The Mikes make 10 bold predictions for 2026. We talk about Oscars, Box Office, the industry, celebrities and movie stars and much more. 10: The Netflix / WB Deal is just the beginning of consolidation - 3:56 9: Domestic Year End Numbers Predictions for 2026 - 8:27 8: A prediction on Tentpole Box Office Number for ‘26 films - 10:40 7: This Genre will have a major comeback in 2026 - 16:32 6: A prediction on AI - 24:20 5: Predicting WHEN the 99th Oscars’ Best Picture 10 will be released - 27:25 4: A Scream VII deathpool - 35:42 3: 2026 will be a huge year for THIS actor - 40:31 2: 2026 will be a huge year for THIS filmmaker - 46:48 1: Finally, a major prediction for this year’s Oscars - 50:53 NOTE: we recorded this episode before Christmas. Although there hasn’t been anything to derail our presentations here, we did get some updated movie titles. Steven Spielberg’s The Dish was retitled Disclosure Day, and Innarritu’s Judy with Tom Cruise was retitled “Digger.” OUTRO: Stay tuned to our feed for more Oscars Profiles reviewing the contending films, get ready for many more Oscar Race Checkpoints reacting to the latest news from awards season and we certainly hope to book many more special guests. If you enjoy our work, please rate & review, like & subscribe and tell your friends and family about our show. Thanks for the support.

Luis Mendez of the Mendez Movie Report returns to count our Final Top 10 Film Lists for 2025. Plus, they rundown their honorable mentions out to their top 25’s, end the episode with a Top 3 Most Anticipated Films of the upcoming 2026 film year mini-list… and of course, there’s A LOT of film criticism, box office analysis and Oscars prognostication along the way. Blindspots / Notable Films We Haven’t Seen - 3:25 Honorable Mentions: Our Top 25 counted down to our No. 11’s - 5:14 No. 10’s: Two Thrill Rides - 10:28 No. 9’s: A Dramedy & A Doc That Both Hit Home - 16:39 No. 8’s: Extremely Emotional Films - 24:05 No. 7’s: Films with great finales - 33:13 No. 6’s: A Huge Studio Tentpole & A Tiny Sundance Indie - 41:56 No. 5’s: Two Horror Hits - 50:34 No. 4’s: Two Carryovers & Best Picture Contenders - 55:13 No. 3’s: Our Favorite Genre Films of the Year - 1:03:17 No. 2’s: A Hidden Gem & A Surprise Entry - 1:13:15 No. 1’s: We have the same film at Number 1 - 1:20:19 Also Mike’s Top 3 Most Anticipated Films for 2026 - 1:31:09 Luis Mendez’s Top 3 Most Anticipated Films for 2026 - 1:35:00 OUTRO: If you enjoy our shows, please support us by rating & reviewing, hitting that thumbs up or like button and by sharing our work with your friends. Here’s the MMO Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar And here are the links to everything Luis Mendez: https://linktr.ee/MendezMovieRPT

David Long returns for Part 2 of Holiday Bets, our annual special on the Golden Globes and Oscars betting lines. In this episode, we discuss Lead Actor & Actress, Best Director, Casting, Cinematography, Film Editing, Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Costumes, Sound and Documentary Feature. . Betting Tutorial - 1:42 . David’s Annual Martingale Strategy - 4:25 . Lead Actor: featuring a big Timothee Chalamet discussion, 2 Globe categories, plus Oscar Nominations and Winner predictions - 8:11 . Lead Actress - 35:16 . Best Director - 48:09 . Other Categories: Casting, Cinematography, Film Editing, Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Costumes, Sound and Doc Feature - 1:04:05 . OUTRO: Make sure to follow David’s betting tips on X: https://x.com/1DavidLong Otherwise, you can follow our work https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar and we thank you for supporting the show. Please stay tuned to our feed for several year end specials next week including our Top 10 Films of the Year and Top 10 Predictions for the next film year.

