
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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 24 | Founded | 3 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | TV & FilmFilm ReviewsSociety & Culture | |||

This week we’re joined by the very liminal Ryan Broderick, proprietor of the great Garbage Day newsletter and host of the podcast Panic World, to discuss A24’s hit, Backrooms! Based on a 4-Chan thread, creepypasta, and web series, the movie has capt... more
This week, it’s springtime for sad boys, with “Obsession!” a horror flick from Blumhouse and director Curry Barker. The movie has exceeded all expectations and is currently doing better than its opening weekend, largely thanks to great word-of-mouth.... more
Coucou les cheris! As Cannes is underway on the Riviera, we take a break from our usual movie-of-the-week format to look back at the year so far, and look forward to this summer.
We count down our top 5 favorite movies of the year (that haven’t bee... more
Wake up sheeple, it’s The Sheep Detectives! This week we’re joined by our very own executive sheepherder Griffin Newman to discuss the new cozy mystery for families. After the mysterious death of their shepherd, played by Hugh Jackman, his band of sh... more
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When they know what they are talking about it's great, when they don't and bluster through it's a real tough listen
I appreciate the whole of the pod (hosts, guests, subject matter, production), but can Alison please stop saying “like” every other word? It’s a tic I can’t stand in a podcast.
I’d give Critical Darlings the back handed compliment that while I disagree with the evaluations as many times as I agree with them, that doesn’t take away from my experience of listening. In fact I think it adds to it, and that’s neat
Finally a podcast that feels like the perfect middle in the venn diagram of The Big Picture and Critics At Large! I can see this becoming my favorite weekly film criticism podcast, although I fear the over saturation in film crit podcasts specifically might bury this one. Something I will say I get annoyed with current film crit pods: the lead up to the 2026 oscars made me feel like I heard the same exact takes 4 different times every week for like a year. If you can, please push oscars speculat... more
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #82 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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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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
Critical Darlings launched 3 months ago and published 24 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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Recent guests on Critical Darlings include:
1. Ryan Broderick
2. Lindsey Webber
3. Bobby Finger
4. Danielle Hewitt
5. Benjamin Frisch
6. Ben Frisch
7. David Sims
8. Sam Sanders
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