The Next Best Picture Podcast

“The Liberation” is a 2026 mystery drama film directed by Guy Nattiv, co-written with Noa Berman-Herzberg, and inspired by real events from Nattiv's own grandmother's life. It stars Carrie Coon as Rita Cooper, a Holocaust survivor who renounces her family to join the Harmonia commune cult led by the mysterious but seductive Ricki King (Lily James). The film also stars Bella Ramsey, Odessa Young, and Tracy Letts. It premiered at the 53rd Telluride Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for Carrie Coon's dramatic lead performance. Upon the film's limited theatrical release on November 6th, Coon was kind enough to spend some time talking with us in-studio about her work and experience making the film, and various aspects of her career, including "The Leftovers," "Avengers: Infinity War," "The Gilded Age," watching movies with her husband, Tracy Letts, what her future looks like, and more, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in wide release in the United States from Bleecker Street on January 8th, 2027. Thank you and enjoy!https://youtu.be/l552awvOs_ACheck out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-best-picture-podcast/id1087678387Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-freeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Following our 515th episode of The Next Best Picture Podcast, we're back with a new episode of Mailbag Monday. Cody Dericks joins me for this new series, dedicated to answering your fan-submitted questions from the NBP Film Community. Covering everything from the latest movie news, awards season, and Oscar predictions to filmmaking, industry trends, and whatever else is on your mind, Mailbag Monday allows us to engage more directly with all of you every week. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for this episode, whether on our X account or on our Discord (Patreon members get a private link to chat with other NBP members and me). If you'd like to be featured on a future edition of Mailbag Monday, be sure to leave your questions in the comments or submit them through our social media channels every Sunday morning when prompted on our X account. We hope you'll join us every Monday as we continue the conversation beyond our weekly Sunday podcast. Thank you, as always, for listening, subscribing, and supporting Next Best Picture, and helping us build such an incredible film community. Enjoy!https://youtu.be/QeM3W0patDUCheck out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-best-picture-podcast/id1087678387Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-freeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For Episode 515 of the Next Best Picture Podcast, I am joined by Cody Dericks. This week, we're discussing what we think will win at tonight's Critics Choice Documentary Awards, and sharing our thoughts on the Best Documentary Feature Oscar race and Best Original Score/Song following the Hollywood Music in Media Award nominations. For this week's NBP poll question for the release of "I Play Rocky," we're asking everyone, "Which Is Your Favorite Movie In The Rocky Franchise?" And we reveal the winner of last week's NBP poll, where we asked everyone, for the release of "Wild Horse Nine," "Which Is Your Favorite Film John Malkovich Performance?" We also share our reactions to the trailers for "Karōshi," "The Liberation," "The Further Misadventures Of Cliff Booth," "Tender Loving Care," "Drag" & "The Gallerist." We are still answering your fan-submitted questions, but we'll now release our answers separately the next day in a new show called Mailbag Monday. So stay tuned for that and many other updates from Next Best Picture as this year's awards season continues. Thank you all for listening, subscribing, and supporting us. Enjoy!https://youtu.be/MA2YBaCBXaQCheck out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-best-picture-podcast/id1087678387Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-freeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For this week’s main podcast review, Daniel Howat and Tom O’Brien join me to discuss the new film written, directed, and with visual effects by Takashi Yamazaki, “Godzilla Minus Zero,” starring Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Yuki Yamada, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Sakura Ando, Miou Tanaka, Min Tanaka, Masami Nagasawa, and Jun Kunimura. A sequel to “Godzilla Minus One,” the film is set in 1949, as postwar Japan struggles to rebuild while facing a new threat: King Ghidorah. Godzilla reappears and, through human intervention, is drawn into conflict with the three-headed monster. The film had its world premiere at the 2026 New York Film Festival, where it received praise for its visual effects while sparking debate over how it compares to its predecessor. What did we think of it? Please tune in, either on video or audio only, as we discuss the story’s exploration of postwar recovery, its returning characters and performances, the use of King Ghidorah as a formidable antagonist to Godzilla, Yamazaki’s direction, the visual effects, thundering sound, Oscar prospects, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!https://youtu.be/KN8_zbpNTFUCheck out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-best-picture-podcast/id1087678387Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-freeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Wild Horse Nine" is a 2026 black-comedy spy thriller written and directed by Martin McDonagh, starring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, where Malkovich won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. Critics praised it for its performances, writing, and McDonagh's direction. Malkovich, Rockwell, Buscemi, and Posey were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Searchlight Pictures. Thank you, and enjoy!https://youtu.be/qTuNX4PQ4CwCheck