David Long returns for Holiday Bets part 1 of 2 as we discuss betting lines at the Oscars AND Golden Globes for the categories of Best Picture, Supportings, Screenplay, Score, Song, Animated, Cinematic or Box Office Achievement and International Feature. Mike 1’s Annual Gambling Tutorial - 2:19 . Picture: Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes - 6:41 Globe Picture: Drama - 13:57 Oscars Best Picture Winner - 18:21 Nominations for Oscars Best Picture - 25:49 . Supporting Actress at the Golden Globe & Oscars - 37:52 Supporting Actor - 52:14 . Other Categories at the Globes and Oscars including Best Screenplay, Animated Feature, Cinematic or Box Office Achievement, Original Song, Score, and Non-English Language Film at the Globes - 57:42 . OUTRO: Make sure to follow David Long on X/Twitter as he’ll be posting about gambling this winter. https://x.com/1DavidLong Please stay tuned for Part 2 of this Holiday Bets special where we will discuss the rest of the available betting lines for the Golden Globes and Oscars Including for Lead Actor and Actress, Best Director, Casting, Cinematography, Film Editing, Production Design, Makeup and Hair, Costumes and Sound Design. Otherwise, please follow us on social media and support our show by liking, subscribing, rating and reviewing us. As always, thank you for doing so. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

Our LIVE reactions to the YouTube Oscars Move comes in the final moments of this episode. Otherwise, we enjoy a full film study and Oscars Profile Review of Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just An Accident, winner of the Palme D’or at Cannes, 3 Gotham awards and 4 Golden Globe nominations. NON-SPOILER REVIEW OF IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT: Reception & Awards Profile - 3:25 Jafar Panahi’s History of Heroism - 9:54 General Composition Thoughts - 14:48 Review of the Performances & Political Risk To All Involved - 20:49 Review of the Production Values - 27:49 Oscar Lens - 31:39 Spoiler Warning - 33:50 SPOILER FILLED REVIEW That Ending - 34:49 Themes - 40:19 Plot Highs & Lows - 42:52 Final Grades & Final Thoughts - 52:44 The Oscars move to YouTube: we react LIVE! during our recording - 56:54 OUTRO: If you’re enjoying our show, please like & subscribe, rate & review, and tell people about our show. As always, thank you all for listening and for this support. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes of our News & Awards Season analysis show - Oscar Race Checkpoint - available on the same feed, and we otherwise look forward to several year end specials featuring some returning guests. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

We breakdown the snubs & surprises from the 98th Oscar Shortlists in all the feature film categories including Best International Feature, Documentary, Score, Song, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, VFX, Cinematography and Casting. Which films had the best day? Which struggled? Which held serve?? International Feature - 2:19 Documentary Feature - 6:54 Original Score - 12:40 Original Song - 15:40 Makeup and Hairstyling - 18:39 Sound - 23:16 Visual Effects - 24:35 Cinematography - 27:03 Casting & then we close with the Tallies - 28:53 OUTRO: We discuss the Spielberg movie - Disclosure Day trailer a bit during the Outro, and we mention a few potential upcoming episodes. So if you enjoy our work, please support our show by liking, subscribing, rating, reviewing and by telling people about our show. We appreciate it. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

We power rank the contenders, specifically the Best Picture Category and go film by film to discuss how all the contenders performed with this past wave of news including the Golden Globe, Critics Choice & Indie Spirit Nominations +++ wins at NBR, AFI and the LAFCA. One Battle After Another is definitely the frontrunner - 2:36 Sinners and how it stacks up w/ Hamnet - 7:50 Hamnet, Mescal’s chances in Supporting Actor & NYFCC/LAFCA Stats - 11:09 Frankenstein + the Cinematic or Box Office Achievement Globe + YouTube plans - 19:30 Sentimental Value & the potential double nom in Supporting Actress - 25:23 Marty Supreme & Timothee’s supreme confidence - 29:16 Wicked: For Good and the glut in the midfield for that Best Picture 10 - 33:57 Train Dreams & Bugonia + stumping for Film Independent membership - 40:08 It Was Just An Accident - 48:25 Jay Kelly & Discussing the Casting Category - 53:00 No Other Choice + AlsoMike’s Review of the Film - 56:34 Avatar Fire & Ash & The Secret Agent - 58:48 Other International Contenders like Nouvelle Vague, Sirat, etc - 1:03:45 Other Domestic Players like F1, Weapons, Blue Moon, Die My Love, etc - 1:07:38 OUTRO: If you are able, please donate to the Chaz and AJ Toy Crabtree Chevrolet Toy Drive https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/L8CTKDGN4MZZ6 Thank you, and have yourself some happy holidays!

