1600+ “must-see movies,”
one movie at a time.

Hosts Jason Bailey and Mike Hull invite a guest from the world of film (including filmmakers, authors, critics, actors, and more) to select one of the 1600+ “must-see movies” collected in Danny Peary’s seminal 1986 book, Guide for the Film Fanatic. Bailey, Hull, and their guests deep dive on each film, discussing its history, themes, style, performances, initial reception, and legacy, taking a fresh look at some of the most beloved titles in cinema history.

Episode 1:
THE GODFATHER PART II with Roxana Hadadi

On the first episode of our film-by-film rundown of Danny Peary’s beloved 1986 movie guide, we are joined by Vulture TV critic and longtime friend Roxana Hadadi, who explains her personal, familial connection to Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 Oscar-winner, and joins in a spirited discussion of the picture’s virtues, flaws, and reputation. 

Episode 2:
RASHOMON
with Scott Derrickson

In this week’s edition, we are joined by Scott Derrickson, director of Doctor Strange, The Black Phone, Sinister, and The Gorge, streaming this Friday on AppleTV+. Scott shares his thoughts on making The Gorge, working for a streamer for the first time, and directing The Black Phone 2, his first sequel to one of his own movies. But most of all, this lover of all things Akira Kurosawa — he literally teaches a course on the man and his movies!! - joins us to discuss the GOAT’s big international breakthrough, a film whose influence is still deeply felt in films and literature.

Episode 3:
I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE
with Danny Peary

In this week’s edition, we are joined by our dream guest—the one and only Danny Peary, our guiding light, the author of our Bible, Guide for the Film Fanatic (and Cult Movies, and Cult Movie Stars, and Alternate Oscars, and and and…). Mr. Peary joins us to discuss I Walked with a Zombie, the 1943 horror classic directed by Jacques Tourneur and produced by Val Lewton — as well as his very personal reason for selecting it, among the 1600+ movies in “Guide,” for a deep dive. 

Episode 4:
THE DEAD ZONE
with Violet Lucca

Violet Lucca, film critic and author of the new, essential book David Cronenberg: Clinical Trials, joins us for to talk about one of Mr. Cronenberg’s early hits, The Dead Zone. Hear us revel in the pleasures of Walken and the various ways critics found to deem the film “tasteful” and “restrained,” and marvel at the silliness of an insane amoral strongman somehow becoming President of the United States.

Episode 5:
CARNAL KNOWLEDGE
with Hunter Harris

“Hung Up” writer and “Lemme Say This” co-host Hunter Harris joins us to discuss Mike Nichols’s scathing 1971 chronicle of the battle of the sexes. We dig in on the picture’s emotional brutality, theatrical structure, and complicated characters (the women, at least), as well as Hunter’s reason for connection to Art Garfunkel.

Episode 6:
THE BREAKING POINT
with Eddie Muller

The czar of noir himself, TCM’s Noir Alley host Eddie Muller, joins us to discuss Michael Curtiz’s (slightly) closer 1950 adaptation of Hemingway’s To Have and Have Not. Hear his thoughts on the various adaptations, the power of its leading man and the counterpoints of its leading ladies, and the new edition of his marvelous book Dark City Dames.

Episode 7:
PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK
with Alicia Malone

TCM host and prolific author Alicia Malone joins us to discuss Peter Weir’s contemporary classic “Picnic at Hanging Rock.” She fills us in on the Australian New Wave, the film’s considerable cultural reach in her home country, and her new book TCM Imports: Timeless Favorites and Hidden Gems of World Cinema.

Episode 8:
DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN
with Marya E. Gates

Marya E. Gates’s wonderful new book Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words includes interviews with 19 groundbreaking women directors — including Susan Seidelman, whose 1985 smash (masterpiece, even?) Desperately Seeking Susan is our subject for today. We discuss Seidelman’s genius, our favorite Madonna songs, and (favorite topic alert) how much David Denby sucks.

Episode 9:
ORDET
with Jonathan Rosenbaum

The king Jonathan Rosenbaum — one of the foremost film critics and historians in the world, author of several essential books (including his most recent collection, In Dreams Begin Responsibilities: A Jonathan Rosenbaum Reader) — joins us to discuss one of his favorite movies, Carl Theodor Dreyer’s indelible Ordet.

Episode 10:
DAYS OF HEAVEN
with John Bleasdale

Before recently, we knew John Bleasdale best as one of our favorite podcasters - he hosts, among others, “Writers on Film,” a spotlight on film books, on which Jason has guested twice. Now John has written a book of his own, The Magic Hours: The Films and Hidden Life of Terrence Malick, and joins us to discuss one of Malick’s best, Days of Heaven.

Episode 11:
DUNE
with Max Evry

Film writer Max Evry spent several years of his life investigating a failure: David Lynch’s 1984 screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic, Dune. But was it really a failure? If so, why? If not, why was (and is) it perceived as such? The resultant book, A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch’s “Dune” - An Oral History, is one of the best of the recent books on single films; he joins us to talk about the book and the film, and what makes it so special to him.