The Gen Z Movie Focus Group

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Big Picture – "The Gen Z Movie Focus Group"

Release Date: April 1, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Big Picture, hosted by Amanda Dobbins from The Ringer, the spotlight shines on Generation Z’s relationship with movies. Titled "The Gen Z Movie Focus Group," this episode converges insights from a panel of young Ringer colleagues—Jade Whaley, Jack Sanders, and Jomi Adenaran—as they dissect how Gen Z engages with cinema in today’s digital age. The discussion navigates through viewing habits, influential films, and the evolving landscape of movie consumption post-pandemic.

Panel Introduction

Amanda Dobbins kicks off the episode by introducing her panel:

• Jade Whaley: Producer at The Ringer, producer on Jam Session, and a former AMC Stubs member.
• Jack Sanders: A dedicated member of The Big Picture’s younger demographic and an avid moviegoer.
• Jomi Adenaran: Social content producer at The Ringer and representative of the zillennial (cusp between Millennials and Gen Z).

Viewing Habits of Gen Z

The conversation begins with exploring how Gen Z consumes movies today. The panelists discuss their preferences between theatrical releases and streaming services, highlighting a shift towards digital consumption accelerated by the pandemic.

• Jade Whaley (03:30): "The last month, maybe like two or three movies at home."
• Jack Sanders (16:31): "Thirteen movies in the last month, five of which were in theaters."

Impact of Social Media and Screen Time

Amanda probes into the impact of social media on movie-watching habits. The panel acknowledges the pervasive influence of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which often overshadow traditional movie experiences.

• Amy Poehler (21:36): "Too much time on TikTok... keep swiping."
• Jack Sanders (22:04): "Look at Instagram all day long... looking at myself like, Do I need to go outside?"

Childhood Movie Experiences

Reflecting on their formative years, panelists reminisce about how movies played a pivotal role in their childhood entertainment. They recall the days of VHS tapes, DVDs, and iconic family outings to the cinema.

• Jade Whaley (24:20): "Disney original movies were like huge. High School Musical, Cheetah Girls."
• Jack Sanders (26:03): "High School Musical being an event film in elementary school... that was one of the Gen Z top."

The Most Important Movies to Gen Z

Amanda poses a critical question: “What is, in your opinion, the most important movie to Gen Z?” The responses highlight a blend of blockbuster successes and culturally impactful films.

• Jack Sanders (38:07): “Avengers: Endgame and Lady Bird. Endgame is the biggest event film of our generation.”
• Amy Poehler (42:25): “Shrek. I can't let that slide.”

Jack elaborates on Avengers: Endgame as a unifying cinematic event that encapsulates Gen Z’s collective movie-watching experience, while also endorsing Lady Bird for its authentic coming-of-age narrative resonating with Gen Z’s digital upbringing.

Biggest Movie Stars in the World According to Gen Z

When asked about the biggest movie stars, the panelists reveal a preference for established actors, with a nod to contemporary actors gaining prominence.

• Amy Poehler (53:56): “Robert Downey Jr. as my goat. He changed their lives... He leaves, wins an Oscar.”
• Jack Sanders (58:07): “Chalamet or DiCaprio, but leaning towards Chalamet for his upward trajectory.”

Jade contends with recognizing enduring stars like Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio, while also acknowledging emerging talents like Zendaya, reflecting Gen Z’s appreciation for both legacy actors and new icons.

Social Aspect: Discussing Movies with Friends

The panel emphasizes the social dimension of movie-watching, where shared experiences foster discussions and strengthen friendships.

• Jade Whaley (63:10): “Watching Wicked and Barbie with friends. Group chat, discourse all over the place.”
• Jack Sanders (64:31): “Movies are the number one thing we talk about.”

Amanda notes that movies serve as a cultural touchstone, facilitating conversations and communal experiences among Gen Z peers.

Changes in Movie Consumption Post-Pandemic

The discussion shifts to how the pandemic has reshaped movie consumption. Panelists observe a decline in traditional theater-going, replaced by an abundance of streaming options.

• Jack Sanders (66:53): “Pandemic fast-tracking every movie available at your fingertips accelerated this whole problem we're currently facing.”
• Jade Whaley (82:25): “Waves of movies come out, big heavy hitters with big names.”

While acknowledging the challenges, Jack remains optimistic that movies will retain their cultural relevance, albeit in transformed formats.

Lightning Round: Favorite Recent Movies and Upcoming Releases

In a rapid-fire segment, panelists share their favorite movies from the past year and eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.

• Jade Whaley (73:53): “Wicked. Saw Barbie with friends.”
• Jack Sanders (77:00): “Dune Part Two, Worst Person in the World, West Side Story (Steven Spielberg version).”
• Amy Poehler (77:30): “Everything Everywhere All At Once. Black Bag.”

The assortment of favorites underscores diverse tastes, from blockbuster sequels to indie gems, and showcases anticipation for new cinematic endeavors like the sequel to Wicked.

Conclusion: The State of Movies for Gen Z

Amanda wraps up the episode by synthesizing the panel’s insights, acknowledging the evolving landscape where digital consumption and social media play significant roles. While there's a nostalgic appreciation for traditional movie-going and iconic films, the future of cinema for Gen Z appears resilient, adapting to technological advancements and shifting cultural dynamics.

• Jack Sanders (83:37): “It's hard not to believe that movies will ever be entirely erased from the culture. I just don't think it's going to happen.”
• Amy Poehler (84:24): “As long as we stay watching these movies, go into theaters, the movie theaters will never die.”

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Amanda Dobbins (02:37): “Can you comment on TikTok? Well, you can comment, but can you DM?”
• Jack Sanders (17:06): “They don't receive a single dollar. Any of the employees, they all do it. They're all volunteers.”
• Jack Sanders (38:07): “Endgame is the biggest event film of our generation where even if you didn't care about Avengers, you can remember what the scene was like when that movie was in theaters.”
• Amy Poehler (53:56): “Robert Downey Jr. is my goat... he changed their lives.”
• Jack Sanders (57:05): “Zendaya would be the only one.”
• Jade Whaley (63:10): “Wicked and Barbie with friends. Group chat, discourse all over the place.”

Final Thoughts

"The Gen Z Movie Focus Group" offers a comprehensive exploration of how Generation Z interacts with cinema amidst a digital revolution. Through candid discussions and personal anecdotes, the episode paints a vivid picture of a generation balancing traditional movie experiences with modern, technology-driven consumption. As movies continue to evolve, Gen Z stands at the forefront, shaping and being shaped by the ever-changing cinematic landscape.

Transcript

[Amy Poehler]

Hi everyone, it's Amy Poehler and I'm launching a new podcast called Good Hang. In preparation for that, I asked some of my friends to send in some videos and give me some advice.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Just be yourself and the guests will come.

[Amy Poehler]

Don't be the celebrity that this is their, like, sixth thing they're doing.

[Jack Sanders]

I love true crime and cooking podcasts.

[Jade Whaley]

Is there any way you could combine the two?

[Amy Poehler]

Well, everyone has an opinion and a podcast, so join me for Good Hang. It's rough out there. We're just trying to lighten it up a little. This episode is brought to you by max.

[Jack Sanders]

The Emmy Award winning series Hacks returns this April.

[Amy Poehler]

The new season follows Deborah Vance making.

[Jack Sanders]

A move from her Vegas residency to Hollywood showbiz.

[Amy Poehler]

Tensions rise as Deborah and Ava try to get their late night show off.

[Jack Sanders]

The ground and make history while doing it. Starring Jean Smart and Hannah einbinder. Hax Season 4 is streaming Thursday, April.

[Amy Poehler]

10, exclusively on MA. This episode is brought to you by Max. The Emmy Award winning series Hacks returns this April. The new season follows Deborah Vance making a move from her Vegas residency to Hollywood showbiz. Tensions rise as Deborah and Ava try to get their late night show off.

[Jack Sanders]

The ground and make history while doing it.

[Amy Poehler]

Starring Gene Smart and Hannah einbinder. Hack Season 4 is streaming Thursday, April.

[Jack Sanders]

10, exclusively on Max.

[Amy Poehler]

Don't forget to check out the official Hacks podcast on Spotify.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I'm Amanda Dobbins and this is the Big Picture, a conversation show about the children and the future. Sean is somehow still out, so we are going full no parents mode on this special episode of the Big Picture. I've convened a panel of the Ringer's finest young minds to answer every question that I have about how Gen Z does or does not watch movies. Welcome to the first and possibly the last edition of the Gen Z movie focus group.

[Jade Whaley]

Let's get it.

[Amanda Dobbins]

All right, so before we begin, I'm going to introduce our panel and we're, you know, it's going to be like a mingle, like speed dating type thing. Do they still speed date? Yes, they do. Okay, good. See, we're learning so much here already. So first we have Jade Whaley, a producer here at the Ringer, my producer on Jam Session, and an AMC Stubs member. Or I actually forgot to fact check that. Are you still an AMC Stubs member?

[Jade Whaley]

I am not.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, so a former AMC Stubs member. We'll talk about that decision making process later on.

[Jade Whaley]

Absolutely.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Jade also played a crucial role in a middle school production of the Musical Wicked.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

What role was it, Jade?

[Jade Whaley]

I played a shiz student.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, okay. So which were you, like, bringing? What's the number?

[Jade Whaley]

Like, the number, kid? I was.

[Amanda Dobbins]

No, no, no, no, no. The number. The musical number where the. Where the Jonathan Bailey does the. Oh, and they dance like this.

[Jade Whaley]

Not one short day.

[Amanda Dobbins]

No, come on. You are like. You were Miss Wicked Stan.

[Jade Whaley]

You know, I am a Wicked Stan, but currently cannot remember the name of the.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Something about life.

[Jade Whaley]

That's okay. But I was a shiz student. I was an Ozian and part of the dance ensemble.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And you were really looking forward to at least part one of Wicked.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, absolutely.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And part two. Oh, okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Very much.

[Amanda Dobbins]

We'll come back to Jeep. So to introduce yourself, here's our, like, icebreaker question. What's the last movie that you watched and how did you watch it?