We review Jay Kelly starring George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup and many more recognizable Hollywood stalwarts for Noah Baumbach’s latest feature, now playing on Netflix (crowd boos and we cringe.) Will there be a Netflix bias in the upcoming awards season months? Or will Jay Kelly stay in contention for certain categories? NON-SPOILER REVIEW OF JAY KELLY: Reception, Award Profile & Initial Thoughts - 2:17 A Christmas Carol Vibes & 1st Watch Stories - 6:01 Review of the Performances & Casting Category - 12:22 Production Values - 24:23 Oscar Lens - 27:45 Spoiler Warning - 33:31 SPOILER FILLED REVIEW OF JAY KELLY: The Josh Hartnett connection - 34:04 The Jay & Ron (Clooney & Sandler) Relationship is the heart of the film - 36:17 A Christmas Carol with no ghosts? - 40:29 That Ending - 43:52 More Bests and Worsts - 49:46 Final Grades & One Final Awards Discussion - 52:22 OUTRO: If you’re enjoying what we do here, please like & subscribe, rate & review and tell your people about our show. Thank you for doing so. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar Stay tuned for more Oscar Race Checkpoints, Oscar Profiles, and special episodes in the near future.

News of Netflix buying WB & Critics Choice Noms opens the show, and then we dive into a full film study review of Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet, the sad story of how Shakespeare came to write Hamlet. WB sells to Netflix - 1:01 NON-SPOILER REVIEW: Reception & Awards Profiles - 7:01 Awards Profile Thus Far including Critics Choice Award Noms - 12:01 Movie Watching Stories & Non-Spoiler Script Thoughts - 13:46 Performance Reviews - 18:32 Production Values - 25:07 Oscar Lens & Over/Under for Nominations - 31:29 Spoiler Warning - 38:17 SPOILER FILLED REVIEW: The big emotional scene - 39:05 That Ending & Arguments Against Tragedy Porn - 48:15 7 Stages - 56:55 More Bests and a Few Worsts - 1:01:29 Final Grades - 1:08:19 OUTRO: Please subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts and rate, review, like our show to help us grow. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar Otherwise, stay tuned for more Oscar Profiles, Oscar Race Checkpoints and gambling specials in the near future as we kick awards season into high gear.

We are not mature enough to ignore that she said Jafar Punani, and we promise never to act mature enough to ignore that she said Jufar Punani. You’re welcome. Nor will we ever underreact to the first big winners of awards season at the Gotham and NYFCC Awards + BIFA’s. They mean everything (and nothing at all) AS ALWAYS! Plus, we react to the Thanksgiving week box office, and we review new films from DOC NYC and our nearby movie theaters and discuss the AMC Popcorn Pass in the final moments of the episode as well. AWARD NEWS: Half of the NYFCC Winners - 1:48 The 2025 Gotham Awards from all angles - 3:54 Reviewing 2000 Meters to Andriivka - 32:22 BIFA Winner Tallies - 37:22 Thanksgiving Week Box Office + how right was M1 about Wicked: For Good? - 41:04 MORE REVIEWS: Mr. Nobody Against Putin - 48:00 There Was, There Was Not - 50:46 Fackham Hall - 54:26 Rental Family - 58:17 The Rest of the NYFCC Winners including One Battle After Another wins - 1:00:25 OUTRO TALK: we discuss where you can follow us on social media and how you can support us with 5 star ratings and likes wherever you get your podcasts. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar . Plus, we discuss which one of us went in for the AMC Popcorn Pass and whether or not its actually a good deal.

