From the dawn of time, man has been fascinated by the stars and what — or more importantly, who — is out there. Unsurprisingly, from the dawn of filmmaking, Hollywood has been also been fascinated by visiting (and visitors from) other worlds. One of the earliest silent films, A Trip to the Moon, was about shooting astronauts to the moon (using a cannon) and the alien creatures they find. There are countless movies about aliens and here are four I think you should watch. Close Encounters of the T...
Jun 30, 2025•35 min
This week on The Video Store Podcast, I’m recommending four films that are all about films and filmmaking in one way or another. Some are about the industry. Some about obsession with its product. All are worth watching. The Stunt Man (1980) – Directed by Richard Rush. This film took nearly a decade to get made. It’s about a fugitive who ends up working as a stuntman on a chaotic film set. Peter O'Toole plays the eccentric director. The film is known for how it blurs the line between what’s real...
Jun 23, 2025•20 min•Ep. 61
Welcome to Camp Video Store Podcast ! While we’re not actually going to camp, we are getting your summer started off the right way with some summer-themed horror movies. We hope you packed your sleeping bag, your flashlight, and a big bowl of popcorn. Here are four films that give us the Summer Spookies. Friday the 13th (1980) The second of the big three slashers, Friday the 13th, gave us Jason and a summer full of terror. It’s an iconic horror film for a reason, and the summer camp setting make...
Jun 16, 2025•18 min•Ep. 60
Shortly after graduating high school, Ed Gale — who stood 3’4” tall — left Michigan with $40 in his pocket and went to Hollywood. Gale said his goal was never to become a leading man, but to make a living as a working actor… and that he did, appearing in more than 200 television shows, commercials, and films. Upon arriving in Hollywood the first role he was offered was none other than Howard the Duck — a role he was originally told he was “too tall for.” Gale continued to work up until his passi...
Jun 09, 2025•40 min•Ep. 59
This week I’m recommending four crime films from the 1970s and early 80s. Each one centers on a planned job, bank heists, robberies, break-ins, and none of them go smoothly. The tone across these films is lean, serious, and focused on the people involved more than the action. There’s a lot of attention to detail, and they hold up well. Charley Varrick (1973) Directed by Don Siegel. Walter Matthau plays a bank robber who ends up in the crosshairs of something bigger than expected. Matthau had jus...
Jun 02, 2025•23 min•Ep. 58
Welcome back to another edition of the Video Store Podcast! We’re celebrating Memorial Day weekend with four films that might not have made your typical holiday weekend watchlist. Captain America (1990) You may have heard of Reb Brown, Chris Evans, Anthony Mackie, and Carl Lumbly, but you may have missed Matt Salinger. This overlooked Captain America film isn’t highly rated, and yet boasts 2 Oscar nominees, an Emmy nominee, and Captain Jellico from Star Trek: The Next Generation . It’s an oddity...
May 27, 2025•15 min•Ep. 57
I grew up on Route 66 and have road trips in my veins. I’ve driven all over this great country, visited every single state and seen thousands of interesting things. Nothing inspires me more than a good road trip film — if you’re the same way, check out one of this week’s recommendations. All of the my picks on this week’s list are pretty well known, which makes them so much fun to revisit. If you haven’t seen one or all of them in a few years, what better time to revisit them? Pee-wee’s Big Adve...
May 22, 2025•31 min•Ep. 56
This week on the podcast, I’m recommending four sports movies from the 1970s. These aren’t the usual titles you hear brought up. Some are a bit strange, some are just overlooked. All of them are worth checking out. Slap Shot (1977) Directed by George Roy Hill, who also did The Sting and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid . Paul Newman plays the player-coach of a struggling minor league hockey team. The film is known for its rough humor and violence on the ice. It was written by Nancy Dowd, based...
May 12, 2025•18 min•Ep. 55
Make a date with the Video Store Podcast this Prom season. We’ve selected four of our favorite films to enjoy on prom night, either with a date or your friend group. And I bet your friends aren’t made of plastic either. Prom Night (1980) Even if you had a bad prom night, I guarantee your prom night didn’t go quite as bad as it did for the folks in Prom Night from 1980. What would otherwise be an uneventful 1980s slasher is brought to life as a pulsing disco-veneered horror flick. Starring Leslie...
May 06, 2025•11 min•Ep. 54
Welcome back, custmers! I recently took a vacation from the video store to go on a cruise with my wife. I’ve had cruises on the brain ever since, so what better time to recommend some of my favorite films that take place on ships! OVERBOARD (1987) Handyman and single-father Dean Proffitt sees an opportunity to get even with a pompous heiress named Joanna after an accident leaves her with amnesia. Dean takes advantage of the woman’s lack of memory and convinces her that she is his wife and the mo...
