So Many Sequels: A Movie Podcast

Freddy vs. Jason (2003) — So Many Scares FinaleTwo heads of Mount Slashmore finally fight — and Freddy has to hire Jason to do it. Freddy's been erased from Elm Street's memory, so he resurrects Jason Voorhees to spread fear in his name, then immediately loses control of him. It's a Freddy movie shot like a Jason movie, and we have thoughts.We cover the premise, the decade-long road to the screen, the box office (#1 two weekends straight), the dream fight, Kelly Rowland's big-screen debut, a finale that runs on pro-wrestling logic, and our final ranking of the big three slashers.Listen for our ratings and the final score-game result in the episode.Chapters00:00 Welcome to the So Many Scares finale01:36 The setup: Freddy needs Jason's help04:22 Box office: a decade in the making, #1 two weekends straight07:48 2003 in movies — and the state of comedy08:46 Garrett's case: this movie was the whole point10:27 A Freddy movie in Jason's style13:43 Josh's take: Freddy & Jason in Daredevil (2003)15:16 The lore problem: erased, locked up & Hypnocil18:08 Where are Freddy's creative kills? Plus the shadow kill20:10 Dream fight: pinball Jason21:35 Pick your murderer: rooting for Jason over Freddy23:49 Kelly Rowland stalls Freddy25:10 The real-world fight: pure pro wrestling28:09 The ending: nobody stays dead29:13 The sequel that never happened — and Crystal Lake30:41 Final ratings33:04 Letterboxd reviews: "They should have kissed"34:54 The score game36:36 Wrapping up So Many Scares37:01 Ranking the big three: Michael, Freddy, Jason40:11 Dream matchups: Ghostface vs. Jigsaw & more41:56 Outro: back to non-scary movies in NovemberWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SfasUXpOKQIFollow us on Instagram & Threads: @SoManySequels

Freddy's not in the movies anymore — he's in the real world, and he wants Heather Langenkamp to play Nancy one last time.So Many Scares jumps seven years and three sequels to Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994), the meta one: the actors play themselves, Wes Craven is writing the movie inside the movie, and Freddy is something older and meaner than the guy in the sweater. Is it the smartest Nightmare sequel, or too meta for its own good?First, Garrett and David recap the three sequels we skipped — The Dream Master, The Dream Child, and Freddy's Dead — so nobody has to face the Freddy baby alone. Then: the bone-claw debate, the Dylan problem, the phone calls that became Scream, and our case for letting Freddy rest for good.Our scores: Josh 2.5 · Garrett 2.5 · David 3 — Letterboxd says 3.3, and no, nobody guessed it.Chapters00:00 — Welcome to Freddytober: your book club for spooky movies01:02 — The big skip: from Dream Warriors (1987) to New Nightmare (1994)02:07 — Recap I — The Dream Master: the dream powers change hands04:10 — Recap II — The Dream Child: a Freddy baby & "Bon appétit, bitch"06:44 — Recap III — Freddy's Dead: no teenagers left, plus Breckin Meyer08:14 — Looney Tunes Freddy & the Wizard of Oz pitch09:29 — Roseanne, Tom Arnold & Garrett's rude awakening10:33 — New Nightmare: the movies are movies, the actors are real11:23 — Box office: opening weekend vs. Pulp Fiction13:26 — Too meta? Robert Englund plays Robert Englund15:03 — The Dylan problem: "Eat him, Freddy. Eat him up."16:09 — Craven's reset — and the phone calls that became Scream17:14 — The bone-claw debate: Freddy's new look18:48 — Blaming the movies: the doctor & '90s horror panic20:14 — Playground peril & dad fears20:47 — "God wouldn't take me" — and the Funyuns break21:17 — Wes explains the ancient evil22:02 — Let Freddy die: the anti-reboot argument (Threads weighs in)24:10 — No Englund, no Freddy: the recasting problem26:02 — Inspired by Freddy ≠ Freddy (Terrifier) & a dormant franchise28:34 — Letterboxd reviews: Dick Tracy villain, bring back the burnt weenie29:38 — Score game: the 3.3 reveal — David wins by 0.231:38 — Final ratings & David's surprise franchise favorite32:22 — Next week: the So Many Scares finale — Freddy vs. JasonNext week: the So Many Scares finale — Freddy vs. Jason (Oct 30).More episodes: somanysequels.comInstagram and Threads: @SoManySequelsPod

