Reel Roundtable #48 - The Besties (2025)

·1 hr 55 min·5 clips

A whirlwind of classic movie lines kicks off the Besties' annual awards, hinting at the cinematic debates to come.

The episode is the 48th 'Reel Roundtable', titled 'The Besties (2025)', where the four hosts award the best films they reviewed that year. It opens with a montage of film quotes. Ian explains the format: they will vote on 31 categories, with Patreon backers collectively wielding a fifth vote akin to an 'Electoral College', and live listeners are on standby to break ties. The first category, Best Screenplay, is won by 'The Social Network'. Best Special Effects goes to 'Inception'. Best Costume Design sees a tie between 'Babylon' and 'Rocky Horror Picture Show', broken live by Patreon backer Cynthia in favor of 'Rocky Horror'. Best Art Direction is awarded to 'The Goonies'. For Best Cinematography, 'Black Swan' wins. In Best Context Corner Highlight, 'Poltergeist' wins for using real skeletons. Best Duo is awarded to James Earl Jones and Kevin Costner in 'Field of Dreams' after another tie-break. Best Villain goes to Bruce the shark from 'Jaws'. Best Animated Film and Best Voice Acting both go to 'Toy Story 3'. Best Musical is awarded to 'Sweeney Todd'. Best Score sees 'Superman' win after a tie-break. Best Song/Theme is 'The Time Warp' from 'Rocky Horror'. Best Soundtrack goes to 'American Psycho'. Best Tearjerker is 'Toy Story 3'. Best Comedy Film is 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin'. The hosts also award meta-categories like Best BFE Moment and Best BFE Argument. The episode concludes with Ian revealing the year's most-downloaded episodes, with 'Inception' at number one. The tone is conversational and lightly competitive, with frequent humorous asides and references to past episodes.

As heard by us

A lively funniest-film debate where quotability matters as much as the first laugh.

A quick burst of movie dialogue gives the episode a loose, cinematic start before the panel finds its main argument: what counts as the funniest film.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a funniest-film debate where quotability, vampire chores, and one outrageous flamethrower moment all get their day in court.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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