[Jade Whaley]

Okay, the last movie I watched was Anora.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. I'm afraid to ask when that was.

[Jade Whaley]

Last week.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, it was recent. It was after the Academy Awards, so, like, I had just gotten some inspo and some talk from people. I was like, okay, let me watch it.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, so at home, I'm guessing.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes. Watched it at home, watched it through pvod.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Pvod, okay. Sorry. Premium video on demand. Did you pay money to rent or buy it?

[Jade Whaley]

No.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, interesting.

[Jade Whaley]

I just watched it.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Are you about to indict yourself in some way?

[Jade Whaley]

I was just gonna say I watched it through a streaming platform.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, great. Okay. All right, Wonderful. Okay, thumbs up. Thumbs down.

[Jade Whaley]

Oh, thumbs up.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, great. Thank you so much. Jade liked Anora. Good. All right, next we'll just go in order down the couch. Here we have the big pictures own Jack Sanders, reluctantly making his debut in front of the camera. When I told you you had to do this in front of the camera, you were really mad. But you are, in fact, the person responsible for putting me on camera every twice a week, so.

[Jack Sanders]

That's true.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Here you go. Karma's a bitch.

[Jack Sanders]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Jack is here in his capacity as the youngest person that I know of working age. Anyway, I do know my children and also as our quote unquote rep boy, the growing community of gen zers who regularly attend repertory screenings and letterboxed events. Or at least, you know, go on letterboxd. So, Jack, what is the you as the big picture, you know, member here? You have a lot. You probably watched a movie more recently, but what was the last movie that you watched and how?

[Jack Sanders]

I went to Burbank Town Center 6 yesterday to see the film Death of a Unicorn.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

Really, really hard. Watch okay, really bad.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I'm gonna say this something. And Jomi, I'm just guessing here, like, at least someone on this podcast saw that film, because I did not go yesterday.

[Jack Sanders]

I would not recommend.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, okay, great. Thank you for your work. Thank you for repping the Burbank Theater. You know, community.

[Jack Sanders]

That's my favorite theater of the AMC the town.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Six over the 16.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

Because you get recliners. Most of 16 does not recline.

[Amy Poehler]

That's fact.

[Amanda Dobbins]

That's true. Okay. I like it. All right, finally, we have Jomi Adenaran, social content producer at the Ringer, our dedicated Ringerverse correspondent. The last time that I saw Jomi, he was wearing merch for the yet to be released Fantastic Four movie. And I know it was from that edition. Cause I asked you, I was like, that's the new one.

[Amy Poehler]

TikTok shop got me. What can I say?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes. Don't know what that means, but thank you.

[Jack Sanders]

Oh, my God.

[Amy Poehler]

You don't know what that means?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, TikTok shop. Jomi. Yeah, no, I know what that means. Okay. I thought that that was some sort of Fantastic Four reference, but, no, I do know what TikTok is. I've never bought anything on TikTok Shop. I do buy things on Instagram Shop. Oh, well, listen, you are Gen Z and I am Millennial. You know, we have to acknowledge our differences in order to overcome them. Okay. Jomi's also here representing the zillennial community, which is kids on the Cusp who feel. Excuse me, I'm sorry, Young men and women.

[Amy Poehler]

No, it's okay. You called me washed. It's fine.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Who feel anxiety about their generational designation. Jomi, welcome.

[Amy Poehler]

Hello.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And tell us the last movie that you saw and how you watched it.

[Amy Poehler]

The last movie I saw was the first Mission Impossible on Paramount. I'm locking back in.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Wow.

[Amy Poehler]

Mission Impossible 8 is eight weeks away. Okay, I'm ready. I will be there no matter what. I'm walking back in.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, so I do want to be clarified. That's not the first time you've ever seen the original. No, no, no.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. All right. And so you're here technically, according to, like the. When you Google, what is Gen Z, what is Millennial? You're right on the edge. You are six months younger than Bobby Wagner. Who is here and whose birthday it is.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I guess.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Whose birthday is you transitioning from Cusp to just old washed person who can no longer be on our panel. That's right. My back legitimately hurts, and I'm happy to be here. And you're also. You're a combo, almost millennial plus rep boy. Plus, you do this show, so we don't. You're not that representative of the community at large, but you are out in the world. You see the people. So I do also want you to, you know, chime in if you feel that the under 30 crowd is being slandered here, because this is basically what this is. And I will. I will say, I don't want to make you guys nervous. You don't look nervous. You're doing great so far. It's sort of like being called to the principal's office. But you're humoring me, and I love you all. Thank. Like, we have a decent amount of younger listeners, which really, really confuses me. So you are. You're representing all of them today, you know, and there are a lot of people listening who, if you don't get it right, are gonna, I don't know, like, send you a TikTok comment. Is that something you can do? Can you comment on TikTok?

[Amy Poehler]

You can.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, you can comment, but can you DM?

[Jade Whaley]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. But it's really gonna be a lot of tweets.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

A lot of Instagram comments.

[Amanda Dobbins]

YouTube comments.

[Amy Poehler]

The YouTube comments.

[Amanda Dobbins]

You guys aren't looking at those, are you?

[Jack Sanders]

Well, it's quite literally my job.

[Amy Poehler]

I have to see the tweets and the Instagram comments.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right? That's okay.

[Amy Poehler]

So we'll share our. We'll compare notes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Maybe I'll leave an Instagram comment. I love an Instagram comment. Okay, so we're gonna start, and I'll cue you guys as best I can so people just listening know who's talking. We're gonna start with an easy one, except for maybe Jade. So, Jomi, I'll start with you. How many movies have you seen in the last month?

[Amy Poehler]

In the last month, probably like four or five. I had this, like, whole weekend where I went to see Black Bag, Mickey 17, the Looney Tunes movie. I was locked in.

[Amanda Dobbins]

You were at the theater all weekend at the theater?

[Amy Poehler]

Los Feliz 3. Palatry City. Wow.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So that's. That's going all around the city?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So it's. So you're not just, like, hitting Century City and saying, I'm gonna be here all day. Are you going with friends? Are you, like, making appointments here and there?

[Amy Poehler]

Friends. They were like, let's go see Black Bag at Los Feliz 3 on 2:00. I said, cool. Then I was like, I mean, I got this. AMC stubs might as well, you know, get the. And just go pop.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, it's good week ads, but that's that you're paying that. Okay. No, it's probably a good deal. Okay, so that's all in theaters. What about at home?

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, when I'm at home, unless it's like a new release, I usually, like, rewatch the goodies.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, but that sort of counts.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. So.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So tell me, like, what did you rewatch? What was a memorable rewatch this month?

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, man. I mean, we talked about it earlier. Every time I'm like, yo, I'm in a funk. I need to get something that gets the juices going, that just makes me feel alive.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Head to Paramount. Plus I'm putting on Top Gun Maverick. I'm locking in.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Do you want to come to my house and babysit and watch Top Gun maverick with my 3 year old?

[Amy Poehler]

Just say it. When. Just say it When?

[Amanda Dobbins]

It is on almost every day in my home. But it is.

[Amy Poehler]

Your 3 year old knows ball.

[Amanda Dobbins]

It is cinema.

[Amy Poehler]

It's fantastic. Amanda. They have the scene during the final run and the plane goes upside down over the cascading mountains and just disappears. I feel alive.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Sure.

[Amy Poehler]

There's something in my soul that just. It means something different.

[Amanda Dobbins]

You don't have to tell me. I. Listen, I. So you're doing one movie over and over again.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, I mean, you know, Ringiverse, you know, so you got to throw some, you know, some Marvel in there, some dc.

[Amanda Dobbins]

You're allowed to say the world word Marvel on this podcast.

[Amy Poehler]

Are you sure?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes, Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

I don't know, man. I don't know.

[Amanda Dobbins]

If you don't want to. That's on you, but, yeah, you can. Yeah. So you're. You're. I guess you're doing like a lot of research for Ringerverse and everything too.

[Amy Poehler]

Got to. Got to.

[Amanda Dobbins]

But do you find that you turn on movies instead of TV shows or when you have like a. When you have a free zone?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, if I've got like a free two hours, then it's definitely. I like to. When I like when I'm like eating lunch, I get that coffee bowl. I might put on a show. People keep telling me to watch the Pit. I'm not watching the Pit. I've had enough. No more pit talk. But, you know, I watch like a show, like a. Like a rewatch, like a episode of Psych, whatever. But if I need to, like lock in for two hours from my laptop, I'll put on an old movie that I enjoy. Okay.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And thank you for including that. So it's on the laptop?

[Amy Poehler]

No, no, no. It's on the tv. I'm working on the laptop.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Got it. Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

The TV will be on.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So you're doing second screen. Okay, well, you know, I hear tell of the young people just watching on the laptop.

[Amy Poehler]

I can't do that. I'm not built like that. Amanda.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Listen, this is your time, Jamie. So I just want the people to know.

[Amy Poehler]

I don't understand. Like, even when this is really, like, inside baseball, we'll get screeners for stuff and they'll be on the computer. You have to log in, do the whole thing. I'm like, bet. Let me plug in my hdmi. Let me watch on the TV how I'm supposed to watch it.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right?

[Amy Poehler]

Watching on the laptop just gives. It gives me hives. I don't know how you guys do it.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Are either of you laptop watchers? Jade, it's okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Occasionally.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Listen, there are no wrong answers.

[Jade Whaley]

No, no, no, no. Occasionally. But I would say I've grown out of it. Like college, big laptop watch.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Post college.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Is that what I'm picking up on, that. It's just like, in college, you have the laptop and maybe you don't have.

[Jade Whaley]

I didn't have a TV in my, like, dorm room. So, like, it was all. It had to be laptop. Okay, it had to be laptop. But I will say, too, like, I do watch on my phone as well.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

I'm a phone watcher.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Are you watching movies on your phone? What are you watching on your phone?

[Jade Whaley]

Watching tv.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

Okay, I'm watching tv.

[Amanda Dobbins]

What are you, like. Are you doing other things or are you just.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, usually I'm doing other things. Like. Or, like, okay, let's say I'm going to a coffee shop and, like, I just want to get out. Maybe I'll, like, prop it up and watch something.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Are you wearing your headphones?

