Rephonic
Artwork for Required Watching

Required Watching

Required Watching
Trapped
Bulbbul
Audition
Renfield
Josh Hartnett
M. Night Shyamalan
Michael Jackson
Pather Panchali
Alison Pill
Nicolas Cage
Dracula
Speed
Ek Tha Tiger
Bhoot
Aquafina
Nick Holt
Music Videos
Godzilla Minus One
Thrillers
Action Films

Go beyond the screen with the official podcast from Required Watching. This is your audio masterclass in the art of storytelling, designed for filmmakers, screenwriters, and dedicated cinephiles.

Each week, host and film analyst Tray Epps (and sometimes other guests) deconstruct the craft of cinema, providing practical "Toolkit" episodes to improve your work and in-depth interviews with industry p... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes154Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToEducationTV & FilmFilm Reviews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Required Watching

Latest Episodes

In this comprehensive review of the year in film, Tray Epps explores the trends, triumphs, and disappointments of 2025. He presents a definitive list of the top 10 films that are expected to resonate for years to come, while also addressing notable d... more

In this episode of East of Everywhere, Tray Epps explores the concept of filial piety in traditional East Asian society, contrasting it with Western individualism. The discussion delves into the philosophy of Confucianism, the importance of family ha... more

In this episode of Required Watching, I dive into the fascinating role of food in cinema, focusing on films like 'How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies' and 'Chef.'

I explore how food serves as a metaphor for emotions, relationships, and charact... more

In this conversation, Tray Epps discusses the film 'American Fiction,' a satirical exploration of race, identity, and the media's portrayal of Black narratives. He highlights the film's critique of the publishing industry's obsession with stereotypic... more

Today on Required Watching, Tray breaks down the impact and legacy of the documentary The Problem with Apu, a film that forced Hollywood to confront its long-ignored issues around representation and stereotyping — especially for South Asian communiti... more

Tray Epps dissects Kill—the train-bound action film that weaponizes violence as narrative. We explore how evolving fight choreography, crushing foley work, and immersive camerawork turn every bruise and heartbeat into story. Drawing connections to Th... more

Tray Epps dissects Bottoms, Emma Seligman’s razor-sharp, bloodiest teen satire. We unpack how heightened absurdity, messy queer protagonists, and raw fight choreography carry emotional weight without a single set-piece feeling gratuitous. Learn how t... more

Tray Epps explores Martin Scorsese’s cult classic The King of Comedy—the original parasocial horror story. We discuss Rupert Pupkin’s delusional quest for fame, Jerry Lewis’s poignant straight-man role, and how this film foresaw our current influence... more

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.

Host

Tray Epps
Host and film analyst who discusses the craft of storytelling in cinema, providing practical advice and industry insights.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 6 ratings
  • Great show!!

    Love this podcast ❤️ I will recommend this podcast to my friends and family. Keep it up 👍

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Adam"**"
    United States4 years ago
  • Thank You!

    This podcast is just what I was looking for. I enjoy looking at the list of movies and reflecting back to compare my critique with yours. Good stuff!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DeWayne.H
    United States5 years ago
  • So far so good

    Hm this show is interesting. I like that it isn’t too preachy. I enjoyed the conversation for Bamboozled. I like a good chit chat about films. I like it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dangle earrings
    Spain6 years ago
  • Love a short podcast

    As much as I like a podcast that goes on for an hour, I like hearing this guy have his thoughts that are short and sweet. I’m ready to Stan.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    frankenmonstarrs
    United Kingdom6 years ago
  • Yes!

    This is what my friends and I talk about all of the time. Can’t wait for more episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    finding views
    United States6 years ago
  • Exactly what I’m looking for....

    A movie review about older films that I can take part in.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Drowning in paper
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The concise format is liked, as it allows for quick yet informative insights into various films and industry practices.
Many find the podcast to be educational and valuable for both aspiring filmmakers and movie aficionados.
The blend of personal insights and industry knowledge is frequently praised, providing a relatable perspective on film critique.
Listeners appreciate the engaging discussions around storytelling techniques and filmmaking.

Chart Rankings

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

Top Film Reviews Podcasts

Blank Check with Griffin & David
Blank Check with Griffin & DavidBlank Check Productions
Unspooled
UnspooledPaul Scheer & Amy Nicholson | Realm
Scream!
Scream!Ash & Alaina & Caleb | Morbid Network
Dead Meat Podcast
Dead Meat PodcastChelsea Rebecca, James A. Janisse
Cinephobe
CinephobeZach Harper, Amin Elhassan & Anthony Mayes
You Are Good
You Are GoodSarah Marshall + Alex Steed

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Godzilla Minus One: Grief, Guilt & The Most Human Kaiju Ever
Q: Which version did you like the most?
A discussion encourages listeners to share whether they preferred the color version or the minus color version of the film.

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 Required Watching

What is Required Watching about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast focuses on the intricate art of storytelling in cinema, making it an essential resource for filmmakers, screenwriters, and film enthusiasts. It offers a blend of practical advice and in-depth interviews, giving listeners insights into various aspects of filmmaking from dialogue writing to sound design. Featuring episodes where guests share their experiences and industry knowledge, the content emphasizes not only technical skills but also creative exploration. The engaging format and diverse topics discussed make it appealing above all to those passionate about film but can also attract anyone interested in the nuances of storytelling and creativity.

Where can I find podcast stats for Required Watching?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Required Watching. 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 Required Watching and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Required Watching get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Required Watching, 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 Required Watching?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Required Watching, 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 Required Watching have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Required Watching 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.

How many episodes of Required Watching are there?

Required Watching launched 6 years ago and published 154 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 Required Watching?

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 Required Watching?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Required Watching 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 Required Watching?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Required Watching. 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.

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