The Empire Film Podcast
Weekly movie news, reviews, and listener questions from the world's biggest movie magazine
Overview
The Empire Film Podcast is the official podcast of Empire, the world's biggest movie magazine, hosted by Chris Hewitt, James Dyer, and Helen O'Hara. The weekly show covers movie news, reviews, and listener questions with a combination of expertise, enthusiasm, and humor that reflects the magazine's reputation for accessible, authoritative film coverage. Episodes explore new theatrical releases, streaming premieres, industry developments, and classic films with a focus on what makes movies work as entertainment and as art. The podcast serves both as a guide to current releases and as an ongoing conversation about cinema that helps listeners develop their understanding and appreciation of film.
The three hosts bring complementary perspectives and areas of expertise to their discussions, creating a dynamic conversational environment that keeps episodes engaging and varied. Hewitt, Dyer, and O'Hara are all experienced film journalists with deep knowledge of film history, industry mechanics, and critical analysis, which enables them to discuss movies with both intelligence and accessibility. Episodes typically include segments on new releases, news roundups, spoiler-filled deep dives, listener questions, and interviews with filmmakers and actors. The podcast's connection to Empire magazine gives it access to high-profile guests and early screenings that enhance its coverage and authority. The conversational tone is warm and inclusive, welcoming both serious film enthusiasts and casual moviegoers.
How It Works
Ideal for actors who want to stay current with new releases and develop their critical understanding of contemporary cinema in an accessible, entertaining format. The show is particularly valuable for actors interested in understanding how films and performances are received by critics and engaged audiences, as the hosts frequently discuss acting choices, casting decisions, and the dynamics between performers and filmmakers. The podcast's coverage of industry news and trends helps actors stay informed about developments that may affect their career opportunities and the types of projects being produced. The show also benefits actors who want to be conversant about current cinema when networking or socializing with industry professionals, as the podcast provides efficient, enjoyable film education.
Free on all podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Empire's website also publishes show notes, related articles, and additional podcast content that extends the film coverage beyond the weekly flagship episodes.
Who Uses It
Highly recommended for actors who love movies and want to maintain their enthusiasm and knowledge about the art form they work in. The podcast's combination of news, reviews, and thoughtful discussion provides a comprehensive weekly film education that keeps listeners current and engaged with cinema. What sets The Empire Film Podcast apart from countless other movie podcasts is the hosts' genuine expertise as professional film journalists combined with their accessible, unpretentious conversational style — they can discuss complex filmmaking and critical concepts without alienating listeners who are not film scholars. For actors who want to understand the films and filmmakers shaping contemporary cinema without the time commitment of reading multiple film publications or the expense of attending festivals and screenings, this podcast provides efficient, enjoyable coverage. The show serves as a reminder that cinema is fundamentally about storytelling, craft, and the shared experience of watching movies, which can help actors reconnect with the love of film that often motivates the pursuit of acting careers.
Pricing & Plans
The Empire Film Podcast is completely free on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Empire magazine itself requires a subscription, but the podcast is freely available without requiring any paid membership or access. The weekly release schedule provides regular engagement with new releases and ongoing film conversations at no cost, making professional-quality film criticism and discussion accessible to actors regardless of their financial circumstances. The podcast's extensive archive allows new listeners to explore back episodes covering films and topics of particular interest, creating a comprehensive free resource for film education. For actors who want to develop their cultural and critical literacy about cinema but cannot afford film school, screening series, or festival passes, this podcast provides high-quality film coverage and analysis at no cost.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
The podcast's greatest strength is the chemistry among the three hosts and their ability to blend expertise with enthusiasm — they clearly love movies and film culture, which makes their criticism feel like celebration and exploration rather than cynical evaluation. Episodes that review new releases help actors understand how critics and engaged audiences perceive and discuss films and performances, providing external perspective that can inform your own viewing and creative choices. The show's willingness to discuss both strengths and weaknesses of films creates a balanced critical perspective that helps listeners develop their own analytical skills rather than simply accepting received wisdom about what is good or bad. The listener question segments create a sense of community and dialogue that makes the podcast feel interactive rather than one-directional, and the questions often address topics that listeners are genuinely curious about. The podcast's coverage of industry news keeps actors informed about developments — new projects in production, casting announcements, studio decisions — that may represent emerging opportunities or trends worth monitoring. The show's British perspective provides a slightly different angle on Hollywood films and the American industry than US-based podcasts, which can offer refreshing variety and new insights.
What Could Be Better
The podcast is focused on film coverage and appreciation rather than acting technique or career development, which means it provides cultural context and critical perspective 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 hosts' critical assessments of performances and films, while generally fair and thoughtful, may occasionally include negative evaluations that some actors find uncomfortable or discouraging. The podcast's British origin means it occasionally includes references to UK film culture, industry practices, and cultural contexts that may be less familiar to American actors, though this is generally minimal and does not significantly limit accessibility. The show's coverage is heavily weighted toward theatrical releases and major streaming films, with less attention to independent cinema, international film, or non-narrative work. Additionally, because the podcast covers so many new releases, older episodes discussing films from previous years may feel less immediately relevant than evergreen content, though the critical discussions often have lasting value beyond the specific films reviewed.
Our Recommendation
Actors who want to stay current with new releases and develop their critical understanding of cinema in an entertaining, accessible weekly format should subscribe to The Empire Film Podcast. The show is particularly valuable for actors who want to understand how their performances and the films they appear in will be received and discussed by critics and engaged audiences. If you are primarily focused on technique development and career strategy with limited time for film appreciation content, you may prefer to spend your listening time on more directly instructional resources, though the cultural literacy this podcast builds has genuine professional value. The show is also valuable for actors who love movies and want to maintain their enthusiasm and knowledge about the art form they work in, as the hosts' genuine passion for cinema is infectious and can reinvigorate your own connection to film. Pair The Empire Film Podcast with acting technique and career-focused podcasts to ensure comprehensive professional development that balances craft, business knowledge, and cultural engagement.
Pro Tips
When the hosts discuss specific performances, pay attention to what they praise or criticize — their analysis can help you understand how external observers perceive acting choices and what qualities distinguish memorable, effective performances from forgettable or distracting ones. Use the podcast's reviews to guide your viewing choices, prioritizing films that feature work you admire or approaches to filmmaking you want to learn from, as studying excellent work is one of the most valuable forms of continuing education for actors. During the listener question segments, consider what questions you would ask the hosts if you had the opportunity, as formulating questions about film and filmmaking helps clarify your own areas of curiosity and learning priorities. When the podcast covers industry news, consider how the developments discussed might affect the types of opportunities available to actors or the skills and experiences that will be in demand in the evolving industry. Share episodes with fellow actors and use them as starting points for film discussions that deepen your collective critical understanding and strengthen your professional community.