The First Run

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt check out ‘The Smashing Machine’, the latest from Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson about the life of famed MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Is this The Rock's best performance? Tune in to find out! 00:00-15:45: Intro/The Smashing Machine 15:46-22:26: Wrap-Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss the latest from auteur Paul Thomas Anderson featuring Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio, ‘One Batter After Another’. Be described as THE film of 2025, does the film deliver on its almost universal praise? Or is it another tepid entry after ‘Licorice Pizza’? After that, Matt and Chris do their best to rank Anderson’s films. How will their rankings stack up against yours? Listen on, patriots! 00:00-20:57: Intro/One Battle After Another 20:58-29:54: Rank ‘Em: PTA 29:55-34:17: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey Brooke Obie: One Fetish After Another: PTA Exploits Black Women and Averts Revolution

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt check out the latest film from Jordan Peele's Monkey's Paw Productions, ‘HIM’. It’s a film that combines two of America's favorite pastimes...football and Satanism. It's another confusing episode of The First Run, buckle up! 00:00-16:19: Intro/HIM 16:20-20:24: Wrap-Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt lace up their Air Jordan’s and start stretching for the latest Stephen King big screen adaptation, ‘ The Long Walk’. Is it the perfect time for a dystopian thriller to take our minds off of, you know, everything? Then the legendary metal band Spinal Tap returns with ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’. Can the David, Nigel, and Derek still dial things up to 11? Matt and Chris then bring back the final segment in honor of Robert Redford’s passing with their 5 Favorite Robert Redford Films. 00:00-18:08: Intro/The Long Walk 18:09-21:14: Physical Media Picks (?) 21:15-27:48: Spinal Tap II: The End Continues 27:49-41:06: 5 Favorite Robert Redford Films 41:07-42:26: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Matt and Chris reluctantly go to the Warren well one last time with ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’. Can James Wan’s dwindling franchise be saved with this one last adventure into the darkness? Then Chris will give you the skinny on Spike Lee's latest joint, ‘Highest 2 Lowest’. How does Lee’s version of Kurosawa’s classic ‘High And Low’ fare with Denzel devouring the scenery? Finally, they wrap up the show with the definitive rankings of The Conjuring films. 00:00-15:12: Intro/The Conjuring: Last Rites 15:13-24:42: Highest2Lowest 24:43-35:11: Rank ‘Em: The Conjuring Franchise 35:12-36:42: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt both get their own personal movie picks! First up, they get involved in a non-heist heist as they discuss Darren Aronofsky’s latest, ‘Caught Stealing’, featuring Elvis and Catwoman. Then Macon Blair’s reboot of the classic Troma movie ‘Toxic Avenger’, in the can since 2023, finally gets a theatrical release! Can you possibly improve upon a beloved b-movie masterpiece? All that and more on another toxic (in a good way) episode of The First Run! 00:00-12:50: Intro/Caught Stealing 12:51-25:04: The Toxic Avenger 25:05-29:21: Andor/Outro Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt take a wild ride through Ethan Coen’s latest solo mystery-comedy, Honey, Don’t! Margaret Qualley plays a private eye with a monotone, a mission, an intense sexual appetite, and zero patience for nonsense. The guys will tell you if it even gets close to reaching the heights of past Coen classics. Then, Gotham gets a Dolby facelift as Batman (1989) swoops back into theaters. The guys revisit Burton’s brooding classic, Nicholson’s chaotic Joker, and ask the eternal question: is this the best version of the Caped Crusader on screen? 00:00-15:17: Intro/Honey Don't 15:18-21:46: Batman 1989 21:47-23:19: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt take their kitty cat bracelet out of storage to watch the latest adventure of the Mansell family as they try and take a vacation and end up getting into all kinds of wacky trouble in ‘Nobody 2’. Then Ari Aster returns with ‘Eddington’, the story about, well, a story that maybe serves no one, or is the hilarious satire of Covid and our deep divide we didn’t know we needed. 00:00-12:46: Intro/Nobody 2 12:47-15:49: Chris Pratt (Now What?!?) 15:50-27:13: Eddington 27:14-32:13: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt lock and load for a double feature. First up is ‘Weapons’, the highly anticipated horror film from the writer/director of the still unavailable on physical media, ‘Barbarian’. Does it deserve all the hype? Then they head down under with ‘Dangerous Animals’, a film that stars Jai Courtney and might actually be the better for it. I know, Matt and Chris are shocked too. So settle in for an all new, all different First Run! 00:00-19:38: Intro/Weapons 19:39-28:40: Dangerous Animals 28:41-33:17: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Akiva Schaffer’s reboot of the Police Squad franchise with ‘The Naked Gun’. Can the film revive the spoof genre? Is it at least worthy of the originals? There’s the always hilarious review of the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the Streaming and Viper Video Picks of the Week. Then Matt and Chris close out the show with the Horror Madness finals! Who’s coming out on top? Like a blind man at an orgy, we’re going to have to feel our way through this. 00:00-12:33: Intro/The Naked Gun 12:34-20:33: Physical Media Picks 20:34-31:56: Horror Madness: Finals 31:57-36:36: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey Horror Madness Bracket

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt stretch, flame on, and go full clobberin’ time as we dive into the story of Marvel’s first family in ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’. From cosmic rays to family bonds that would make Dom Toretto proud, they see if this entry is a breath of fresh air in the MCU. Or if it can make Chris care about the FF. There's the big release on physical media, the Viper Video and streaming picks of the week.Then they wrap it all up with a lengthy discussion on the 2020's for the final qualifier bracket of Horror Madness, which is weird since the decade is only half over. 00:00-21:29: Fantastic Four: First Steps 21:30-32:16: Physical Media Picks 32:17-50:11: Horror Madness: 2020's (so far) 50:12-51:54: Wrap-Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt are joined by TFR theme composer Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey to discuss James Gunn’s big swing with ‘Superman’. After the failed Snyder-verse, Warner Bros. attempts a lighter not so dour reboot for the DC Cinematic Universe. Does Gunn pull it off and deliver a rollicking adventure filled reset? Do Gunn at least ‘get’ Superman? And most importantly, is Chris happy? Then there’s the periwinkle-esque Kryponite (that is a real thing) that is the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the Streaming and Viper Video Picks of the Week. Then the Justice Gang continues Horror Madness with films from 2010-2019! 00:00-36:17: Intro/Superman 36:18-45:06: Physical Media Picks 45:07-1:11:21: Horror Madness: 2010’s 1:11:22-1:14:15: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey Horror Madness Bracket

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt tag along for prehistoric chaos and painfully awkward hangouts. First up, it’s ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’, the latest chapter in the dino-verse. Does this evolution in the franchise finally earn its place in the fossil record—or is it just another roar without bite? Then they pivot to ‘Friendship’, the offbeat comedy pairing Tim Robinson’s cringe-inducing genius with Paul Rudd’s affable charm. It’s a buddy flick that veers into hilarious discomfort, misread signals, and painfully funny truths about adult relationships. Is it a cult classic in the making or just a masterclass in awkward silences? After that, they flip through this week’s Physical Media highlights, give you the Viper Video and Streaming Picks of the Week! Then Horror Madness bracket moves into the Willenium with the 2000s. 00:00-13:37: Intro/Jurassic World Rebirth 13:38-19:53: Physical Media Picks of the Week 19:54-28:25: Friendship 28:26-50:21: Horror Madness: 2000's 50:22-52:58: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey Horror Madness Bracket