out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-best-picture-podcast/id1087678387Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-freeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother” is a 2026 American action thriller film written and directed by Bassam Tariq, starring Mahershala Ali, John Cho, Giancarlo Esposito, Abubakr Ali, Tramell Tillman, Tiffany Boone, and Laith Nakli. The film follows a devoutly religious widower and hitman (Ali) who embarks on a desperate journey across Houston to protect his children, confronting the forces closing in around him and the beliefs threatening to unravel within. The film had its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, where critics widely praised Tariq’s writing and directing, as well as Ali’s lead performance. The film has been nominated for three Gotham Awards, including Best Feature and Outstanding Lead Performance for Mahershali Ali. Following the announcement of his Gotham Award nomination, Ali was kind enough to spend some time talking with us in-studio about his work and experience making the film, his career, including his two Best Supporting Actor Oscar wins for "Moonlight" and "Green Book," who he wants to work with next, what the future looks like for him, and more, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Amazon MGM Studios. Thank you, and enjoy!https://youtu.be/tZbPqKDxgTQCheck out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-best-picture-podcast/id1087678387Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-freeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Fjord” is a 2026 legal thriller family drama film written, directed, and co-produced by Cristian Mungiu. A co-production of Romania, France, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, it stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as a conservative Romanian-Norwegian couple facing scrutiny after moving to the wife's progressive, remote Norwegian hometown. It is loosely inspired by the true story of the Bodnariu family (renamed Gheorghiu in the film), whose children were forcefully taken from them by the authorities in Norway. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a 12-minute standing ovation and won the Palme d'Or, the François Chalais Prize, the FIPRESCI Prize, the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, and the Prix de la Citoyenneté. It received critical acclaim, with particular praise for its performances and screenplay, and has been selected as the Romanian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. Reinsve was kind enough to spend some time speaking with Nadia Dalimonte, while Mungiu spoke with Cody Dericks about his work and experience making the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from NEON. Thank you, and enjoy! https://youtu.be/_HBju5V-tpU https://youtu.be/Vigchud2q44 Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Mouse" is a 2026 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson, and written by O'Sullivan. The film follows Minnie (Katherine Mallen Kupferer), whose relationship with Callie (Chloe Coleman) is upended on the eve of their senior year when Minnie forms a complicated friendship with Callie's mother (Sophie Okonedo). It also stars Tara Mallen, Beck Nolan, Iman Vellani, and David Hyde Pierce. The film premiered in the Panorama section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its writing and performances. Mallen Kupferer, Okonedo, O'Sullivan, and Thompson were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters on November 6th from Independent Film Company. Thank you, and enjoy!https://youtu.be/HBNoVe-dDGIhttps://youtu.be/qgJ-EJPrZigCheck out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-freeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Godzilla Minus Zero” is a Japanese epic kaiju film written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, who also supervised its visual effects. A sequel to “Godzilla Minus One” (2023), the film takes place in 1949, as postwar Japan struggles to rebuild and faces a new threat from King Ghidorah, prompting a regenerated Godzilla to resurface and confront the monster. Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Yuki Yamada, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Sakura Ando, and Miou Tanaka reprise their roles, joined by newcomers Min Tanaka, Masami Nagasawa, and Jun Kunimura. The first Japanese production filmed for IMAX, the film had its world premiere at the 2026 New York Film Festival, where critics praised its visual effects and debated whether it surpassed its acclaimed predecessor. Writer and director Takashi Yamazaki and stars Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe were kind enough to spend time speaking with Giovanni Lago, while sound team members Hisafumi Takeuchi and Natsuko Inoue, visual effects artists Tatsuji Nojima and Takayuki Ueki, and producer Kazuaki Kishida spoke with me about their work and experiences making the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters on November 6th from Toho. Thank you, and enjoy! https://youtu.be/ubkGaKUMwHg Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Closure” is a 2026 Polish documentary film directed and produced by Michał Marczak. The film follows Daniel Dymiński, who searches Poland's Vistula River after his teenage son, Krzysztof Dymiński, goes missing in May 2023, torn between fear that his son is dead and hope that he may still be alive. CCTV footage taken on the morning of his disappearance shows Krzysztof standing on a bridge, but not whether he jumped or walked away, and Daniel continues to investigate long after the police and local media have stopped searching. The film had its world premiere in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it received widespread critical praise. Marczak was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from 1-2 Special. Thank you, and enjoy! https://youtu.be/h1f1Mz-yTrU Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.