Unspooled

Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson make an unlikely but effective pairing. Scheer is a comedian and actor who brings the same manic energy he's known for on screen. Nicholson is the chief film critic at the LA Times, and she approaches movies with serious analytical depth. The show started with a specific mission: work through the AFI's Top 100 Films list, one movie per week, and debate whether each one deserves its spot. That original concept gave the show a clear structure, and even after completing the list, the format stuck. Now they tackle everything from overlooked classics to contemporary releases, always balancing entertainment value with real criticism. The dynamic between the two hosts is the engine of the show. Scheer often champions the fun factor of a film while Nicholson pushes for deeper engagement with craft and context. They don't always agree, and those disagreements make for the best episodes. Sometimes Amy will spend ten minutes dismantling a beloved classic, and you can hear Scheer processing in real time whether she's right. With 432 episodes, a weekly release schedule, and a 4.5 rating from nearly 4,700 reviews, the show has found a solid audience. It's part of the Earwolf/Realm network. If you want a film podcast that takes movies seriously without taking itself too seriously, Unspooled strikes that balance well. The comedy keeps it light, but the criticism has actual substance behind it.