Superman Returns (2006)

Enter Henry Cavill and Zach Snyder for 2013 reboot Man of SteelJoin The Franchise Files as they ponder Snyder’s original pitch: Superman, but he’s no fun? Who needs charm, romance or adventure when you can have CGI smashy-smashy? The great Michael Shannon as Zod has got to be good, right? RIGHT? At least Russell Crowe gets a lovely coat. Fire up the files!

Celebrate Halloween the way we all should – with John Carpenter’s 1978 classicThe Franchise Files begins its second season as Michael Myers arrives with a knife, a white mask and TWELVE sequels. Just how good is the original? Is it really the first slasher? And should Doctor Loomis be fired immediately? Join The Franchise Files as they carve a pumpkin for the night HE came home. Fire up the files!

Join The Franchise Files for their 2026 Oscar Predictions SpecialAs Sinners and One Battle After Another tussle for victory, which should actually win? Is Sean Penn doing MORE ACTING better than Stellan Skarsgård’s subtlety? Has Timothee Chalamet been undone by ballet? And how the hell did F1 get nominated? The Franchise Files have the answers

The Franchise Files celebrate Christmas with 1988’s festive classic Die HardJoin the team plus a special guest as they ponder if they would have been fooled by Hans Gruber’s American accent, how much of the film Bruce Willis is shirtless for, and whether Al learning to kill again is really a happy ending. Fire up the files and welcome to the party pals!

The Franchise Files unleash their 2025 Halloween special!What are the 10 scariest things in film? What’s the nastiest kill, the screamiest jump scare? And what’s the greatest horror movie ever made? Join The Franchise Files as they turn out the lights, step into the pentagram and summon the demons of horror’s highpoints

After a 19 year absence, Superman returns in 2006’s does-what-it-says-on-the-tin Superman ReturnsWith a film no one loves but no one hates, and lots of set up for a sequel that never came, has time been kind to this cinematic one-off? And is anyone involved NOT cancelled? Join The Franchise Files as they stay awake for the whole podcast but not the whole film. Fire up the files!

Freddy goes postmodern in 1994’s Wes Craven's New NightmareIn the last movie Freddy died – but it’s the meta-90’s, so who even is Freddy? Aren't we all Freddy really? (No). What's a movie? And why is Wes Craven making a movie about Wes Craven making a movie. Confused? No, it’s postmodernism! Join The Franchise Files as they pretend to understand. Fire up the files Freddy!

Christopher Reeve bows out with 1987’s Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.With the budget slashed, Milton Keynes replacing New York and Reeve insisting on a political plotline, the Quest for Peace flirted with disaster. Can The Franchise Files find anything to love in this bizarre swansong? It can’t be THAT bad, can it? Fire up the files!

Freddy meets his end in 1991’s Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare.After five movies, the Elm Street producers decide to kill Krueger. Will he go out in glory? Or will he murder someone with a Nintendo power glove then defy gravity by dressing as the Wicked Witch of the West? Join The Franchise Files as they bid Freddy goodbye - before he returns for another three movies. Fire up the files Freddy!

The Superman movies try replacing their lead with 1984’s Supergirl.Join The Franchise Files as they ask why Supergirl turns brunette, how Lawrence of Arabia ended up as a wizard, and whether the film takes place underwater (still unclear). Fire up the files!