The Bobby Bones Show (Movie Mike: Top 10 Movies of the Summer, Denzel Takes a L in ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ and Trailer Park: Bugonia & Aliens)
Host: Movie Mike
Podcast Release Date: September 13, 2025
Episode Theme:
Movie Mike recaps his Top 10 Movies of the Summer 2025, dives into his review of Spike Lee’s "Highest to Lowest" starring Denzel Washington, and takes listeners into the “Trailer Park” to discuss Yorgos Lanthimos’ "Begonia"—plus, a candid discussion on aliens and Emma Stone’s bold acting choices.
Episode Overview
Movie Mike ushers listeners through his annual rundown of the hottest summer blockbusters, reflecting on what makes a true summer hit—including cultural impact, theater experience, and lingering buzz. After revealing his top picks (and top disappointments), he provides a spoiler-free review of "Highest to Lowest," analyzing where this high-profile Denzel/Spike Lee collab fell flat. The episode closes with an enthusiastic Trailer Park segment, discussing Emma Stone’s dedication in "Begonia" and why he personally believes in aliens.
Main Segments & Timestamps
- [03:05] Show Intro & Summer Blockbusters Setup
- [03:47] Criteria for Top 10 Summer Movies
- [05:00] Top 10 Movies of the Summer
- [26:40] Top 5 Disappointments of the Summer
- [36:10] Spoiler-Free Review: "Highest to Lowest"
- [48:55] Trailer Park: "Begonia" and Alien Beliefs
- [59:05] Listener Mailbag: Are Acting Chops Overrated?
Criteria for Top 10 Selection
Movie Mike emphasizes that his rankings are about impact and culture, not just box office:
“It’s not just box office numbers. It’s how much impact did it have in pop culture? What was the vibe in the lobby... Did it create a moment on TikTok?... Did I go see it again?” (03:47)
Top 10 Summer Movies 2025
(Full rundown with standout commentary included below)
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Superman
- [25:44] “It had what I believe to be the biggest moment of the summer... made the superhero film fun again with the bright and vibrant colors.”
- $225m budget, $611m+ worldwide.
- James Gunn’s ongoing promotion credited for momentum.
- Movie Mike: “Superman is a beacon of hope... exactly what we need in a superhero character right now.”
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Lilo and Stitch
- [20:52] “Dominated... my most anticipated movie of the year that lived up to my expectations.”
- Only summer movie Mike saw twice in theaters.
- Notable for viral merch (Stitch popcorn bucket): “People who weren’t even going to watch it, just went for the popcorn bucket.”
- $1B+ worldwide, highest-grossing of the summer.
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F1
- [17:59] Brad Pitt stars.
- “What a summer blockbuster should be.”
- Praises the “incredible” sound design and theater experience.
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Weapons
- [15:47] “Year of horror. Horror has solidified itself as the most original genre.”
- Highest audience and critical ratings; praised for originality, not being part of a franchise.
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K Pop Demon Hunters
- [13:56] First time a Netflix film hit Mike’s summer top 10.
- “Created a fandom... ranges from young kids to 34-year-olds like me.”
- Celebrated for not over-explaining, just letting fun and music take over.
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Fantastic Four
- [09:41] Marvel’s expected centerpiece (just barely profitable).
- Notes chemistry issues among the team and lack of “special” feeling:
“For the MCU, this movie was good, but right now, it needed to be great...”
-
28 Years Later
- [07:55] Strong legacy sequel, “best world-building” in the franchise.
- “Even if you didn’t watch part one or two, you wouldn’t be lost.”
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Freakier Friday
- [06:41] Praises the popcorn bucket design (“should get a raise”), and the film’s balance of nostalgia and update.
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Materialists
- [05:09] Darker, drier rom-com.
- Succeeds due to star trio (Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal):
“Without those three leads, this movie wouldn’t have had a fraction of the success.”
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Nobody 2
- [04:35] “Should have been a bigger movie... will be a cult classic.”
- “Bob Odenkirk deserves more of a chance.”