The course correction. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) brought Wes Craven back to the story and got the franchise back on track — and we're covering it for week three of So Many Scares.First-time viewings for Josh and David (Garrett caught it at a Circle Cinema midnight screening), the superhero-team structure that made Josh call it "the best X-Men movie," the backstory debate (should Freddy just be a dream demon?), Patricia Arquette's film debut, "Larry Fishburn," a Dokken music video, Garrett's DJ Jazzy Jeff revelation, a $44.7M box office run on a $4M budget, and a score game where Garrett nails the Letterboxd average exactly.Ratings: Josh 3, David 3, Garrett 3. Letterboxd average: 3.5 — only 0.2 behind the first film.Chapters00:00 — Welcome back to So Many Scares — Dream Warriors00:24 — Garrett's DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince revelation01:32 — Why So Many Scares rarely commits to a full series02:18 — Before they were famous: Patricia Arquette, "Larry Fishburn"03:38 — First-viewing verdicts (and Garrett's Circle Cinema midnight screening)04:54 — Chuck Russell: The Mask, Eraser, The Scorpion King06:35 — Freddy's backstory problem — dream demon or human?09:19 — The mystery structure actually works this time10:02 — The best kills so far11:42 — Freddy gets a personality (and the one-liners start)12:33 — Biggest budget yet: the effects showcase13:56 — Beetlejuice vibes and horror homages15:22 — Dream powers: lucid dreaming as agency19:07 — Better acted: future stars and the creepy doctor21:31 — "Welcome to prime time, bitch!"22:25 — Delightfully eighties: the Dokken music video23:23 — Box office: $8.8M opening weekend, $44.7M on $4M24:48 — 1987: Three Men and a Baby — directed by Leonard Nimoy?!28:54 — Our ratings: 3, 3, 329:30 — Letterboxd reviews32:33 — The score game — Garrett nails the 3.5 exactly34:23 — Next: Wes Craven's New Nightmare🌐 somanysequels.com | 📸 @somanysequelspod

The weird one. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) ditches the original cast, loses Wes Craven, and has Freddy possessing a teenager instead of killing kids in their dreams — and we're covering it anyway for week two of So Many Scares.Jesse Walsh moves into Nancy's old house, the title makes no sense (Freddy won last time — revenge on who?), horror gets a rare Scream King in the "final fella," Clu Gulager reps Oklahoma, the effects hold up even when the logic doesn't, and the Letterboxd crowd has thoughts about how sweaty Jesse is.Ratings: Garrett 2, David 1.5, Josh 2. Letterboxd average: 2.8 — almost a full point down from the first film.Chapters00:00 — Welcome back to So Many Scares00:41 — The Letterboxd synopsis01:15 — Box office: $2.8M opening, $29.9M total03:32 — No original cast, Craven walks away04:26 — Garrett was wrong about Nancy04:36 — Clu Gulager: another Oklahoman06:22 — "Freddy's Revenge" — revenge on who?07:41 — Re-learning lore in every horror sequel08:50 — Reality is as weird as the dreams09:25 — The effects hold up10:41 — Craven's 1988 quote: "silly script"11:51 — The "final fella" — horror's Scream King14:43 — Freddy has a personality; Jason doesn't18:12 — Jesse's only crime is living in that house20:22 — Burnt weenie, smoker, midnight toker21:09 — The Season of the Witch comparison21:51 — The FU endings23:42 — Our ratings: 2, 1.5, 225:27 — Letterboxd reviews26:38 — The queer subtext + the sweaty movie club28:00 — The score game — Josh wins by 0.1, again29:31 — Almost a full point down from the first film30:41 — Next week: Dream Warriors🌐 somanysequels.com | 📸 @somanysequelspod

