Almost Classic Movies
Welcome to Almost Classic Movies, the podcast where two movie fans talk about movies. From epic adventures like Lord of the Rings to iconic comedies like Wayne's World and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, we explore a blend of almost classics, cult favorites, seasonal gems, and even actual classics. ("Almost Classic Movies" is frankly just a catchy title that riffs off a particular TV program).
It's just two friends talking movies—one loves production trivia, while the other enjoys simply watching and soaking in the story. We strive for evergreen content, so you can pick an episode anywhere and dive right in. If you like what you hear, share it with a friend, family member, or maybe even Chris Hemsworth or Ryan Reynolds... That'd be pretty cool.
Thanks for listening!
Episodes
79 episodes
Sinners - Is It Worth The Hype?
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners might be one of the most layered films of the year — blending 1930s Mississippi blues culture with vampire horror, racial symbolism, and spiritual mythology.In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don...
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1:25:07
Oscars 2026 Special - Who Wins Best Picture??
It’s our annual Oscar Predictions episode.Jon and Donald sit down with the full Academy Awards ballot and make real-time picks across every major category — from Best Actor to Best Picture. No prep. No scripts. Just gut instincts, film n...
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1:06:36
The Fast and the Furious (2001): Iconic or Overrated?
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon, Don, and Daniel kick off a long-term series exploring the Fast & Furious franchise by revisiting the original The Fast and the Furious (2001).They break down how...
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1:09:04
Weathering With You: Love, Sacrifice, and a Very Wet Apocalypse
What happens when a love story literally rewrites the climate?In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald dive into Weathering With You, Makoto Shinkai’s visually stunning follow-up to Your Name. The...
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1:09:19
Ghost In The Shell is still relevant today.
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald take on Ghost in the Shell (1995), one of the most philosophically dense and influential sci-fi films ever made. What begins as a cyberpunk crime story quickly turns into ...
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1:05:32
Summer Wars - It's Basically That Old Digimon Movie You Kind of Remember
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon, Don, and Daniel dive into the anime film Summer Wars, a surprisingly heartfelt story that blends digital disaster with family drama.What starts as an awkward fake engagement ...
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1:03:27
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train - The Animation Looks So Good, You Could Lick It
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don kick off their annual anime series with a deep dive into Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, the record-breaking anime film that captivated audiences worldwide.They explore the film’s breatht...
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1:01:03
F1 Is Top Gun Maverick on Wheels (And It Actually Works)
F1 isn’t really a racing movie.It’s a movie about aging, ego, legacy, and what happens when you get one last shot to prove something to yourself.In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald break down <...
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49:51
Air Force One (1997) is The Most Patriotic Action Movie Ever Made?
What happens when the President of the United States becomes the action hero?In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, we break down Air Force One (1997), the Harrison Ford thriller that defined an entire era of patriotic...
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45:19
The Italian Job (2003) is A Fantastic Fast and Furious Movie
The Italian Job (2003) is often remembered as a slick, early-2000s action movie packed with Mini Coopers and car chases—but there’s more going on under the hood. In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don revisit the ...
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56:12
Why Maverick Is a Perfect Popcorn Western (And Still Works Today)
Poker in the desert. A riverboat full of con artists. And Mel Gibson at peak charm.In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don revisit Maverick (1994), the self-aware Western comedy starring Mel Gibson, J...
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57:15
The Muppet Christmas Carol: Cozy, Creepy, and Way Deeper Than You Remember
The Muppet Christmas Carol is often remembered as cozy, musical, and kid-friendly — but beneath the felt and jokes is one of the darker, more faithful adaptations of Dickens’ original story.In this episode of Almost Classic ...
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1:00:29
Why the Star Wars Holiday Special Is the Most Infamous TV Event Ever Made
The Star Wars Holiday Special is infamous for a reason. In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon, Dan, and Donald subject themselves to one of the most baffling television experiments ever broadcast. What was meant to be a ...
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1:51:50
Is “The Santa Clause” Actually Good? A Deep Dive Into 90s Holiday Cinema
This week, Jon and Donald unwrap The Santa Clause and everything that makes it a quintessential (and unexpectedly weird) 90s Christmas movie. From Tim Allen’s smooth-brain dad energy to the surprisingly dark early script drafts, the gu...
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1:11:15
Home Alone - Is it a Christmas Classic?
In this festive episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald dive into Home Alone — a film both iconic and slightly bewildering when viewed through grown-up eyes. They unpack childhood fears (like sprinting up the basement...
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52:05
The Wizard of Oz - What's Behind the Curtain?
This week on Almost Classic Movies, we revisit one of the most iconic films ever made: The Wizard of Oz. Your hosts take a fresh look at the movie’s history, craft, and legacy—without giving away the moments that make it special.<...
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1:16:21
Wicked: Oz Lore, Flying Monkey Horror & Glinda’s PR Strategy
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald dive broom-first into Wicked (Part 1) — the movie adaptation based on the Broadway powerhouse musical. They unpack why the film is both visually stunning and emotionally...
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1:07:40
Is “The Running Man” Still Running in 2025?
In this episode, Jon, Don, and Editor Dan sit down to revisit The Running Man (1987), Arnold Schwarzenegger’s dystopian game-show-meets-gladiator spectacle that somehow predicted 2017 better than anyone expected. The trio breaks ...
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1:25:27
The Apprentice - The Shocking Trump Story They Tried to Ban!
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald dissect The Apprentice — a provocative biopic tracing Donald Trump’s transformation from ambitious New York builder to cultural icon. With a blend of dark satire and pol...
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1:34:46
The Nightmare Before Christmas - Does It Still Hold Up?
In this Halloween-meets-Christmas episode, Jon and Donald tackle one of the most iconic stop-motion films ever made: The Nightmare Before Christmas. From Jack Skellington’s existential boredom to Oogie Boogie’s degenerate gambling habi...
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1:05:26
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) — Does Nostalgia Still Work 36 Years Later?
Jon and Donald dive headfirst into Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)—Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel to the 1988 cult classic. Thirty-six years later, the ghost with the most is back, and the hosts debate whether the chaos, nostalgia, an...
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51:01
Beetlejuice (1988) - Practical Effects and Pure Chaos
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald kick off spooky season with Tim Burton’s 1988 masterpiece, Beetlejuice. The hosts dive deep into the movie’s strange charm—where the macabre meets the hilarious—and unpa...
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1:12:35
Tron: Legacy and the Problem of Style Over Story
Neon grids, Daft Punk beats, and some questionable CGI Jeff Bridges — this week we dive into Disney’s Tron: Legacy (2010). Jon and Donald are joined again by fan-favorite Editor Dan for a wild ride through the Grid, complete with light...
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1:49:24