Sentimental Value should contend for big nominations at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards and many upcoming precursors as well as major Oscar Nominations, and we have to study it in this loaded film study Oscars Profile review show. NON-SPOILER REVIEW OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE: Reception Thus Far. Critical, Audience & Box Office - 2:55 Our Theater-Going Experience - 4:50 The Awards Profile Thus Far + Golden Globes Predictions - 7:58 Enjoying the film much more on 2nd viewing, more so than at the festivals - 11:04 A Huge Stellan Skarsgard Discussion and a Dissection of Supporting Actor - 13:23 Having Fun with a Film about Filmmakers - 22:41 Trier makes personal films hiding behind fictions, much like Gustav in this story - 25:10 Renate Reinsve and THREE! Tremendous Supporting Actress Performances - 27:32 Review of the Production Values including praise for the Score & Cinematography - 32:21 Our Oscar Nom Predictions, a Lead Actress Breakdown & Over/Under - 35:23 SPOILER WARNING - 40:39 SPOILER SECTION FOR SENTIMENTAL VALUE: Two Big Nitpicks - 41:29 Big Performance Moments for Renate Reinsve - 45:00 Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas Big Performance Takeaways - 49:33 Stellan Skarsgard’s Gustav Motivations & Performance Takes - 55:03 The Themes Played Out in the Ending - 1:03:43 How A Worst Scene Becomes A Best Scene on Rethink - 1:08:06 Final Grades - 1:11:01 OUTRO: We have more Oscar Race Checkpoints and Oscar Profile film studies coming soon, maybe, kinda, sorta… or not. We won’t say. But thank you as always for listening. Please follow us on social media and rate/review our show to pledge your support. And thanks again for doing that as well. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

What is This Episode? - Top of Show . BOX OFFICE UPDATE: Wicked 2 is Making Money, Despite Reviews Dropping - 2:19 . WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Train Dreams Review - 5:34 AM Reviews The Running Man - 13:00 AM Reviews Predator: Badlands - 16:30 aaaaaand Being Eddie for Good Measure - 19:55 M1 Reviews The History of Sound - 23:10 AM Reviews In Waves In War - 27:17 Death By Lightning Review - 30:11 . MUSIC CATEGORY CATCH UP: Clayton’s, Scott’s Current Predix - 32:31 HMMA Winners Include Sinners, Warren - 35:31 KPop Makes a HUGE Grammys Splash - 37:39 . DOCUMENTARY CATEGORY CATCH UP: The Perfect Neighbor is the Front Runner…So It Will Miss Oscars - 40:49 Cinema Eye Honor Doc Noms - 46:12 . INDUSTRY NEWS: Amy Pascal to Get PGA Selznick Award - 48:27 Sarah Jessica Parker Getting Globes’ Burnett Award - 49:45 The Globes Doing What the Oscars Should - 52:08 . CONTENDER TRAILERS: Project Hail Mary Trailer #2 - 54:37 Hunger Games: Reoping Trailer #1 - 58:08 . . WHAT’S NEXT/LEAVE US 5 STARS/WORDS OF WISDOM - 1:03:10 . https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

What Is This Episode - Top of Show . WICKED FOR GOOD OSCARS PROFILE . Spoiler-Free Review: Reception, Scores, $$ - :55 Script Thoughts, 1.0 - 5:57 The Song Problems - 7:25 Script Thoughts, 2.0 - 10:33 Production Values, JK, Performances - 14:02 Production Design, For Real - 21:12 How Many Noms? - 26:08 . SPOILER WARNING - 33:28 . Spoiler-Filled Review: Get Physical - 34:24 Just…Listen - 37:17 Glinda the Boss - 42:26 Bad People and Oz - 45:24 The Roses - 48:55 . . FINAL GRADES: 50:37 . . What’s Next From MMO/Leave Us 5 Stars! - 53:44 . https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

