By Matt Neglia 

For Episode 136, Will Mavity, Michael Schwartz, DeAnn Knighton, Nicole Ackman, Josh Parham & myself discuss our favorite films and performances of 2019 so far, the polls (including the winners of our 2015 retrospective), the trailers for "Dora And The Lost City Of Gold," "Scary Stories We Tell In The Dark" and more! 
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Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 

For this week's main podcast review, Celia Schelekewey, Daniel Howat, Jacey Aldredge, Nicole Ackman & Tom O'Brien and myself discuss Tim Burton's remake of the "Dumbo." We talk about his style matching with the material, the visual effects used to bring everyone's favorite elephant to life, the performances, ties to the recent Disney/Fox merger and more. But did we enjoy it? Listen below to find out!

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Tom O'Brien ​

Walt Disney's live-action version of the animated 1941 classic "Dumbo" is now open in theaters and it has prompted many of us to revisit that original film and relive some of its many pleasures. Who among us was not been upset when we first saw Mrs. Jumbo being separated from little Dumbo and taken away being labeled a "mad elephant"? Or cried when mother and son are momentarily reunited in "Baby Mine"?

How strange to think that the feature film we know and love, however, might not have even made it to theaters.

By Nicole Ackman 

For this month's episode of Next Best Theatre the original trio of Michael Schwartz, Dan Bayer and myself take a look at the musical "Heathers" due to the new cast album which came out this month. We also talk about its ties to the original film which inspired it, the off-broadway productions and more!

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Theatre Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Kt Schaefer

With the rise of streaming services, it is easier than ever to find good documentaries. 2018 brought us some fascinating films from the Oscar award winning "Free Solo" to Netflix’s in-depth Orson Welles documentary "They'll Love Me When I’m Dead." Already in 2019, we have seen "Apollo 11," "Maiden," "Surviving R. Kelly," "Lorena," “Leaving Neverland” and two separate films about the ill-fated Fyre festival. A few of these have had real-world effects as a result of their airing and have been watched by several million people. In 2019 we can expect to see even more great films about unique topics and I’ve listed 5 of the upcoming documentaries that are guaranteed to make you think and one you can watch right now!

By Daniel Howat 
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Tim Burton’s “Dumbo” releases to theaters today, marking the first of (at least) four remakes of Disney animated features debuting in 2019. This new era of Disney mining through their catalog for revamped versions of old films largely kicked off in 2010 with the success of Burton’s own “Alice In Wonderland” reimagining. That film, though critically mixed, went on to gross over a billion dollars. Disney saw a goldmine and pounced, and has released six more live-action remakes since. Could “Dumbo” and the other 2019 remakes score at next year’s Oscar? Let’s take a look at the history of Disney remakes at the Academy Awards.

​By Dan Bayer 

​When MoviePass announced in August 2017 that it would be offering a new subscription of $9.99 per month for which you could see a film a day, I was shaken to my core. It was the first time that I seriously considered subscribing to MoviePass since moving to New York City in September 2014. The service had been around since around 2012, and I knew a few movie-loving friends who had it. But it was a bit expensive ($40-$50 per month), it didn't work at every theater, and most importantly, I had heard that you had to use it at the box office, which meant waiting in very long lines. That didn't vibe with my moviegoing habits, which tended to involve seeing what was playing around when I felt like seeing a movie and getting to the theater with just enough time to get a decent seat at the self-serve ticket kiosks available in most theaters. I also was a fan of the city's many repertory houses, not all of which accepted MoviePass (or so I thought).

By Josh Parham 

​The is an enormous amount of credit I give Tim Burton for kickstarting my love of movies. I vividly remember being six-years-old and seeing “Mars Attacks!” for the first time and feeling absolutely transported into a crazy and wonderful cinematic world. From that moment on, my passion for the art form was ignited, and he has remained a filmmaker I hold very close to my heart. In anticipation for Burton’s remake of the Disney classic “Dumbo”, I decided to look back at his filmography and celebrate some of the finest performances that have been featured in his films. Burton may be known for his visual flair, but there are a number of actors who provide great performances to treasure as well.

By DeAnn Knighton 

​Jordan Peele has had little to say about what the more detailed elements of his recent film “Us” were intended to say as far as social commentary is concerned. We know there is an episode of “The Twilight Zone” that influenced some of the storytelling but for a film full of nuance, there are many questions about what is coincidence and what his ultimate intentions were with his latest horror film.

By Ryan C. Showers ​​

​I’m about to suggest something a few weeks ago I was dismissing right and left: Lupita Nyong’o could earn a Best Actress nomination for “Us.” As a disclaimer, I’m writing this piece before seeing “Us,” as to not bias myself and instincts based on an objective case that can be made for Nyong’o’s Best Actress chances. I’m writing this purely because I see potential in a possible staying power with this performance.

By Cody Dericks 

Tim Burton's career has admittedly had some ups and downs. He started strong in the late 80s and all through the 90s, but once his "Planet of the Apes" was released in 2001, the quality of his films started to vary wildly (and I say this as a defender of "Sweeney Todd"). However, for a lot of us who grew up in the 90s and went on to become film buffs in our adulthood, I would argue that his movies, especially his early work, had a great impact on us in terms of recognizing what exactly a director does. His bold style, specific narrative themes, and preferred acting choices all point to a strong directorial hand that practically served as an introduction to auteur theory for young millennials.

By Matt Neglia 

For Episode 135, we were supposed to have more people on, but due to a delay, it turned out to just be Michael Schwartz and me (just like old times). Together, the two of us give our first preview of the 92nd Academy Awards. We also talk about the Disney/Fox deal, the trailers for "The Last Black Man In San Francisco," "Lucy In The Sky," "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood," go over the polls, answer the fan-submitted questions and more!
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Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 

For this week's main podcast review, DeAnn Knighton, Danilo Castro, Tom O'Brien and myself give you a SPOILER filled review of Jordan Peele's follow up to "Get Out," titled "Us" starring Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss and a few others. There is so much to talk about with Peele's latest horror film, with many memorable moments, hints of symbolism, thematic intent and more! We'll definitely be re-visiting this one again but for now, listen below to find out exactly what our initial thoughts are!

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Will Mavity 

Jeff Tremaine has made his directing career working with the "Jackass" crew on all of their theatrical films. Now, with Netflix's "The Dirt," he is working for the first time with a plot, telling a musical biopic of one of the world's most popular rock bands: Mötley Crüe. Jeff was kind enough to sit down with us to tell us about the experience of making the film, what a departure it was for him, the film's suggestive content and more!

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Josh Williams 

​I firmly believe that we are currently living within a horror renaissance. Each year we are graced with another groundbreaking horror film that elevates the genre to new heights. The streak has been pretty consistent lately and it seems like it is not going to slow down anytime soon with 2019 which should cap off an amazing decade for the genre. Whether it be art-house horror like "mother!" or a bit more mainstream horror like "A Quiet Place," this is truly the best time to be a horror fanatic.

2019 looks as if it won't be so different so we here at NBP decided to take a look at some horror films releasing this year that will keep that trend alive. So without further ado, here are some horror films to look forward to in 2019.