” and “episodic, but with a lot more going on” (39:48–40:11).
Sean touts Nope as his favorite of the year, lauding Peele’s “deep and complicated” take on spectacle and race (41:53–43:15).
Chris’ chess move: The Banshees of Inisherin “... probably his most satisfying film for me since In Bruges.” (44:44)
The Batman is described as “really good visualization of a world,” with intrigue about future casting and the mythos of Batman villains (45:24–47:44).
Amanda’s blockbuster wildcard: Minions: The Rise of Gru

“There’s a Minion Squire that shows up from nowhere, and they just start singing, like, the choral part of ‘you can’t always get what you want’…” (76:51) – which sends her into laughing fits and causes much ribbing from Sean and Chris.
Wild-card picks range from Jennifer Lopez’s Halftime (“...she thought this was gonna be her moment and she took it so seriously...” – Amanda, 79:34) to the genre-bending crime indie Emily the Criminal.
Discussion on the legacy of Everything Everywhere All at Once, its awards backlash, and why the hosts still appreciate it amid the discourse:

“I like that movie, and I always did...I think it hurt the movie’s reputation weirdly. But I really liked the movie as a genre mashup and as a pretty sincere portrait of an immigrant family…” – Sean (82:11)

7. Meta-Commentary, Podcast Banter, & Reflections

Timestamps: Throughout, esp. 20:26–22:15, 61:35–65:50, 85:16–end

The team frequently drifts off-topic, discussing everything from the importance of good pants to their supplement/creatine regimes, workout routines, and theoretical podcasts about tubing (e.g., “Just Tubin’”)—all part of the show’s casual, funny tone.
Amanda’s draft anxiety is met with gentle jokes; Sean tries to console her with, “I need you to perform a good podcast here” (31:28).
Running gags include the “wellness cliff” (“I think doing Pilates would be helpful for me…” – Sean, 61:48), joking about AI and podcasts with Benjamin Franklin, and whether anyone really cares who wins the drafts (25:27–25:46).
The hosts remark on the changes in their lives since 2022—how “things start to settle” in your 40s, memories of parenting, and their sense of gratitude for getting to watch and discuss movies for work.
Final thoughts include gratitude to Minions, the Rolling Stones, and Mia Goth (TI West’s “Pearl”), exemplifying the group’s affection for both highbrow and pop culture.

Notable Quotes & Moments

On 2022’s film glut:
“There are two DJ Caruso films here—when did those come out?” – Chris (07:29)
On Top Gun: Maverick as the Re-Entry Film:
“That was part of the reason that I feel as affectionately toward that movie as I do. But it was also... like, vaccines are in a decent place. We're all done. Let's fucking go.” – Amanda (15:20)
On completionism as a duty:
“...I see it as, like, a responsibility to try to see as much as I can.” – Sean (19:16)
On Pearl & Moviegoing Aftermath:
“I was really charmed by Pearl... great Mia Goth performance. Even when it gets gnarly, it’s like amusing gnarly instead of freaking me out.” – Amanda (58:01)
On the “We’re Back” Moment:
“Top Gun Maverick was just… the clarion call, the battle cry of we’re so back.” – Chris (30:30)
On the 2022 Draft Mood:
“There are good films to see.” – Chris (28:44)
On Wildcards:
“I’m picking the movie that I've thought about the third most in 2022... Jennifer Lopez Halftime. Because here's the thing…” – Amanda (78:18)
On Everything Everywhere All at Once Discourse:
“I think it hurt the movie’s reputation weirdly. But I really liked the movie as a genre mashup and as a pretty sincere portrait of an immigrant family and how the generation gap between people and how they can’t communicate with each other.” – Sean (81:06)

Draft Recap

Sean:

Drama: Babylon
Action/Horror/Thriller: Barbarian
Oscar Nominee: Avatar: The Way of Water
Sequel: Prey
Blockbuster: Nope
Wild Card: Everything Everywhere All at Once

Amanda:

Drama: The Fabelmans
Action/Horror/Thriller: Pearl
Oscar Nominee: Tar
Sequel: Downton Abbey: A New Era
Blockbuster: Minions: The Rise of Gru
Wild Card: Jennifer Lopez: Halftime

Chris:

Drama: The Banshees of Inisherin
Action/Horror/Thriller: Ambulance
Oscar Nominee: Top Gun: Maverick
Sequel: Confess, Fletch
Blockbuster: The Batman
Wild Card: Emily the Criminal

Timestamps for Key Segments

Setting up the 2022 Movie Landscape: 00:14–12:27
Personal Reflections on the Year & Moviegoing: 13:22–17:41
Draft Introduction & Rules: 22:09–22:47
Draft Order & First Reactions: 22:53–25:56
Individual Draft Rounds: 31:45–84:22
Wild-Card Picks & Final Riffs: 78:00–84:22
Episode Wind Down & Gratitude: 85:16–87:10

Closing Thoughts

Memorable Sign-Off:
“Thank you to the Minions and the Rolling Stones. And to Sean and Chris.” – Amanda (87:02)

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The 2022 Movie Draft

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Summary

The Big Picture – The 2022 Movie Draft

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: 2022 in Movies

2. The Aftermath of the Pandemic on Cinema

3. Personal Stories & 2022 Moviegoing

4. Draft Preparation & The Philosophy of Completionism

5. Kicking Off the 2022 Movie Draft

The Rules

Draft Order

The Picks – Notable Choices & Quotes

6. Draft Highlights: Debates & Memorable Exchanges

7. Meta-Commentary, Podcast Banter, & Reflections

Notable Quotes & Moments

Draft Recap

Timestamps for Key Segments

Closing Thoughts

Summary

The Big Picture – The 2022 Movie Draft

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: 2022 in Movies

2. The Aftermath of the Pandemic on Cinema

3. Personal Stories & 2022 Moviegoing

4. Draft Preparation & The Philosophy of Completionism

5. Kicking Off the 2022 Movie Draft

The Rules

Draft Order

The Picks – Notable Choices & Quotes

6. Draft Highlights: Debates & Memorable Exchanges

7. Meta-Commentary, Podcast Banter, & Reflections

Notable Quotes & Moments

Draft Recap

Timestamps for Key Segments

Closing Thoughts