Shows / Critical Darlings
Critical Darlings
Welcome to Critical Darlings: a podcast about the movies everyone is talking about, one new release after another.Every week, critics Richard Lawson and Alison Willmore cover the latest film driving the conversation—from big summer blockbusters to festival favorites, buzzy streamers, and major awards contenders. New episodes every Thursday.We’re a Blank Check Production! To catch up on our first miniseries covering the 2026 Oscars season, check out Blank Check on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or…
Episodes
- Critical Darlings
“The Mario Galaxy Movie” And The Changing Shape Of Video Game Adaptations
This week, it's The Mario Galaxy Movie! The second film in the Nintendo/Illumination franchise is already a global hit despite less than stellar reviews. It is…
- Critical Darlings
"Ready Or Not 2," "They Will Kill You," And The Decline Of Social Satire Horror
This week we’re eating the rich with two new horror films that share devilishly similar premises: Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come and They Will Kill You both…
- Critical Darlings
"Ready Or Not 2," "They Will Kill You," And The Decline Of Social Satire Horror
This week we’re eating the rich with two new horror films that share devilishly similar premises: Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come and They Will Kill You both…
- Critical Darlings
"Project Hail Mary" And Lessons For Family Blockbusters
Beam me up…Rocky!? Critical Darlings is back, from outer space, in our new feed, talking about the first blockbuster of the year. Project Hail Mary, directed…
Critical Darlings"Project Hail Mary" And Lessons For Family Blockbusters
Beam me up…Rocky!? Critical Darlings is back, from outer space, in our new feed, talking about the first blockbuster of the year. Project Hail Mary, directed…
- Critical Darlings
"The 2026 Oscars Ceremony" With Griffin Newman
It’s Critical Darlings’ biggest morning! After a marathon season, we react to this year’s Academy Awards: the winners, losers, presenters, performances, and…
- Critical Darlings
"The 2026 Oscars Ceremony" With Griffin Newman
It’s Critical Darlings’ biggest morning! After a marathon season, we react to this year’s Academy Awards: the winners, losers, presenters, performances, and…
- Critical Darlings
Critical Darlings Trailer
Welcome to Critical Darlings, where critics Richard Lawson and Alison Willmore cover the latest film driving the conversation—from big summer blockbusters to…
- Critical Darlings
Critical Darlings Trailer
Welcome to Critical Darlings, where critics Richard Lawson and Alison Willmore cover the latest film driving the conversation—from big summer blockbusters to…
- Critical Darlings
"One Battle After Another" And Oscar Predictions with David Sims
What time is it? It’s time to study the revolutionary texts with David “Rocketman” Sims! On our last episode before The Oscars, we’re talking about One Battle…
- Critical Darlings
"One Battle After Another" And Oscar Predictions with David Sims
What time is it? It’s time to study the revolutionary texts with David “Rocketman” Sims! On our last episode before The Oscars, we’re talking about One Battle…
- Critical Darlings
"Sinners" And The Academy’s Growing Genre Acceptance with Sam Sanders
This week we’re joined by Sam Sanders of The Sam Sanders Show to discuss Sinners, the most nominated film in Academy Awards history. With sixteen nominations…
- Critical Darlings
"Sinners" And The Academy’s Growing Genre Acceptance with Sam Sanders
This week we’re joined by Sam Sanders of The Sam Sanders Show to discuss Sinners, the most nominated film in Academy Awards history. With sixteen nominations…
- Critical Darlings
"Sentimental Value" And Belated Oscar Breakthroughs with Joe Reid
This week we’re in hygge mode, uncovering traumas in our generational home with the host of This Had Oscar Buzz, Joe Reid! One of the breakout Oscar films of…
- Critical Darlings
"Sentimental Value" And Belated Oscar Breakthroughs with Joe Reid
This week we’re in hygge mode, uncovering traumas in our generational home with the host of This Had Oscar Buzz, Joe Reid! One of the breakout Oscar films of…
- Critical Darlings
"Frankenstein" And The Craft Category Juggernauts with Bilge Ebiri
This week we’re brooding, Victorian style, with Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri! Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a Best Picture nominee and is well represented in…
- Critical Darlings
"Frankenstein" And The Craft Category Juggernauts with Bilge Ebiri
This week we’re brooding, Victorian style, with Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri! Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a Best Picture nominee and is well represented in…
- Critical Darlings
"The Secret Agent" And The Increasingly International Academy
Viva Brazil! Today we discuss Best Picture nominee The Secret Agent, the simmering, colorful Brazilian thriller about a man on the run, starring the dreamy…
- Critical Darlings
"The Secret Agent" And The Increasingly International Academy
Viva Brazil! Today we discuss Best Picture nominee The Secret Agent, the simmering, colorful Brazilian thriller about a man on the run, starring the dreamy…
- Critical Darlings
"Bugonia" And The (Oscar) Favourites with Marie Bardi-Salinas
Honey, we’re buzzing about Bugonia with Marie Bardi-Salinas! The movie surprised us with its appeal to Oscar voters, but maybe it shouldn’t have: Director…
- Critical Darlings
"Bugonia" And The (Oscar) Favourites with Marie Bardi-Salinas
Honey, we’re buzzing about Bugonia with Marie Bardi-Salinas! The movie surprised us with its appeal to Oscar voters, but maybe it shouldn’t have: Director…
- Critical Darlings
"Train Dreams" And Netflix’s Quest For Best Picture
On today’s show, Richard and Alison hop on a boxcar and stare wistfully as the 20th century passes them by with Best Picture nominee Train Dreams. They discuss…
- Critical Darlings
"Train Dreams" And Netflix’s Quest For Best Picture
On today’s show, Richard and Alison hop on a boxcar and stare wistfully as the 20th century passes them by with Best Picture nominee Train Dreams. They discuss…
- Critical Darlings
"The 2026 Oscar Nominations" And Also Some Talk About "F1"
It’s Hollywood’s biggest morning! Join Richard and Alison (plus a vacationing Producer Benjamin Frisch) as they pick apart the biggest snubs and surprises of…
- Critical Darlings
"The 2026 Oscar Nominations" And Also Some Talk About "F1"
It’s Hollywood’s biggest morning! Join Richard and Alison (plus a vacationing Producer Benjamin Frisch) as they pick apart the biggest snubs and surprises of…
- Critical Darlings
"Hamnet" And The History Of Oscar Villains with David Sims
This week, we’re joined by David Sims as we orbit the Golden Globes and their Best Drama winner, Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet. In the vibes-based reality of awards…
- Critical Darlings
"Hamnet" And The History Of Oscar Villains with David Sims
This week, we’re joined by David Sims as we orbit the Golden Globes and their Best Drama winner, Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet. In the vibes-based reality of awards…
- Critical Darlings
"Marty Supreme" And The Precursor Circuit with Griffin Newman
This week, we’re only slightly hung over from last night’s New York Film Critics Circle Awards! Griffin Newman joins the pod to discuss the event, where, among…
- Critical Darlings
"Marty Supreme" And The Precursor Circuit with Griffin Newman
This week, we’re only slightly hung over from last night’s New York Film Critics Circle Awards! Griffin Newman joins the pod to discuss the event, where, among…
Critical DarlingsIntroducing Critical Darlings
Welcome to Critical Darlings, a new podcast miniseries from Blank Check: A conversation about the awards season conversation, one contender at a time. On…
- Critical Darlings
Introducing Critical Darlings
Welcome to Critical Darlings, a new podcast miniseries from Blank Check: A conversation about the awards season conversation, one contender at a time. On…