Unspooled
Each week actor & comedian Paul Scheer (Black Monday, The League) and film critic Amy Nicholson (LA Times Chief Film Critic ) watch and discuss the best movies out there. From the classics to new releases and every indie film in-between. Along the way, they’ll dissect iconic scenes, spotlight their favorite characters, and decide if these movies still stand the test of time.
Episodes
August 13, 2026 • 68 mins
Paul and Amy head down to the Mississippi Delta with O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the Coen Brothers’ Depression-era odyssey that transformed Homer’s epic into a bluegrass-fueled American fable. They unpack George Clooney’s career-defining comedic turn, the film’s groundbreaking digital look, and the skillful way the Coens balance myth, music, and absurdity.
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August 7, 2026 • 27 mins
David Wain steps into the confession booth to talk cult classics, cinematic blind spots, and the movies that shaped his comedy. Paul and Amy chat with the Wet Hot American Summer creator about his new film Gail Doughtry and the Celebrity Sex Tape, fan-favorite quotes he barely remembers, and the jokes from Role Models that haven't quite stood the test of time.
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August 6, 2026 • 70 mins
To celebrate the 25th anniversary theatrical re-release of Wet Hot American Summer, we're revisiting Paul and Amy’s deep dive into the beloved cult comedy. They trace the film’s scrappy journey from The State to Camp Towanda, unpack its stacked cast of future stars, and explore how a box-office flop became one of the most influential comedies of its generation.
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July 30, 2026 • 81 mins
Paul and Amy hit the gas with Drive, Nicolas Winding Refn’s hypnotic neo-noir that transformed a would-be studio action movie into one of the defining films of the 2010s. They trace the unlikely collaboration between Refn and Ryan Gosling, unpack the film’s dreamlike blend of pop music, brutal violence, and Los Angeles noir, and revisit the movie’s famously misleading marketing.
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July 24, 2026 • 64 mins
Amy drops an emergency Unspooled episode to unpack Christopher Nolan’s epic take on The Odyssey, joined by USC classics professor Lucas Herrenroeder. Together they compare Homer’s original poem with Nolan’s bold reinterpretation, exploring everything from its Bronze Age authenticity and towering Cyclops sequence to the film’s treatment of Circe, the sirens, and the gods themselves. Along the way, they debate...
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July 23, 2026 • 81 mins
Paul and Amy set sail with An American Tail, Don Bluth’s sweeping animated tale of immigration, family, and hope. They trace Bluth’s break from Disney, debate the film's emotional impact, and celebrate how the film’s blend of darkness and optimism helped reshape the future of American animation.
You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6
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July 16, 2026 • 71 mins
Paul and Amy revisit Superbad, the coming-of-age comedy that turned awkward adolescence into an instant classic. They trace the film’s origins from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s teenage years, celebrate the breakout performances of Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Emma Stone, and explore how Judd Apatow and director Greg Mottola transformed a raunchy teen comedy into a surprisingly heartfelt story about friendship and growing...
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July 9, 2026 • 94 mins
While Amy's away, Paul welcomes writer-director BenDavid Grabinski for a Critics’ Choice celebrating The Muppet Movie. Together they revisit Jim Henson’s big-screen breakthrough, exploring how its blend of heartfelt storytelling, meta Hollywood satire, groundbreaking puppetry, and unforgettable songs turned a road trip with a frog into one of cinema’s most magical family films.
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July 2, 2026 • 71 mins
Paul and Amy unwrap Gremlins, Joe Dante’s delightfully chaotic holiday classic that proved cute can turn catastrophic in the blink of an eye. They trace the film’s journey from Chris Columbus’s much darker original script to Spielberg’s Amblin-produced crowd-pleaser, and unpack the inspired decision to keep Gizmo a hero instead of remaining a villain. Along the way, they explore the film’s sharp satire...
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June 25, 2026 • 83 mins
Paul and Amy continue their alien-movie streak alive with Nope, Jordan Peele’s ambitious sci-fi spectacle. They revisit the Haywood siblings’ quest to capture the impossible on camera, celebrate Keke Palmer’s star-making performance, and unpack the unforgettable menace of Jean Jacket, one of the most original movie monsters in recent memory.