Oscar Race Checkpoint returns with a big Awards News segment covering the EFA & BIFA noms, changes from SAG & Critics Choice, an added Gotham Tribute that we called +++ Governor’s Awards and campaign talk. Then we enjoyed a big What We’re Watching segment covering Nouvelle Vague, Ballad of a Small Player, House of Dynamite, Die My Love, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Christy, Nuremberg, Are We Good?, and I’m Not Everything I Want To Be. Finally, we close with a few trailer reviews including Scream 7, Michael, The Testament of Ann Lee, and Marty Supreme. AWARDS NEWS: EFA Noms: The European Film Awards could be a big day for Sentimental Value - 1:54 BIFA Noms: British Independent Film Awards & where we’re looking for crossover - 5:26 The Governors Awards & Tom Cruise’s Big Speech - 15:27 The Critics Choice Awards add 4 categories on E! - 20:09 The Gotham Awards add a tribute for Jeremy Allan White + Wicked/campaign talk - 22:44 The Actor Awards are the new SAG’s - 28:06 WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Nouvelle Vague - 30:32 Ballad of a Small Player - 34:47 Die My Love - 37:43 If I Had Legs I’d Kick You - 40:40 A House of Dynamite - 42:56 Christy and the latest Sydney Sweeney drama - 45:07 Nuremberg - 49:31 Are We Good? - 52:14 I’m Not Everything I Want To Be - 58:50 TRAILER REVIEWS: Scream 7 - 1:03:56 Michael - 1:07:42 The Testament of Ann Lee - 1:09:30 Marty Supreme - 1:12:04 OUTRO: We discuss where you can find us on social media and the big green and pink movie that we may or may not be reviewing next. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar We also reminisce about our lost loved ones after AlsoMike lost his grandmother this week. R.I.P., Grammy. We love you.

Alex Schmider is a producer of award winning films like Changing The Game, Disclosure and Chasing Chasing Amy, and his next film - KICK - will chronicle the amazing journey of 1500m distance runner Nikki Hiltz to the 2024 Olympics. Alex is also the Senior Director of Entertainment at GLAAD, where he oversees consultation and advising on TV, film and digital media that feature LGBTQ characters and storylines. Fresh off his inclusion on the OUT100 list, we are thrilled to have Alex Schmider join the show to discuss his incredible career & filmography. Read up on Alex’s latest honor of being included in the OUT100 List https://www.out.com/out100/2025/educators/alex-schmider Check out Alex Schmider’s filmography https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9559142/?ref_=ttfc_fcr_4_15 Learn more and support Alex Schmider’s good work at GLAAD https://glaad.org/ And if you’d like to support KICK - about Nikki Hiltz - here’s an opportunity to do that as well. https://seedandspark.com/fund/kick-1#story As for us at MMO, please follow us on social media and support our podcast via positive ratings and reviews wherever you may listen. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

What Is This Episode - Top of Show . FRANKENSTEIN OSCARS PROFILE . Spoiler-Free Review: Background, Scores - 4:30 Script Thoughts - 7:51 Performances - 10:55 (Elordi Makes M1 Hate Himself - 11:43) . The Oscars Lens - 16:05 MUAH is Done - 18:49 Production Design/VFX/Cinematography - 20:21 Score - 24:02 Total Noms - 27:00 . SPOILER WARNING - 28:26 . Spoiler-Filled Review: Is It Alive? - 29:35 Oscar Get Your Gun - 32:06 The Details of My Life Are Quite Inconsequential - 34:48 Expos - 37:10 Bro-mancing The Bones - 39:40 . . FINAL GRADES: 47:20 . . What’s Next From MMO/Leave Us 5 Stars! - 49:04 https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

