On today’s episode, Variety’s Peter Debruge and Matt Donnelly break down the Sundance Film Festival lineup and what to expect at the festival’s nostalgic final outing in Park City, Utah. And Jennifer Maas previews The Game Awards to explain how the event has grown into the Oscars for video games by blending kudos and ballyhoo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 11, 2025•19 min
On today’s episode, Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of Cinema United, discusses the state of moviegoing and the reaction among exhibitors to the Netflix-Warner Bros. Discovery deal . He unpacks why movie theater owners are so worried about Netflix taking the keys to Hollywood’s biggest producer of theatrical films. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 10, 2025•16 min
On today’s episode, Paramount Skydance goes hostile for Warner Bros. Discovery. Will David Ellison bust up WBD’s engagement to Netflix? And Variety's Brent Lang breaks down the weekend box office as “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” adds another win for video game adaptations on the big screen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 09, 2025•14 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Gene Maddaus discusses the opposition in the entertainment industry that has assembled to fight Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. and HBO. And Alex Ritman reports on the scene at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 09, 2025•20 min
On today’s episode, we hear from Brooke Zaugg, executive director of Faith & Media Initiative, on the coalition’s work to influence portrayals of spirituality and people of faith in media and pop culture. And Variety’s Marc Malkin talks with Richard Gere about his new documentary on the Dalai Lama, “Wisdom of Happiness.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 04, 2025•17 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Jem Aswad details our annual Hitmakers issue, featuring cover star Sabrina Carpenter. He details the year-long effort that goes into assembling the survey of the year’s top 25 tunes. And Todd Spangler gives us an update on the state of bidding for Warner Bros. Discovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 03, 2025•19 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Brian Steinberg details a deal between TelevisaUnivision and JCPenney to produce microdramas and microdrama branded content. And Chris Willman discusses the unique pleasures of standing in line with fellow music lovers on Record Store Day, Black Friday Edition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 02, 2025•18 min
On today’s episode, Variety's Rebecca Rubin unpacks the Thanksgiving feast at the box office with “Zootopia 2” and “Wicked: For Good” lighting up screens around the world. And Marc Malkin sits down with Jeremy Allen White as the actor turns his attention back to filming “The Bear.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 01, 2025•17 min
On a special Thanksgiving Day edition, the legendary Marlo Thomas revisits the remarkable story of how – and why -- her father, entertainer Danny Thomas, launched St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. And we take a Vintage Variety look back at how St. Jude's origins played out in our pages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 27, 2025•17 min
On today's episode, "The Studio" star Ike Barinholtz discusses his tubthumping campaign to raise money for the Motion Picture and Television Fund. And we take a Vintage Variety look back at the birth of the MPTF as covered the pages of Variety . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 26, 2025•17 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s chief film critics Owen Gleiberman and Peter Debruge detail the how and the why behind their selections for Variety’s 100 Greatest Comedy Movies of All Time list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 25, 2025•20 min
On today’s episode, we’ll hear from Variety's Owen Gleiberman about his rediscovery of an under-appreciated Martin Scorsese classic, 1995's "Casino." And Joe Otterson unpacks his reporting on the turmoil behind the scenes on Sylvester Stallone's "Tulsa King" series as the Taylor Sheridan drama shoots Season 4 in Atlanta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 25, 2025•19 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin unpacks Universal Pictures’ risky decision to break “Wicked ” in two parts, and how it paid off with a record haul. And Jennifer Maas gives us an update on the mood at HBO as parent company Warner Bros. Discovery slides into sale mode yet again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 24, 2025•19 min
On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Matt Donnelly unpacks his reporting on Producers United and its quest to address the dilemmas and the disrespect that contemporary producers battle. Donnelly is joined by Producers United members Jonathan Wang and Laura Lewis who put a human face on the issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2025•19 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Gene Maddaus talks about the rapid growth of microdrama production activity in L.A. and other areas of the U.S. SAG-AFTRA wants to have a say. And Elsa Keslassy discusses the themes and takeaways of her dogged coverage of the American Film Market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18, 2025•20 min
