Love these guys! They are brilliant film scholars but also kind of feel your friend’s dorky dad that you loved catching up with at his barbecue. As a born Ohioan there is something refreshingly Midwest about the way Josh and Adam are able to disagree with such warmth and respect.

with politics so depressing right now, i’ve been avoiding most podcasts in my feed; so i recently returned to running this podcast in the background for the first time in more than a decade. at 3x speed you can get through the (what seems like) days-long runtimes and overlook all the sports metaphors.

I’ve been listening to Filmspotting for at least 5 years now. When I travel to see family, Adam and Josh keep me company and the time just flies by. What I love about their show is that they combine an “Everyman” love of film with their scholarly background. I always learn a ton about films, directors, actors, genres, you name it. Can’t count the number of amazing films I’ve watched, based on hearing their reviews, that were not on my radar. I’ve tried a few other film podcasts (also love The Next Picture Show), but the solid foundation of cinema academia is not always present (and way too much giggling, fan girl/boy talk). Please don’t think that because of what I wrote that their show is stuffy and erudite. Not at all! Totally entertaining.

Josh n Adam have an incredible chemistry and a vast knowledge of film, not to mention a deep love for movies. The best movie podcast out there.

One of the best film podcasts out there. Bought all of Josh’s books and love listening to each episode, which is thought provoking yet entertaining discussion on the latest movies

I’ve been a listener since 2008 and the show has been simultaneously entertaining and instrumental in expanding my cinematic tastes and education.

Enjoyable and enlightening show!

I think a good film critic is a film lover who also understands the context of the film and the conversation it’s having with other filmmakers and culture in general. These guys do that and it makes listening really fun and engaging.

Back in 2018 I took myself on a solo movie date to see Alex Garland's latest, Annihilation. I left the theater needing to talk about this rich and fascinating movie with a bonkers ending, but I didn't know anyone who had seen it yet. So I opened up the apple podcasts app, searched the film title, and up popped Filmspotting with Adam and Josh offering a review. As a self-admitted film snob, I was grateful for the way they passionately discussed the movie with insight and thoughtfulness. I returned for a new episode the following week, and have been coming back every week for the past six years. I appreciate how they keep me abreast of the latest arthouse fare while not being too pretentious to discuss recent blockbusters. And with a great mix of contemporary and classic cinema, I have the perfect excuse to continue my solo movie dates AND rent classic films I haven't seen before or haven't seen in far too long. Keep up the exceptional work!

Adam and Josh were born to do this. They are professionals through and through.

Easily the most intelligent, articulate, upbeat, and entertaining film podcast I’ve come across. I’ve been a loyal listener for years, and I always recommend Filmspotting to anyone I know, whether they watch 10 movies per year or are a loyal cinephile like myself.

Adam and Josh begin each review as if interviewing each other, asking how they approached the film or how their assumptions were challenged during the film. I'd rather be in the room discussion the film at hand in person. But each week's podcast is the next best thing.

Adam and Josh both have soothing voices and speak with wit and intelligence! They cover new releases but also look back at older films. Highly recommend!

You raved about everything that really didn’t work in this movie. So, … yeah.

It’s likely been said in plenty of reviews before mine, but this podcast really does have something for everyone. Whether you seek out arthouse fare or only go to the cinema for MCU installments, Adam and Josh have you covered. Personally, I like to use Filmspotting to hold myself accountable in correcting blind spots. Thanks to their marathons and ouvreviews, I finally got around to gems like Double Indemnity, In the Mood for Love, and plenty of others. I started listening some time around the Great Battle of Three Billboards and have been hooked ever since. Now I’m a proud member of the Filmspotting family and attended my first Triviaspotting last month, contributing roughly 0 correct answers (sorry Sam). Oh well, maybe next time.