Sasha Wortzel, Director of River Of Grass joins the show to talk about her haunting new documentary on the Florida Everglades. Learn more about River Of Grass, watch the full trailer and buy tickets to upcoming film festival screenings. https://www.riverofgrassfilm.com/ And please follow us here at MMO on Social Media and subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

The Director/Producer of Class Action Park & How To Rob A Bank - Seth Porges joins our show to discuss his new film, SANTACON, which uncovers a treasure trove of footage of the group that started this red menace, the same people who launched Burning Man & the inspiration for Fight Club’s Project Mayhem, the Cacophony Society. You can check out Seth’s film at DOC NYC, including its World Premiere on November 13th at 6:45pm at the Village East Theater by Angelika with a 2nd screening on Saturday the 15th at 9:30pm: https://www.docnyc.net/film/santacon/ And SANTACON will also be available via the Online Screenings at DOC NYC here: https://tickets.docnyc.net/websales/pages/ticketsearchcriteria.aspx?evtinfo=522060~bd725d56-8b11-414c-8cda-9ccb2ad3128d&_ga=2.65030766.1307042446.1762432735-1258641791.1760054829 On today’s show, Seth Porges discusses SANTACON from all angles past & present, including how the film fits with his filmography and films/TV that influence his style. Plus, we have fun discussing the Fight Club angle, the Michael Moore cameo, and much more! If you enjoy our show, please follow, like, subscribe, rate & review Mike, Mike, and Oscar wherever you get your podcasts, and stay tuned for more filmmaker interviews like these, more Oscar Profile movie reviews like Frankenstein, more special guest hosted shows like an upcoming Oscar Bets Special w/ the Duke of Bettingham himself - David Long, and of course, more episodes of our Hollywood and Awards News Coverage on Oscar Race Checkpoint with both of us Mikes via this same feed. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar SANTACON Website and Trailer: https://www.santacondoc.com/

What Is This Episode - Top of Show . BUGONIA OSCARS PROFILE . Spoiler-Free Review: Background: Box Office, Scores - 1:11 An Early Oscars Lens; Because…Wtf? - 4:24 Script Thoughts - 7:51 Performances - 10:33 Silverstone-assance - 15:10 Production Values - 17:20 OVER/UNDER HOW MANY NOMS? - 19:21 . SPOILER WARNING - 23:11 . Spoiler-Filled Review: So…Did You Know? - 24:14 Unreliable or Not - 27:37 Fearing the Laughter - 30:00 More Highs and Lows - 35:45 . . FINAL GRADES: 39:28 . . What’s Next From MMO/Leave Us 5 Stars! - 42:43

Gotham Nominations show particular strength for One Battle After Another. Plus, we discuss potential winners in each category and review a few of the nominees like Blue Moon & Familiar Touch. Film by Film Nomination Tallies: One Battle After Another stays super strong - 1:10 Blue Moon Review Part 1, underperformers + The Tribute Effect - 4:47 The Gotham Best Feature 10 and the categories Oscars Crossover History - 7:19 Review of Familiar Touch - 12:06 Best Director and more Obaa BOBO talk - 13:35 Breakthrough Director - 17:24 Original and Adapted Screenplay - 19:04 International Feature and an odd omission of Sentimental Value - 22:27 The Lead Performance winner could be chalk - 24:30 Blue Moon Review Part 2 - 27:41 The Supporting Performance Category is loaded with contenders - 28:42 Best Breakthrough Performer - 32:01 (Snubs? or) Contenders NOT Nominated / Submitted at the Gothams - 34:14 DOC NYC Shortlist & Gotham’s Best Doc Feature Category - 36:00 OUTRO: If you enjoy what we’re doing here, please leave us a kind rating and review, please like and subscribe, and please tell your friends about our show. Otherwise, stay tuned to our feed for more reviews like Bugonia and Frankenstein, interviews with special guests like more documentarians we have scheduled, and of course, stay tuned for more previews of all the big awards shows with us and our friends on Oscar Race Checkpoint. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar