Matthew Porter and James Porter
105 episodes listed below
Movie talk with watchlist energy.
Matt and James talk through movies the way active film fans actually compare notes: what they watched, what worked, what felt off, and what pop culture is doing next. Episodes move from quick catch-ups into news, rankings, franchise talk, and scene-level reactions.
PRESS PLAY
The Popcorn Hour with Matt and James is a film and TV conversation show with a brisk, familiar rhythm. Matt and James work through movies like people who are always tracking the next watch, the next trailer, and the next argument. A topic often begins simply: what got watched, what did not hold up, what surprised them, or what has been all over movie news. Project Hail Mary leads to talk about Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The Harry Potter series brings up casting, release timing, and Nick Frost as Hagrid. Being John Malkovich becomes a discussion about puppeteering, control, strange comedy, and why the movie needs some breathing room before a rewatch. The show is strongest when it lands on details. A voice sounds different from the films. A superhero season feels like it is waiting to get to the point. A movie car earns its spot because of pop culture impact as much as personal attachment. That mix gives the show its shape. It is loose, but not careless. Friday movie news episodes cover casting, franchise updates, deaths, renewals, and upcoming projects. Other installments branch into Oscars reactions, top-five rankings, Criterion of the Month, and full trilogy reviews. The tone stays warm even when the opinions are blunt. There is room for a two-star comedy that still works as comfort entertainment, a beloved Spider-Man movie that is not as good as remembered, and a Peacemaker intro take that counts as a small hot take. Listeners get the feeling of a running film diary shared between two regular speakers. The appeal is not polished critic distance. It is the steady pleasure of hearing movies sorted, challenged, remembered, and re-ranked in real time.
Made for: For film and TV fans who like casual criticism, franchise chatter, awards reactions, and rankings grounded in actual watch habits. It especially fits listeners who enjoy superhero, comedy, sci-fi, and pop-culture movie talk without a formal critic posture.
What sets it apart: The show’s edge is its running duo rhythm: quick agreement, small corrections, watch-count rivalry, and specific scene or casting reactions. It treats Letterboxd-style habits, movie news, and deeper film reads as parts of the same conversation.
The Popcorn Hour with Matt and James is your go-to podcast for honest, entertaining, and insightful movie reviews. Each week, we dive into the latest releases and classic favorites, breaking down the stories, performances, and cinematic details that make films memorable (or forgettable). Whether you’re a casual viewer or a die-hard cinephile, join us for thoughtful discussions, a bit of humor, and plenty of popcorn-worthy opinions.
Based on 5 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Matt and James turn casual movie conversation into specific judgments about craft, character, franchises, and the gap between enjoyment and critical appraisal.
Matt and James treat movie talk as an argument still taking shape. Their conversational reviews move easily between immediate reactions and closer attention to performance, costume design, character development, and visual choices.
Batman suits and Malkovich metaphysics face the Matt-and-James couch test before reaching you.
Press play if you want
Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
Loose movie-news banter with sharp reactions to casting, release timing, and a Spider-Man tangent.
Matt and James keep the movie-news chat loose and easy to follow, which helps the episode move without feeling forced. They bounce from a blunt take on "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" to Harry Potter casting chatter, then to the long-delayed arrival of *Legend of the White…
Loose movie-news banter that stays specific even when the stack is light.
The episode keeps an easy back-and-forth, starting with what Matt and James have been watching before it slides into a small run of movie news.
A loose, funny rewatch of a strange movie about control, identity, and bodies that refuse to cooperate.
Matt and James treat Being John Malkovich as a weird, funny movie, and they spend the discussion pulling apart what gives it its charge. They move through the movie's shape, John Cusack as a miserable puppeteer with little control over his own life, the seventh-and-a-half-floor…
A Batman ranking debate that treats the suits as story, not just style.
Matt and James spend the episode ranking Batman across actors, films, projects, villains, and suits. The suit talk gives the conversation its clearest edge: Matt makes a solid case for Batman Begins as the strongest overall pick, and the Dark Knight costumes get treated as part…
A loose V for Vendetta conversation that settles into character, key scenes, and a four-star verdict.
The discussion starts loose, with Matt and James drifting through Terrifier, Tron: Legacy, 8 1/2, and Jackie Brown before it settles into V for Vendetta itself.
Mike Muncer and a different guest dissect two horror films per episode, by subgenre.
Matt and James open with what they've been watching, including a pretty rough take on *Now You See Me, Now You Don't*.
Two hosts discuss and rank their top five most iconic cars from movies and TV shows based on pop culture impact and personal enjoyment.
This episode discusses recent movie news including the success of Project Hail Mary, its directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and viewer reactions to shows like Invincible and Daredevil.
The hosts discuss upcoming movie and TV releases, weekend viewing plans, and briefly reference their previous Oscars episode.
Two hosts discuss the 2026 Oscars ceremony, sharing their thoughts on winners, surprises, and snubs while briefly touching on personal updates and movie watching.
The hosts discuss Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy while also sharing their thoughts on the TV show Peacemaker and its recent episodes.
Matt and James open with a loose catch-up on what they have been watching, then wander into movie news.
Matt and James pick Being John Malkovich for their Criterion of the Month slot.
Matt and James spend the episode ranking Batman across favorite and least favorite versions, movies, projects, and villains.
The hosts of Popcorn Hour return from a holiday break and casually discuss their Christmas gifts, including movies and a Toy Story-themed slinky.
Matt and James sit down with V for Vendetta.
The hosts discuss their recent movie viewings, including a review of the film HIM (2025) and their thoughts on Now You See Me, with star ratings and commentary on what works in films.
This episode discusses Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy and compares it to the TV series Peacemaker, focusing on filler episodes and season pacing.