Thoughtful and insightful discussions on new releases as well as a deeper dive into other movies that may have missed your radar. I have relied on Adam and Josh for the last several years, and greatly appreciate what they do to promote small/independent film (their golden brick discussions) while still keeping pace with larger releases too. They’ve filled the void that was created with the passing of Ebert and Siskel, and keep intelligent film discussion alive and well. My favorite weekly podcast!

I come here because my friends don’t discuss movies at this level and I LOVE movie chitchat. This has been my favorite podcast since before the pandemic. Great for work, walks, driving to the theater!!! Kudos guys!

Adam and Josh are great, I hope the show lasts forever. They are both very articulate and analytical, but never stuffy. There is a good sense of humor throughout which helps keep things light. They have a real appreciation of film history and have a nice balance of new reviews and classic discussion. I've been listening on and off for about a decade now. One of these years I hope to make a live show. Future madness ideas...Best Animated Film, Best Internetional Film, Best Science Fiction Film...Adam's Top 32 on one side vs Josh's too 32 on the other

Deleted review

In an time when most of us are struggling to argue about things in politically fraught situations, what an enormous service Josh and Adam provide by modeling respectful, good-humored, and spirited argument about the stories that animate our culture. This show has become an indispensable companion for Saturday chores. But these conversations aren’t a chore; they’re a labor of movie love.

love the show, will write a more elaborate review soon

I’ve listened to this podcast for a long time. Lately I feel like it’s really lacking. Step up your analytical skills, guys. I will stop listening if they don’t step up their game. Feels limited and boring lately.

I always enjoy the episodes even when I don’t agree with their opinions.

. . . if your friends are film geeks. Seriously, I’ve been listening to this show since shortly after Josh joined and it just keeps getting better. The reviews of current films keeps you up to date on what you might want to see while the retrospective reviews, marathons, and more help you increase your knowledge of the movies of yesteryear.

I started listening in 2020 while quarantining and was completely new to movie criticism. The first episodes I listened to were part 1 and part 2 of the Top 10 Movies of 2019. What a great year for movies! I loved the in-depth and thoughtful conversation around each movie, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Thank you Adam, Josh, and Sam for taking the movies seriously but never taking yourselves too seriously. I’ve learned a lot from you!

My go-to podcast for movies for many years. Checking in every week with Adam and Josh is a visit with old friends - cordial, information, and fun. Cannot recomment this podcast enough.

Been listening since 2008. Adam and Josh are smart, funny, and entertaining. There's stuff here for everybody. Every show gives time to new releases, indies, classic films. You'll often hear some really in-depth analysis, which, somehow, is offered in a way that is accessible to even the casual movie buff. Highly recommended.

Love their analysis and care that they put into crafting each episode

I’ve been a loyal listener of Filmspotting for about 8 years now. Adam and Josh offer some of the best insight available into film! Their approach is thorough, intelligent, and always entertaining. While their analysis and deep dives into various auteurs is certainly a highlight, one thing that sets this podcast apart from others is the hosts’ genuine interest in engaging with listeners. I’ve been shouted out on the show twice, and I’m even writing this review while wearing a Filmspotting t shirt I received after correctly guessing their “Massacre Theatre” segment! What’s more, I’ve just purchased tickets to their upcoming live event in Los Angeles, where I look forward to meeting the gang in person and explaining why they’re (somewhat) wrong about Asteroid City. Long love Filmspotting! -Luke Stanaway

I've been listening since 2006, so Filmspotting is a fixture in my life at this point. Equally informative and entertaining, it has introduced me to a number of films, filmmakers, genres, and different ways of thinking about cinema.

This is a great podcast for those looking for true film criticism, by which I mean analysis of filmmakers’ intention and execution of the art and NOT a greater social criticism which pushes an agenda and has creeped into so many other pop culture podcasts. My only complaint is the episodes can drag with a lot of unfocused chatter during the notes/polls section.

Been listening to this show off and on for more than a decade at this point. I don’t listen as regularly as I used to, but the Fall movie season always reminds to revisit the show and I never regret it.