On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Brent Lang breaks down Paramount’s stumble with “The Running Man” and Lionsgate’s magic with “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.” And Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski talks about the intersection of moviegoing and fandom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 17, 2025•18 min
On today’s episode, Los Angeles TV legend Pat Harvey reflects on changes in news and in Southern California over her long career as she is honored by the National Association of Black Journalists Los Angeles. And we’ll take a look at the work of Variety’s own Angelique Jackson as she is recognized by NABJLA with its excellence in entertainment media honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2025•19 min
On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Daniel D’Addario steps into the ring to capture the backstory of “The Smashing Machine” and Dwayne Johnson’s metamorphosis as an actor. Marc Malkin has a Just for Variety Red Carpet Rundown with the one and only George Clooney. And Todd Longwell makes the business case for business managers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 12, 2025•18 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Matt Donnelly discusses the swirl in the industry around Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery and the future of this crazy business. And Marc Malkin brings us a Red Carpet Rundown with Catherine Zeta-Jones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 11, 2025•16 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down the weekend box office and the surprising strength of “Predator: Badlands.” And Jordan Moreau details his profile of “The Running Man” writer-director Edgar Wright. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 10, 2025•20 min
On today's episode, actor Sean Astin discusses the recent Jimmy Kimmel drama, the Tilly Norwood flap, Bryan Cranston vs. OpenAI's Sora 2, the rise of microdrama as a mainstream format and more in Astin's first extended interview since he was elected president of SAG-AFTRA in September. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 06, 2025•19 min
On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Tatiana Siegel details Variety’s investigative report that asks a straightforward question: What Does David Ellison Want? And Chris Willman explains why he has fallen for a certain concert venue near Palm Springs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 05, 2025•20 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Todd Spangler weighs in on the collision of AI and Big Tech jobs as layoff notices fly. And Jennifer Maas discusses the growth of indie streamer Dropout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 05, 2025•17 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin unpacks what went wrong after the year’s worst weekend at the box office. Cynthia Littleton reflects on the new king of L.A. Sports, Mark Walter. And Marc Malkin has a Just for Variety Red Carpet Rundown with Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 03, 2025•18 min
On today's episode, Naveen Sarma, managing director of S&P Global and sector lead for U.S. media and telecom, unpacks his recent report on the second half of the year, which has some good news and some concerning news for Hollywood and related sectors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 30, 2025•17 min
On today's episode, Variety's Haley Kluge and Jennifer Dorn discuss how they produce Variety’s amazing Power of Women visuals year after year. And Marc Malkin brings us updates on Season 2 of “The Pitt” from stars Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29, 2025•19 min
On today’s episode, Variety reporter Ethan Shanfeld discusses the unusual place in pop culture that Sean "Diddy" Combs occupies and what may await him upon his release from prison in May 2028. And Marc Malkin has fun with Hilary Duff in a Red Carpet Rundown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2025•13 min
On today’s episode, Rebecca Rubin explains why “Chainsaw Man” topped “Deliver Me From Nowhere” to lead the box office this weekend. And Nick Vivarelli reports on the scene in Lucca, Italy, where he’s covering a fan event that is bigger than San Diego Comic-Con. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2025•19 min
On today’s episode, Variety reporter Selome Hailu details her cover story on Rachel Senate, the multihyphenate behind HBO’s new comedy “I Love L.A.” Marc Malkin has a Red Carpet Rundown with Sarah Michelle Gellar dishing about Hulu’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reboot. And reporter Giana Levy explains what superfans see in Netflix’s “Love Is Blind.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24, 2025•19 min
On the day of his 100th birthday, a special Vintage Variety episode looks back at the arc of Johnny Carson’s early career and his rise to becoming an TV icon, as chronicled in the pages of Variety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23, 2025•16 min
