We’re closing out the year by looking back at everything we covered on Franchise Addicts — the franchises, the debates, the surprises, and the episodes that stuck with us.
In this end-of-year episode, we revisit the movies and series we spent the most time with, pick our favorite episodes from the catalog, revisit a few moments we still think about, and allow ourselves one rating mulligan — because opinions evolve.
This isn’t a rankings episode.
It’s a reflection on why these franchises matter, how our perspectives changed, and what it’s like to live with these movies over time.
Franchises discussed include:
Indiana Jones, Alien, The Godfather, Die Hard, Evil Dead, Batman, Terminator, the Before trilogy, 28 Days Later, and more.
Thanks to everyone who listened, commented, argued with us, or quietly followed along this year.
What franchise should we never stop talking about?
🎧 Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
We’re ending the year by stepping back from individual movies and looking at the bigger picture.
In this end-of-year episode of Franchise Addicts, we reflect on the franchises we covered, the episodes that meant the most to us, the conversations that surprised us, and how our opinions evolved over time. Each of us picks our favorite episodes from the catalog, revisits moments that still linger, and exercises one carefully chosen rating mulligan.
This isn’t about lists or hot takes — it’s about memory, context, and why certain movies stay with us long after the credits roll.
Franchises discussed include Indiana Jones, Alien, The Godfather, Die Hard, Evil Dead, Batman, Terminator, the Before trilogy, and more.
Thanks for being part of the conversation this year.
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In this episode of Franchise Addicts, we take on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny — the final chapter in one of cinema’s most iconic franchises.
Set decades after his last adventure, Dial of Destiny finds Indiana Jones aging, isolated, and wrestling with a world that no longer needs him. When an ancient artifact tied to time itself resurfaces, Indy is pulled into a story that forces him to confront legacy, loss, and whether history still has room for heroes.
We break down the full plot, the controversial use of time travel, the Archimedes reveal, the return of Marion Ravenwood, and the film’s meditative tone compared to earlier entries like Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. We also debate whether Dial of Destiny delivers a fitting ending — or misunderstands what made Indiana Jones endure in the first place.
Is this a thoughtful farewell, or a film more interested in reflection than adventure? Does the franchise benefit from aging its hero, or does it lose something essential in the process?
This episode isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about reckoning.
In this episode of Franchise Addicts, we dive headfirst into one of the most controversial blockbusters of the 21st century: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).
Set in the Cold War era, Crystal Skull sees Indiana Jones pulled into a Soviet conspiracy involving a mysterious crystal skull, ancient civilizations, secret military experiments, and the lost city of Akator. Directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by George Lucas, the film marked Harrison Ford’s return to the iconic role nearly 20 years after The Last Crusade — and instantly split fans down the middle.
We break down the entire plot, analyze the alien vs. mythology debate, discuss the infamous “nuke the fridge” scene, the introduction of Mutt Williams, the return of Marion Ravenwood, and whether the movie’s sci-fi turn fundamentally misunderstands what makes Indiana Jones work. We also examine the film’s historical inspirations, cinematography choices, heavy use of CGI, and how Crystal Skull reflects 1950s Atomic Age paranoia and B-movie science fiction.
Is Kingdom of the Crystal Skull an underrated adventure weighed down by internet backlash — or a miscalculation that lost the soul of the franchise? Where does it rank among the Indiana Jones films, and how does it compare to Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and Dial of Destiny?
Whether you love it, hate it, or still argue about aliens, refrigerators, and monkeys, this episode is a full, honest reassessment of Indiana Jones 4 — no nostalgia goggles required.
🎬 Topics include:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull review, Indiana Jones franchise ranking, Crystal Skull ending explained, aliens in Indiana Jones, Steven Spielberg Indiana Jones, George Lucas Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford Indiana Jones, Marion Ravenwood return, Mutt Williams character analysis, Dial of Destiny comparison, Crystal Skull controversy.
Welcome back to Franchise Addicts!
Today Luke sits down with Dominic from Talkin’ TV — your #1 source for behind-the-scenes insights and bold takes on the movies and TV you love. Together, they dig into Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade for a special bonus episode filled with deep cuts, behind-the-scenes trivia, character breakdowns, and why this film still stands tall in the franchise.