Reminds me why I love movies and the people who care about them!

I’ve been listening to the show since 2011 when I was a freshman in high school. Adam and Josh have accompanied me through not only high school, but moving to LA, going to film school, and now working in the film industry. While there are a plethora of podcasts that cover movies, you will not find another that offers such in-depth, thoughtful, spirited and passionate film criticism. In 12 years of listening, I’ve never missed an episode. Adam and Josh have been as consistent a presence in my life as any and I’m endlessly grateful for this show. Thank you to the Filmspotting team for all the joy over the years, here’s to many more!

Very thoughtful conversations the only thing I would say negatively is that some of the podcast only content like the exhaustive listener polls can get tedious

Love these guys. Great to listen to. They KNOW their stuff

They tend to lean into more indie fare than blockbusters (hated Spiderman: No Way Home? Really?), but they are engaging, funny, and love their jobs. I haven’t had something like it since Siskel and Ebert went off the air.

👍🏻 👍🏻

I’ve been listening to Adam and Josh since 2012, when a cinephile friend introduced me to Filmspotting for the first time. Ever since, their incisive, thoughtful and always amusing commentary has been a constant companion to my moviegoing pursuits. In just the last month alone, they’ve introduced me to stone-cold classics (and notable entries on my Blindspotting list) like Sherlock Jr. and Au Hazard Balthasar, and prompted me to revisit some personal favorites like The Fugitive and Midnight Run. As I finished each film, I smiled to myself knowing that I had a delightful listening experience waiting for me, allowing me to savor those experiences for a little while longer. It’s been a treat to watch you guys (and Sam!) develop as critics and commentators. Maybe your next marathon can be a William Friedkin watchalong, to honor his remarkable body of work? (Sorry, Josh, you’d have to sit through The Exorcist again…) Keep up the great work! -Alex Orlando

Adam and Josh are as comforting and baked in as a well oiled baseball glove. Reviews and Marathons and Top 5 lists going back to 2005(!). I started listening in the Matty R days around the Inglorious Basterds and District 9 episodes, and the show is just about as indispensable to my filmgoing diet as the films themselves.

Film Spotting was the first podcast I fell in love with, enough to go back to all their early archives. The sheer fun these Adam, Josh and other folks generate around their love of cinema has changed the terrain for film criticism to make it accessible to many more of us.

In May 2018, near the end of my first year of law school, I searched for “movie podcasts” on Spotify. One of the first titles to pop up was a podcast about The Lord of the Rings, and since that is one of my favorite movie series, I decided to give it a listen. That was episode 681 of Filmspotting, and from then on, I was hooked. To quote Forrest Gump, “It’s funny what a man recollects”, and thinking back on the last 5 years of listening to Filmspotting, it’s funny how many memories I can connect to a specific episode of the show. Whether it was working my summer job mowing lawns and listening to Adam interview Bo Burnham about “Eighth Grade”, or going for a run through the desolate campus at the University of Nebraska in the early days of COVID while the guys gave out their Christopher Nolan Ouevre-view awards, Josh and Adam have become like friends I look forward to hearing from each week. Perhaps the thing I love most about the show is that they truly care about educating their listeners about the World of Cinema. It’s not just a recap of the latest big studio movies, but through their marathons and Sacred Cow reviews, it’s almost like taking a film studies class (thanks Professor Kempenaar). Before I started listening, I’d never heard of the likes of Paul Schrader or Jane Campion or seen any Terrence Malick movies, but thanks to Filmspotting, I’ve been exposed to so many classics and hidden gems I may never have been aware of without them. I’m thankful for all the top 5s, Madness brackets and hours of great discussion, and I’d recommend Filmspotting to anyone who loves movies. Dylan Dam in Blair, Nebraska

I know I stole that quote. As these guys would be quick to point out, this quote is from Roger Ebert who said, “movies are like a machine that generates empathy’. But I’m only half kidding when I say Adam and Josh and Producer Sam also help generate a ton of empathy in the way they analyze movies and convey their thoughts every week. I admire their self deprecating humor along with their sensitivity. When they struggle to grasp a foreign concept, they admit it, they hash it out, they argue. But they don’t fight, scream or insult each other…they have thoughtful discourse and it never gets old. Speaking of old, I’ve had a great time going back in the archives as a premium member. Although I’ve been listening for about 10 years, that still leaves about 1,000 hours of content that I’ve never heard. If you’ve gotten to know these guys, hearing their “origin story” is well worth the price of membership. Finally a quick shout out to my favorite guest hosts - Aisha Harris (can she be a third permanent host?) and the incomparable Michael Phillips…two more reasons this podcast is THE BEST movie podcast.

Excellent podcast. I've been a movie buff for most of my life and I thoroughly enjoy listening to their discussions about new and classic movies. I met Josh at a Filmspotting meetup in Boulder, CO and found him just as personable, knowledgeable, and humerous in person as he comes across in the podcast. I especially enjoyed how he dealt with my fake complaint of needing to have a Filmspotting Family subscription to listen to their bonus review of one of my favorite movies - Broadcast News.

I’m Ava and I’m from Kentucky, but I now live in Los Angeles. I found this podcast when I was nearly 16 years old, and I was immediately taken aback. As a minor film nerd at the time, my obsession with Filmspotting was the first indicator that my passion for cinema was greater than my other passions in life. I am now about to turn 20, and I am a film student at one of the best film schools in the nation, the University of Southern California. Before I listened to Filmspotting, I’d never picked up a camera in my life. Listening to Adam and Josh offer such rich and nuanced opinions about movies I loved made me realize I wanted to create this same kind of art. I grew up in a small town on a farm in Kentucky with only one movie theater, so this podcast was my entire movie nerd outlet for my time there. This podcast entirely shaped the way I view and appreciate cinema so much so that I wrote about them in my application to USC. It’s my dream that one day they will have great things to say about the movies I hope to create. Thank you.

I’ve been listening to this podcast for years-always interesting discussions and a great companion for any car ride or long walk. 5 stars

Listening to filmspotting is a lot like getting a criterion collection title. There is a lot of care in the technical, thoughtful work in the bonus features, and an immense amount of care in handling the movies themselves. I always feel like I’ve taken something educational, and heartfelt from Adam and Josh’s reviews. I highly recommend.

Good deep analysis but hard to stick with as Josh is incredibly annoying and starts these ridiculous conflicts in the discussion without having a coherent argument.

I first came across Filmspotting in 2008, when I took a course on Narrative Cinema in College. Adam and, at the time, Matty “Ballgame” Robinson helped me fall more deeply in love with movies, pointing me to films and artists to whom I might not otherwise have paid any attention. I dropped away for a while only to come back a few years ago. Hearing Adam after a long absence was like rekindling a friendship, and Josh Larsen quickly became one of my favorite critics and film analysts. And they’re just so much fun. Adam and Josh are always entertaining and compelling. And the show is so well put together (I see you, Sam). And while this is one of my favorite podcasts, they’re generous enough to introduce their listeners to other great folks, like the Blank Check podcast. I recommend them all the time to film lovers, and it’s a joy to write a 5-Star review for anyone looking for fun and thoughtful conversations. Tune in for deep dives into auteurs, for crazy stunts like their March Madness-style brackets, or simply for date night movie recommendations.

Josh and Adam have the kind of conversation that makes me want to jump in and give my two cents. If you ever want the opinion of a mid 20’s girl in Salt Lake who has little to no film experience other than the podcast and a well-loved Letterboxd, give me a call, I’ll be a guest!! But really, this pod has made me view both myself and films differently. I’ve loved analyzing movies and scenes that touch me and why, and adding films to my list based on Josh and Adam’s recommendations. Thanks for all the work you put into making such great content! A great listen for any level of movie-buff.