Apr 28, 2025•42 min•Ep. 53
This week on The Video Store Podcast , I’m recommending four offbeat cop films that have stuck with me over the years. These films can be funny, gritty, offbeat, and sometimes kind of chaotic in the best way possible. So what movies am I recommending? Running Scared (1986) – Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines as two wisecracking Chicago detectives. This one’s got a great mix of comedy and action, and it leans into that mid-80s buddy cop energy without taking itself too seriously. Michael McDonald’s...
Apr 21, 2025•18 min•Ep. 52
Welcome back to the Video Store Podcast and a happy belated Record Store Day to you! Since you hang out at the Video Store, you are obviously a fan of physical media, and I hope that includes vinyl records. I’ve selected four films this week that look at films featuring records and record stores. High Fidelity (2000) First up is High Fidelity featuring John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Luiso, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joan Cusack, and Tim Robbins. Reeling from a big break-up wit...
Apr 15, 2025•16 min•Ep. 51
Welcome back to the Video Store Podcast! Our little store recently celebrated two separate milestones! Not only does March mark the one year anniversary of our fun little podcast, but this just so happens to be the 50th episode of the show, which means I ( Rob "Flack" O'Hara ), Ashley Thomas , and The Retroist have officially recommended 200 films for your viewing enjoyment. U hope you returned them all on time. For this week’s show I had planned to do something that coincided with our show’s an...
Apr 07, 2025•23 min•Ep. 50
Welcome back to another edition of the Video Store Podcast . In honor of Women’s History Month, I’ve selected four films featuring what I like to call “Wonder Women.” These are women who are brave, kind, strong, and all-around wonderful. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list—simply four films that resonate with me personally as a woman, and you should watch, whether you’re a woman or not. Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) First up is the 1991 Oscar-nominated film, Fried Green Tomatoes . The film s...
Mar 27, 2025•18 min•Ep. 49
This week, I’m recommending four movies that have some connection to Ireland, whether through folklore, setting, or just a certain Irish sensibility. There’s a mix of fantasy, horror, family-friendly adventure, and romantic drama, so no matter what you’re in the mood for, you might find something here to check out. The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) – A quiet, beautifully filmed story about a girl uncovering her family’s past on a small Irish island. Directed by John Sayles, it weaves folklore into...
Mar 17, 2025•17 min•Ep. 48
Welcome to another episode of the Video Store Podcast. Inspired by a wild kung-fu brawl that recently took place in the street in front of the video store, I decided to recommend four kung-fu style films. None of these will win many points for their creative plots, but all of them are fun to watch with popcorn and friends. An alcoholic beverage or two might not hurt, either. Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Big Trouble in Little China is probably the most mainstream movie on this week’s episod...
Mar 10, 2025•41 min•Ep. 47
Welcome to this week’s episode of The Video Store Podcast . This week, I’m focusing on animated movies that lean into darker themes and mature storytelling. These aren’t your typical Saturday morning cartoons or Disney films. They’re imaginative, ambitious, and not afraid to explore the more complicated corners of life. Let’s dive into the four films I’m recommending this week. 1. Watership Down (1978) This adaptation of Richard Adams’ novel is often remembered for its striking animation and unf...
Mar 03, 2025•17 min
Welcome back to another episode of the Video Store Podcast! Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but we’re still feeling the love at the Video Store. I’ve selected four films this week that love love so much that even the romance denier in your life will melt like so many boxes of chocolate in the noonday sun. Miss Congeniality (2000) Put on your dress and strap on your gun, it’s time for Miss Congeniality . Sandra Bullock stars as FBI Agent Gracie Hart, who must go undercover at the Miss Uni...
Feb 24, 2025•17 min
Welcome back to the Video Store! Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and if you’re here looking for movie selections instead of out buying flowers or making dinner reservations, then sir or madam, I salute you. For this week’s episode of the show I’ve picked four movies that feature unconventional relationships. After browsing the stores aisles looking for this week’s film recommendations, I ended up rewatching all four of these movies (a couple of which I hadn’t seen in decades) and for the most ...
Feb 11, 2025•21 min
Welcome back to The Video Store Podcast. This week, I’ve curated a lineup of films that capture different aspects of Los Angeles: its humor, its struggles, its danger, and its intrigue. Whether you’re a longtime fan of these movies or discovering them for the first time, I think they’re worth your time. Here’s what we’re watching this week: L.A. Story (1991) Steve Martin stars in and wrote this quirky romantic comedy that doubles as a love letter to Los Angeles. It’s full of surreal humor, like ...