From Sean Connery’s legendary turn as Henry Jones Sr. to Spielberg’s pulpy adventure filmmaking firing on all cylinders, this episode dives into why Last Crusade remains not just a fan favorite — but a genuine masterpiece of blockbuster storytelling.
If you’ve been following our Indy franchise coverage, this is the perfect extra chapter.
If not… welcome to the ride. Grab your hat.
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Franchise Addicts dives into Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade — the Spielberg classic that brought Indy back to his roots, reunited him with his father, and delivered one of the most beloved adventure films ever made.
In this episode, Luke, Chris, super fan Peter, and returning guest Andres break down the film scene by scene: the prologue, River Phoenix’s intro, the Venice chase, the Brotherhood of the Cruciform Sword, the tank sequence, the Grail trials, and everything in between.
We cover:
Why Last Crusade works as a course-correction to Temple of Doom
The dynamic between Harrison Ford and Sean Connery (and the improv that shaped it)
Behind-the-scenes stories you haven’t heard on other pods
Spielberg and Lucas’ debates about tone, pacing, and the Grail mythology
Why this might be the funniest (and most emotional) Indy film
Our rankings so far in the franchise
If you love Indiana Jones, Spielberg deep dives, or adventure-movie filmmaking, this episode is for you.
Watch the full episode, drop your favorite Last Crusade moment in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe — we’re on our road to 100.
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#IndianaJones #LastCrusade
Is this the darkest Indy? Short Round supremacy? And how did this movie help invent PG-13? We dig into Spielberg’s 1984 prequel—set pieces, pulp vibes, what still works (and what doesn’t), and where Temple of Doom lands in our Indy rankings.
What we cover
Shanghai opener, poisoned deal, and the wild raft drop
Pankot Palace: dinner scene, secret passages, bug tunnel, spike room
Thuggee cult, Black Sleep, and that mine-cart masterclass
Rope-bridge finale & why the staging still sings
Trivia: prequel timeline, PG-13 origins, Ke Huy Quan’s casting, miniatures & stunts
We’re kicking off our Indiana Jones franchise run with a deep dive into Raiders of the Lost Ark – the set pieces, the theology, the pulp serial roots, and why this thing still absolutely cooks in 2024.Joining Luke and Chris on this one is Adam from Movie Magic (www.youtube.com/@moviemagic96), bringing his filmmaker/film-nerd brain to all things Indy:Is this the best Spielberg adventure movie?How does the action staging hold up against modern blockbusters?Where does Raiders rank in the franchise?👇 Let us know in the comments:What’s your favorite Raiders moment, and where do you rank it in the Indy series?
The Necronomicon opens one last time. 💀
Join Luke and Chris as they close the book on the Evil Dead franchise with Evil Dead Rise (2023) — the blood-soaked, high-rise horror that took the series to terrifying new heights. We dig into Lee Cronin’s direction, the gory practical effects, that infamous cheese grater scene, and how this movie connects to the legacy of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell.
🎬 What We Cover:
The evolution of Evil Dead from cabin horror to urban nightmare
Easter eggs and callbacks to Raimi’s original trilogy
The meaning behind the “three Books of the Dead”
Our favorite kills and practical effect moments
How Rise fits into modern horror’s revival
👹 Watch all our Evil Dead coverage:
The Evil Dead (1981)
Evil Dead II (1987)
Army of Darkness (1992)
Evil Dead (2013)
Evil Dead Rise (2023) – You’re here!
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Chris and Luke are joined by the boys from The MCU's Bleeding Edge to discuss Fede Alvarez's 2013 remake of The Evil Dead. Is it a worthy remake? Listen to find out!
🎙️ Franchise Addicts – Army of Darkness (1992)
The boomstick is back! Luke, Chris, and our returning guest Sam dive headfirst into Sam Raimi’s Army of Darkness — the wild, hilarious, and totally unhinged third entry in the Evil Dead saga. We break down Ash’s evolution from survivor to swaggering action hero, the genius of Raimi’s practical effects and slapstick horror, and why Army of Darkness still stands as one of the most quotable cult films ever made.
💀 Expect plenty of laughs, a few deep cuts into Raimi’s film style, and maybe even a little love for Evil Ash.
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube and don’t forget to subscribe to Franchise Addicts TV for weekly deep dives into cinema’s greatest franchises.
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Chris jumps on to give his analysis of Evil Dead Part II and Luke has to defend this cult classic.
