Robert Downey Jr.

Made films the shows talk about.

Wikidata Q165219: matched by corpus:resolve, told apart by the only person by that name on Wikidata.

Counted as actor. The films the hosts said they acted in, which the two lists below run through too: Pound (1970); Weird Science (1985); Back to School (1986); Less Than Zero (1987); Air America (1990); Chaplin (1992); Only You (1994); Home for the Holidays (1995); Ally McBeal (1997); The Gingerbread Man (1998); Two Girls and a Guy (1998); Bowfinger (1999); Gothika (2003); Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005); A Scanner Darkly (2006); Lucky You (2007); Zodiac (2007); Iron Man (2008); The Incredible Hulk (2008); Tropic Thunder (2008); Sherlock Holmes (2009); The Soloist (2009); Due Date (2010); Iron Man 2 (2010); Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011); The Avengers (2012); Iron Man 3 (2013); The Judge (2014); Captain America: Civil War (2016); Avengers: Infinity War (2018); Oppenheimer (2023); The Sympathizer (2024); Gothica.

Draws on

What the speakers say they, or a film of theirs, drew on. Each is a speaker's account: “the maker said so” when they report the maker's own words, “the host's read” when the read is theirs.

Iron Man (2008): 3 lines, within their own work

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man 3 (2013), which they acted in: Iron Man ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). The Iron Man trilogy is closed into a circle by the flashback to the party and Becca Hall and Pierce.
    “as individualistic as this movie is, it actually like... It's bringing the 1st 2 complete.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 0:18:57 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  2. theme (theme) · through Iron Man 3 (2013), which they acted in: Iron Man ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). Iron Man 3 later parodies the Osama-type Mandarin expectation that Iron Man originally planned (Ten Rings leader, no magic).
    “And then Iron Man 3 wisely parodies that expectation.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 1:25:03 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  3. industry (industry) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: Iron Man ⇒ The Avengers (the host's read). The post-credits Nick Fury scene established the shared-universe model that changed Hollywood for a decade or more.
    “I mean, this has changed the next 10 years of Hollywood filmmaking.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 2:13:16 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

The Avengers (2012): 3 lines, within their own work

  1. theme (theme) · through Iron Man 3 (2013), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). Stark's arc across three Iron Man films peaks in Iron Man 3, and Avengers lays the track for its PTSD.
    “Iron Man 3 is all him being unable to cope with the psychological like trauma of this.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Avengers · 2:07:49 · David Sims (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Avengers: Infinity War (the host's read). The Hulk echoes Tony Stark's words from the first Avengers; the movie is full of callbacks.
    “echoing Tony Stark's words from the Avengers 2012”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 0:25:44 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  3. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man 3 (2013), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). Iron Man 3 works as a quasi-sequel to The Avengers because it deals with Tony's trauma of the portal and aliens.
    “Except it's it is a sort of quasi sequel to the Avengers in that it's dealing with the fact that he got sucked into a portal into space for a 2nd there.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 0:15:43 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Mad Max 2 (1981): 2 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Weird Science (1985), which they acted in: Mad Max 2 ⇒ Weird Science (the host's read). The climactic biker-gang sequence is an homage to The Road Warrior with the same actor and makeup.
    “it's pulled right from this movie that had just come out, same actor, same makeup, same everything, they're like doing an homage to it”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt · 1:08:03 · Bill Simmons (0.55 sure it was them)
  2. craft (craft) · through Weird Science (1985), which they acted in: Mad Max 2 ⇒ Weird Science (the host's read). The Road Warrior homage is a nine-minute sequence, about 10% of the movie.
    “It comprises 10% of the whole movie.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt · 1:08:58 · Bill Simmons (0.40 sure it was them)

The Incredible Hulk (2008): 2 lines, within their own work

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Incredible Hulk ⇒ The Avengers (the host's read). Avengers' line about Hulk 'breaking Harlem' is false: the Abomination did it.
    “That's the one thing they reference in Avengers, where he says, I kind of broke Harlem.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Incredible Hulk · 1:34:36 · Griffin or David (0.30 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Incredible Hulk ⇒ The Avengers (the host's read). Ruffalo's first Hulk scene in a slum echoes this film's Rocinha opening, though otherwise the continuity is thrown out.
    “The only tale is that when the Mark Ruffalo hook was introduced, they find the little hot.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Incredible Hulk · 0:25:11 · Griffin or David (0.25 sure it was them)

