The Bobby Bones Show ⭐️

Episode: MOVIE MIKE: Bobby Bones on His Top 5 Movies of the Year + Movie Review: Hamnet + Trailer Park: How To Make a Killing
Date: December 13, 2025

Overview

In this special episode, Movie Mike welcomes longtime friend and radio legend Bobby Bones to break down Bobby’s top five movies of 2025—marking Bobby’s unexpected return to the movie theater after years of preferring streaming at home. The episode dives into changing theater experiences, the evolution (and potential decline) of movie stardom, and memorable picks from action-packed thrillers to innovative period pieces. The show also features a spoiler-free review of Hamnet (starring Paul Mescal) with Kelsey joining in, and wraps up with Mike’s deep analysis of the trailer for the highly anticipated crime-comedy How To Make a Killing.

The conversations are candid, funny, and insightful, combining cinephile passion with Bobby’s everyman skepticism about contemporary moviegoing.

Major Segments and Timestamps

• [03:22] Introduction & Bobby Bones’ Movie Habits
• [05:44] Bobby’s Top 5 Movies of 2025
• [09:41] Are Movie Stars "Dead"—The State of Modern Fame
• [13:40] Genre Talk, Movie Recommendations, and More Top Picks
• [21:02] The Experience & Drawbacks of Theaters vs. Streaming
• [31:58] Hamnet Spoiler-Free Review (with Kelsey)
• [47:27] Trailer Park: How To Make a Killing Analysis

Bobby Bones’ Relationship with Movies ([05:44])

• Bobby hadn’t been to theaters in years, but his wife’s pregnancy and desire for low-effort outings pulled him back, leading to a spate of seven trips in nine weeks.

• Dislikes: people using phones in front rows, inability to pause, long movie runtimes, and excessive previews.

• He admits:
  "Did not have a good relationship (with theaters), but we're on the way back." (06:00, Bobby Bones)

• Still, he often prefers streaming over theaters:

  “I would rather wait till it streams. Most of my questions to you are always, ‘Hey, is that movie streaming yet?’ ... I just want it to be streaming.” (06:43, Bobby Bones)

Bobby’s Top 5 Movies of the Year ([08:03])

1. Frankenstein (19:04)

• “That would be my number one movie, and it was on Netflix and I didn’t have to pay extra for it, which I love.” (20:21, Bobby Bones)
• Praised for: unexpected depth, creative structure (multiple perspectives), and standout performance by Jacob Elordi.
• “Frankenstein has depth and it shows Frankenstein learning things. … I thought he did a wonderful job of that.” (19:05)

2. Sinners (16:13)

• Surprise favorite: “I had the expectation I would not like it. And it was pretty good.” (17:56)
• Initially a non-horror fan, Bobby appreciated Sinners for subverting horror clichés and blending ‘50s–’60s southern vibes with horror elements, especially the “red” cinematic palette. Says it’s more about expectation than genre.

3. Black Bag (15:09)

• “It's a spy-type movie. … We were in a season of watching a lot of spy stuff.” (15:09)
• Enjoyed Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Pierce Brosnan; appreciated its tight runtime (1h34m) and who-done-it intrigue.
• Mike recommends Relay if Bobby likes this style.

4. Nobody 1 & 2 (12:23)

• “Very action-packed, violent, a little bit goofy. Hour and a half, you can sit down, have a good time with it. … Bob Odenkirk as the action star—those two don’t go together, but he’s awesome in it.” (12:23)
• Calls it “the Temu John Wick.” Not a family crowdpleaser but ideal for dads/guys who like pure action.

5. Top Gun: Maverick (08:25)

• Finally watched after massive hype: “It did not live up to it, but it got pretty close. It was pretty corny, but I think it was made corny.” (08:28)
• Acknowledges the movie’s importance for theaters’ post-pandemic recovery.
• Tom Cruise: “Still a great action star. … The guy runs on screen really well.” (09:19)

Honorable Mention: Roofman

• “I did like Roofman.” (08:10)

The State of Movie Stardom ([09:41])

• Movie stars aren’t dead, but “fame is fractured”—way more actors, projects, and platforms dilute classic stardom.
• “It's hard to be massive because you have to cover so many categories.” (10:56)
• DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, a handful of others clear the star threshold today.
• The Rock’s arc: “He was just trying to prove he can sell a movie because he's just a wrestler. … Now he actually wants to be appreciated for the work he's doing on screen.” (11:38)
• Mike: “We’re leaning more toward directors now. … The actual movie star might kind of go away in the next couple of years.” (10:56)

The Theater vs. Streaming Experience ([06:40], [20:26])

• Bobby prefers streaming for flexibility, pausing, and watching in parts: “I don’t like to be told when I can watch a movie, then have to watch the whole movie at that time.” (20:31)
• But recognizes the shared experience in theaters—crowd laughter, collective reactions—

  “The crowd in the theater laughed out loud a couple of times. So because that happened, it felt a little less like a drama.” (23:02)

• Mike: “That’s why I like going to the theater. Like, hearing other people laugh makes me enjoy it more.” (23:33)
• Bobby watched more movies in 2025 than in the last 15 years combined, partly due to foot surgery recovery:

  “I had surgery on my foot, so I watched like three of them recently because I can't go anywhere. … I got to the end of all good shows on Netflix.” (23:58)

Industry Observations and Movie Release Realities ([24:24])

• Movies come to streaming faster now, especially if they underperform in theaters.
• Frankenstein had only a limited theatrical run for Oscar eligibility.
• “A lot of those straight-to-streaming movies, to me, you can tell it's like the bad version of a big actor.” (25:32)
• Change from VHS/DVD days:

  “You want to see Jurassic Park 1 … you're gonna watch it at home on a VHS in, like, 2004. Like, that's how long it would take.” (24:37)

Movie Recommendations and Missed Mentions ([26:03])

Bobby and Mike discuss additional notable 2025 releases:

• Relay (“You would love it… 82% on Rotten Tomatoes.” [16:06])
• Weapons, Begonia (Bobby: “Jesse Plemmons, my favorite actor now.” [26:17])
• F1 (Mike: “Brad Pitt’s awesome in it. … And he’s like 60 years old.” [26:31])
• Mark Wahlberg’s recent streaming projects regarded as lower quality.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I just don't want to be told what time I have to watch a movie, and I don't want to be told I have to watch it all in one setting.” (23:39, Bobby Bones)
• “Even though I emptied my bladder right before, it was still good. I understand why it's up for all the awards.” (21:38, on One Battle After Another)
• Mike: “That scene—a chase scene in it—one of the best in the last decade, I would say.” (21:23)
• “I think genres have kind of shifted a lot, like comedy is a very broad term now, but it does have a lot of elements that are funny.” (23:25, Mike)

[31:58] Spoiler-Free Review: Hamnet (with Kelsey)

- Book vs. Movie:

• Kelsey read the book: “Very slow burn ... It was like required reading to finish it before the movie.” (32:14)
• Movie improves on the book: “Very rare occasion where the movie was better than the book.” (33:57)
• The film delivers the story with more emotion, less "stare longingly" filler.

- Paul Mescal/Acting:

• Mike: “Paul Mescal and his slutty little earring ... he just acts on an entirely different level.” (33:06)
• Both Mescal and Jesse Buckley praised for intensity and chemistry.

- Emotional Moments:

• Mike: “There are moments that got me a little bit choked up. But the girl next to us ... brought a roll of toilet paper.” (35:33)
• Kelsey: “It wasn't. It didn't feel slow. And that was my concern going into it.” (39:00)
• Children actors “next level” and crucial to emotional impact.

- Direction:

• Mike: “Any other director besides Chloe Zhao ... this movie could have been a total snooze fest.” (37:57)
• Modern sound design and fluid pacing make it accessible—even to those with “15-second attention spans.”

- Final Ratings:

• Kelsey: “4 out of 5 swords.” (41:56)
• Mike: “4.5 out of 5 hawks. … It was not boring.” (42:06)

[47:27] Trailer Park: How To Make a Killing

• Mike unpacks the trailer for How To Make a Killing starring Glenn Powell and Margaret Qualley.
• Explores why culture is increasingly drawn to antiheroes and whether we romanticize villainy.
• Plot: Powell plays an exiled heir, urged to kill his family to secure his inheritance—“between myself and $28 billion.” (51:27)
• Margaret Qualley's character eggs him on; comparisons are made to American Psycho.
• Director: John Patton Ford, praised for crime anxiety in Emily the Criminal.
• Mike: “I just have found myself struggling with this idea of rooting for a villain, especially one as charismatic as Glenn Powell.” (54:25)

Listener Shout-out & Streaming Interface Rant

• Mike gives a “listener shout-out of the week” to Shan for agreeing that Disney+ has the worst streaming interface and laments Hulu’s upcoming merger. (57:27)

Final Thoughts

The episode’s casual, honest tone—anchored by Bobby Bones’ everyman approach and Movie Mike’s thoughtful criticism—makes it both accessible for mainstream audiences and rewarding for cinephiles. Bobby’s list features genuinely unexpected picks and the hosts’ willingness to debate the state of movies and streaming provides refreshing perspective.

Quick-Access Timeline

• [05:44] Bobby’s Movie-Going Reluctance & Newfound Openness
• [08:25] Bobby’s Top 5 (Maverick, Nobody, Black Bag, Sinners, Frankenstein)
• [09:41] Movie Stars Dead?
• [13:40] Crowdpleasers, Recommendations
• [16:13] Bobby’s #2: Sinners
• [19:04] Bobby’s #1: Frankenstein
• [21:02] “One Battle After Another” (Movie Experience, Awards)
• [23:39] Theater vs. Streaming
• [24:24] Release-Windows, The Past
• [31:58] Hamnet Review
• [47:27] How To Make a Killing Trailer Park
• [57:27] Listener Shout-Out

Notable Bobby Bones quotes are attributed with timestamps above.