Feb 03, 2025•18 min
Welcome back to another edition of the Video Store Podcast . This week, get your BFFs together for a movie marathon focusing on Film Friendships. I’ve selected four films for the staff picks wall, highlighting my favorite best buds and friendships forged in fire. I also answer the age-old question, “Can men and women really be friends?” Let’s dig in. Stand by Me (1986) First up is Rob Reiner’s 1986 coming-of-age classic, Stand by Me . Starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’C...
Jan 27, 2025•16 min
Greetings, customers. Last week, the world lost one of our boldest creators, the one and only David Lynch. On this episode of the Video Store Podcast, I recommend four of David Lynch’s “most Lynchian” films. In the episode I explain why I didn’t pick anything related to Twin Peaks or some of Lynch’s more mainstream films, including The Elephant Man and Dine. In this episode you’ll hear me use the phrase “these films are not for everybody” which I want to emphasize does not imply any sort of film...
Jan 20, 2025•30 min
Welcome to another episode of The Video Store Podcast , where each week we pull some movies off the shelf and recommend a few you might want to watch. This week’s theme is sports comedies, specifically some great ones from the '80s that still hold up. If you’re in the mood for underdogs, quirky characters, and a lot of laughs, these films should hit the spot. The Best of Times (1986) This one often flies under the radar, but it shouldn’t. Starring Robin Williams and Kurt Russell, it’s a heartfel...
Jan 13, 2025•18 min
Happy New Year! Shoot off the fireworks, toot the noisemakers, and make yourself a nice plate of black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread. Do you have any resolutions this year? A word or mantra for the year? No? Well, you’re in luck. We’re here to help with that by way of four movie recommendations. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) First up is the 1986 John Hughes comedy classic, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off . The real righteous dudes in the audience will know why this film has a great movie m...
Jan 06, 2025•13 min
Happy New Year! While I know not everyone makes new year resolutions, at the end of every year I personally like to reflect on the previous year and, more importantly, correct course and find ways to succeed in the future. On this week’s episode I have picked four movies in which regular people just like you and me are presented with unique opportunities and are able to seize the day. If the characters in these films can find success, so can you! First up is UHF (1989), starring Weird Al Yankovi...
Dec 30, 2024•27 min
Welcome back to The Video Store Podcast , where each week I recommend four films I think you should check out. This week, I’ve picked a mix of holiday movies that range from heartwarming to hilariously chaotic. Whether you’re looking for some nostalgia, laughs, or a little Christmas chaos, these films have something to offer. First up is… One Magic Christmas (1985) This film has a quiet charm that’s perfect for the holiday season. Starring Mary Steenburgen, it tells a story of family, second cha...
Dec 23, 2024•15 min
Merry Christmas from all of us here at the Video Store Podcast ! I’ve picked out a few lesser-known Christmas specials from Rankin/Bass for this week’s show. The first is The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold from 1981. Originally conceived as a St. Patrick’s Day special, this story was reimagined as a Christmas special for ABC. Join sailor Dinty Doyle as he works to guard the Leprechaun’s gold from the evil banshee, Mag the Hag. Next is 1974’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas , starring George Gobel,...
Dec 17, 2024•12 min
Season’s Greetings! After this episode of the Video Store Podcast some of you may be wondering about my sanity. (I know my mother does.) Listen, I love Christmas films — I really do! I grew up on all those Rankin-Bass specials and classic Christmas movies… but after watching a dozen Hallmark specials in a row, don’t you wish that at least once a fight would break out and someone would carve more than the turkey? No? Oh, dear. Maybe my mother was right. On this episode I share four horror-themed ...
Dec 09, 2024•21 min
Welcome to The Video Store Podcast . Each week, I recommend four films you might want to check out, whether you're looking for something to rent or just want to expand your movie knowledge. This week, I’m diving into a themes that are timeless and relatable: rebellion, youth, and the struggles of growing up. The four films I’m highlighting are Over the Edge (1979) , Times Square (1980) , River’s Edge (1986) , and Pump Up the Volume (1990) . Over the Edge (1979) This cult classic explores suburba...
Dec 02, 2024•20 min
Welcome back to a Thanksgiving Edition of the Video Store Podcast ! We’ve selected a veritable cornucopia of Thanksgiving-themed specials and films for you to watch this week, so make a plate and join us for a feast of fun and festive Thanksgiving recommendations. First up is Garfield’s Thanksgiving from 1989. This delightful special puts Garfield on a diet, sees Jon and Liz on their first date, and will give you a belly full of laughter. It also brings back a fan-favorite character from the Gar...
Nov 25, 2024•12 min