Al Feldstein: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Weird Science (1985), which they acted in: Al Feldstein ⇒ Weird Science (the host's read). The movie is based on a 1951 pre-Code comic by Al Feldstein.
    “this was based on the 1951 pre-comics code comic made of the future by Al Feldstein.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt · 0:30:25 · Bill Simmons (0.80 sure it was them)

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which they acted in: Avengers: Age of Ultron ⇒ Avengers: Infinity War (the host's read). The Hulkbuster armor pays off Banner being almost defeated by it before.
    “it's paying off the fact that he was, you know, almost defeated by this armor before.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 2:00:15 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Collateral (2004): 1 line

  1. people (casting) · through Zodiac (2007), which they acted in: Collateral ⇒ Zodiac (the host's read). Fincher cast Ruffalo partly because he liked him in Collateral.
    “One, Fincher really liked him in collateral.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 1:24:06 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Donnie Darko (2001): 1 line

  1. people (casting) · through Zodiac (2007), which they acted in: Donnie Darko ⇒ Zodiac (the host's read). Fincher liked Donnie Darko and had Gyllenhaal pegged for a while.
    “unsurprisingly, Fincher liked Donny Darko”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 1:22:44 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Empire of the Sun (1987): 1 line

  1. lineage (inspiration) · through Tropic Thunder (2008), which they acted in: Empire of the Sun ⇒ Tropic Thunder (the host's read). Ben Stiller, on the Empire set as a young actor, was inspired by actors playing at suffering to make Tropic Thunder two decades later.
    “Which, of course, this is one of this movie's greatest, like, lasting legacies is that this, this is what inspires Tropic Thunder.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Empire of the Sun with Bilge Ebiri · 1:49:05 · Griffin Newman (0.60 sure it was them)

Fu Manchu (character): 1 line

  1. theme (theme) · through Iron Man 3 (2013), which they acted in: Fu Manchu (character) ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). The Mandarin is a Fu Manchu stereotype that Marvel could not play straight, so Kingsley's false-flag twist threads the needle.
    “Because the Mandarin is Fu Manchu.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 1:06:17 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Hancock (2008): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Iron Man 2 (2010), which they acted in: Hancock ⇒ Iron Man 2 (the host's read). The Demon in a Bottle alcoholism arc was dodged partly because Hancock had already done a drinking superhero two months after the first Iron Man.
    “Because Hancock comes out. 2 months after the 1st Iron Man.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 2 · 0:12:58 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Hulk (2003): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Incredible Hulk (2008), which they acted in: Hulk ⇒ The Incredible Hulk (the host's read). Despite the reboot claim, the same three relationships (Hulk, Betty, Thunderbolt Ross) carry through, as does the South America opening.
    “And those 3 relationships feel very much on a continuity with everything that happens in English film.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Incredible Hulk · 0:06:37 · Griffin or David (0.35 sure it was them)

Iron Man 2 (2010): 1 line, within their own work

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man 3 (2013), which they acted in: Iron Man 2 ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). Iron Man 2's failure forced something new, giving Shane Black room to make a better third film.
    “But also, that is why the 3rd one is good because the 2nd one was such a mistake that they were like, we don't know.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Incredible Hulk · 1:20:47 · Griffin or David (0.30 sure it was them)

Jack Kirby: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which they acted in: Jack Kirby ⇒ Avengers: Infinity War (the host's read). Kirby's cosmic creations at Marvel, Galactus and the Silver Surfer, are the ancestors of this material.
    “he creates galactus and silver surf and all these parrots”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 1:56:25 · Griffin Newman (0.35 sure it was them)

Jim Starlin: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which they acted in: Jim Starlin ⇒ Avengers: Infinity War (the host's read). The cosmic Thanos comics were mostly Starlin and mostly dudes talking on half asteroids.
    “Starlin stuff, mostly.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 1:52:56 · David Sims (0.30 sure it was them)

L.A. Confidential (1997): 1 line

  1. lineage (structure / influence) · through Zodiac (2007), which they acted in: L.A. Confidential ⇒ Zodiac (the host's read). Leslye says Zodiac feels like it follows in the footsteps of L.A. Confidential.
    “zodiac feels like it follows in the footsteps of that.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 0:50:16 · Leslye Headland (0.80 sure it was them)

Man of Steel (2013): 1 line

  1. lineage (homage) · through The Judge (2014), which they acted in: Man of Steel ⇒ The Judge (the host's read). The tornado father-son fight echoes the father-son tornado scene in Man of Steel, another Warner Bros. film.
    “an homage to everyone's favorite father son scene from Man of Steel.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 1:20:04 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Mel Gibson: 1 line