The late, great Tim Curry originated Dr. Frank-N-Furter on the London stage in 1973 and made his film debut in The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 28 — and became everybody's devil. We close out our September tribute series with the most iconic cult movie ever made.The "who is your Tim Curry?" draft, the Joker role he lost to Mark Hamill, David's first-ever watch, a $1M flop that grew to $120M worldwide, Barry Bostwick and a baby Susan Sarandon, the Meatloaf timeline mystery, front-loaded bangers vs. the second-half slump, Letterboxd reviews, and a score game Josh and David split.Ratings: David 4, Josh 4, Garrett 4.5. Letterboxd average: 4.1 (1.4M logs).CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome to So Many Sequels00:58 Rocky Horror + the Tim Curry tribute01:33 Is he a character actor?01:52 Nigel Thornberry?! (voice career)02:46 He was almost the Joker (lost to Mark Hamill)03:55 Who is YOUR Tim Curry?07:41 Tim Curry: everybody's devil08:31 Kicking off spooky season08:49 The longest-running movie ever? (midnight screenings)10:34 The callback/callout culture13:13 The Letterboxd synopsis13:51 Box office: $1M flop to $120M worldwide15:36 Never write off a movie after opening weekend16:22 Originated the role on stage (1973), film debut at 2816:53 David's first watch (Drew Carey Show Time Warp)19:49 The songs: Time Warp is the peak, front-loaded bangers21:18 That voice — pure stage command24:21 Barry Bostwick & Susan Sarandon (Brad & Janet)25:53 The Meatloaf timeline mystery28:34 The 2016 Fox TV version (Laverne Cox)30:55 Circle Cinema screenings?31:19 Our ratings: 4, 4, 4.533:01 Letterboxd reviews ("horny and gay")33:58 The score game: 1.4M logs, 4.1 average — split points35:26 Wrap: see it with a crowd (a Thanksgiving movie?)🌐 somanysequels.com | 📸 @somanysequelspod

The one that started it all — Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) — and the first episode of our October So Many Scares series on the Nightmare franchise.Garrett's Blockbuster-kid origin story with slashers, David's first-ever watch, a $1 million budget that turned into $57 million worldwide, Tulsa's own Heather Langenkamp as the final girl who fights back, the "old man writing what teenagers say" dialogue, David's modest proposal that Freddy get two claw hands, the ending nobody can agree was a dream, Letterboxd reviews, and a score game Josh wins by a tenth of a point.Ratings: Garrett 3.5, David 3, Josh 3. Letterboxd average: 3.7.CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome to So Many Scares00:18 Kicking off Nightmare on Elm Street month00:52 The plan: ending with Freddy vs Jason01:55 The Letterboxd synopsis (reads like a VHS back)02:50 Box office: $1M budget, $57M worldwide05:41 Why this series + Garrett's Blockbuster days07:18 Only Robert Englund has played Freddy08:26 "An old man writing what he thinks teenagers say"09:49 David's first watch: dreams vs reality11:01 "Fred is a pervert"14:08 The glove: "get two claw hands"18:01 Dream logic that works (the sinking stairs)19:35 Tulsa's own Heather Langenkamp21:31 Nancy: the final girl who fights back23:25 Plot holes: how do the kids know about Freddy?26:35 Could Freddy work today? (Smile, It)30:04 The ending: was it a dream?32:13 "One, two, Freddy's coming for you"33:01 Our ratings: 3.5, 3, 335:44 Letterboxd reviews36:47 The Letterboxd score game — Josh wins by 0.138:08 Next week: Freddy's Revenge🌐 somanysequels.com | 📸 @somanysequelspod

