Across the Movie Aisle

We’ve got a real treat for you today, folks: Richard Kelly—the director of Donnie Darko , Southland Tales , and The Box —joined us to discuss Donnie Darko ’s 25th anniversary rerelease by Fathom Entertainment and Saga Arts. And, as a bonus, we got a bunch of insights into his sequel novel , which is coming out on December 15. Plus: some Southland Tales chat! First things first: Get your tickets for the 25th anniversary showings of Donnie Darko today. It’s playing on October 2nd, 3rd, and 4th , likely in an AMC or a Cinemark near you. Second things second: This is a bonus episode of Across the Movie Aisle, meaning that it is usually for subscribers only. We’ve decided to put out an extended preview of this episode to make sure we get in all the Donnie Darko chat. But if you notice it cutting off at 30 minutes or so and you want to get some insights into Richard’s surreal masterpiece, Southland Tales , we’ll need you to sign up for a membership to help keep the lights on around here. Fluid Karma doesn’t pay for itself, you know.

On this week’s episode, we discussed David Ellison’s threat to flee California if Rob Bonta doesn’t wrap up his antitrust suit and the effort to secure federal production subsidies for movie studios. Then we reviewed Practical Magic 2 , a terrible film. You guys are going to love this week’s bonus episode! Make sure to sign up now so you can get it delivered right to your inbox!

On this week’s episode, we debate this essay by Alison Pill on the perils of child acting. Is it possible to do professionally in an ethical way? Then we review Mayday , the new film from the guys who made the recent Dungeons and Dragons movie that everyone loved. Is this any good? Does it have just a tad too much Ryan Reynolds? We discuss! Make sure to swing by Thursday for our bonus episode on Cars at 20 (and all the kids under the age of 8 who still love it) and on Friday for our bonus episode on Sugar , the Apple TV series. Leave a comment!

Hey, before we get started, a technical note: Due to a weird recording hiccup, Alyssa’s voice is slightly out of sync. I’ve gotten it as close as I can, but it’s … still not right. Sorry! Maybe just minimize the window and listen to this one. Or subscribe to your private ad-free RSS feed and get it straight to your favorite podcast app! The episode itself is pretty good, though! We discussed why Dolly Parton and Tim Curry were so beloved and free from culture war nonsense. Then we reviewed The Dog Stars . WARNING: Lots of spoiler chatter in this one!

On this week’s episode, we discuss the crazy lengths Warner Bros. is going to to keep spoilers for the new show Lanterns under wraps. Then we review Tony , the new biopic about Anthony Bourdain! Is it as good as Kitchen Confidential … or maybe better? Make sure to swing by on Thursday for our bonus episode on memoirs. Our next book club is, hopefully, starting this weekend; we’re discussing A Sudden Flicker of Light: A Revisionist History of Movies . Make sure to sign up so you can comment along with us about the first seven chapters! And share this episode with a friend!

On this week’s episode we ask if dog peril should join the ranks of considerations for a Restricted rating from the MPA. Then we review The End of Oak Street , a movie with some dog peril that nevertheless earned a PG-13 rating. Make sure to swing by on Thursday for our bonus episode on Anne Hathaway. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

This week we reviewed One Night Only (elevator pitch: What if extramarital sex were only legal for one night?), a movie that has been somewhat unfairly maligned by film critics, and discussed director Will Gluck’s feelings about audience discomfort with nudity. It’s a brave new world, folks, we’re just living in it.

Hey, Sonny here: many thanks to Peter and Alyssa for banging this out without me. I’m on vacation this week, and despite planning to tape from my hotel room, things just didn’t quite work out. (Hotel wifi: Not always the most reliable!) But I’ve listened to the whole thing and edited it and they did a very nice job! I probably liked Spider-Man: Brand New Day a bit more than either of them (it’s unironically the best film about male friendship I’ve seen in years, maybe a decade), but I’m biased. We’ll be back with a bonus episode this weekend—currently plan is to tape/edit Friday, post Saturday—and hope you won’t mind this minor interruption in our regularly scheduled posts. If it makes you feel any better, the Spider-Noir bonus-bonus episode is a real delight, you can watch it again while you wait for us to get back on track. Anyway, if you liked this episode, please share it with a friend!

On this week’s episode, we tried to figure out what’s happening next in the P-Sky/WBD deal. Spoiler: No idea! Then we picked our five favorite movies of the first half of 2026. Much to discuss!

The Odyssey is here! One of the most-anticipated films in Across the Movie Aisle history. Spoiler: We all liked it. But did we like it unreservedly enough? That’s the question on this week’s super-sized episode.

