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Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast

CatholicCulture.org
Christianity
Catholicism
Family Dynamics
Tree Of Life
Terrence Malick
Cinema
The Night Of the Hunter
In a Lonely Place
Barabbas
Nicholas Ray
St. Maximilian Kolbe
Humphrey Bogart
Gloria Grahame
Film Noir
He Who Gets Slapped
The Elephant Man
The Island
Book Of Job
Memory
Love and Relationships

Discussions of great movies from a Catholic perspective, exploring the Vatican film list and beyond. Hosted by Thomas V. Mirus and actor James T. Majewski, with special guests. Vatican film list episodes are labeled as Season 1. A production of CatholicCulture.org.

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Artwork for Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast

Latest Episodes

James and Thomas begin a sub-series on the filmography of Andrei Tarkovsky (whose religious films Andrei Rublev and The Sacrifice they already discussed as part of the Vatican Film List). His first film, Ivan's Childhood, depicts a young boy, Ivan, w... more

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Paul Duda joins James and Thomas to discuss Steven Spielberg's first extant UFO movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and what it says about the kind of meaning and transcendence people are seeking in the current UFO obsession. Paul also talks a... more

YouTube

On May 30, Thomas is giving the keynote address at the first annual conference of the Thomistic Artists Guild at the parish of St. Vitus in Los Angeles, CA. Free to attend!

www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/thomistic-artists-guild-2026-confere... more

Thomas Mirus, Nathan Douglas, and Andrew Petiprin gave this panel session at the 2024 Notre Dame Fall Conference, presented by the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture. The theme of the conference was "Ever Ancient, Ever New: On Catholic Imaginati... more

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Recent Guests

Paul Duda
Filmmaker, film producer
Frank and Lou Creative
Episode: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Andrew Petiprin
Founder of the Spe Salvi Institute; author and speaker
Spe Salvi Institute; Catholic World Report; Ignatius Press Podcast
Episode: 30 Years of the Vatican Film List – Catholic Cinema's Past and Future
Bishop Erik Varden
Bishop of Trondheim and Trappist monk
Diocese of Trondheim; Trappist monk
Episode: Bishop Erik Varden on cinema
Manny Marquez
Documentary filmmaker based in Tulsa
Episode: Into Great Silence (2005) w/ Manny Marquez
Anthony D'Ambrosio
Director, writer, and producer of Triumph of the Heart.
Episode: Triumph of the Heart director faced glorious trials making great Catholic art - w/ Anthony D'Ambrosio
Nathan Douglas
Episode: Fragmented sexuality in Malick's To the Wonder, Knight of Cups, & Song to Song
Brother Joshua Vargas
A seminarian at the Philadelphia Oratory
Episode: Crucifixion darkness: Barabbas (1961)
James Matthew Wilson
Poet and Philosopher, runs the MFA program in creative writing at the University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas
Episode: The Marx Brothers w/ James Matthew Wilson
Timothy Reckart
Animator, director, and chief creative officer of Sycamore Studios
Sycamore Studios
Episode: New birth for humanity: Children of Men (2006) w/ Timothy Reckart

Hosts

Thomas Mirus
Host of Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast
James Majewski
Co-host and actor; host of Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 81 ratings
  • Excellent Conversation on Film

    Again and again, I have found such nourishment from these discussions. I’ve also learned of films I may not have otherwise, and several of these have become new favorites. Thank you so much for this, and please keep up the good work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    andhiggins
    United Statesa year ago
  • My favorite film podcast

    By some margin my favorite film podcast. The conversations are engaged and knowledgeable without being overly academic (except when they need to lean that way, as when discussing the Church’s response to early cinema — but even then they have discussions with an actual practicing filmmaker who’s interested in the art of cinema). I’m not even a Catholic and I find great value in every episode. What a pleasant surprise for me to find a podcast from a different worldview — not only does this show h... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steve Brooks - Stockholm
    Sweden2 years ago
  • Do these guys even like movies?

    They defend the confederacy more than they defend even slightly challenging scenes/ directors. One of the hosts always watches these with groups of friends and laughs through the entirety? Very weird for a film podcast. The guests are always excellent, but they often end up in the role of informing the hosts what they missed, or why these films are important in both the Catholic canon and film history in general. I keep listening though, so I’ll give them 4 stars

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    TONY STAYFRESH
    United States3 years ago
  • A rare gem.

    Man, I’m not the type to lend an ear to ANY podcast or show where people that aren’t my friends and I are discussing art of any kind, but I found this show from an accidental Google search for Andrei Tarkovsky and I'm grateful to God for guiding me towards this show! These two are intelligent and as a Catholic man myself, I'm very happy that the bias overall is in favor of our Lord and I appreciate lens being adjusted for those of us whom love film and our Blessed Lord. I really wish more of sec... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    House of Wolves 86
    United States4 years ago
  • Martin Scorsese’s Silence

    Love the podcast! Would love for you guys to cover Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” with Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson and Adam Driver

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    meadi8r
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise deep, intelligent conversations that illuminate films through Catholic ideas.
Many value accessible, non-academic style with strong guest expertise.
Some direct criticism notes tonal bias or strong viewpoints on certain films.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

30 Years of the Vatican Film List – Catholic Cinema's Past and Future
Q: What steps can Catholic cinephiles take to build a robust culture of Catholic film criticism in a totally Catholic-filmless era?
Encourage openness to diverse films, deepen formation in the Catholic tradition, and foster regular, communal discussion about form and aesthetics—using the Internet to connect communities, share insights, and sustain a practical critical practice.
Triumph of the Heart director faced glorious trials making great Catholic art - w/ Anthony D'Ambrosio
Q: What influenced your decision to create a film focused on St. Maximilian Kolbe?
D'Ambrosio's personal struggles and spiritual journey led him to this story, particularly Kolbe's ability to inspire hope in the direst circumstances.
Triumph of the Heart director faced glorious trials making great Catholic art - w/ Anthony D'Ambrosio
Q: How has the launch and distribution of 'Triumph of the Heart' panned out?
The audience response has been overwhelmingly positive, and the reviews have been amazing.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast

What is Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Discussions of great cinema filtered through a Catholic lens, with a focus on the Vatican film list and broader art-film intersections. The show blends film craft, theology, and cultural reflection, often pairing the two hosts with guests who are filmmakers, writers, or religious figures. Guests bring practical insights on Catholic storytelling, sacred art, and the challenges of producing faith-forward cinema, creating conversations that appeal to listeners who value thoughtful critique, spiritual themes, and film history alike. A notable strength is the sustained, long-form dialogue that pairs cinephile insight with clear faith-informed perspective, making it a likelier fit for listeners who want both craft and context in cinematic discuss... more

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1. The Thomistic Institute
2. First Things Podcast
3. Evangelization & Culture Podcast
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Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 142 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast?

Recent guests on Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast include:

1. Paul Duda
2. Andrew Petiprin
3. Bishop Erik Varden
4. Manny Marquez
5. Anthony D'Ambrosio
6. Nathan Douglas
7. Brother Joshua Vargas
8. James Matthew Wilson

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