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Artwork for The Empire Film Podcast

The Empire Film Podcast

Bauer Media
Empire Magazine
Hollywood
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Film Industry
Star Wars
Disney Plus
The Odyssey
Netflix
Mission Impossible: the Final Reckoning
Christmas Movies
Tron Ares
The Running Man
A Thousand Blows
Wicked For Good
Christopher Nolan
The Rings Of Power
Thunderbolts
Superman
Materialists
Anemone

The Empire Film Podcast is the official podcast of Empire, the world's biggest and best movie magazine. We bring you all the latest movie news and nonsense, as well as reviews of the week's new films, an assortment of irreverent, film-related chat and interviews with some of Hollywood's best and brightest. New episodes every Friday. For our famous deep dives into specific movies, subscribe to the ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1188Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Film ReviewsTV & Film

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Artwork for The Empire Film Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees director Matt Johnson return, just a few weeks after he was talking up Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie. This time, he's talking to Amon Warmann about his new movie, Tony, which is a snapshot of a pe... more

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Taika Waititi, director of Hunt For The Wilderpeople, Zoom in for a cracking chat with Chris Hewitt about that movie's tenth anniversary re-release, his feelings about the loss of the great Sam Neill, th... more

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt — freshly returned from Comic-Con and San Diego — sit down for a lovely chat with Spider-Man: Brand New Day director, Destin Daniel Cretton. Either side of that, Chris is joined in the podbo... more

And so Empire has said goodbye to Comic-Con 2026, after an absolutely jam-packed few days that saw our Chris Hewitt race around the San Diego Convention Centre, taking in panels and press lines galore, speaking to some of the biggest and brightest ar... more

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Recent Guests

Taika Waititi
Director, Hunt For The Wilderpeople
Various (New Zealand filmmaker)
Episode: The Greig Fraser Key Light Challenge (ft. guest, Taika Waititi)
Destin Daniel Cretton
Director known for Short Term 12, Just Mercy, Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings
Marvel Studios / Sony Pictures
Episode: No Sex Scenes! (ft. guest, Destin Daniel Cretton)
Chris Butler
Writer of Masters Of The Universe and Wildwood panelist
Masters Of The Universe
Episode: Comic-Con 2026: The Reaction Pod (recorded in San Diego)
Mary Steenburgen
Actress featured in The Dink interview
Apple TV / The Dink
Episode: Dogg Day Afternoon (ft. Mary Steenburgen; and Tom Hiddleston)
Scott Aukerman
Comedian, actor, writer, and creator/host of Comedy Bang! Bang!
Comedy Bang! Bang! / Empire interviewee
Episode: Scott Aukerman on Comedy Bang! Bang! — An Empire Podcast Interview Special
John Leguizamo
Eumaeus in the film; actor
Actor
Episode: The Interviews: The Odyssey Special (ft. Matt Damon & Tom Holland; Himesh Patel & John Leguizamo)
Tom Holland
Telemachus in the film; actor
Actor
Episode: The Interviews: The Odyssey Special (ft. Matt Damon & Tom Holland; Himesh Patel & John Leguizamo)
Matt Damon
Odysseus in the film; veteran actor
Actor
Episode: The Interviews: The Odyssey Special (ft. Matt Damon & Tom Holland; Himesh Patel & John Leguizamo)
Christopher Nolan
Writer-director of The Odyssey
Warner Bros. / Syncopy
Episode: Do You See? (ft. Christopher Nolan)

Hosts

Chris Hewitt
Host of the Empire Podcast; long-running feature interviewer and magazine contributor with deep ties to Empire Magazine/Empire.
Helen O'Hara
Co-host on the Empire Podcast; frequent interviewee and panel participant with a focus on film analysis and industry perspectives.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 4.5k ratings
  • Downhill

    Unfortunately the team have jumped the shark in regards to their political views. They have literally no qualification to do this. We tune in for distraction not to feel worse. We also tune in for your film comment, discussion and fun. This all seems to be have forgotten and they all have inflated

    views of their impact on society.