[Jade Whaley]

Yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, well, listen, who knows at this point?

[Amy Poehler]

There's some hooligans out there.

[Jack Sanders]

That's insane.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I understand that my tone of voice was not approving, but. Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, of course. Headphones on, Headphones on.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So how many. So movies.

[Jade Whaley]

Movies?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. That's what this is about.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

How many movies have you watched in the last month?

[Jade Whaley]

Last month you could.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Maybe three. You could do 20, 25 if you want to buckle up.

[Jade Whaley]

2025?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, 2025.

[Jade Whaley]

Maybe like, eight, nine.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

But I would say in the last month, like, maybe like two or three.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. And were they at home, in theaters?

[Jade Whaley]

They were all in the last month. All at home.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. So what happened with AMC stubs?

[Jade Whaley]

I wasn't going enough.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

It just wasn't. The money didn't. It didn't make sense. But there was a time I would say, like. Cause I've had. I had it for like two or three years.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

So I had it for.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I do remember you would come in on a Monday for jam session and like, you were seeing kind of random stuff.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, definitely. Absolutely.

[Amanda Dobbins]

There was a phase where we were like, I have this.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, yes. Me and my boyfriend, we both got it because we, like, just wanted to go to the movies all the time. We were like, might as well get this. We would go all the time, but there just became a point where, like, we weren't going anymore. So it just was like, nah, let's just get rid of it. But now when I do go to the movies, I'm like, how much am I paying for this?

[Amanda Dobbins]

This is for sure.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, that's a. I mean, we'll come back to that. That's a big change.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So you're watching movies at home?

[Jade Whaley]

Yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

How are you deciding what to watch?

[Jade Whaley]

It's usually. See, my partner is the more of the movie watcher. So it's like we usually decide, okay, like, what are we gonna watch? And he usually wants to watch a movie. I usually wanna watch a movie.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Jade, I've been there.

[Jade Whaley]

Okay.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And I have to tell you, it gets better.

[Jade Whaley]

Thank you. Thank you for that.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Listen, I need that. I didn't realize that we were having the, you know, the early 20 something girlfriend perspective on the podcast. But it's an important one.

[Jade Whaley]

No, but it is important because I do think I usually watch movies with him.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right.

[Jade Whaley]

Choosing to watch a movie by myself, that's a really big decision for me.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. Do you remember the last one that you decided to watch by yourself where you were like, oh, I'd like to.

[Jade Whaley]

See that by myself.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. Or not watching it by yourself, but like, where you were like, yes, I choose this.

[Jade Whaley]

I can't remember what movie it was, but I will say I usually tend to watch documentaries on my. On my own.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, wow.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah. Not necessarily like fiction or like, like a feature. Like, it's usually like straight documentaries. Because I love documentaries.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

All right. And are you. So is it what's available on streaming always or you guys aren't. You guys aren't like renting or.

[Jade Whaley]

No, not really renting.

[Amanda Dobbins]

No extra charges?

[Jade Whaley]

No, just streaming. Whatever we've got, we'll. We'll use that. We can find something.

[Amanda Dobbins]

All right. Jack Sanders, Lord of Letterboxd for this episode at least. Do you have a letterboxd? Am I slandering you? Okay. No, you're not Jade or Jomi. Do you guys have letterboxd?

[Amy Poehler]

I just got a letterboxd.

[Jack Sanders]

Hell yeah, brother.

[Jade Whaley]

All right.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And Jade's a no.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. How many movies a month?

[Jack Sanders]

Well, this last month, I did the Math. I did 13.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

Five of which were in theaters.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Great. Okay, what were the five in theaters?

[Jack Sanders]

Do you remember Mickey 17, Death of a Unicorn, Black Bag, Novocaine. And the special theater experience I had this month is when I was gone from the show and I went to Europe. I went to Copenhagen. Shout Out Hussit's Biograph, a really cool independently owned cinema in Copenhagen that does a lot of rep screenings.

[Amanda Dobbins]

You're making everyone so proud right now.

[Jack Sanders]

Thank you. On my last day in Europe, they were doing a special screening of the Room, and I was like, I need to go to this.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, that's fun.

[Jack Sanders]

This would be amazing. But it was sold out.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

And I sent them a message, and I'm like, I'm all the way from the United States. I work on these shows called the Big Picture and the Rewatchables.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And they were like, great.

[Jack Sanders]

I love, like, come through. So they let me come. If you're ever in Copenhagen, seriously, go. It is an amazing theater. I spoke with them after, told them how grateful I was, and they don't receive a single dollar. Any of the employees, they all do it. They're all volunteers.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Wow.

[Jack Sanders]

And they all do it for the love of the game and the community. So special. Shout out to them because that was a great theater experience.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. Also, I mean, very cool to do on vacation. It is a fun thing to do on vacation if you're like. If you are a movie nerd. So that. Okay. Five in the last month. So once a week.

[Jack Sanders]

Thirteen in the last month. Oh, yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So once a week in the theaters and then the rest at home.

[Jack Sanders]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Are there movies that you're watching at home for the show, or are they for your own interest?

[Jack Sanders]

No, they're usually for my own interest.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. And then are they streaming? Are you running things?

[Jack Sanders]

I'm not renting or rarely. Rarely renting.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Jamie, are you ever renting?

[Amy Poehler]

No chance.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. No. You guys don't even have the. You don't have it set up.

[Amy Poehler]

If it's not on streaming, then it's as we Lost cause.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

So just find it. You could find it.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

What do you mean by that? Yeah, what do you mean by that? What do you Mean by that you can find it.

[Jade Whaley]

That's all I say.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, so no one, no one is entering that passcode. No one's. No extra charges.

[Jack Sanders]

If my girlfriend and I are really fixated on watching one thing and it's 99 cents. Sure.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. 99 cents is your threshold.

[Jack Sanders]

Or I guess 299, whatever it is. But like I'm never renting a $20 movie on PBOD.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

I would never do that.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And it's. So do you ever have the experience where you go see some? Like, are you seeking out the movies? You see that it's 20 bucks and you think I'll just wait till it's on streaming or is it just. Not even. You aren't even looking. You're just looking at what's available on the streaming apps.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

What's available on the streaming app?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

I think it depends on like the movie.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah. Because sometimes I would wait but like Wicked. No, not going to wait.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Did you. But you went to the theater.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah. Went to the theater for that. Right? I saw it twice. Yeah, yeah, we know because now it's on streaming.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And how many times have you watched it at home since it was on streaming?

[Jade Whaley]

Oh, zero.

[Amy Poehler]

Jade, you pay for Peacock.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, I do.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. But Peacock.

[Jade Whaley]

But I have like what's wrong with that?

[Amy Poehler]

No, no, I, I, I thought I was the only one.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I'm a big fan. A lot of people pay for cuz the, the reality and Bravo. Let's go of it all. Very, very.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, they used to have wrestling too. Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

Ok, cool.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Plus Bridget Jones Mad about the Boy.

[Jack Sanders]

Hell yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Anyone? Anyone? Has anyone here seen Bridget Jones Mad about the Boy?

[Jack Sanders]

My girlfriend has.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, well that doesn't count. It's available on.

[Jack Sanders]

I didn't get.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, so Jade, are you watching a tv? Laptop? Phone. Phone. When you're watching with your boyfriend, like.

[Jade Whaley]

You sit down and watch a movie we're usually watching. So like if we're not together and we're watching it. Yeah, we'll watch through laptop. But like if we're together. Tv.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Tv. Okay, Jack.

[Jack Sanders]

Tv.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Tv. Okay. And phones.

[Amy Poehler]

No.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, good. It's okay, Jade. It's all right.

[Amy Poehler]

You know what?

[Amanda Dobbins]

It's a computer in your pocket.

[Jade Whaley]

What are you supposed to do exactly?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. In terms of the amount of time that you spend watching movies versus watching other stuff and I think we can. Let's start with movies versus tv. Jade, I feel like we know your breakdown.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

More tv.

[Jade Whaley]

Absolutely. Yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

Jack, More movies.

[Amanda Dobbins]

More movies.

[Amy Poehler]

Jomi, it's tight.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, but you're also. Your job is, like, fairly complicating because Ringerverse now has so many shows that I can't even keep track of.

[Amy Poehler]

And then, I mean, you just add, like, the other stuff. Abbott elementary.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, of course.

[Amy Poehler]

Animal Control, like, things like that just, like, add up. So it's close.

[Amanda Dobbins]

It's close. So now let's put movies and TV in a bucket versus, for lack of a better word, social media. You know, people talk shit on your phone, basically. What's the. How are you spending more time? And I honestly, like, my answer might honestly be more Instagram than movies, but I'm a diseased person, so I spend.

[Amy Poehler]

Too much time on TikTok.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I don't know if you guys are the same way, but they got this Laker. They got this LeBron trend.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Where they're making LeBron songs.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I'm talking about the man on the Lakers, LeBron. I'm asking you to say, like, it's just. I'm just like, bet I can't. More, please. More, more, more, more, more. You know, I'm like, who needs to watch a movie when I can just hear people sing about LeBron all day?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right. But you do watch so much stuff. Do you think actually that you watch more TikTok than you do movies? And I know it's your job again.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, but at the same time, like, instead of watching a movie or grinding film, I'll be in bed. I'll be like, keep swiping.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I know it's 1:30. I mean, me too. And then I can't sleep at night, guys. It's like, it's really, really bad. I have a 9pm Curfew now.

[Jade Whaley]

It can get there, Jack.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Movies, TV or, you know, the siren call of the Internet.

[Jack Sanders]

I mean, if you're bucketing everything together, I think it has to be the Internet. Even if I'm watching one movie every day, maybe that's two and a half.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I know this is really depressing when I make us all say all this.

[Jack Sanders]

Out loud, because it's not. If you said just TikTok versus movies, or just Instagram or just YouTube, then movies would probably win.

[Amanda Dobbins]

But altogether also, technically, those things are part of your job as well. Exactly. This is shame free. Question.

[Jack Sanders]

I think it would have to be the general bucket.