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June 18, 2026 • 79 mins
Paul and Amy look to the skies with Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Steven Spielberg’s awe-inspiring follow-up to Jaws and one of cinema’s most influential visions of alien contact. They unpack the film’s ambitious production, from Spielberg’s growing creative confidence, Douglas Trumbull’s groundbreaking effects work and the casting. Along the way, they explore the movie’s themes of obsessio...
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June 11, 2026 • 75 mins
With Amy reporting from Cannes, Paul welcomes Jorma Taccone for a Dealer’s Choice episode on Die Hard 2, the explosive sequel that takes John McClane to a snowbound airport under siege. Together they make the case for one of action cinema’s most underrated follow-ups, celebrating Bruce Willis’s swagger, Renny Harlin’s direction, and the sequel’s knack for escalating the stakes without losing sight of c...
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June 4, 2026 • 67 mins
While Amy is off at Cannes, Paul welcomes Joanna Robinson for an Unspooled Critics’ Choice episode on Josie and the Pussycats, the 2001 musical comedy that was lightyears ahead of its time. They revisit Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan’s razor-sharp satire of pop music, consumer culture, and corporate branding and unpack how a movie stuffed with logos became one of Hollywood’s smartest critiques of marketing. Along...
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May 28, 2026 • 75 mins
Paul and Rob Anderson takes the reins for a Critics’ Choice episode with shining a spotlight on The Baby-Sitters Club, the earnest, deeply ’90s adaptation of Ann M. Martin’s beloved books that deserves far more respect. Together they revisit Stoneybrook’s summer adventures, from camp drama and crushes to heavier themes like divorce, class, body image, and responsibility, while celebrating the film’s s...
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May 21, 2026 • 75 mins
Paul welcomes Ed Helms into the Unspooled booth for a deep dive into Top Secret!, the gloriously absurd 1984 comedy from ZAZ while Amy is away. Between stories about Meet Dave, Ed’s lost role as “Lieutenant Buttocks,” and a celebration of his history podcast SNAFU, the two make the case that Top Secret! may be even funnier than Airplane! or The Naked Gun — just harder to categorize.
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May 19, 2026 • 44 mins
Lauren Lapkus steps into the confession booth to talk comfort rewatches, movie blind spots, and the films that changed her mind. Paul and Amy dig into her love for Big, 13 Going on 30, Tommy Boy, and Hocus Pocus, the strange experience of watching kids’ movies on an endless loop, and how her Newcomers podcast pushed her to finally embrace genres she’d avoided for years. Along the way, Lauren plays an unhinged “F**...
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May 14, 2026 • 58 mins
Paul and Amy kick off the 2026 summer movie season with a whirlwind preview of the films they’re most excited (and nervous) to see, from Supergirl, Tom Holland’s grounded new Spider-Man, and Spielberg’s mysterious Disclosure Day to Jackass: Best & Last, A24’s Backrooms, Olivia Wilde’s The Invite, and Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters. Along the way, they debate sequel overload (Toy Story 5, Scary...
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May 7, 2026 • 78 mins
Paul and Amy take the leap with The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the globe-trotting ode to daydreamers caught between routine and risk. They trace the film’s long journey from James Thurber’s short story through decades of stalled adaptations, unpack its blend of fantasy and reality, and explore how its work-versus-life themes resonate in a world shifting from analog to digital.
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April 30, 2026 • 89 mins
Paul and Amy say “show me the money” with Jerry Maguire, Cameron Crowe’s romantic drama that turns a mission statement into a midlife crisis. They trace the film’s long development, Tom Cruise’s defining performance, and the breakout turns from Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr., while unpacking its mix of sports, romance, and soul-searching ambition.
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April 23, 2026 • 88 mins
Paul and Amy step into the fashion closet with The Devil Wears Prada, revisiting the sharp, stylish comedy that evolved into a definitive story about the cost of ambition. They trace the film’s origins from Lauren Weisberger’s real-life experience, unpack the casting what-ifs, and celebrate Meryl Streep’s iconic, ice-cold turn as Miranda Priestly, from the “cerulean” monologue to the power plays that d...
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