    Plus the Marvel obsession is beyond ridiculous. You have listeners and magazine subscribers who are DC fans (comics and films). No one on the podcast has made a fil... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Get back to the films
    United Kingdom21 days ago
  • Movie fan

    Great content, with sharp and insightful reviews that often steers me towards films I may not have watched. The Marvel and Avatar fanboying can get a bit tedious, but doesn’t overshadow hours of excellent free content that I have enjoyed for years.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Physio2005
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Up and down, highs and lows, in and out?

    The Marvel love is intolerable… the Avatar love is just embarrassing.

    I’ve been listening for years and still do (just about) so 5 stars for a truck load of free entertainment.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hatchershmatcher
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • When did it all go wrong

    I can no longer listen to this, it’s become a shadow of its former rather good self. I want to know about films and not mindless chatter, politics and overlapping voices. Get back to been what you were once good at

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    FreyjaKat
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • I owe you this

    Been listening since the beginning and do so every week. Best film pod around. Five stars from me is quite literally the least I could do for the hundreds of hours of entertainment. Enjoy those stars. Savour them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jack Hackett
    United Kingdom9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Polarizing at times, but the camaraderie and knowledge depth keep it compelling.
Great balance of industry insight and banter; feel-good yet informative.
Insightful and entertaining, with strong guest interviews and film analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dogg Day Afternoon (ft. Mary Steenburgen; and Tom Hiddleston)
Q: How familiar were you with Pickleball when The Dink was pitched to you?
Mary Steenburgen explains her enthusiasm came from a family connection to pickleball, and she embraced it because the script and cast sounded exciting, alongside her own love of learning new skills.
Do You See? (ft. Christopher Nolan)
Q: Was the Odyssey always intended to be non-linear or did that structure evolve during writing?
Nolan explains that while nonlinear storytelling is a long-standing interest, the Odyssey itself provided a structural model for storytelling through nested narratives and flashbacks, which he adapts rather than invents from scratch.
Comic-Con 2026: The Reaction Pod (recorded in San Diego)
Q: What makes Doctor Doom such a compelling villain for the MCU, and how do you balance homage with originality?
Doom works because he blends intellect, power, and vulnerability; the key is to retain his menace while layering human motivations, so audiences see the personal loss and manipulation as core to his decisions, not just his abilities.
Comic-Con 2026: The Reaction Pod (recorded in San Diego)
Q: How did you approach writing for Masters Of The Universe versus Wildwood given they share a common collaborator in Travis Knight?
I approach each project by staying true to the source IP while honoring its pre-existing fan expectations, then allowing room for fresh interpretation where it serves the story and the budget, ensuring the end result remains faithful but not a slavish recreation.
You Know How To Whistle, Don't You? (ft. Olivia Wilde and Edward Norton)
Q: Were there ground rules laid down? Was it like anything goes?
The cast and Olivia Wilde approached rehearsal as an open, collaborative process aimed at authenticity; they spent weeks together to brainstorm, share personal anecdotes, and relax to remove barriers, allowing improvised dialogue and personal dynamics to shape the performances.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Empire Film Podcast

What is The Empire Film Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly film-focused conversation that blends in-depth interviews with current cinema chatter, news, and playful banter. Episodes span long-form interviews with prominent filmmakers, actors, and writers, plus lively discussions around upcoming releases, industry trends, and convention coverage. A standout trait is the revolving cast of guests and a knack for balancing detailed craft insights with entertaining, impromptu banter. This mix makes it appealing for listeners who want both thoughtful movie analysis and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, often served with a healthy dose of magazine-style enthusiasm and humor.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Empire Film Podcast?

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How many listeners does The Empire Film Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Empire Film Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Empire Film Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Empire Film Podcast 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 The Empire Film Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Empire Film Podcast:

1. Pilot TV
2. Kermode & Mayo’s Take
3. Kermode on Film
4. Film Stories with Simon Brew
5. Screenshot

How many episodes of The Empire Film Podcast are there?

The Empire Film Podcast launched 14 years ago and published 1188 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 The Empire Film Podcast?

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 The Empire Film Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Empire Film Podcast?

Recent guests on The Empire Film Podcast include:

1. Taika Waititi
2. Destin Daniel Cretton
3. Chris Butler
4. Mary Steenburgen
5. Scott Aukerman
6. John Leguizamo
7. Tom Holland
8. Matt Damon

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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