Five Best Movie Podcasts Of 2024

 It's unfair that movie podcasts are a "dime a dozen" only because there are so many of them. I prefer to assess this genre as there are many of these podcasts developed for a small audience of friends, family, and assorted acquaintances. For those movie podcasts with higher aspirations, however, here are the five best movie podcasts of the year. I must offer a trigger warning that this selection will be vastly different from the choices by the media establishment, where notoriety can often be a substitute for quality. 

In effect, we do not choose the low-hanging fruit of podcasts with high visibility because of marketing by their podcast network. Just because a podcast has thousands of downloads does not make it a quality, ear-worthy show. After all, The Masked Singer is near the top of the ratings every week. I am not including it in my five best TV shows of the year, unless we're evaluating shows that have masks.

Ear Worthy uses a panel of people from around the U.S., from Texas to California, New Jersey to Oregon, and Alabama to New Hampshire.

 In no particular order, here are Ear Worthy's Five Best Movie Podcasts of 2024.

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VERBAL DIORAMA 

The U.K. podcast, Verbal Diorama is an example of a superb film history podcast that is sadly lost in the spacious landscape of podcasting. If you're a fan of film and film history (a TCM junkie) this podcast should be playing in your ears regularly.

Just to be clear, the podcast is more of a film history show than reviewing old films. It's not the Rewatchables with Bill Simmons where bros rap about older movies like they're sitting in Applebee's having an IPA. 

Here's the host introducing herself and podcast on her website: "Hi! I'm Em. I created Verbal Diorama in 2018, and launched the podcast in February 2019 to rapturous applause and acclaim.... from my cat Jess."

 As a host, Em excels with a strong narrative voice and fervent desire to share with her listeners. She's not above sly humor, as in the Charlie's Angels episode, where she waits patiently by the phone for Charlie to call her. When the phone rings, she answers and then responds with mock anger at the sound of a marketing call instead of Charlie. 

Best episodes this year include reviews of Predator, Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, and Back To The Future.  

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BAD MOVIES RULE

Every once in a while, however, a podcast crashes through its own trope and succeeds where others have failed. That movie podcast is Bad Movies Rule.

This excellent movie podcast began in September 2021 and has more than 170 episodes in the can. The show's premise is simple: "We’re a bunch of blue-collar folks that talk about all the movies that don't get enough love. We give out awards to each film and try to determine whether they are actually bad, good-bad, or straight-up good! We hope you will enjoy being part of our group and hanging out with us."

 Let's face it. Dissecting any form of art that's bad is much more fun than, say, trying to define the genius of the Mona Lisa or a great film like Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock. 

The format of the show is simple yet effective. The team's chosen bad movie is dissected scene by scene, with plenty of comedic interludes and caustic comments throughout the scene-by-scene review of the film. At the end, the team gives out awards for overacting, bad acting, and underrated performance with names for actors that exemplify that skill. For example, the bad acting award is named for Steven Seagal, who, I agree, may be one of the worst actors of all time. Can we also add Chuck Norris to that list?

Best episodes this year include Tremors 3, Jaws 2, and Stallone's Cobra. 

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EVERY SINGLE SCI-FI FILM EVER

 

 The Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever podcast, which began in March 2024, looks back at more than a century of films, beginning in 1902 and working towards the future. Each episode focuses on a film, director or theme and brings in experts to discuss its history, politics and influences.

Each episode focuses on a sci-fi film, director or theme and brings in experts to discuss the history, politics, and influences.

Award-winning podcast producer and sci-fi film enthusiast Ayesha Khan volunteers for the task. Her continuing mission: to explore strange old films, seek out the experts, and to boldly bring them to you.

Khan continues: "Each episode plans to put the film I watch into context of the time, society and people it was borne of. I do the research, I find the experts and I bring them to you! And then you all cheer, or chase me with pitchforks. To clarify, I would prefer the former. But alas, sometimes the things we create have unexpected consequences."

Ayesha Khan is an excellent host with an obvious passion for the topic.

The best episodes this year include: Metropolis, The Thing From Another World, Alien, The Day The Earth Stood Still, and It Came From Outer Space.  

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 WHAT WENT WRONG

What Went Wrong is a podcast by Sad Boom Media. Their elevator pitch is: "The podcast explores the behind-the-scenes of Hollywood's most disastrous movie productions. Each episode, the hosts examine a new film to explore the reasons why making a movie is nearly impossible. Some of the films covered on the podcast include The Sixth Sense, Below The Line - Armorer (Django Unchained), The Crow, Boyz n the Hood, and Lost."

In each episode, hosts Lizzie Bassett and Chris Winterbauer dive into a new film to explore the mind-blowing (and sometimes numbing) reasons why making a movie is nearly impossible (especially a good one). 

The co-hosts blend movie analysis with wit and historical heft like the perfect Manhattan --  two ounces rye whiskey, one ounce sweet vermouth, two dashes of Angostura bitters, and a brandied cherry.

The best episodes of the year include Ghostbusters,Shrek (two-parter), Deadpool, and The Sixth Sense.

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FILMSPOTTING

 Filmspotting calls itself the flagship film podcast, and it earns that honor. It was the first podcast I listened to almost 20 years ago. It's incredible that the show is that good for almost 20 years.

Adam Kempenaar co-founded the show in March 2005 and is co-host and executive producer. Josh Larsen officially joined Filmspotting as co-host in January 2012.

Best episodes this year include: Gladiator II, The Best Five Michael Keaton performances, and The Wizard Of Oz at 85.

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Honorable Mention includes: 

The Big Picture reviews primarily recent releases, and episodes sometimes offer special fun features like their "Top 5" lists of vampire movies, revenge movies, film scores, movie robots, the best scenes in action movies—and just about anything and everything relating to film.

A Piece of Pie: The Queer Film Podcast -- explores queer film history and its lasting impact. He's joined by a rotating cast of writers, critics, and film buffs to discuss LGBTQIA+ filmmaking. They review queer classics and new releases, delving into queer subtext, harmful queer film tropes, the evolution of queer cinema, and more.

 You Must Remember This is a must-listen for film history buffs and anyone drawn to the glamour and grit of Hollywood's first century. In addition, Karina Longworth's breathless and bedazzled narration is a must-listen moment.

  Black on Black Cinema should be your first stop for all things related to the Black film world. This podcast is a blend of movie reviews, focusing on films by, about, and starring Black people, and conversations exploring the intersections of film, media, and Black culture, or other topics of interest and relevance to the Black community.