The Big Picture
Movie reviews, top fives, Oscar analysis, and industry discussion
Overview
The Big Picture is hosted by Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins at The Ringer, providing weekly movie reviews, top-five lists, Oscar analysis, and discussions about the film industry. The podcast covers new theatrical releases, streaming premieres, classic films, and broader industry trends with a combination of critical analysis and accessible conversation. Episodes explore topics ranging from specific films and performances to directorial careers, genre evolution, studio strategy, and the cultural impact of cinema. The show serves as both a current guide to what is worth watching and a thoughtful examination of how movies are made, marketed, and received in contemporary culture.
Fennessey and Dobbins bring complementary perspectives to their conversations — Fennessey with his deep knowledge of film history and industry mechanics, Dobbins with her sharp critical eye and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom about what makes movies good or important. Episodes typically run 60 to 90 minutes and follow various formats including new release reviews, retrospective deep dives, draft-style top-five rankings, and interviews with filmmakers and actors. The conversational dynamic between the hosts is relaxed and engaging, making film criticism feel accessible rather than academic or pretentious. The podcast is produced by The Ringer, a media company founded by Bill Simmons, which gives it professional production values and access to notable guests from across the film industry.
How It Works
Ideal for actors who want to stay current with new releases and develop their critical understanding of what makes films successful artistically and commercially. The show is particularly valuable for actors interested in understanding how performances are received and discussed by critics and audiences, as the hosts frequently analyze acting choices, casting decisions, and the dynamics between actors and directors. The podcast's Oscar coverage during awards season provides insight into how industry consensus forms around certain performances and films, which can help actors understand the factors beyond pure talent that influence recognition and career advancement. The show also benefits actors who want to be conversant about contemporary cinema and industry trends when networking or socializing with industry professionals.
Free on all podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. The Ringer's website also publishes show notes and related articles that extend the podcast's coverage and provide additional context on the films and topics discussed.
Who Uses It
Highly recommended for actors who want to understand cinema as an art form, a business, and a cultural force, not just as a vehicle for their own careers. The podcast's combination of critical analysis and industry awareness helps actors see the bigger picture of how their work fits into larger creative and commercial ecosystems. What sets The Big Picture apart from casual movie discussion podcasts is the hosts' genuine expertise and their ability to balance accessibility with sophisticated analysis — they can discuss auteur theory and studio economics without losing listeners who are not film scholars or industry insiders. For actors who want to be knowledgeable about the films and filmmakers shaping contemporary cinema, this podcast provides an efficient way to stay current and develop critical literacy. The show serves as continuing education in film appreciation that complements formal acting training focused primarily on performance technique.
Pricing & Plans
The Big Picture is completely free on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. The Ringer produces substantial additional written and video content related to film coverage, much of which is also freely available, creating a comprehensive ecosystem of film criticism and analysis at no cost. The podcast's weekly release schedule provides regular engagement with new releases and ongoing film conversations without requiring any subscription or payment. For actors who want to develop their understanding of cinema and stay current with industry developments but cannot afford film school or expensive screening series and film festivals, this podcast provides high-quality film education and criticism at no cost. The free accessibility ensures that cultural and critical literacy about film is available to actors regardless of their financial circumstances.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
The podcast's greatest strength is the chemistry between Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins and their ability to have substantive critical conversations that remain accessible and entertaining rather than academic or exclusionary. Episodes that analyze specific performances help actors understand how critics and engaged audiences perceive and discuss acting choices, providing external perspective on the craft that can inform your own approach to roles. The show's Oscar coverage during awards season provides valuable insight into how industry consensus forms, which factors beyond pure performance quality influence recognition, and how campaigns and narratives shape perceptions of actors and films. The podcast's willingness to discuss commercial and industrial factors alongside artistic considerations helps actors understand that film success depends on the complex intersection of creativity, marketing, timing, and industry politics. The top-five episodes and draft formats make film history and genre evolution accessible and fun, helping actors build cultural literacy about cinema without requiring academic study. The show's guest interviews with directors, writers, and actors provide behind-the-scenes perspectives on how films get made and how creative decisions are negotiated within commercial constraints.
What Could Be Better
The podcast is focused on film criticism and appreciation rather than acting technique or career development, which means it provides cultural context rather than actionable professional advice. Actors seeking specific guidance on auditions, agents, self-taping, or breaking into the industry will need to supplement this podcast with more instructionally focused resources. The show's critical perspective occasionally includes negative assessments of performances and films, which may feel uncomfortable for actors who prefer purely supportive content or who are sensitive to criticism of their peers. The hosts' tastes and preferences inevitably shape their coverage, and actors whose own cinematic interests differ significantly from the hosts' may find the podcast's focus less relevant to their viewing and learning priorities. The podcast's American film industry focus means it provides less coverage of international cinema, independent film outside the festival circuit, and non-narrative forms of moving image work. Additionally, because the show covers so many new releases, it requires relatively current engagement — older episodes discussing films from previous years may feel less immediately relevant than more evergreen content.
Our Recommendation
Actors who want to be knowledgeable, critically engaged film enthusiasts who can discuss cinema with insight and sophistication should make The Big Picture a regular part of their media diet. The podcast is particularly valuable for actors who want to understand how their performances and the films they appear in will be received, discussed, and evaluated by critics and engaged audiences. If you are primarily focused on technique development and career strategy and have limited interest in film criticism or cultural analysis, your time may be better spent on more directly instructional resources. The show is also valuable for actors interested in eventually moving into directing, producing, or creating their own content, as the discussions of filmmaking, genre, and industry dynamics provide education that supports those transitions. Pair The Big Picture with acting technique and career-focused podcasts to ensure comprehensive professional development that balances craft, business, and cultural literacy.
Pro Tips
When the hosts discuss specific performances, pay attention to the acting choices they praise or criticize — their analysis can help you understand how external observers perceive technique, authenticity, and effectiveness in ways that inform your own approach to roles. Use the podcast's new release reviews to guide your viewing choices, prioritizing films that feature the kind of work you aspire to do or that demonstrate approaches to acting and filmmaking you want to learn from. During Oscar season, listen to the show's awards coverage to understand how industry recognition works and how narrative, campaigning, and timing influence which performances get celebrated, recognizing that these factors often matter as much as the quality of the work itself. When the podcast discusses directors, pay attention to what the hosts say about their approaches to working with actors, as this information can help you understand what different directors value and how to collaborate effectively with varying directorial styles. Share episodes with fellow actors and use them as starting points for film discussions that deepen your collective critical understanding — the conversations you have about what you learn often provide as much value as the listening itself.