[Amy Poehler]

Look at Instagram all day long, you say shame free. But if you looked at my screen time, you'd be disgusted.

[Amanda Dobbins]

What's your screen time?

[Jack Sanders]

What your screen is?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Because it's like, what am I gonna do?

[Jade Whaley]

What is it?

[Amanda Dobbins]

You know?

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah. What's like the amount of hours?

[Amy Poehler]

My worst screen time, it was like 10, 10 and a half hours.

[Jack Sanders]

That's pretty. That's pretty bad.

[Amy Poehler]

A week or a day.

[Jack Sanders]

That's your job. Good point.

[Amy Poehler]

But still, like, people. I remember people used to post it and they'd be like, you know, oh, man, I was on five, five hours. That's crazy. I'm looking at myself like.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, no, it's really.

[Amy Poehler]

Do I need to go outside?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. I mean, yes. I think all of us, myself included, should go outside.

[Amy Poehler]

Touching grass is necessary.

[Jade Whaley]

Jade, that is also a difficult one to answer. I'll probably say social media, but like, I watch a lot of tv, so like, I would say the. It's pretty close. But I don't know, maybe I am on social media. I'm an Instagram girl too.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So, like, thank you so much.

[Jade Whaley]

I like being on Instagram. I had a TikTok phase. Kind of out of it now though, but Instagram. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Missing the LeBron memes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. Okay, so now I want to talk about not your grown up lives, but your childhood lives.

[Jade Whaley]

This is what I can get into.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. Okay. So broadly speaking, I. How did you watch movies growing up? Jade, you're excited about this question.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah. Vhs, dvd.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Downloads.

[Amanda Dobbins]

But did you watch a lot of movies? Were they.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

What kinds of movies and what role did they play in your life? And you can like, what age are we talking here? Also?

[Jade Whaley]

So I would say like age 5, 6 to like 12.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

I was a huge Disney Channel girl. So like.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Disney original movies were like huge. So we're talking High School Musical, talking Cheetah, the Cheetah Girls.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Listen, hello, hello, fellow kids.

[Jade Whaley]

But also like a lot of like, even like Pixar was huge. Or like, you know, like, I mean, Shrek, the Incredibles. Like, I think movies definitely were like a bigger thing for me in terms of like, entertainment. Right.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And it was movies when they were coming out.

[Jade Whaley]

When they were coming out.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So like, you would go see Incredibles in the theater.

[Jade Whaley]

Go see Monsters Inc. Go see, like, yeah, that was definitely like a family thing we would do. So.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And then would you rewatch like, you know, Monsters, Inc. 45,000 times?

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, absolutely. And we had them on DVD. So like, I mean, at that time we weren't really streaming anything. So we either had the DVDs or VHS's or we would go to like Redbox, Blake Simpsons Blockbuster.

[Amanda Dobbins]

My heart that you referenced vhs. Cause we just, I mean, like we had, you know, Robin Hood Cinderella. All of them on vhs.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, we had all of those on.

[Amanda Dobbins]

VHS in my time, you know, but we did the same thing. Ye.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. Jack, what about you? I noticed you didn't join in on the High School Musical. Sing along.

[Jack Sanders]

I don't have those lyrics memorized. I thought that was great.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I only knew the first part, but that's okay.

[Jack Sanders]

I vividly remember High School Musical being an event film in elementary school. I remember, like, 20 of us getting together.

[Amy Poehler]

No.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, same.

[Jack Sanders]

Yeah. But growing up, I don't really remember the kinds of movies I was watching from, like, ages 6 and up, but I watched a lot of movies on DVD players.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

Like if traveling in the car, like. Yes, yes, yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

DVD player.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right. But no specific movie titles stay with you.

[Jack Sanders]

The movie titles that stay with me more are, like, ages 12, 13, 14.

[Amanda Dobbins]

On it. Tell us.

[Jack Sanders]

Well, I remember the first really big formative movie experience was when Force Awakens came out. I was 14.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I just. I ran out to make this about me, but I've never been more hungover than when I went to see the Force Awakens. I, like, I have, like, such a sense memory of how old and hungover I was in that moment. And you're, like, 12. Anyway. 14. I'm sorry.

[Jack Sanders]

Yes, continue. But it was a really big deal to my dad that we got to see it together, because that's so nice. When Empire Strikes Back came out, he was 13, so it was like he was 13 again with his son. And that was a very formed memory.

[Amanda Dobbins]

That's very beautiful.

[Jack Sanders]

Honestly, that was the last one I really locked in for because that wasn't a huge.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Do you remember him showing you the original Star wars movies?

[Jack Sanders]

Oh, yeah, we watched all of them.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And, like, how old were you?

[Jack Sanders]

I mean, if that's before that one, I. Probably eight or nine.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, that's nice.

[Jack Sanders]

And, yeah, like, the stuff that really I hold on to is, like, the event kind of stuff. Like when I snuck into my first rated R movies.

[Amanda Dobbins]

What was it?

[Jack Sanders]

A Million Ways to Die in the west. Seth MacFarlane.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, sure. What theater would you like to.

[Jack Sanders]

It's okay.

[Amanda Dobbins]

They're not gonna.

[Jack Sanders]

No, that's okay. Well, it's different ownership now. Kevin Smith now owns my childhood movie theater.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, that's cool.

[Jack Sanders]

Because we're from the same town, and during COVID when it almost got lost, he came in and saved it. But it was different ownership group, so I have no problem saying that it was the Atlantic Highlands Cinema.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. Wow. Okay. Jomi.

[Amy Poehler]

I've never felt Older. Hearing you say you're in.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, see, you're the bridge. Yeah. I mean, listen. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I was in college. This is my. Oh, my God.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Anyway, 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 sort stupid.

[Amy Poehler]

But anyway, no, I think I can vividly remember the first movie I saw in theaters, and it was Monsters, Inc. Same, 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, but 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, that's nice. It was bad, right?

[Amy Poehler]

No, no.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, how old were you?

[Amy Poehler]

I was 2005, 8, 9.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, so to you, it was, to me, cinema.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, cinema. I mean, look, now it's fine, all right? Let's chill on the slander. But to your point being, like, watching movies as a kid was always cool. You know, we had the Nickelodeon, vhs. The orange ones.

[Jade Whaley]

The orange ones? Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

What were those?

[Amy Poehler]

Those were Rugrats.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, the Rugrats movie. Tate had the Rugrats. I wanna go there.

[Jade Whaley]

Tate. Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Listen, I was part of that.

[Amy Poehler]

We had those. But the movies that, like, really made me came out when I was, like, 12, 13.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, and which are those? It's a.

[Amy Poehler]

No, no, no, no, no. You say this. You say this, Amanda. But I'm gonna list some movies that, by the way, all came out within a 62. Right. So within, like, eight weeks of. Yes. In 2010. All came out in the summer weeks. Yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And so you were just. You were there.

[Amy Poehler]

And when I tell you I was locked in, I think it was the first time I ever. Locked in.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. This is beautiful. I had a summer like this, but it was in 1995, before any of you were born, so. Continue.

[Amy Poehler]

If I was brave enough to share my litter box publicly, like, my top four, this would be my top four. I need everybody to just relax when you hear this.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

Ironman 2.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

The losers.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

A team.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, God.

[Amy Poehler]

Night and day shaped me Night and day shaped me Amanda. They made me who I am that.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Was a beautiful kicker. Wow. That's beautiful. Because that can really only happen when you're 12.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And you have. Did you, like, get dropped off at the. At the mall or how were you getting to and from the movie theater?

[Amy Poehler]

It was basically. So that was. That would have been 2010. So that was the summer before high school. Right. So you graduate, you know, you're like, the Lakers are in the playoffs. Everybody's feeling good. You know what I mean, on their, you know, going back to back chips. So I'm just like, hey, yeah, you know what I'm saying?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Working in.

[Amy Poehler]

I'm doing great in school. Can I go to the movies? And you just did that like every two, two or so weeks. And then you have the best may of your life, essentially.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Wow. Okay. And. But are your parents going with you or are you old enough to go?

[Amy Poehler]

I was old enough to go by that time. Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

That's an amazing feeling.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, it was fantastic. Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. I feel like I have a sense of what your favorite movies growing up were as a result of that incredible letterbox four Jack. Like what, Stan? What were the. The movies that you remember loving, that you remember being like, I want to see more. What was your. What was your summer of 2010?

[Jack Sanders]

Well, I think when you're talking about, like the. When things went Technicolor moment.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes.

[Jack Sanders]

For me was Moonrise Kingdom. When that came out.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Beautiful.

[Amy Poehler]

Way different than mine. I was way different.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Wait, so you hear mine with Shaun were here. That's his favorite.

[Jack Sanders]

I was 11 years old when it came out.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So.

[Jack Sanders]

Talk about tariffs. Target audience. I mean, I looked at the screen.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And I was like, you don't know if an 11 year old is the target audience that kid is.

[Jack Sanders]

He's supposed to be like 12 years old.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes.

[Jack Sanders]

Yeah, I understand what you're saying.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

No, but it's beautiful that you. That you saw yourself and.

[Jack Sanders]

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 west, but so it.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So is Night and Day, so, you know. Yeah, that's for Flavors.

[Amy Poehler]

Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz. It doesn't get any better than that.

[Jack Sanders]

Exactly.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Jane Paul Denham.

[Jade Whaley]

All right, we're gonna take a little bit of a turn. Okay.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I don't know how we can take a turn.

[Jade Whaley]

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, taken a backseat from, like, the mainstream.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right. So no one else understood it but you. Yeah. You saw it.

[Jade Whaley]

My movies were number one. Johnson's Family Vacation.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

You seen It. Yeah, of course.

[Jade Whaley]

Solange Knowles. You know what I mean?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Like, I have not seen this.

[Jade Whaley]

Oh, you will chuckle the whole time.

[Amy Poehler]

Certified hood classic.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, classic. Another one. Roll Bounce. These are all like 2005, 2006.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Like, I just love kind of a feel good family movie again, the Cheetah Girls. I like, I just.

[Amy Poehler]

It was a tough.