Watch: https://youtu.be/oWgbFnd_cIg
Part 2 of our Evil Dead II coverage! Luke and Andres talk through and rank some of their favorite movies.
Watch: https://youtu.be/rNlWLF4vP34
It's Luke without Chris! Oh No!! Luckily Andres The Pop Culture Guy was able to join and they cover everything Evil Dead II.
Watch: https://youtu.be/zobMWdeWmVw
Join Franchise Addicts as we dive into Sam Raimi’s original The Evil Dead — the low-budget horror masterpiece that changed the genre forever.
We’ll be talking:
💀 Raimi’s wild camera tricks and DIY genius
💀 The infamous cabin shoot from hell
💀 Bruce Campbell’s birth as a horror legend
We’ve just dropped our in-depth LIVE review of Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another! Join us as we unpack:
The bold opening raid and what it sets up
DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn — performances worth spotlighting
The film’s tonal balance: absurdity, satire, and political urgency
Father-daughter dynamics, past revolution, and moral contradictions
How this film lands within PTA’s filmography
Want a fresh take? A hot take? Or maybe something you missed? Jump into the comments and join the discussion — we’re listening.
📌 Watch & Subscribe — We drop new breakdowns, reviews, and franchise deep dives often!
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The end has arrived. In this special finale episode of Franchise Addicts, we dive into the shocking conclusion of FX & Hulu’s Alien: Earth.
We cover it all:
Wendy’s final bond with the Xenomorph
Betrayals, survival, and the bloody escape attempt
The fate of Arthur, Nibs, and the hybrids
What this finale means for the future of the Alien franchise
This is our exclusive early listen of the finale breakdown — available first here on YouTube before it drops on podcast feeds.
👉 Don’t miss it: subscribe for more breakdowns of Alien: Earth, the Alien films, and the greatest franchises in movie history.
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Things get darker in Alien: Earth as Episodes 6 and 7 push the hybrids — and their creators — to the breaking point.
We dive into:
Tootles’ shocking death and the swarm of alien flies.
Wendy’s deepening psychic bond with the Xenomorph.
Arthur’s betrayal and the chaos inside Neverland.
The explosive escape attempt and the chilling emergence that sets the stage for the finale.
Join us as we break it all down scene by scene — the horror, the cover-ups, and the moral crossroads at the heart of the Alien universe.
🎧 Subscribe for weekly breakdowns right after each new episode airs on FX & Hulu.
This week on Franchise Addicts, we’re doubling up with a deep dive into Episodes 4 and 5 of Alien: Earth.
In Episode 4, Observation, things slow down but get stranger—Wendy begins to “speak” in the language of the Xenomorphs, Nibs shocks everyone with an impossible pregnancy claim, and ethical cracks widen inside Prodigy as Morrow tightens his grip on Slightly. The hybrids aren’t just changing—they’re evolving.
Then Episode 5, In Space, No One…, takes us back to the doomed Maginot in a chilling, feature-length flashback. We see the sabotage that caused the crash, the crew’s desperate fight against facehuggers, ticks, and “the Eye,” and the reveal that Boy Kavalier had a hand in it all. In the end, only Morrow survives, setting up a dangerous alliance with Weyland-Yutani.
We cover it all—alien communication, hybrid horror, corporate betrayal, and one of the most terrifying Alien sequences since the original films.
This week on Franchise Addicts, we dive into Episode 3 of Alien: Earth, “Metamorphosis.” The hybrids face new fractures, corporate greed sharpens its teeth, and the Xenomorph threat only grows darker.
We break it all down:
Wendy’s desperate fight to save her brother Hermit—and the psychic aftermath that follows.
Boy’s triumph at securing specimens, Kirsh’s grotesque experiments, and Curly’s simmering resentment.
Morrow’s betrayal, as he uploads critical alien data and secretly makes his move toward Weyland-Yutani.
From facehugger dissections to family bonds under siege, Episode 3 raises the stakes on every front. Join us as we unravel the shifting alliances, the power plays, and the creeping horror at the heart of Alien: Earth.
We break down Alien: Earth’s explosive two-part premiere—Neverland and Mr. October. Chris and Luke started their journey with the Alien Movie Franchise when this Podcast first began and we are back a year later to cover Alien's attempt at the small screen. We'll be joining you weekly to cover every episode of this series!