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Critical Darlings

Blank Check Productions
Sinners
Oscars
One Battle After Another
Award Season
Project Hail Mary
Sentimental Value
Beegonia (beogonia)
Oscar Nominations
Ready Or Not 2
They Will Kill You
Oscars Ceremony
Yorgos Lanthimos
Cannes
Blockbusters
Arthouse Films
Blank Check Cinematic Universe
Ryan Gosling
Paul Thomas Anderson
Joachim Trier
The Secret Agent

Welcome to Critical Darlings: a podcast about the movies everyone is talking about, one new release after another. Every week, critics Richard Lawson and Alison Willmore cover the latest film driving the conversation—from big summer blockbusters to festival favorites, buzzy streamers, and major awards contenders. New episodes every Thursday. We’re a Blank Check Production! To catch up on our first... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes18Foundeda month ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmSociety & CultureFilm Reviews

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Latest Episodes

This week, we’re holding a seance in a Dress Barn™ with Mother Mary! Directed by David Lowery and starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Cole, this two-hander sees a pop singer and her former designer revisiting the rift that severed their early creativ... more

This week, we’re confessing the worst thing we’ve ever done with Zendaya and Batman himself with The Drama. The twist premise of A24’s newest hit throws a grenade into the idyllic romance of a beautiful couple in Boston in the days before their weddi... more

This week, it's The Mario Galaxy Movie! The second film in the Nintendo/Illumination franchise is already a global hit despite less than stellar reviews. It is nevertheless a fascinating film: an amalgam of stunning animation and music, full of hyper... more

This week we’re eating the rich with two new horror films that share devilishly similar premises: Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come and They Will Kill You both feature women fighting back against satanic cults run by rich elites in order to protect an estr... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Benjamin Frisch
Producer
Blank Check Productions
Episode: “The Mario Galaxy Movie” And The Changing Shape Of Video Game Adaptations
Ben Frisch
Producer, Blank Check Productions
Blank Check Productions
Episode: "Project Hail Mary" And Lessons For Family Blockbusters
David Sims
Film critic and returning guest
Episode: "One Battle After Another" And Oscar Predictions with David Sims
Sam Sanders
Host of The Sam Sanders Show on KCRW
The Sam Sanders Show / KCRW
Episode: "Sinners" And The Academy’s Growing Genre Acceptance with Sam Sanders
Joe Reid
Host of This Had Oscar Buzz
Vulture
Episode: "Sentimental Value" And Belated Oscar Breakthroughs with Joe Reid
Bilge Ebiri
Film critic and guest on episode
New York Magazine (and related outlets)
Episode: "Frankenstein" And The Craft Category Juggernauts with Bilge Ebiri
Wagner Moura
Actor; star of The Secret Agent
Brazilian cinema/Hollywood projects
Episode: "The Secret Agent" And The Increasingly International Academy
Marie Bardi-Salinas
Guest critic introduced during the episode
Episode: "Bugonia" And The (Oscar) Favourites with Marie Bardi-Salinas
Griffin Newman
Papa of the Podcast, Special guest
Blank Check Podcast
Episode: "Marty Supreme" And The Precursor Circuit with Griffin Newman

Hosts

Richard Lawson
Host of critical analysis and industry commentary; long-running co-host with a focus on awards, campaigns, and industry trends.
Alison Willmore
Co-host focusing on criticism, festival coverage, and industry campaigns; often discusses representation and industry dynamics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#8
United States/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#91
United States/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#4
Canada/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#21
United Kingdom/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#64
Canada/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#118
United Kingdom/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#19
Australia/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#25
France/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#99
Italy/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#108
France/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#113
Germany/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#180
Australia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#12
Ireland/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#12
New Zealand/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#16
Hong Kong/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#16
Argentina/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#16
South Africa/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#17
South Korea/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#17
Chile/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#21
Norway/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#23
Belgium/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#24
Mexico/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#30
Finland/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#36
Switzerland/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#37
Poland/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#38
Austria/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#42
Ukraine/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#45
Spain/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#45
Philippines/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#46
Netherlands/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#47
Brazil/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#56
India/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#65
Denmark/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#67
Russia/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#67
Argentina/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#68
Singapore/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#70
Sweden/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#81
Hong Kong/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#85
Taiwan/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#88
New Zealand/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#89
Israel/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#96
Ireland/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#109
Belgium/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#111
South Africa/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#123
Chile/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#126
South Korea/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#146
Norway/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#149
Mexico/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#182
Finland/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#183
Switzerland/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#216
India/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#223
Ukraine/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#224
Austria/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#229
Philippines/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#232
Poland/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#233
Japan/TV & Film/Film Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#241
Russia/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"Frankenstein" And The Craft Category Juggernauts with Bilge Ebiri
Q: What are your thoughts on Frankenstein's Oscar chances outside of the major categories?
The hosts and Bilge discuss how the film could rack up nominations in technical crafts like production design, sound, and makeup, even if it doesn't secure top prizes, while noting Netflix's inconsistent theatrical reporting complicates judging its blockbuster status.

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 Critical Darlings

What is Critical Darlings about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Critics and industry observers dissect the latest cinematic conversations, from blockbuster premieres to festival favorites and prestige campaigns. Episodes routinely center on awards-season dynamics, marketing strategies, and the cultural impact of high-profile releases, pairing sharp film analysis with insider perspectives on production, distribution, and campaign tactics. The format often features a rotating roster of guests—critics, filmmakers, and industry insiders—who bring behind-the-scenes context, trade insights, and firsthand experiences with campaigns, premieres, and press rounds. A notable strength is blending passionate cinephilia with practical guidance for navigating publicity, reception, and audience engagement in today's mu... more

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How many listeners does Critical Darlings get?

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How many subscribers and views does Critical Darlings have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Critical Darlings 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 Critical Darlings?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Critical Darlings:

1. Blank Check with Griffin & David
2. This Had Oscar Buzz
3. Prestige Junkie
4. Fighting In The War Room: A Movies And Pop Culture Podcast
5. The Big Picture

How many episodes of Critical Darlings are there?

Critical Darlings launched a month ago and published 18 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 Critical Darlings?

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 Critical Darlings?

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

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What guests have appeared on Critical Darlings?

Recent guests on Critical Darlings include:

1. Benjamin Frisch
2. Ben Frisch
3. David Sims
4. Sam Sanders
5. Joe Reid
6. Bilge Ebiri
7. Wagner Moura
8. Marie Bardi-Salinas

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.

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