This week on After the Frame, we’re keeping it loose - breaking down the latest entertainment headlines, arguing over our favorite topics, and letting the takes fly.

We start with quick reactions to what’s happening in movies and pop culture right now, then jump into a few games that instantly spiral into debate. From guessing lists to ranking on the fly to “winner stays on” chaos, it’s competitive, ridiculous, and way more heated than it should be.

We close out with a round of hot takes - the kind that either look genius in six months or get us dragged online by tomorrow.

Sam Raimi kicks off 2026 with Send Help a movie that somehow mashes up survival thriller tension with workplace comedy chaos, and actually makes it work. It’s fast, funny, sharp, and packed with the kind of horror-comedy-suspense blend that feels unmistakably Raimi.

In this episode of After the Frame, we break down what worked and what didn’t: the smart setup, the instantly punchy character dynamic, the way the film slowly shifts empathy and power between its leads, and why Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien make the premise feel grounded instead of gimmicky. We also talk about the rough CGI moments, what makes this stand out from typical deserted-island stories, and why getting a crowd-pleaser like this this early in the year feels like a gift.

Whether you’re looking for a date-night movie, a friends-night-out pick, or just a fun ride at the theater this one’s worth the ticket.

Awards season is here — and the gloves are off. In this episode of After the Frame, we dive headfirst into the 2026 Oscars conversation, breaking down the nominations, the biggest snubs, and where we think the Academy got it right — and very wrong.

We kick things off with a cold open on the latest entertainment headlines before jumping into activities like Tenable, Blind Rankings, and a round of rapid-fire entertainment hot takes. From there, it’s full Oscars mode: reacting to nominations, calling out omissions, and locking in our predictions across the major categories.

To close the episode, Matt brings a full review of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, breaking down what worked and what didn’t in one of the smartest, most character-driven entries the zombie genre has seen in years. We discuss the standout performances, the thoughtful storytelling, how it stacks up within the franchise, and where it might fit into the larger awards conversation.

It’s an episode packed with predictions, debates, and takes that will absolutely be revisited once the envelopes are opened.

A new year means new takes. In this special After the Frame episode, we kick off 2026 by looking ahead, locking in our boldest predictions for the movies, franchises, and industry trends that will define the year.

We start in full 2026 Preview mode, running through Over/Under predictions on everything from billion-dollar movies and superhero critical scores to streaming shakeups and sequel performance. From there, we each plant a Prediction Lock we’re not allowed to walk back, debate which franchises we’re buying or fading, and call our early Oscar long shots.

We then hit our 2026 categories: the most anticipated movies of the year, box office winners and flops, underdogs, breakout actors, directors with the most at stake, potential franchise revivals (or final nails in the coffin), and the movies we’re irrationally excited, or weirdly skeptical, about. We close the preview with final bold predictions and New Year’s resolutions, including the takes we fully expect to get cooked for online.

To wrap things up, we pivot to a quick review of Primate, an early-year horror release that leans hard into absurdity and gore. Even if it’s not everyone’s lane, it sparks a conversation about niche appeal, January releases, and why committing fully to a wild premise can still make for an entertaining watch.

It’s a forward-looking episode packed with confident takes, questionable bets, and at least one movie destined to age poorly.

It’s time to close the book on 2025. In this special year-in-review episode of After the Frame, we break down the biggest movies, boldest swings, and messiest misfires the year had to offer, no safe takes allowed.

We kick things off with a cold open featuring the entertainment headlines that defined the year, then dive headfirst into a full 2025 round-up packed with games and debates: Tenable, Recast It, Fix One Thing, Blind Rankings, Trailer Lies, Aged Like Milk vs. Aged Like Wine, One Scene Saves It, and Big Swing, Missed. If it sparked an argument in 2025, it’s probably here.

From there, we hit the categories, unpopular opinions, critic darlings that didn’t work for us, movies critics trashed that we defended, shocks of the year, disappointments, franchise fatigue moments, standout directors, and the films that should’ve been series instead.

Finally, we count down our Top 10 Worst Movies of 2025 (with dishonorable mentions) before flipping the script and revealing our Top 10 Best Movies of the Year, complete with debates, surprises, and the one movie that grew on us the most.

Whether you agreed with the consensus or spent all year yelling at it, this episode is our definitive look back at the movies that defined 2025, for better or worse.

This week on After the Frame, we head back to the vibrant city of Zootopia — breaking down why Zootopia 2 works as a thoughtful, funny, and visually stunning sequel that respects the original while confidently expanding its world. From the gorgeous animation to the heartwarming story and smart restraint with nostalgia, there’s a lot Disney gets right this time around.

Along the way, we take a brief detour into Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 — a sequel that takes the opposite approach, doubling down on fan service and lore at the expense of accessibility and storytelling. It’s a quick comparison that highlights how different franchises handle sequels, audiences, and expectations.

Join us as we unpack a sequel done right, a sequel gone off the rails, and what both say about how studios choose to serve their audiences.

The Knives Out franchise is back — and somehow still finding new ways to surprise. Wake Up Dead Man delivers a fresh vibe, a clever mystery, and one of the strongest ensembles the series has seen yet. It’s funny, thoughtful, unpredictable, and proof that this franchise still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

In this episode of After the Frame, we break down what worked and what didn’t: the sharp writing, the genre subversion, the standout performances (especially Josh O’Connor), and why Daniel Craig continues to feel perfectly at home as Benoit Blanc. We also dive into the film’s unexpected thematic depth and how it manages to weave religion into a murder mystery without losing its edge.

Join us as we unpack one of the most satisfying whodunits in recent years — clever, confident, and endlessly entertaining.

Sony’s animation hot streak continues with KPop Demon Hunters — a movie that fully embraces its wild premise and runs with it. Vibrant animation, fun characters, and just the right level of chaos make this one an easy crowd-pleaser and a film that sticks with you more than you might expect.

In this episode of After the Frame, we break down what worked and what didn’t: the slick animation style, the confident tone, the surprisingly strong story, and why this blend of action, humor, and music clicks so well. We also talk about the film’s franchise potential and why Sony’s willingness to take big creative swings is paying off in animation right now.

Join us as we unpack one of 2025’s most entertaining animated releases — colorful, chaotic, and packed with personality.