On this week’s episode, we discuss Netflix’s declining engagement stats. Should the streaming giant panic? And then we review The Invite , a movie that asks uncomfortable questions in hilariously provocative ways. Make sure to swing by for our bonus episode on Thursday wrapping up our Odyssey Book Club. (Almost.) And if you have thoughts about Sam Neill, head over to the chat and share them!

On this week’s episode, we discuss Seth Rogen’s slanderous take on Sylvester Stallone and his thoughts on criticism more broadly. Then we reviewed Minions and Monsters , which is basically “ Babylon with less cocaine and more little yellow guys.” Swing by our Substack on Thursday for a bonus episode on the silent era’s best movies for kids. And if you enjoyed this, please share it with a friend!

On this week’s episode, we discuss A24 and Google’s deal for the major indie to institute AI processes in their filmmaking. Then we review Supergirl , a movie that works on virtually no levels. You are NOT going to want to miss our July 4th bonus episode on Independence Day . And if you enjoyed this episode, we hope you share it with a friend!

On this week’s episode, we discuss the startling news that Amazon-MGM has decided to bail on distributing Luca Guadagnino’s forthcoming film about Sam Altman and OpenAI. Is this simply a matter of reconciling conflicts of interest, or is something more dastardly involved? Then they review Toy Story 5: The One With Screens. Does it live up to its predecessors? Or is it something to be half-watched on a tablet while folding socks? Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Thursday for our special bonus episode on the best animated featuers of the 21st century. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!

On this week’s episode, Sonny, Peter, and Alyssa debate the ethics of writing bogus reviews to scam the futures markets . Then they review Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day , which is kind of a mess. Make sure to watch Widow’s Bay ; we’re going to be discussing it for a special bonus TV episode later in the week! And we’ll have a bonus episode in which we determine the greatest Spielberg run. So much content for you! Yell at us in the comments if we were too mean to Disclosure Day , we might have been. We’re mean because we love Steven Spielberg so much and this was a big miss!

A programming note: As mentioned in this episode, we are going to add a monthly bonus episode for paid members dedicated to TV shows. First up: Widow’s Bay , which wraps up its first season June 17. We’ll talk the whole first season of Apple TV’s buzzy new show for an episode that should post that weekend (the 20th or 21st), depending on our own schedules! As for this week ’s episode: We discussed Dan Lin’s plans for Netflix on the heels of his statement to the New York Times that Netflix is out of the theatrical game and then reviewed Masters of the Universe , a movie that has no reason to exist and seems to kind of resent its own existence. Weird place for a movie to be, tbh. If you have a good spot for another Fisto joke, leave it in the comments!

On this week’s episode, we dive into a VERY exciting week at the box office. What does it mean that Backrooms and Obsession both may well end up outgrossing The Mandalorian and Grogu. Maybe nothing. But maybe a lot! And then we review Backrooms , which is about to become the highest-grossing-film ever released by A24 in just five days. On Thursday we’re going to chat about Tilly Norwood, who promises not to murder all of us in our sleep. If you want to hear that one, though, you’ll need to be a subscriber, so sign up now!

On this week’s episode, we asked what on Earth Paul Schrader is doing getting dumped by an AI girlfriend . Then they reviewed The Mandalorian and Grogu , a movie that is nominally set in the Star Wars universe and has Star Wars-like elements but feels somewhat … lacking … for those of us with a long-term relationship to the series. But did Sonny’s kids love it? And is that all that really matters? You’ll want to listen to this week’s episode ahead of our bonus episode, which contains the definitive ranking of all Star Wars live-action theatrical movies. That episode is roughly as long as a normal episode. I’m just telling you now: You’re going to want to hear the whole thing. Sign up now if you haven’t already!

On this week’s episode, we went long on the silly kerfuffle surrounding the casting of The Odyssey . From Helen to Achilles (or possibly Elpenor, or maybe Tiresias), no casting choice is safe from Elon Musk and his crack investigators. Then we review In the Grey , a movie that’s only really meant for Guy Ritchie completists … and maybe not even most of them . Make sure to swing by Thursday for our bonus episode on the death of American cool. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

On this week’s episode, we bid adieu to films for one segment and discussed the least -probable game show of all time: Wordle! It’ll likely raise an ocean of viewers … but will it be great ? Then we talked The Sheep Detectives , a delightful talking animal movie. Sure, it’s nice: but is it any good? We’ll let you know. Make sure to swing by Thursday for our bonus episode on Mortal Kombat II . And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!