[Jade Whaley]

The soundtrack, specifically Cheetah Girls 2.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

That. That really made me.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Where. And like, how are you seeking these movies out? Where? Dvd.

[Jade Whaley]

They were all on dvd.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, so are you, like, where are you buying your DVDs in 2005 or are you renting them?

[Jade Whaley]

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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, so your parents are.

[Jade Whaley]

Well, my dad's a filmmaker.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I did know that.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes. Yes. So. And you know, my parents have been in entertainment and film and tv.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So like we do LA kids here as well.

[Jade Whaley]

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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

But your 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.

[Jade Whaley]

Like, when it came to like Cheetah Girls, High School Musical, Disney movies. Like, I used to love 17 again with Zac Efron, of course, those kinds of movies.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And Matthew Perry. Yes, the other half.

[Jade Whaley]

Absolutely. You know, look, I loved Zac Efron.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

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. Like, that was kind of like every Friday type of thing. We go to Blockbuster in South Pass, right by the Vaughns in the Pavilions. Yeah, we'd go right there.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I want to tell you about the South Pass Farmer's Market experience I had last week. Later.

[Jade Whaley]

Oh, I'd love to know because I haven't been over there in a long time.

[Amanda Dobbins]

It's very charming. Yeah. About that place.

[Jade Whaley]

But yes, we were definitely Blockbuster heavy.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Was Blockbuster Jomi Jack still in your.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, Blockbuster Friday was definitely.

[Amanda Dobbins]

This is beautiful. Yeah, we also. I also have that. I mean, it was vhs, but like, we had it.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, they still had VHS is though, like, for renting when we were. Well, when I would go.

[Amanda Dobbins]

You're familiar with the technology. You're not like, what is that?

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, we still have our vhs. Like, well, it's in the garage, but sure.

[Amanda Dobbins]

But also, you just. You guys, it's a physical media house, which is beautiful, you know? Yes, Jack. Blockbuster.

[Jack Sanders]

Not really.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Not really.

[Jack Sanders]

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 me watching.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. I'm like 99% sure the Hitch DVD and the Spider Man 3 DVD we took from Blockbuster and just never gave back.

[Jade Whaley]

And, you know, sometimes that happens.

[Amanda Dobbins]

It does. This episode is brought to you by max. The Emmy Award winning series Hacks returns this April. The new season follows Debra Vance making a move from her Vegas residency to Hollywood showbiz. Tensions rise as Debra and Ava try to get their late night show off the ground and make history while doing it. Starring Jean Smart and Hannah EinBinder, Hacks Season 4 is streaming Thursday, April 10, exclusively on Max. And don't forget to check out the official Hacks podcast on Spotify. 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. However you define important, Jack, I'm gonna let you go first.

[Jack Sanders]

Mm. Okay. I told you I had two. Yes, I lied. There's really more. I promise I'll be quick.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, well, I actually. I want you to start with your two, because you told me and I thought they were both really funny.

[Jack Sanders]

You want me to just say the two off? R.I.P.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

Avengers. Endgame.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

And Lady Bird. I'm 100% serious.

[Amy Poehler]

So how do you. How do you bring those together?

[Jack Sanders]

I'm going to get there. I'm going to get there because I.

[Amy Poehler]

Feel like it's a. It's a. It's a Venn diagram.

[Jack Sanders]

I'm going to get there.

[Amy Poehler]

But it's just two circles.

[Jack Sanders]

I'm going to get there. All right, hear me out. Ready?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Go.

[Jack Sanders]

The first way I looked at the question I spent way too much time on. This question was likewise the big box office movies that like take up the cultural mindshare. The first, in chronological order, I had three. Twilight, Hunger Games, Avengers. Twilight I think is a little too old. That's closer to Millennial.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. Is that important to you?

[Jade Whaley]

That was one of my answers.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, great. Okay. I look forward to talking about it because that also I was a part of that experience. I saw that opening weekend.

[Jack Sanders]

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 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. And I think two things. One, if you pulled 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 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. Then I was.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Can I just tell you? Great answer.

[Jade Whaley]

Thank you. Yeah, that's a wonderful answer.

[Amanda Dobbins]

The big picture is very proud of you.

[Jack Sanders]

Thank you.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Today and every day. But that was good. Okay. The other one you're going to have to make a case for.

[Jack Sanders]

I will. I have a case. Ready?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

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 Book Smart and eighth 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. And 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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.

[Jack Sanders]

You know, 2002, 2017, that's not too.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Far away as we're discovering on this podcast right now.

[Jack Sanders]

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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right.

[Jack Sanders]

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 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 in a good sweet spot of right age, right time, right movie. Exactly.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So thoughtful. Be honest.

[Jack Sanders]

Oh my gosh.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Had you ever heard a Dave Matthews Band song before seeing Ladybug?

[Jack Sanders]

I had because my elementary school music teacher was obsessed with. With Dave Matthews.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Did you have to like perform them in recitals?

[Jack Sanders]

No.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, I. I mean, I kind of wish that you had. So in what context is your elementary school teacher playing you Dave Matthews Band.

[Jack Sanders]

Just like, end of class, two minutes. You guys need to know about this band. They're awesome.

[Amy Poehler]

You want to Dave Matthew's man?

[Jack Sanders]

Yes, I swear to God.

[Amy Poehler]

Hey, listen to my man's mixtape.

[Jack Sanders]

She was obsessed with them. She loved them.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, well, that, that is an A24 movie coming soon. Okay, Jomi, answer Shrek. Is that your answer?

[Jade Whaley]

Dude, I had a few answers, okay? They both said two of them, but.

[Amy Poehler]

I have answered the answer. The answer is Shrek. I can't tell you.

[Amanda Dobbins]

This is a hilarious and very legitimate answer, but explain.

[Amy Poehler]

I can't tell you how much my life, I don't want to say ruined, but has been dictated by Shrek Shrek memes.

[Jade Whaley]

Absolutely.

[Amy Poehler]

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 on her wall. She's got like hundreds green case, she's got tattoos, the whole thing. This is anecdotal.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, sure. This is all anecdotal. No one's a data scientist here. Okay, so she's buying the same Shrek, same dvd.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay, the same dvd.

[Jack Sanders]

How many does she have?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Just Shrek, not Shrek Hundreds. Not Shrek Hundreds, maybe.

[Amy Poehler]

But as it was portrayed to me, the same Shrek DVD.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Right.

[Amanda Dobbins]

How much is a Shrek DVD going for these days?

[Amy Poehler]

Bargain, man. Probably like five. You go to the WinCo.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I've straight up never wanted to be friends with someone more than this person that you're. I need you to introduce me to this person.

[Amy Poehler]

So she listens to the pod. She's gonna hear this.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

We can make the connect.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

No incredible, legendary stuff.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

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. 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.

[Jade Whaley]

The musical. You know the musical. Let's talk about Universal Studios. Rides like Crazy motion. Crazy impact.

[Amy Poehler]

Crazy motion impact is there.

[Amanda Dobbins]

This is why we did that. This podcast.

[Jade Whaley]

We happen to both Disney. Wayne Green right now.

[Jack Sanders]

That's true.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Like, obviously a very successful movie. So a lot of. Did you all see it in theaters?

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, I.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, Jack. Yeah. You're. You're our baby and. And we respect you.

[Jade Whaley]

I. The first one, I saw it in theaters, but the. The other, the second, third, and fourth one, they were all dvd.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, okay.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I think I saw the. I. 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 put that on dvd. Y'all got it? Yeah. Let me just watch at the crib.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I think that's a great pick. So, Jade, two of yours have been at least mentioned.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes. Twilight and Shrek were both two of my. But the third one, which is funny because I. I watched the first and second, but I wasn't. I wasn't, like, a part of the fandom of it, but I would say Harry Potter.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. I wondered whether someone was gonna bring this up.

[Amy Poehler]

Sound like that's a little bit older.

[Jack Sanders]

Like, not older than Shrek.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, I mean, with the movies, but the books.

[Jade Whaley]

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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I mean, I think that's true. And that they were still.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

They were trying to do this thing of being a kids movie that also included all of the adults, such as, like, myself.

[Jade Whaley]

I agree.

[Amanda Dobbins]

But they were released when you were younger and the first couple are for children. You know, they're small.

[Amy Poehler]

The only reason I brush up against it is because we get online. Every time you see a Gen Z, you're trying to make fun of Millennial. It's. Ha, ha. You went into you're a Hufflepuff or you're a Gryffindor. Like, that's the joke, right?

[Jade Whaley]

I could see that. I could see it being like. I do think Shrek was more Gen Z than Harry Potter.

[Amanda Dobbins]

The first Harry Potter film is 2001, and Shrek is also 2001.

[Jade Whaley]

So I also would like to add this as maybe a secondary. It's not top, but spongebob the Movie.

[Jack Sanders]

I had this in my shortlist as well. I had this, too.

[Jade Whaley]

I have to say. I have to be honest. I'm real with everybody. Spongebob the Movie.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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.

[Jade Whaley]

Originally. But the movie specifically, okay.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Is like, say more.

[Jade Whaley]

Very much embedded into a lot of Gen Z's brains and minds, I think.

[Amanda Dobbins]

What have you learned? What did you learn from spongebob the Movie that you're taking with you?

[Jade Whaley]

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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

See, there you go.

[Amy Poehler]

I have a question for you. Are you a Goofy Goober?

[Jade Whaley]

Are you a goofy.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I mean, I don't know, but here's a real question for you guys. Like, is spongebob over, or are my kids gonna get into it?

[Amy Poehler]

So here's the thing, right? If we beat.

[Amanda Dobbins]

If we beat it, my style deserve adventure. That is. And they do.

[Jade Whaley]

Okay, there's other.

[Amy Poehler]

Hold on. They do. What you do is. You can't. I can't co sign.

[Amanda Dobbins]

You guys were really, really, really gatekeeping the.

[Jack Sanders]

No, no, not at all.

[Amanda Dobbins]

No, no, no, no.

[Jade Whaley]

It's not about nothing. It's not about.

[Amy Poehler]

You can't co sign nothing after 2010.

[Jack Sanders]

Right?

[Amanda Dobbins]

That's okay. What. What happened?

