Rephonic
Artwork for Cinematic Doctrine: A Movie Review Podcast Hosted by Christians

Cinematic Doctrine: A Movie Review Podcast Hosted by Christians

CINDOC
I Saw the TV Glow
Hot Frosty
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
When Evil Lurks
Nostalgia
The Assistant
Joker: Folie À Deux
Signs
Christmas
Mental Health
Mega-Church Culture
Hallmark Movies
Transgender Identity
Ready Player One
Toxic Masculinity
Workplace Culture
M. Night Shyamalan
Romance
Gender Identity
Pink Opaque

Cinematic Doctrine is a mature, millennial-infused film/tv discussion podcast from Melvin Benson that features Movie Discussions (conversational episodes about specific movies), Party Pleasers (movies fully-summarized from start to finish to discern if its a 'Party Pleaser' or 'Party Pooper'), and Let's Talks (prepared film-or-Christian related topical episodes). Influenced by Acts 17 and Romans 2... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes326Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityTV & FilmReligion & SpiritualityFilm Reviews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Cinematic Doctrine: A Movie Review Podcast Hosted by Christians

Latest Episodes

Send us a Question!

MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

Scream Queen Podcast: Podcast // Instagram // TikTok // BlueSky 

Janecka Olen, creator and host of the Scream Queen Podcast, joins Melvin to discuss a criminally underseen, economically paced sci-fi thriller ... more

YouTube

Send us a Question!

MOVIE DISCUSSION:

Kathryn joins Melvin to talk a surprise horror hit of 2026, undertone! This spooky flick has been helmed "the scariest movie you'll ever hear" by Collider, but is that actually true? Also, what's with all the c... more

YouTube

Send us a Question!

PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the Cinematic Doctrine Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! 

Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss the latest Patreon... more

YouTube

Send us a Question!

MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

Horror Hour with the Hannas: Podcast // Instagram // TikTok // YouTube 

Welcome to Twin Peaks: Podcast // Instagram

Hannah & Matt Hanna from Hour Hour with the Hannas join Melvin to discuss one of David Cron... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Sons of Patriarchy
Sons of PatriarchyPeter Bell & Sarah Bader
The Holy Post
The Holy PostPhil Vischer

Recent Guests

Matt Hanna
Co-host of Horror Hour with the Hannas
Horror Hour with the Hannas
Episode: The Fly (1986) - w/ Horror Hour with the Hannas on Fragile Bodies, Men, and Stomachs
Chris Staron
From Truce Podcast
Truce Podcast
Episode: Podcast Update + A Royal Christmas Mini-Game
Jessica LM Jenkins
Podcaster and educator focusing on historical context of women in the Bible
We Who Thirst
Episode: The Incredibles - w/ Jessica LM Jenkins on Pixar's "The Fantastic Four"
Kelsey Kramer McGinnis
Guest speaker with insights on the Christian music industry.
Christianity Today
Episode: Kelsey & the CCM Coconut Tree (Michael Tait, Sean Feucht, The Jesus Music)
Will Rose
Co-host of Systematic Geekology and lifelong surfer
Systematic Geekology
Episode: North Shore - w/ Systematic Geekology on Surfin' 101
Marissa Burt
Author and co-host of the At Home with the Lectionary podcast
At Home with the Lectionary
Episode: The Unknown – w/ At Home with the Lectionary on Perpetual Actors
Aaron Burt
Co-host of the At Home with the Lectionary podcast and an Anglican priest
At Home with the Lectionary
Episode: The Unknown – w/ At Home with the Lectionary on Perpetual Actors
Sheila Gregoire
Author of several books and host of the Bare Marriage Podcast
Bare Marriage Podcast
Episode: The Assistant - w/ Sheila Gregoire on Toxic Workplaces and How They (Don't) Manage

Hosts

Melvin Benson
Host of Cinematic Doctrine: A Movie Review Podcast Hosted by Christians; frequent host with discussion leadership and topic introduction.
Kathryn
Co-host; contributes theological and film-history perspectives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 73 ratings
  • Narcissistic, Nihilistic Joke of a Podcast

    Revising the review a bit - to summarize: Melvin is still narcissistic, cynical, nihilistic, ungrateful, envious and worst of all, promotes physical violence towards those he disagrees with.