Honorable Mentions
- How to Train Your Dragon
- The Naked Gun
- Bring Her Back (only horror film to give him nightmares)
- Caught Stealing, The Toxic Avenger
Top 5 Disappointments of the Summer
"Not the worst, just the most let down by anticipation..." (26:40)
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Jurassic World Rebirth
- “So generic, the dialogue was at times just unwatchable... I didn’t get my dinosaur fix.”
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Happy Gilmore 2
- “Turned into cameo fest... I just hate comedy legacy sequels.”
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Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
- “Entire franchise just kind of sputtering out and ending on such a low note.”
-
Eddington
- Despite star cast, “one of the most boring movies so far of the year.”
-
I Know What You Did Last Summer
- “I was rooting for the villain in this one.”
Spoiler-Free Review: Highest to Lowest (Spike Lee, Denzel Washington)
[36:10] Main Review Segment
Premise
Denzel plays a legendary music mogul at a crossroads, threatened by industry shifts, business woes, and—when his son is kidnapped—a personal crisis forcing agonizing choices.
Mike’s Key Critique
- Disappointed by a flat emotional landscape and off-kilter score:
“He is so cool, calm, and collected that I’m like, your son has just been kidnapped, and you reacted like somebody said your Uber Eats order has been canceled.” (39:40)
- Spike Lee’s unique fantasy/music-infused touch didn’t fit the thriller premise:
“There’s just this music that doesn’t fit the situation... If you wanted an example of the power of music in a film, this is a great example.” (41:45)
- Denzel’s improvisations felt “almost cringe-worthy.”
- Jeffrey Wright was the only standout in the cast.
Notable Quotes
- “I had high expectations going in, and I left with a low result. Little by little, it just started happening.” (37:47)
- “Denzel created probably one of the most unlikable characters he has ever portrayed on screen.” (42:15)
FINAL RATING:
2.5/5 headphones.
Trailer Park: Bugonia, Emma Stone, and Aliens
[48:55] Segment Highlights
- Emma Stone shaved her head for the role (“commitment!”).
- Yorgos Lanthimos projects always “walk the line between weird and mainstream.”
- “It’s almost like when you get in a pool where it’s a little too cold... but eventually your body warms up. I get the hype.” (50:35)
- "Bugonia" is a remake of "Save the Green Planet."
- Mike lauds Emma Stone’s and Jesse Plemons’ choices for taking unconventional roles.
- Emma Stone publicly affirms her belief in aliens; Mike shares his own “alien fascination since the tabloids and Bat Boy days”:
“I do believe in aliens... But I think us as humans, we are always in this mindset that everybody is thinking about us. We have main character energy when it comes to our existence.” (54:55)
Listener Mailbag: Acting Chops & American Audiences
[59:05] Segment
Discussing a listener DM:
- American audiences “care more about the way movies make us feel” than whether an actor is classically trained.
- Notes the difference between American and British views on acting credibility.
“Sometimes acting is so good that you don’t even realize it... It’s all about how good you are at connecting.” (59:30)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Horror is king and that is why Weapons is going to be the horror movie of the year. And it’s only September.” (16:24)
- On popcorn buckets: “Whoever came up with that idea needs a raise.” (07:09)
- “This is the first time a Netflix movie has ever made it into my top 10 movies of the summer.” (13:56)
- “I think the MCU needs to take more risks.” (10:42)
- “I just could not co-sign on Happy Gilmore 2 even though it had a lot of people that I love in it. From Post Malone to Bad Bunny… too many cameos.” (29:37)
- On Emma Stone: “That level of dedication, that passion for her craft…” (48:59)
Summary Takeaways
Movie Mike’s 2025 summer movie recap stands out for blending detailed pop-culture insight with the authentic, energetic voice fans expect. His thoughtful breakdowns of why certain movies resonated or fizzled (and why popcorn buckets matter) go beyond mere box office chatter. The review of "Highest to Lowest" is particularly incisive, shining light on how even legendary collaborations can miss the mark. Finally, the episode’s humor and big-hearted nerdery (e.g., the earnest alien talk) are as much a draw as the rankings themselves.
For listeners who want a fun, comprehensive pulse-check on summer movies—with sharp reviews, snappy tangents, and plenty of nerd culture passion—this episode is essential.