[Amy Poehler]

You know, animation, different.

[Jack Sanders]

Ideas.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay, so what you do is you go on. I'm pretty sure it's probably on. I'm plugging a lot of Paramount today. Cut me a check. You go on. 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Agreed. Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Agreed.

[Amanda Dobbins]

All right.

[Jade Whaley]

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 up to like 2011, 2012, like, when like the last shows of like, like Phineas and Ferb, those were the times where I feel like it had the. The most impact on like kid tv.

[Amy Poehler]

We used to make real tv, man.

[Jade Whaley]

Real tv. You know what I'm saying?

[Amanda Dobbins]

This is a movie podcast.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, but real Disney original movies. Smart House, the Luck of the Irish, Great movie.

[Amy Poehler]

Eddie's Million Dollar Cook Off.

[Jade Whaley]

You know what I'm saying? I think there was this time where the creative juices were really flowing between Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, RIP Disney Channel.

[Amy Poehler]

Now the kids have the Descendants, which, you know, good for them, man. Good for the kids.

[Jade Whaley]

You know, I'm so happy for them.

[Amanda Dobbins]

But I hope they enjoy. It is interesting that you're talking more about like the Disney Channel originals and the TV stuff as opposed to, you know, whatever. I mean, I'm ruined forever because I was Disney Princess era. But I can't tell you what the 2008 Disney princess.

[Jade Whaley]

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 and then they would make movies with the show. Wizards of Waverly Place had a movie. Even Steven.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Aren't they making a new show, Lizzie McGuire?

[Jade Whaley]

They did. I think they started.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

It's like the.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I know that's a big deal. Lizzie McGuire too. She goes to Rome or something. Yeah. You and Juliet taught me about this.

[Jade Whaley]

Sure. And she got her twin.

[Amanda Dobbins]

The only important thing that's ever happened at the Trevi Fountain and Roman Cinema. But continue.

[Jade Whaley]

Exactly.

[Amy Poehler]

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 High School Musical 2 over and over and over again.

[Jade Whaley]

You got your movies and tv.

[Jack Sanders]

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 Premiere 7:00pm Eastern. And you would make plans around the release of the Disney film.

[Amy Poehler]

Brother, let me tell you something. Me and my family were on a road trip. We're 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 start in 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Access part of it. Jomi's point is interesting that it was easier to see those at home than it was to get to the movie theater.

[Jade Whaley]

But there was even like High School Musical 3. Yeah, I saw El Capitan.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, look at you. La Privilege.

[Amy Poehler]

And the very most telling.

[Jade Whaley]

So it was for my friend. It was her birthday that I went to school with. And she. I don't know. The La Privilege, the La Connect. She had a Kinect. So we watched a premiere there.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

And it was a. The whole theme was High School Musical 3. Theme.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Wow.

[Jade Whaley]

Whole thing.

[Amanda Dobbins]

High School Musical was so big that they had posters. They advertised posters in the hallways at my school. Like, they bought ad space in the.

[Amy Poehler]

Hallways of my elementary school.

[Jade Whaley]

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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I mean, that's great.

[Jade Whaley]

It was like, it was everywhere.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I'm happy for you that you're, you know. Were you allowed to wear those to school? Yeah. Okay. I don't know some schools.

[Jade Whaley]

Oh, yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. You're not allowed to wear them.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, they're pretty loose on the.

[Amanda Dobbins]

This, this was not on the list, but this just occurred to me based on this story. Did. Did any of you ever have like a movie themed birthday party? Like where your birthday party was? Go to the movies or watch a movie?

[Amy Poehler]

We.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, my God, you're Jimmy. I think you're a summer birthday like me.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes. So if I'm, if I'm remembering correctly, I think this is so embarrassing. I think I didn't. We. I. I went to go see Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

On my birthday.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

And that sucked.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Because the movie sucked.

[Amanda Dobbins]

All right. And like, did you have friends come or. That was. It was just my family.

[Amy Poehler]

It was just my family because.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Wasn't made of money, Amanda. You know what I'm saying? Shell out so much. Only took the five of us. And yeah, the movie stunk and my birthday stunk, but it was still a good time.

[Amanda Dobbins]

All right. But that was what you wanted to do.

[Amy Poehler]

I was like, I want to go see Fantastic Four, Jack.

[Jack Sanders]

I don't think I did.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. It might not just have been Sean and I Both did, but we are ancient and also summer birthdays, and we're also movie nerds. So, like, a thing that you would do is. And, you know, 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, Jeremy, it turned out to be bad. But you don't know when you're picking your birthday movie, Right?

[Jade Whaley]

Okay.

[Amanda Dobbins]

All right, here's another very important Gen Z question. According to you, who is the biggest movie star in the world?

[Jade Whaley]

Who's first?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Jomi.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, so it doesn't have to.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Be a Gen Z person.

[Amy Poehler]

It doesn't matter.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I just want to know your perspective.

[Amy Poehler]

But it's so on the nose. I gotta go with my goat. I gotta go with rdj. You know, they bring him back because 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, like, here. Here's a lifeline. And he changed their lives. He changed those broke people lives. Now there's a whole. Now. Now movies are fundamentally different because Robert Downey Jr. Is like, yeah, I'll play Iron Man. Sure, why not? Right? And then he leaves, wins an Oscar for Oppenheimer. 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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.

[Jack Sanders]

Is that a slight towards Tom Cruise?

[Amanda Dobbins]

What, that he's turning 60?

[Jack Sanders]

Yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

No, I'm just kind of. This is a podcast about how you guys are young and. And what you think about the movie. And you're picking, you know, because I.

[Amy Poehler]

Don'T respect these young. These young actors. They don't want it no more. They don't want hard enough. Timmy the only one, like, let's be like, perfectly honest. Timmy the only one who got that dog in him.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

Right.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

What happened to what. And maybe this.

[Jade Whaley]

And this is that dog in her.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Zendaya 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

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 really the state of the industry. When I'm looking at anyone but you with Sydney Sweeney and Glenn Powell, I'm like, wow, man, movies are back, bruh. This changed my life. It's a regular run of the mill joint.

[Amanda Dobbins]

We should be getting.

[Amy Poehler]

We should be getting two of these a week. All right. Of just mid level rom com joints.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, it'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. Yossi and I also some great hairstyling tips in that one. But speaking of, have you seen the Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman rom com Jade, A 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?

[Jade Whaley]

I was gonna say Tom Cruise.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

I just feel like as someone who's not necessarily well knowledged or well versed in like the depths of movies.

[Amanda Dobbins]

No, no, no. Tom Cruise. When you hear movie star, you say Tom Cruise.

[Jade Whaley]

I'm thinking Tom Cruise. I'm thinking Leonardo DiCaprio.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

I'm thinking like Viola Davis too, though. I'm thinking Samuel L. Jackson.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Sure. But you're not thinking anyone under 30.

[Jade Whaley]

Zendaya would be the only one.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, I mean, she's. She's getting.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, you guys did. It's Zendaya, Timothy and Margot Robbie. After that you could.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I mean, I think it's telling for both of you that when, like, your answers are not peers, they are. I say movie star and you think of a relatively old. It's an older legend.

[Jade Whaley]

You think people who have had longevity in their career.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

Who have been in multiple lead roles, who have been award winning to some degree. That's what I think of.

[Amy Poehler]

It sucks too, because Tom Holland should be in this conversation.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I like that.

[Amy Poehler]

He not doing. He not doing enough.

[Jade Whaley]

Oh, he's not.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, he getting.

[Jack Sanders]

He's gotta be in a Christopher Nolan movie.

[Amy Poehler]

He's gonna get 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. You know, we mentioned Timothy. We Mentioned Zendaya. He gotta be here somewhere.

[Amanda Dobbins]

It is hard when. And, you know, 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.

[Amy Poehler]

Spider Man.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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. Who played the Silver Surfer?

[Amy Poehler]

I can't remember who did the. The Mocap, but he was voiced by Lauren Fishburne.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Lauren Fishburne.

[Amy Poehler]

Lawrence Fishburne.

[Jade Whaley]

Lawrence Fishburne.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I can speak.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Jack, who's your movie star?

[Jack Sanders]

In my heart of hearts, I think it's Chalamet or Cruz. And then I'd lean Chalamet because the upward trajectory.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Sure, yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

But I just want to throw this out.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

So I did a little digging.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Great.

[Jack Sanders]

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?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

And no disrespect, but I wanted to look outside of the Avengers window because that's kind of in the box office.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Not.

[Amy Poehler]

Look an asterisk to me.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

I sound like an asterisk to me.

[Amanda Dobbins]

For the same reason that we're, you.

[Jack Sanders]

Know, they're projecting towards the future.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, and also, the Avengers are the. That's the draw.

[Jack Sanders]

Yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

So I looked at DiCaprio. He's been in one. I looked at Cruz and Chalamet have both been in three.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes.

[Jack Sanders]

Zendaya's been in six. But they're all mainly supporting roles.

[Jade Whaley]

Right.

[Jack Sanders]

Can you guess how many Dwayne the Rock Johnson has been in since 2016?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, but this is a little. I mean. Okay, let me guess. Hold on.

[Amy Poehler]

I'm gonna say 12.

[Jade Whaley]

I'm gonna say 13.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I'm gonna say 8.

[Jack Sanders]

It was 12.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jack Sanders]

Now, some of the parts are, you know, a cameo in a fast movie or a voice credit in Moana.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right.

[Jack Sanders]

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, but it's hard not to. That number was staggering to me.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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.

[Amy Poehler]

Like Red notice over here.

[Jack Sanders]

Are you serious? Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

It was.

[Jack Sanders]

I mean, I didn't know.

[Amy Poehler]

It's the worst thing I've ever watched. It's quite bad, but it's not. It's not great. It's not great. You're absolutely right.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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 the. In your career, maybe the quality. And I'm. I'm glad you did it. I'm glad you brought it up.

[Jack Sanders]

No, like I said, my, my heart of hearts. I say it's Chalamet. I just wanted to present the point because I was shocked by that.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

No love for Zoe Zelda.

[Jack Sanders]

No, no.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I mean, she's. Two franchises where one of them, she is blue the whole time.

