Podcast
The Town with Matthew Belloni
Hosted by The Ringer · EN
Puck founding partner Matthew Belloni takes you inside Hollywood, using exclusive reporting and insight to explain the backstories on everything from Marvel movies to streaming wars. Multiple times each week, Matt is joined by major executives, dealmakers, and journalists, to discuss what is getting made and why, who is winning and losing, and what people in show business are actually talking about.
178episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Amazon Won’t Release Its Sam Altman Movie. Will Anyone?
Yesterday00:33:02Summary readyMatt is joined by Keach Hagey, a journalist at The Wall Street Journal and author of 'The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future,' to discuss Amazon abandoning Luca Guadagnino’s movie ‘Artificial’ and looking to sell it to another studio to distribute. They talk about why Amazon made this movie in the first place, its relationship with OpenAI, their thoughts on the script and how it portrays Altman, whether any major studio will buy this movie, and how big tech has influenced Hollywood’s decision-making strategy (00:00). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the legendary Clive Davis pre-Grammys party (27:17). Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Keach Hagey Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Jon Jones Theme Song: Devon Renaldo After false reports of Deborah's death, she and Ava return to Vegas. Watch now. Alan Cumming hosts the hit series THE TRAITORS. Streaming on Peacock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryThe Secret Industry That Makes Movies Go Viral
5d ago00:35:58Summary readyMatt is joined by journalist Lane Brown from New York Magazine to discuss his latest article digging into the insidious world of online clipping and narrative campaigning. Lane explains how virality and popularity are manufactured and engineered to resemble the improvised enthusiasm of human strangers, the companies behind these simulated trends, which movies, shows, bands, and viral moments were influenced by these tactics, how prevalent this is in media, how AI will play a role, and what to expect in the future (02:28). Matt then finishes the show with a couple of predictions about ‘Shrek 5’ and ‘The Social Reckoning’ (28:51). Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lane Brown Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Matt PevicTheme Song: Devon RenaldoRead Lane’s piece HERE After false reports of Deborah's death, she and Ava return to Vegas. Watch now. Landman Season 2: for your Emmy consideration in all Drama Series categories. Visit http://ParamountFYC.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryHave Platforms Unseated Content as King in Hollywood?
6d ago00:32:54Summary readyMatt is joined by John Mass, president of Content Partners, to discuss the massive value of owning distribution in modern Hollywood in comparison to years past, when content seemed to be the most important piece of the pie. They talk about why becoming the gatekeeper in Hollywood is so important in 2026, Fox acquiring Roku, and more (2:55). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for 'Toy Story 5' (27:33). Host: Matt Belloni Guest: John Mass Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Matt Pevic Theme Song: Devon Renaldo After false reports of Deborah's death, she and Ava return to Vegas. Watch now. The Madison: for your Emmy consideration in all Drama Series categories. Visit http://ParamountFYC.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryFox Is Buying Roku for $22B. Is It Now a Streaming Power Player?
1w ago00:35:33Summary readyMatt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Fox’s $22 billion acquisition of Roku, why this happened, how connected TV devices are the secret gatekeepers to streaming, how this will affect the consumer, and what this says about the larger deal landscape in Hollywood (2:11). We finish the show with an update on the 2026 Box Office Draft (28:30). Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Matt Pevic Theme Song: Devon Renaldo In this darkly comedic series, a love triangle ends in death. Watch now. The Madison: for your Emmy consideration in all Drama Series categories. Visit http://ParamountFYC.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryBonus Episode! Matt Risks His Life Eating Wings With Sean Evans of ‘Hot Ones.’
1w ago00:48:53Summary readyLive from Hollywood, Matt turns the tables on 'Hot Ones' host Sean Evans. Matt eats hot wings and risks his intestinal fortitude while interviewing Sean at the 'Hot Ones' FYC event. Yes, he tries Da Bomb. Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Sean Evans Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Matt Pevic Theme Song: Devon Renaldo In this darkly comedic series, a love triangle ends in death. Watch now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryThe ‘Obsession’ Windfall and How Indie Hits Pay Out
2w ago00:40:40Summary readyMatt is joined by film producer Mynette Louie, a cohead of creative producing and assistant professor at Columbia University, to explain how the money is distributed when an indie film is a big hit. They use Curry Barker’s ‘Obsession’ as an example to discuss how the financial waterfall flows, who profits the most and the least, and the state of indie film distribution (03:14). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about '24 Jump Street' (34:18). Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Mynette Louie Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Matt PevicTheme Song: Devon Renaldo In this darkly comedic series, a love triangle ends in death. Watch now. Landman Season 2: for your Emmy consideration in all Drama Series categories. Visit http://ParamountFYC.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryThe Gen Z Box Office Boom and What They Think of Spielberg, Marvel, and Star Wars
2w ago00:28:27Summary readyMatt is joined by founder and CEO of Screen Engine/ASI, Kevin Goetz, to talk about his new survey of Gen Z moviegoers to explain the Gen Z box office boom, how Hollywood can better appeal to the new wave of moviegoers, as well as their opinions on major stars, directors, and legacy IP (01:54). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for Steven Spielberg’s ‘Disclosure Day’ (21:36). Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Kevin Goetz Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Matt Pevic Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Don’t Kill the Messenger In this darkly comedic series, a love triangle ends in death. Watch now. The Madison: for your Emmy consideration in all Drama Series categories. Visit ParamountFYC.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryIs the ‘60 Minutes’ Blowup a Threat to Ellison’s Empire?
2w ago00:36:11Summary readyMatt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the ongoing disruption at ‘60 Minutes,’ most recently the hiring of Nick Bilton as EP, and the firing of correspondent Scott Pelley. They dig into what the plan to "modernize '60 Minutes'” actually means, what this says about David Ellison’s leadership, if this threatens the Ellison media empire, and ultimately if this could stop the WarnerMount merger (02:48). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about who will attend the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House lawn on Sunday, June 12 (28:59). Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Matt Pevic Theme Song: Devon Renaldo For more information visit Hulu.com/FYC In this darkly comedic series, a love triangle ends in death. Watch now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Summary'Backrooms’ Director Kane Parsons on Bursting into Hollywood, Internet Fandom, and Old IP
3w ago00:37:23Summary readyMatt is joined by Kane Parsons, the 20-year-old director of ‘Backrooms,’ to discuss becoming the youngest filmmaker to open a movie no. 1 at the box office, his experience transitioning from YouTube to the big screen, what he wants to do with his newfound success, how he uses the internet, and more (01:56). Matt finishes the show with opening weekend box office predictions for ‘Scary Movie 6’ and ‘Masters of the Universe’ (30:18). Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Kane Parsons Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Matt Pevic Theme Song: Devon Renaldo In this darkly comedic series, a love triangle ends in death. Watch now.Book a new kind of stay at HolidayInn.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryIs This Hollywood’s First Practical Solution to Control AI?
3w ago00:35:11Summary readyMatt is joined by RSL Media Founder Nikki Hexum to discuss her non-profit founded with actress Cate Blanchett that aims to protect artists against AI by requiring a consent framework for name, image, and likeness. Nikki outlines the infrastructure of her company, why this is necessary, how this era of AI is similar to the Napster era from the early 2000s, and why an AI company would participate in this (03:03). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Taylor Swift’s new song in 'Toy Story 5' (28:04). Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Nikki Hexum Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Matt Pevic Theme Song: Devon Renaldo In this darkly comedic series, a love triangle ends in death. Watch now. Watch Deli Boys at hulu.com. Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers. Terms apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Summary