Summary of "The 2025 Movie Auction Returns!" | The Big Picture, July 8, 2025

Hosts: Sean Fennessey & Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan

Introduction and Welcome

After bypassing the initial advertisements and introductions, Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins welcome returning guest Chris Ryan to discuss the mid-year movie auction, marking the halfway point of the year.

Quote:
Sean Fennessey [00:50]: "Big Picture conversation show about auctioning. It is the midway point of the year, and so we are auctioning once again to fill out our slates, which means Chris Ryan's here. Hi, Chris, how are you?"

Reminiscing About "The Wild Bunch"

Sean recalls a memorable night watching "The Wild Bunch" in a special 70mm format, highlighting the enduring spirit of cinema in Hollywood. Chris shares his astonishment at the vibrant movie culture, even amidst unexpected events like a Trump rally.

Quote:
Sean Fennessey [01:00]: "Last time I saw you, we were crying arm in arm watching the wild bunch on 70 millimeter Egyptian experience. It was a magical night."

Honoring Michael Madsen

The hosts mourn the tragic passing of Michael Madsen, reflecting on his prolific career and memorable roles, especially in Quentin Tarantino's films.

Quote:
Sean Fennessey [02:34]: "Michael Madsen, the great Michael Madsen would have fit right in. He passed away at 67 on July 3rd. Tragically."

Box Office Analysis: "Jurassic World Rebirth"

They analyze the recent release "Jurassic World Rebirth," which debuted with $147 million domestically. Chris points out Scarlett Johansson's ascent to becoming one of the most successful movie stars due to her involvement in long-running franchises.

Quote:
Chris Ryan [04:20]: "Scarlett Johansson is our most successful movie star now."

Introducing the Movie Auction and New Scoring System

Sean introduces a revamped movie auction system, acknowledging past shortcomings and presenting a new tiered scoring system developed with the help of Sam Burtwistle. The system assigns points based on box office milestones, Metacritic scores, and Oscar nominations, aiming for a more structured and competitive slate.

Quote:
Sean Fennessey [08:07]: "Sam made a proposition about the scoring system that we have for the movie auction."

Details of the New Scoring System

Sean elaborates on the tiered point allocations:

• Box Office:
  • $150M: 1 point
  • $300M: 1 point
  • $450M: 1 point
  • And so on.
• Metacritic Scores:
  • 79: 1 point
  • 82: 1 point
  • 85: 1 point
  • Highest score in the draft: +1 point
• Oscars:
  • Below-the-line nominations and wins: 0.5 points
  • Best Picture win: 1 point

They discuss potential additions like live scoring during auctions, inspired by shows like "Around the Horn."

Quote:
Sean Fennessey [09:59]: "There's a exceedingly high chance it will be nominated, at least for Best sound."

Hosts' Slates and Bidding Wars

Chris Ryan's Slate

Chris nominates "Ballad of a Small Player," expressing confidence in its Oscar potential despite its Netflix affiliation.

Quote:
Chris Ryan [30:00]: "I think it's going to be seen by a lot of people, and it feels like a good bet, so I'm going to go with that."

Amanda Dobbins' Slate

Amanda selects "Opus," "Phoenician Scheme," and "Marty Supreme," balancing personal favorites with critical acclaim.

Quote:
Amanda Dobbins [17:53]: "Phoenician Scheme, which is another one of my favorite movies of the year."

Sean Fennessey's Slate

Sean focuses on "Avatar Fire and Ash," "Superman," and "Hamnet," among others, strategically aiming for high-scoring films.

Quote:
Sean Fennessey [20:58]: "I loved 77. Metacritic score, $60 million box office domestically."

Intense Bidding on "Superman"

A heated bidding war erupts over "Superman," with Sean starting at $62, Amanda escalating to $375, and Chris pushing the bid to $400, reflecting their strong interest and differing perspectives on the film's potential.

Quote:
Amanda Dobbins [134:54]: "I'm really into this movie for $400 for me."

Recap of Auction Results

The hosts recap their final selections:

• Sean Fennessey: "Avatar Fire and Ash" ($300), "Superman" ($62), "Hamnet" ($28), "Predator Badlands" ($1)
• Amanda Dobbins: "Opus," "Phoenician Scheme," "Marty Supreme," "After the Hunt" ($260), "Roofman" ($100), "J. Kelly" ($420), "A House of Dynamite" ($180), "Down Abbey, The Grand Finale" ($40)
• Chris Ryan: "Ballad of a Small Player" ($165), "Weapons" ($465), "Superman" ($400), "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" ($36), "Bruce Springsteen, Deliver Me from Nowhere" ($150), "House of Dynamite" ($80)

Quote:
Chris Ryan [136:08]: "I got ballot of a small player for 165, weapons for 465."

Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes

The episode concludes with the hosts expressing excitement for their next viewing of "Superman," discussing logistics around family commitments, and teasing future movie discussions. They also touch upon their personal lives and interests, maintaining a blend of professional analysis and personal anecdotes.

Quote:
Sean Fennesi [138:01]: "Thanks to our producer, Jack Sanders, for his work on this episode. No, thanks to Sam for cooking up this new scoring system. And we'll see you for Superman. Bye."

Notable Quotes Throughout the Episode

• Sean Fennessey [02:28]: "You can't get in the way of a segue like that."
• Amanda Dobbins [05:28]: "I'm bringing like an original auction energy to my personal list and prep for this podcast."
• Chris Ryan [07:24]: "Another savvy career move by ScarJo. Staying in the news."
• Amanda Dobbins [16:56]: "The first one absolutely was...water in the desert in the January release Slate."
• Sean Fennessey [75:39]: "This would give me Big Jim, James Gunn, Chloe Zhao and Kathryn Bigelow. If I could get this film, that would be solid."

Conclusion

Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins, and Chris Ryan engage in a dynamic and strategic mid-year movie auction, integrating a newly developed scoring system to enhance competitiveness and fairness. Their discussions span critical analyses of recent releases, personal preferences, and insights into the evolving landscape of Hollywood cinema. The episode underscores their passion for movies and their commitment to providing thoughtful recommendations and engaging discussions for their audience.