[Amy Poehler]

So I mean, I mean, I mean, Star Trek, Avatar.

[Jade Whaley]

Oh, sure.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Three. That's right.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, like. Yeah, there was a joke.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Your favorite movie. Emilia Perez.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes. Wait, why would you say that to me? No, I was, I was gonna. Yes, and that, but I'm not letting that slide. No way. I'm not having that attached to me. No way. No, but I mean, you talk about box office. I. I don't have the number off the top of my head, but literally one of the highest at like, I remember when Endgame past Avatar and then Avatar past Endgame again, it's just like Zoe Danya switching, you know, teams every time because she was in both those movies.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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.

[Amy Poehler]

Can we name the guy in Avatar? This is a movie podcast. Can we name the guy who plays the main dude in Avatar?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, I can. Yes. Can I? Any of you?

[Jack Sanders]

Nope.

[Amy Poehler]

I can, but only because he's the guy from Avatar.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right? Scott Worthington.

[Amy Poehler]

Sam Worthington.

[Amanda Dobbins]

He looks like a scotch.

[Amy Poehler]

It could have been Matt Damon. Matt Damon.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, I know, but yeah, it's just like.

[Amy Poehler]

It's incredible how forgettable those movies are. But yet when got another one this year and Ash comes out, I'm gonna be there.

[Jack Sanders]

Gotta make a billion.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So many, so many billions.

[Amy Poehler]

Watch that three hour green screen.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, I've got, I've got some, some lightning roundish questions. The first is you three are, I think, quite representative, but you do also work at the ringer, so you consume pop culture and sports at a 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? Is 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. Is like, it is. Is it a shared cultural. Are they a shared cultural thing for people your age?

[Jade Whaley]

Absolutely.

[Amanda Dobbins]

What was the last movie you saw? Like, with Friends.

[Jade Whaley]

With friends?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

Wicked. Saw Wicked with Friends.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Sure.

[Jade Whaley]

Saw Barbie with Friends. Group chat, discourse all over the place. Okay. 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

But. So you mostly named, like, event movies.

[Jade Whaley]

Event movies. Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So you would say that that is what really captures.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, because I mean that. To a good design going like, you know, not to get off movies and onto tv, but, like, we kind of do the same thing with tv. It's like if we watch the same shows, you know.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

Talk about it. What's going on, Jack?

[Jack Sanders]

Yeah, but I also think I'm, like, biased because I've locked myself into a comfort bubble of Ithaca College film school graduates. So it's.

[Amanda Dobbins]

That's right. I forgot you were Ithaca.

[Jack Sanders]

It's kind of tough.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

I mean, like, we have people in our friend group that, like, we've met outside that are apart, but by nature. It's just so. But I would say movies are the number one thing we talk about.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Movies are a way of making friends almost. I mean that. That. I don't mean that in a pathetic way. I mean that in a cool.

[Jack Sanders]

I think we made the friendship friends as grown ups. We made the friendships not directly through movies, but it's a through line of.

[Jade Whaley]

Our cultivating each other, the relationship.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, I think that's great, Jomi.

[Amy Poehler]

Definitely. I think. I mean, you mentioned work of the ringer. I have, like, two. If I could put my friends into two groups, it's either like, friends who talk about sports or friends who talk about tv, movies and culture.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right, right, right, right.

[Amy Poehler]

And, like, the overlap of those people are really like my closest friends and people that work here.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes, essentially.

[Amy Poehler]

And so, yeah, I mean, I have a podcast where I talk about movies. I love to talk about movies. I 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, you know, nice little time. You get there, you watch movie, then you talk about it afterwards. It's a lost art. I like to see movies by myself because God forbid, like, I like my p. I like my friends. I love y'all. But there is something about walking up to the amc, getting my. My Sour Patch Kid watermelon, my large Diet Coke, and maybe if I'm feeling a little. 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 so nobody's sitting next to me. Yeah. Wow.

[Jade Whaley]

Well, you're a AMC stubs, right?

[Amy Poehler]

So I just be like, yo, let me just toss an extra 21. They gonna get that anyway. Boom. Don't sit next to me. You know what I'm saying? When I went to see ten, when Tennant came. When Tenet came back out, I was like, yeah, I know. I'll need this extra seat. Seat in the imax. Don't nobody bother me. I'm locked in on this cinema. And it was. It was fantastic.

[Jack Sanders]

That's awesome.

[Amy Poehler]

I didn't know we were in the.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Presence of a one percenter over here. We got second seat money, bro. Listen, let me hold on to some of that crazy.

[Amy Poehler]

What you mean, bro? I. I got it from you. You, Venmo, made 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I got you.

[Amy Poehler]

That was real.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Kind of more of a Ferrari man myself, but we could roll with that.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Yeah. You know what I'm saying, Like. Cause you. I mean, that's just a throwaway, right? That was just. You know what I'm saying? That was just for us. I appreciate you, man. Thank you. Thank you.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Have you noticed, like, has the place of movies in. In your world, like, changed at all? Are people paying more attention, less attention? Jack, like, is.

[Jack Sanders]

Is.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Have you always been going to rep theaters, or is that, like, a new thing? That's.

[Jack Sanders]

That was a new thing. Moving to la?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

I mean, that was way harder in suburban New Jersey. It's. It's tough. I'm inclined to say that it's improving and growing, but it's difficult.

[Amanda Dobbins]

But you are also.

[Jack Sanders]

I have blinders.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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.

[Jade Whaley]

Of like.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Of your. Of, like, you and your friends who have been like, we're gonna make a date to go see this?

[Jade Whaley]

I 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, yeah, the changes.

[Jade Whaley]

Arc light back.

[Amanda Dobbins]

That was a great arc light.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, it was a great arc light. Like, we would def.

[Amanda Dobbins]

They recently put those, like, school desk things. Like. Like, you know, 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. It's fairly confusing.

[Jade Whaley]

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. but it was, like, kind of rare.

[Amanda Dobbins]

College is sort of. Yeah. College, you know, is the black.

[Jade Whaley]

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. So, like, it kind of just varies depending on, like, what's coming out.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Got it. Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

I have a question, and maybe I don't want me to step on your toes, but talk about going to movies with people. I'm sure that you've done this. Have you guys ever had to line up for a movie?

[Jack Sanders]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, the movie's coming out. There's no reserve seating, so you gotta stand outside and wait for the movie.

[Jade Whaley]

Not that I can remember.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Not. Not even growing up.

[Jade Whaley]

Mm, Mm. Mm. But I also feel like I was the kind. Like, I wasn't the kind of person or around people who would, like, wait in line for a movie, like, have that kind of excitement for that experience. So I might just be an outlier.

[Amy Poehler]

I think the last time I did. What was the movie that you did it for? Last movie you did it for.

[Jack Sanders]

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 would go early to get in line to make sure you'd get a seat.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, I remember lining up for. The last movie I did it for was Civil War of Captain America. Civil War. Let's not.

[Jack Sanders]

Oh, I was gonna say.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I was like, Right, let's Be for real.

[Amy Poehler]

Come on, let's be for real. But I remember going to 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.

[Jade Whaley]

Oh wow.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Uh huh.

[Amy Poehler]

That doesn't happen anymore. You mentioned the arc light and I mean you go to a theater, you book your seat, you're in there, you don't gotta think about it. But that was a moment. There was a time where ah, the movie starts at 7:30, we gotta get there by 5:30, we gonna, you know, send the front.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Right, right, right. Yeah. I do also wonder again now we all live in Los Angeles where the theater experience is. You can't, you really can find a reserved seat though. You know, Oppenheimer was selling out here for three months afterwards. And that was different because you could reserve the seats, but it was, 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 like your, your social group than they were.

[Amy Poehler]

It depends because again like some of them are sports, some of them are. It is, it is a thing when you're not locked in, you're not caught up and they're talking about, let's like, oh man, Mickey 17 was crazy. I'm like, I, I'm not locked in.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

You know, so you do feel this kind of pressure to be like, well let me make time, go to the theater so I'm not missing out when it's an event type thing. Like I mean Barbenheimer was the whole experience. You couldn't not be like, yeah, I'm not gonna go see Barbie, I'm not gonna see Oppenheimer. That doesn't make any sense. Right.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I mean people my age felt that way so.

[Amy Poehler]

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's example. Cause it's kind of polarizing. People have like differing opinions on it. Whether you know, it was good, Robert Patterson, this and that, which and which. And so you wanna go make your own opinion. Like are these people making sense? I like Rob Pattinson, his accent, this and this, whatever it may be. And so yeah. Which you want to participate in that kind of conversation, whether it's in person on social media. Gotta go see the movie.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

Yep.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. Lightning round. What's the best movie you've seen in the last year, Jade.

[Jade Whaley]

Ooh.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Do you want to think about it?

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. Jack.

[Jack Sanders]

Dune Part two.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Wow. Okay. You're just coming in. You're. That is technically still calendar year, you know, because it was March, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

Oh, it's close. I see what you're saying.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, listen, we'll allow it. Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

Sorry.

[Amy Poehler]

If we're counting dune 2, then the answer is dune 2.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, if we're not counting dune 2, what is it? Just for variety's sake.

[Amy Poehler]

I really liked Black Bag.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So did I.

[Amy Poehler]

A lot.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I love everyone who has seen it.

[Amy Poehler]

I love Soderbergh. Ocean is one of my favorite films. Cate Benchett and Michael Fassbender do their thing. If I had to pick one of the last year, I'd say that.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, great answer, Jade.

[Jade Whaley]

I can't really remember all the movies I've watched this year, but I'll say Wicked.

[Amy Poehler]

I only watched like six.

[Jade Whaley]

I'll say Wicked.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I was gonna. Yeah, just.

[Jade Whaley]

I mean that.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. So go ahead. Superfan's review of Wicked.

[Jade Whaley]

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 front and back. Singing was beautiful. I. I don't know. Some of the, like, design of it, I was a little like, okay, maybe not my personal style, but I mean, acting, singing, dancing, all great.

[Amy Poehler]

Quick Wicked question. Can I hate Ariana Grande's character in that movie because I was mad.

[Amanda Dobbins]

You were mad at her.

[Amy Poehler]

You felt good because she was doing Cynthia Riva's character. Crazy, right?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

The whole movie.

[Jade Whaley]

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.

[Amy Poehler]

Right. They're opps and then they come together. But the movie opens with her burning her homies effigy. I can't let that slide. I can't let that slide.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, that's a. Isn't that a preview of.

[Jade Whaley]

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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Including part two.

[Jade Whaley]

Including part two. Which you haven't seen yet.

[Amy Poehler]

So I'll be there. I'll be there.

[Jade Whaley]

I think you're not wrong or you're not. Your opinion isn't invalid in not liking Glinda. Like, there's 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.

[Amy Poehler]

Apparently it's crazy.

[Jade Whaley]

I mean, it's already happened, but, like, stuff happens where their relationship kind of gets compromised.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay.

[Amanda Dobbins]

How are you, Jade, super fan of Wicked and Wicked alumnus, or what's this shit? Shit. What is shiz? Yeah, okay. Great plan. That. That was like a real My grandma, but that was more about Wicked Universe. Do animals sing in part two? Be honest.

[Jade Whaley]

Because in part one, they're in that transition period of, 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 maybe towards the beginning, but by the end, no.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Are you looking forward to part two?

[Jade Whaley]

Very much so.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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. Songs as part one?

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, I. I agree. I think the stronger songs are in part one. Like, so I do think for people who maybe don't have that much knowledge or have, like, seen Wicked like, that the songs might be a little more dragged out a little more because they're. Those songs are more for, like, storytelling. I feel like the part one is more like, I'm just singing to belt and sing out and, like, you know, 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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.

[Jade Whaley]

I thought it was the last five last year.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, that was.

[Jade Whaley]

Oh, that was a previous.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. This is a new question. What I'm going for here, you know, in your adulthood.

[Jack Sanders]

Can I give you three?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes. It'll be so fast.

[Jack Sanders]

I won't have three.

[Amanda Dobbins]

They'll be so fast.

[Jack Sanders]

Worst person in the world.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Great pick. West side Story, The Steven Spielberg version. Yes.

[Jack Sanders]

Yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

I thought we were only doing, like, last five years. The Calendar Released. Okay. Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And Tar Love, Tar as you know, I love all those. Have you seen the original west side Story?

[Jack Sanders]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, good. All right. Just wanted to make sure. Both. Both are very good.

[Amy Poehler]

Jomi, Black Widow Eternals. Spider Man. No Way Home. No, I'm cheating. Oh, that's a good one. Am I a loser if I say everything everywhere all at once?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, wow. It won Best Picture.

[Amy Poehler]

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.

[Jade Whaley]

Wow.

[Amy Poehler]

And I was just. I was blown away.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I think if I had to pick one movie the last five years, is.

[Amanda Dobbins]

That one that you revisit.

[Amy Poehler]

I've seen it once or twice on streaming, and it's. 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. But it's still a lot of fun. It's still a lot of fun on a rewatch.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, and then sometimes a lot of people win Best Supporting Actress. That might not have deserved it, but that's why that is true.

[Jack Sanders]

That was really tough.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, it's.

[Jack Sanders]

The car is crazy.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. Respect my queen. Angela Basset.

[Jack Sanders]

Oh, that's fair, too. Either one would have been better.

[Amanda Dobbins]

That's true. It's all true.

[Jade Whaley]

Jade, I don't have an answer for this one.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay. So you haven't seen any movies that you're passionate about?

[Jade Whaley]

I don't think so.

[Amanda Dobbins]

That's a valid answer. I think that it certainly says something about the state of movies.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah. Like, I. I can't, like, think of one that I like again. Like, I really enjoyed Wicked, but I can't think of one in the past five years where I was like, oh, my God, like, this changed my life.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, there you go. That's your answer.

[Jade Whaley]

That's my answer. When did Endgame come out?

[Amy Poehler]

2019.

[Jade Whaley]

I was gonna say I really liked Endgame.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay, That's. We can extend.

[Jade Whaley]

That's.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I think that's. It's also, you know, five years sort of corresponds to the. And I didn't intentionally do this, but it corresponds to the pandemic that obviously changes.

[Jade Whaley]

And I was gonna say that, too. Cause it's like, 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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

And it's been real up and down, so.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, I hear you. It's been. It's been interesting.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

What movie, if any, Jade, you can. You can pass again. Are you most looking forward to.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, there's a whole summer full of stuff for me. I mean, let's go.

[Amanda Dobbins]

It could be 2010 all over again for you.

[Amy Poehler]

Honestly?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah, it's cool.

[Amy Poehler]

Mission Impossible, the final reckoning.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Fantastic Four, first steps, you Saw me in the Merch, and Superman all come out with like, Superman and Fantastic Four come out within like two weeks. And then beginning of May or the end of May, mission possible comes out. I will be there no matter what. Like, this means something to me, you know?

[Amanda Dobbins]

That's great.

[Amy Poehler]

I'm excited. That's why I keep that a list around. You know what I mean? Because I'm being the theaters, Jack.

[Jack Sanders]

I can't lie. I'm really excited. New Wes, new pta.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

New Safdie. New Coganada. New Trier.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jack Sanders]

Those are five heavy hitters.

[Amanda Dobbins]

You want to share the names of those.

[Amy Poehler]

Is. And again, this is. 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. You'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 Chandler. You know, that's beautiful.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. Share the full titles.

[Jack Sanders]

The Phoenician scheme is Wes's new movie, which we were supposed to. Yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Wes Anderson.

[Jack Sanders]

Sorry. Which we were supposed to have a trailer. Still no trailer.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Like I said, I don't know if I need a trailer. I know it's going to be a Wes Anderson.

[Jack Sanders]

Just be a little taste, you know?

[Amanda Dobbins]

I know. I think we're getting too hooked on the trailer.

[Jack Sanders]

One battle after another called Thomas Anderson's new movie.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Great trailer.

[Jack Sanders]

Yes. Great trailer, Marty. Supreme.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes.

[Jack Sanders]

Josh Safdie's right. Josh Safdie's movie about a ping pong player starring Timothee Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow. There's already been some controversy about that film.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

A big, bold, beautiful journey directed by Kogonada. This will be starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, two of our greatest actors. Yes.

[Amanda Dobbins]

It was recently moved to September and sort of Prime Awards.

[Jack Sanders]

And he directed after Yang and Columbus. Those were his two first movies. And then Sentimental Value, same director of the Worst Person in the World will also be starring Renat Rensvie. Don't really know what it's about, but those two together, I'm locked in.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I think that's a great list.

[Jack Sanders]

I think we're in store for a great summit.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Well, you know, this is so lots of the next generation of Big pickers is really. Yeah. Big pickers is really. Yeah. The psychos are strong. Okay. Jade, Any movie. You don't have to look forward to a movie.

[Jade Whaley]

No, if I see something that I see. That sounds interesting.

[Amanda Dobbins]

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.

[Jade Whaley]

I'm in the middle, actually. Like, I don't think they're over.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Okay.

[Jade Whaley]

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. One of them days, I was locked in.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Incredible.

[Jade Whaley]

Barbie, Barbenheimer. Locked in. 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, like, they're more like big, heavy hitters with heavy, like, big names. So the. The ones.

[Amanda Dobbins]

All right.

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah.

[Amanda Dobbins]

So it's not. We're not so over. No. Jack's so over, so back.

[Jack Sanders]

I think we'll never be as back as we once were, but it's definitely not over.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Isn't that the way of life, Jack? It is, yeah.

[Jack Sanders]

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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

I was actually hoping for more optimism from you, but. Okay, Jomi. So over, so back.

[Amy Poehler]

Amanda, Movies have never, ever been so bad.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Thank you so much. Thank you.

[Amy Poehler]

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.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Jade's like, you know, medium anticipation of Wicked two. Here we are.

[Jade Whaley]

That's the movie I'm looking for.

[Amy Poehler]

I'm on Chris Ryan Odyssey watch.

[Jade Whaley]

Yes, likewise.

[Amy Poehler]

We're getting like, you know, Tom Cruise is gonna make Top Gun maverick until he's 175. You know what I mean? Like, as long as we, the movie people, stay watching these movies, go into theaters, stay watching movies, the movie theaters will never die. And that's ultimately what matters.

[Jade Whaley]

I actually have a question for you, Amit.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yes. Yes.

[Jade Whaley]

Cause you were talking about you grew up on the Disney princesses.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Jade Whaley]

How are you feeling about this, Snow White?

[Amanda Dobbins]

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 we'll. I guess we'll do like my diseased millennial brain podcast sometime along with Disney princess dad, Sean Fennesee. 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, so. And I don't really understand why they keep making those live action movies.

[Jade Whaley]

I was this because.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Go ahead, Jomi Bread. Yeah, well.

[Jade Whaley]

Well, obviously, I think that's obvious, but, like, yeah, like, I. I agree. Like, I. I feel interesting. I feel weird about all these live action.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah. Okay. So you would like to be on Disney Princess Hell when that happens?

[Jade Whaley]

Yeah, like, I don't. I don't think I'm personally gonna go and see it. Like, I just don't have interests. But I was curious about your ideas with that.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Not good. I would say in general, being a millennial, I just. 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, it's your birthday and you're a cusp. Millennial, but it's just how it happens. Anyway, thank you to Jade, to Jomi, 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. I have never been to Las Vegas.

[Amy Poehler]

You hit on me yet?

[Amanda Dobbins]

And I am going tomorrow for CinemaCon.

[Jack Sanders]

Oh, my God.

[Jade Whaley]

All right.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Oh, my gosh. Yo, we're going to listen. We will do this offline.

[Jade Whaley]

I can't wait.

[Amanda Dobbins]

We will do the report. Everyone say a prayer for me.

[Amy Poehler]

Is this on the ring or dime?

[Amanda Dobbins]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jade Whaley]

Cut the cameras.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Goodbye.

[Amy Poehler]

Cut the cameras.

[Amanda Dobbins]

Let's go.

[Jade Whaley]

Let's stop this.