The third film in the Bring It On franchise — the 2006 straight-to-DVD cheer-off starring Hayden Panettiere and Solange Knowles-Smith — discussed as a tribute to Hayden Panettiere.All three hosts went in with zero expectations. All three came out giving it the exact same score. Along the way: the "Bring It Oniverse," the straight-to-DVD theatrical rumor, the Heroes connection ("save the cheerleader, save the world"), Rihanna's gloriously bad green-screen music video, a Letterboxd score game with a direct hit, and a Blockbuster nostalgia spiral.CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome to So Many Sequels00:06 Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)00:14 Tributes: Hayden Panettiere, Dolly Parton & Tim Curry02:04 Extremely 2006 — 20 years later02:18 Hayden Panettiere & Solange Knowles-Smith02:51 The "Bring It Oniverse": no connection to the original04:03 Straight to DVD + the theatrical rumor06:53 "Save the cheerleader, save the world"08:13 Remembering Hayden Panettiere's career10:03 First-time watches, zero expectations11:18 Race, class & "Hip Hop Barbie"14:47 Culture shock at Crenshaw Heights17:11 When the camp works (and when it doesn't)18:45 Rihanna's green-screen music video23:09 Body shaming, 2006 edition25:03 Our ratings: three 2.5s across the board27:19 Letterboxd reviews28:25 The Letterboxd score game — Garrett's direct hit30:03 Blockbuster & DVD-bin nostalgia33:08 Scoreboard update33:22 Next week: Rocky Horror + So Many Scares🌐 somanysequels.com | 📸 @somanysequelspod

9 to 5 is remembered as a groundbreaking comedy, but rewatching it today reveals a movie that casually pivots into kidnapping, false imprisonment, and accidental corpse theft.In this episode of So Many Sequels, Josh Gammon, Garrett Powders, and David Prock revisit the 1980 classic. They discuss Dolly Parton’s flawless acting debut, the film’s massive $103.2 million box office run, and how a movie about a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical boss still feels entirely relatable today.In this episode:-The unexpected madcap tone of the second act-Why Dolly Parton was the ultimate anti-ego movie star-The film’s massive 1980 box office success against The Empire Strikes Back-The animated fantasy sequences and unhinged plot twists-Final ratings and Letterboxd community scoresSo Many Sequels is your book club for movies.Follow along:-Website: somanysequels.com-Instagram: @somanysequelspod

Some post-apocalyptic movies are about surviving the infected. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is about surviving Jack O'Connell and a cult named Jimmy.In this episode of So Many Sequels, Josh Gammon, Garrett Powders, and David Prock review the second part of the new 28 Years Later trilogy. They break down the film's stark departure from standard zombie tropes, Dr. Kelson’s (Ralph Fiennes) bizarre behavior in the wasteland, the introduction of an Alpha infected, and whether the movie tries to juggle too many unconnected storylines at once.In this episode:-Why human evil is scarier than the Rage virus-Ralph Fiennes’ unhinged "Devil" performance-The terrifying lore behind the Jimmy cult-Does Spike’s storyline actually belong in this movie?-Box office struggles vs. high critical praise-Our predictions for the Cillian Murphy finaleSo Many Sequels is your book club for movies.Follow along:Website: somanysequels.comInstagram: @somanysequelspod

Chris Hemsworth. Mark Ruffalo. Halle Berry. Barry Keoghan. A $90 million budget. And a box office run that didn't come close to covering it.In this episode of So Many Sequels, Josh Gammon, Garrett Powders, and David Prock kick off a streaming catch-up series with Crime 101 — the heist thriller that bombed in theaters and found new life on Prime Video. They break down the movie's tangle of subplots, debate whether Barry Keoghan quietly stole the whole thing, and land on three different star ratings.In this episode:Why Crime 101 made $72.9M against a $90M budgetThe "cool guys doing cool crimes" test, appliedBarry Keoghan vs. the rest of the castSteve McQueen and Bullitt comparisons in the car chase scenesThree ratings, one Letterboxd guessing gameSo Many Sequels is your book club for movies.Follow along:Website: somanysequels.comInstagram: @somanysequelspod