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt strap in for Joseph Kinski’s next mining of 80’s pastiche with ‘F1’. Allegedly druken abusive father Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes a race [insert vehicle here] driver that gets one last chance at glory that maybe provides some wisdom for the team along the way. There’s the formulaic rundown of the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the Viper Video and Streaming Picks of the Week. Then Matt and Chris wrap up this track with another circuit of Horror Madness, this time focusing on the worn out tire treads that is the 90’s. 00:00-11:24: Intro/F1 11:25-19:46: Physical Media Picks 19:47-37:56: Horror Madness: 90’s 37:57-39:40: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt return to the wastelands of Britain with their review of ’28 Years Later’, the long-awaited continuation of the rage-fueled trilogy by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. Does the legacy hold up or should it have stayed locked up in its money cage? Your gallant hosts dive into the latest and greatest physical media releases as well as give you the viper video and streaming picks of the week. Then it's time to dim the lights and cue the synths for the final segment: Horror Madness Elimination Bracket with the films of the 1980's. Eight iconic films enter... only one leaves. As the bracket shrinks, the debates get bloodier and the nostalgia hits harder.Chris even gets a little wistful has some nigh impossible choices need to be made. 00:00-20:07: Intro/28 Years Later 20:08-25:42: Physical Media Picks 25:43-43:33: Horror Madness: The 1980's 43:34-45:34: Wrap-Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Mike Flanagan’s latest Stephen King adaptation with the joyous and life-affirming ‘The Life Of Chuck’. At least, that’s how it was sold to me. Then it’s on to the latest Predator film with ‘Killer Of Killers’. Like Flanagan and King, Dan Trachtenberg is not the Predator series leading force. So we’ll fill you in on how the latest entry fares. There’s the sadness-filled rundown of the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the Straight to DVD and Streaming Picks of the Week. Matt and Chris close out the show with the latest round of Horror Madness, this time focused on the 70’s and whoa buddy. It’s going to be a doozy! 00:00-16:22: Intro/The Life Of Chuck 16:23-26:55: Physical Media Picks 26:56-34:13: Predator: Killer Of Killers 34:14-50:10: Horror Madness: The 70’s 50:11-52:31: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt dive into two biggies. First, Ana de Armas steps into the massive shoes of Keanu Reeves in ‘Ballerina’, the latest entry in the John Wick universe. Then Wes Anderson returns with ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a...we'll be generous and say "meticulously crafted" tale of deception, intrigue, and quirky jerks. Matt and Chris will also break down the biggest physical media releases, the Viper Video pick of the week, and the Streaming Pick of the Week. Then, they wrap things up with the next round of the Horror Madness bracket! This time, it's all about the terrifying and iconic horror films of the 1960s. Which classics will reign supreme? All that and more on this week’s The First Run! 00:00-20:34: Intro/Ballerina 20:35-28:00: Physical Media Picks 28:01-38:31: The Phoenician Scheme 38:32-53:07: Horror Movie Madness: The 1960's 53:08-54:34: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt engage with our grief once again via the horror genre with the Philippou Brothers’ ‘Bring Her Back’. Just how far would you go to reunite with your loved ones? And does it include eating inanimate objects? There’s the startling rundown of the big releases on Physical Media featuring the Streaming and Straight to DVD Picks of the Week. Matt and Chris then close out the show with a rundown of their Favorite Horror Films of the 50’s! Just because. I felt cute. Might delete later. 00:00-10:54: Intro/Bring Her Back 10:55-19:44: Physical Media Picks 19:45-32:34: Horror Madness: The 50’s 32:35-34:47: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt take one last ride (maybe?) with Tom Cruise before Ethan Hunt is sent to a farm upstate with Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. They give you the big releases on Physical Media, featuring the the Viper Video and Streaming Picks of the Week. Matt and Chris then wrap it all up with their 5 Favorite Action Movie Franchises. I’m just going to need you to trust us one more time… 00:00-18:28: Intro/Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning 18:29-25:36: Rank ‘Em: Mission Impossible 25:37-33:20: Physical Media Picks 33:21-47:59: 5 Favorite Action Franchises 48:00-49:13: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt attempt to cheat death yet again with a return to the ‘Final Destination’ series with ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’. After succumbing to the icy grip of indifferent audiences, and diminishing quality, the franchise returns. What insanely complicated plans does death have for our poor victims this time? Then it’s on to the Big Releases on Physical Media, featuring the Streaming and Viper Video Picks of the Week. Matt and Chris then close out the proceedings with their 5 Favorite Final Destination Kills! So buckle those safety belts, or maybe not? Good way to get trapped. Just keep your head on a swivel and those peepers peeled. It’s the First Run! 00:00-12:05: Intro/Final Destination: Bloodlines 12:06-19:51 Physical Media Picks 19:52-29:41: 5 Favorite Final Destination Kills 29:42-31:42: Wrap Up Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey