The Big Picture

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins host The Big Picture, the flagship film podcast from The Ringer that covers new releases, industry trends, and the cultural impact of movies with a mix of sharp criticism and genuine love for the medium. Fennessey, who also serves as editor-in-chief of The Ringer, brings a film school sensibility tempered by years of pop culture writing. Dobbins matches him with a strong voice on representation, star power dynamics, and the business side of Hollywood. The format shifts depending on what the week demands. Sometimes it is a straight-up review of a new release. Other times it is a thematic deep dive, like ranking the best performances of the year so far or analyzing why a particular studio strategy is failing. They frequently bring in Ringer colleagues and industry guests, which keeps the perspectives fresh. The show also does excellent work covering film festivals, particularly Sundance, Cannes, and Toronto, where Fennessey provides on-the-ground reporting that gives listeners a real sense of what is generating buzz. Episodes typically run 60-90 minutes and drop multiple times per week during busy stretches. The podcast does not talk down to its audience. It assumes you care about films as an art form and as a business, and it treats both sides with equal seriousness. If you already listen to The Rewatchables for nostalgia and fun, The Big Picture is the more critically ambitious sibling from the same network. It is one of the most consistently thoughtful film podcasts going right now, and it has earned its reputation as essential listening during awards season.