    This podcast is leftist Tik Tok brain rot drivel - it is not serious film criticism for Christians. (See Deepfocuslense on YouTube for a similar, emotional review/response to film that Melvin used to have. Her channel is secular, but if you’re Christian and want serious discussion, see Criteria - a Catholic... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Reckoning 2.0
    United Statesa month ago
  • Excellent show!

    Love the show and the balance of film critique and irl life!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Taff 79
    United States2 months ago
  • Pathetic, Nihilistic Joke of Podcast

    Melvin is nasally, cynical, bitter, and begs - LITERALLY BEGS for Patreon subscribers with ad interruptions in his discussions - CONSTANTLY. Episodes are either a description of the plot of a movie or a tangential diatribe of Melvin virtue signaling with whatever way his Tik Tok algorithm deems he think. He has no original thoughts or ideas. He regurgitates Marxist ideology like a barking seal.

    Seriously - listen to the joint Quarterly catchups he does with the “Movies & Us” podcast - the disp... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    The_Reckoning
    United States2 months ago
  • Inauthentic, Cynical, and Judgemental

    I have been listening to Melvin’s Cinematic Doctrine podcast for many years now and I am sad to say the “mature, millennial-infused” discussions are far from the “Acts 17 and Romans 2:4” inspired ideas that he may have started with.

    First, Melvin’s lack of sincerity is apparent - he makes numerous mistakes that lend to his lack of credibility as a film critic. He’s made claims that “horror is uniquely an American film genre - we export horror like we do capitalism.” This take was made simply t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lover of Film 00
    United States4 months ago
  • Too angry

    Recently feel like Melvin’s been really angry, just constantly. His political rant was…. Something.

    I’ve noticed myself, that sometimes Christians who don’t like Trump (of which I am one) will just get really bitter at other Christians who do, and accuse them of being blinded. They say that it’s dangerous to be too absorbed in politics, which it is. But… sometimes.. it becomes clear they’re just as absorbed as the trump supporter, but since it’s not trump! It’s fine.

    They start whitewashing th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    A concept?
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Critics note strong production quality and clear host expertise.
Fans appreciate structured episodes and guest insights.
Listeners praise the thoughtful pairing of theology and film analysis.

Top Christianity Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Pride & Prejudice (1995) - w/ Marissa Burt on Patriarchy, Feminism, Shame, & Marriage
Q: What did you think of it?
Marissa shares her deep love for the story and its characters, explaining how it resonates with themes of longing and social class.
Pride & Prejudice (1995) - w/ Marissa Burt on Patriarchy, Feminism, Shame, & Marriage
Q: What compelled you to work on this?
Marissa explains her personal experiences and insights into the societal impacts of parenting teachings.
Q1 Catch-Up 2025: A Fresh Start
Q: Sarah, what do you got? What have you been watching?
Sarah highlights various films and TV shows, including 'Sing Sing', 'Black Bag', and 'Heretic', emphasizing their themes and performances.
Q1 Catch-Up 2025: A Fresh Start
Q: Jen, what have you been watching?
Jen discusses movies like 'Better Days' and 'Insecure', highlighting their emotional depth and cultural significance.
Annihilation - Reductionist Media
Q: What did the movie evoke in you?
The movie evokes a sense of frustration against the film for not living up to its source material and for being reductionist in its themes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, faith-informed film and TV discussion show that blends rigorous critique with personal reflections. Across recent episodes, conversations span body horror, gender politics, religious imagery, and moral questions in cinema, with frequent dives into craft, performance, and narrative ethics. The hosts balance devotional perspectives with accessible analysis, often weighing a movie's artistic ambitions against its messaging, and they frequently bring in guests or co-hosts to widen the lens on style, symbolism, and cultural impact. It's likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy thoughtful, evangelical-minded critique that can shift from tightly argued takes to lighter, hobby‑driven discussions about favorites and fringe works alike. ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Sons of Patriarchy
2. The Esau McCaulley Podcast
3. The Holy Post

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 326 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Matt Hanna
2. Chris Staron
3. Jessica LM Jenkins
4. Kelsey Kramer McGinnis
5. Will Rose
6. Marissa Burt
7. Aaron Burt
8. Sheila Gregoire

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days