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School of Movies

Alex & Sharon Shaw
Gravity Falls
Star Wars
Christopher Nolan
Baldur's Gate III
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Christmas
Beetlejuice
Mental Health
Transformers
Love Actually
Undertale
Self-Identity
The Rise Of Skywalker
Kaiju
Richard Curtis
Fella's Scenarios
Die Hard
Transgender Identity
Alfred Hitchcock
Spirited Away

Super in-depth analysis of movies (and occasionally TV, and video games). Hosted by veteran podcasters Alex & Sharon Shaw with different guests for round-table chats every week.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes500Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
TV & Film

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for School of Movies

Latest Episodes

[School of Movies 2026]

After the 2022 failure ($226m on a $200m budget) of Lightyear to succesfully spin-off from the main Toy Story franchise (and we did a show about that at the time), they went back to the billion-dollar well that is the direct ... more

[School of Movies 2026]

Back in 2011, early in my podcasting career I recorded three shows with Daniel Floyd on what seemed at the time to be a now-completed very rare example of a Perfect Trilogy. Even legendary grump Mark Kermode remarked on how n... more

[Digital Gonzo 2011]

The third and final of this short series of archival re-releases, this time dealing with what we thought at the time was the last ever Toy Story film. An ending that moved the world to tears and became not only the highest earni... more

[Digital Gonzo 2011]

Another archival show from my early days, but one that is good enough to be re-released without re-editing.

Toy Story 2 was originally begun as a straight-to-VHS sequel, and then-CEO of Disney Michael Eisner was fine with it be... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Christopher Finik
Guest on the episode
Episode: X-Men '97 (Season 1)
Chris Finik
Guest on the Dispatch commission discussion
Episode: Dispatch
Jenny Zigrino
Comedian with a passion for history and classical music
Episode: Amadeus
Ryan Estrada
Artist, author, and adventurer
Episode: The Truman Show
Dr. Hunter Mulcare
Guest expert invited to discuss 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'
Episode: Four Weddings and a Funeral
Hanna Peregrine
Contributing guest for this episode
Episode: Final Fantasy VII: Remake
Brendan Agnew
Film analyst and podcast guest
Make Me Watch It
Episode: RRR: Rise, Roar, Revolt
Bradford Yurkiw
Anime enthusiast and guest
Episode: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Laura Kate Dale
Well-known LGBTQ+ advocate, author and guest commentator
Episode: I Saw the TV Glow

Hosts

Alex Shaw
Host of School of Movies; long-running, analytical film commentator with focus on craft, themes, and contextual critique
Sharon Shaw
Co-host of School of Movies; complements with collaborative analyses, guest roundtables, and conversational critique

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 437 ratings
  • Very good

    15 word minimum so, jdkd dune under jdkd ujss ujss ujss hdnd Jan us use

    Audible
    5
    Elizabeth Wagenschutz
    United States2 months ago
  • Just Delightful.

    Insightful breakdown and things id not thought of , about the film and its characters. And i think, oh yeah, that makes sense. From the Abyss,Interview with a vampire, Forest gump, DnD . And others. Making films all the more enjoyable to watch.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    oinicknayme
    United States5 months ago
  • Is this a real show?

    Quite possibly the most delusional, pretentious, uninformed misinformation ever spoken about film. Absolutely astounding. Who are you trying to impress?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    AlexanderDaGr888
    United Statesa year ago
  • 80/20 Best/worst Podcast

    Sharon and Alex are two of my favorite movie podcasters, and have been the reason I have been subscribed to them for almost a decade. They are insightful and their enthusiasm and joy are infectious. However, Alex, as the hast is a mixed blessing. While he gives structure to the show and fuels the passion of this podcast his shortcomings have caused me to stop listening, let alone back this podcast on Patreon. The problem I have with Alex is two-fold, but they all involve a lack of courtesy, to h... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Tyriless
    United States2 years ago
  • Great breakdowns

    I enjoy the very thorough breakdowns. I just listened to the WandaVision episode. 10/10. I hope you guys do Agatha All Along.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jessicaallynn
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and roundtable format are frequently highlighted as a strength for diverse perspectives.
Public reception often notes thoughtful discussions and deep dives that stand out among film podcasts.
Some listeners feel the show has become overly political or pretentious at times.
Listeners praise the thorough, well-researched film analyses and the hosts' passion.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The People's Joker
Q: What is the turning point for the relationship between Joker the Harlequin and her mother?
The turning point is implied to be the realization by the mother that her behavior needed to change to reconnect with her child, suggesting that their past relationship was fraught with negativity stemming from fear.
The People's Joker
Q: What does first puberty mean for us, cissies?
First puberty is the one your body is just going to probably naturally do, while second puberty is the one you force on it with the power of science because your body was wrong the first time.
The Music of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Vol. 2
Q: Can you sing anything from a Marvel movie?
No, despite discussing many themes and pieces throughout the episode, none were sung or remembered by host Alex Shaw.
Gravity Falls (Show 1: Episodes 1-6)
Q: Why do old people do this shit?
It's creepy.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About School of Movies

What is School of Movies about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show delivers in-depth, analytical discussions of films (and occasionally TV and video games), anchored by two veteran hosts who guide round-table conversations with guests. Episodes frequently explore themes, production choices, and cultural context, with a mix of rigorous critique, thoughtful insights, and humor. Listeners can expect thoughtful takes on storytelling, performance, and craft, often framed by broader cultural and political commentary that surfaces in some episodes. A notable strength is the long-running, conversational format that blends serious film analysis with accessible, enthusiast energy, making it engaging for both cinephiles and casual listeners who crave deeper dives into movies and related media.

Where can I find podcast stats for School of Movies?

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

How many listeners does School of Movies get?

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What are the audience demographics for School of Movies?

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How many subscribers and views does School of Movies have?

To see how many followers or subscribers School of Movies 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 School of Movies?

These podcasts share a similar audience with School of Movies:

1. Now Playing - The Movie Review Podcast
2. The Cane and Rinse videogame podcast
3. We Hate Movies
4. Blank Check with Griffin & David
5. Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

How many episodes of School of Movies are there?

School of Movies launched 16 years ago and published 500 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 School of Movies?

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 School of Movies?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for School of Movies from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for School of Movies?

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What guests have appeared on School of Movies?

Recent guests on School of Movies include:

1. Christopher Finik
2. Chris Finik
3. Jenny Zigrino
4. Ryan Estrada
5. Dr. Hunter Mulcare
6. Hanna Peregrine
7. Brendan Agnew
8. Bradford Yurkiw

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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