Now Playing: The Karate Kid Retrospective Series

Men in Black - A Podcast Preview

The Hunger Games novels topped the New York Times best seller lists and went on to become Amazon's all-time top selling book series (outselling even Harry Potter). Jennifer Lawrence was an acclaimed Oscar-nominated actress gaining mainstream attention after her role in X-Men: First Class. When those two came together, with Lawrence playing lead character Katniss in the Hunger Games movie series, the result was a worldwide phenomenon. The first three films alone grossed over $2 billion worldwide. Now the fourth and final Hunger Games film is set to be released, and leading up to Mockingjay Part 2 Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob are watching and reviewing all the Hunger Games movies. Did the original movie The Hunger Games do the book justice? And how is it not just a young adult series? Donate to Now Playing to help keep the podcast going into next year, and you can listen and find out!

From Dusk Till Dawn - A Podcast Skit and Preview

Star Wars. It twice became the biggest movie of all time. It has launched a billion dollar empire of movies, toys, and merchandise. It has even started a religion. But now, under the ownership of Disney, the Star Wars universe is set to expand infinitely with a new movie each year -- starting with Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Now Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart go back to where it all started -- the 1977 original George Lucas film Star Wars (a.k.a. Episode IV: A New Hope). Listen to this review, then come to NowPlayingPodcast.com to hear our entire series!

After three failed attempts to open a dinosaur zoo, has Masrani Global Corp finally gotten it right? We find out in Jurassic World--the first new Jurassic Park film in over a decade! With Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt in the lead this film took a record-breaking bite out of the box office. How does it compare to the original trilogy? Donate to Now Playing to find out!

It is rare for a romance film to get a sequel, but Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise actually got two! Released in 1995, the movie tells of two strangers, Jesse and Céline, and their one night together in Vienna. But nine years later the couple returned in Before Sunset, and then in 2013 their story continued in Before Midnight. What is it about this saga that keeps the actors, director, and audiences coming back for more? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was a critical success, a box office hit, and Return of the King even took home Oscar gold, so it was anything but unexpected when Warner Bros. announced the series would continue with The Hobbit. Yet the film was delayed. Guillermo del Toro was announced as the director and then stepped down. Original trilogy director Peter Jackson returned to again make these new films, and then the series was expanded from two to three movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien's one novel. And the film was filmed and, in some areas, released in the cutting edge, and controversial, 48 frames per second speed. But how was the film? Donate to support Now Playing and you can join Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart as they give an overview of the film's lengthy production and review The Hobbit -- An Unexpected Journey!

Hear us review the 1980 slasher "video nasty" and the 2012 Elijah Wood follow-up at NowPlayingPodcast.com!

Peter Jackson's adaptation of Lord of the Rings runs over 9 hours, or 12 hours for the extended cuts. By contrast, in 1978 Ralph Bakshi's animated adaptation claimed to tell the saga in just over two hours. In truth, this theatrical cartoon adapts half of J.R.R. Tolkien's bestselling saga, and left audiences anticipating a conclusion that would never come. Can almost two novels be told in two hours? If you make a Platinum donation to Now Playing Podcast you can listen and find out!

The Leprechaun is back and he wants his gold, but he's no longer a rhyming fool but instead a vicious, feral creature in WWE's reboot and reimagining of the Leprechaun franchise. Can a Lep be truly frightening, or was it just scary that they tried? If you Trick or Treat Now Playing with a pledge then you can listen and find out!​

As we lead up to November's Interstellar, join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they look back at Nolan's early films.

​After three years Lord of the Rings fans finally had their epic conclude with Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Now Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob conclude their review of Jackson's original Rings trilogy. With huge battles and Frodo's personal battle of wills with the ring, this was Jackson's most ambitious film in the trilogy, and it took home plenty of Oscar gold. But will it also take home recommends from the Now Playing hosts? If you make a pledge in support of our show you can now listen and find out!

After the comedy showcase that was Escape from the Planet of the Apes viewers probably wouldn't expect a violent commentary on race relations as a follow-up. But that was exactly what was delivered in the fourth film of the series -- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes starring Roddy McDowall returning in the new role of ape revolutionary leader Caesar. This film was heavily modified to be family-friendly for release, but still had a harder edge than the previous films. Does this change of tone fit the series? Listen to this preview, then donate to support Now Playing podcast to find out!

Robocop is getting a cinematic reboot in February! Prepare for this upcoming film by joining Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they watch and review all the Robocop films! Join us at nowplayingpodcast.com to hear all the reviews.

It's Christmas in Kinston Falls, but unless Billy and Gizamo can stop the GREMLINS it may be more bloody than merry! This holiday season, join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they watch and review both Gremlins films! Listen to the first one now, then join us at nowplayingpodcast.com on New Year's Eve for part 2!