  1. unmapped (backing) · them, directly: Mel Gibson ⇒ Robert Downey Jr. (the host's read). After Air America together, Gibson put up the insurance bond so Downey could be hired when no one else would insure him.
    “Mel Gibson puts up the insurance bond because he believes this guy needs a chance, but the movie doesn't do very well.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 0:17:49 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Robert Graysmith: 1 line

  1. lineage (adaptation) · through Zodiac (2007), which they acted in: Robert Graysmith ⇒ Zodiac (the host's read). The Salerno script, which Vanderbilt took over, adapted Graysmith's nonfiction book (with a speculative sequel bolted on).
    “So it's sort of like an adaptation of Graysmith's nonfiction book and a speculative sequence.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 0:50:39 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

RoboCop (2014): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man (2008), which they acted in: RoboCop ⇒ Iron Man (the host's read). The Ironmonger voice and suit recall ED-209, and the finale is ED-209 versus RoboCop.
    “You know what the voice is? He's Ed 209.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 1:53:20 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Rumor Has It: 1 line

  1. people (casting) · through Zodiac (2007), which they acted in: Rumor Has It ⇒ Zodiac (the host's read). Jennifer Aniston, on Rumor Has It with Ruffalo, helped him get the role.
    “So rumor has it kind of helps him get this.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 1:25:09 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Seven (1995): 1 line

  1. unmapped (why Fincher was offered it) · through Zodiac (2007), which they acted in: Seven ⇒ Zodiac (the host's read). Seven made Fincher the first choice for any serial-killer project, Zodiac included.
    “Ever since he makes seven, if there's some serial killer movie, is getting sent it”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 0:51:53 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Stan Lee: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man (2008), which they acted in: Stan Lee ⇒ Iron Man (the maker said so: Stan Lee interviews). The film follows the first comic issue's origin; Lee wanted to make an industrialist war profiteer compelling to hippie kids.
    “here's like an industrialist, war profiteer, Laos, and make him like compelling to these, like, hippie kids.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 0:27:36 · unknown (probably David) (0.40 sure it was them)

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace ⇒ The Avengers (the host's read). The Chitauri transport creature with troops jumping off recalls the Battle Droid transport.
    “it's like the thing in Phantom Menace, the, uh, Battle Droid Transport.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Avengers · 1:47:09 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Superbad (2007): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Weird Science (1985), which they acted in: Superbad ⇒ Weird Science (the host's read). Weird Science may be the biggest influence on Superbad.
    “Like, I feel like, I don't know which was the biggest influence on Superbad.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt · 0:07:45 · Bill Simmons (0.50 sure it was them)

The Breakfast Club (1985): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Weird Science (1985), which they acted in: The Breakfast Club ⇒ Weird Science (the host's read). Gary's girlfriend in Canada is a gag taken from Breakfast Club.
    “Like, that's the thing directly from Breakfast Club.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt · 0:17:25 · Kyle Brandt (0.55 sure it was them)

The Conversation (1974): 1 line

  1. craft (temp score) · through Zodiac (2007), which they acted in: The Conversation ⇒ Zodiac (the host's read). The Conversation's score was used as temp music while Zodiac was cut, then Shire scored it.
    “they use the conversation score as temp score.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 2:14:21 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

The Incredible Hulk (1977): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Incredible Hulk (2008), which they acted in: The Incredible Hulk ⇒ The Incredible Hulk (the host's read). A speaker says the film reuses the old TV show's score, the sad-guitar cue from Bixby walking away, even though Craig Armstrong scored it.
    “They used the score from the Incredible Hulk at some point in this movie.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Incredible Hulk · 1:47:14 · Griffin Newman or David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

The Shining (1980): 1 line

  1. unmapped (stolen move) · through Zodiac (2007), which they acted in: The Shining ⇒ Zodiac (the host's read). Fincher steals the Steadicam move where the camera turns with the car and keeps it centered.
    “Fincher steals that move of like when the car turns a corner”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Shining with Timothy Simons (Ad-Free) · 2:05:09 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Drawn on by

What the speakers say drew on them or a film of theirs, marked the same way.

Iron Man 3 (2013): 5 lines, within their own work

  1. theme (theme) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). Stark's arc across three Iron Man films peaks in Iron Man 3, and Avengers lays the track for its PTSD.
    “Iron Man 3 is all him being unable to cope with the psychological like trauma of this.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Avengers · 2:07:49 · David Sims (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). Iron Man 3 works as a quasi-sequel to The Avengers because it deals with Tony's trauma of the portal and aliens.
    “Except it's it is a sort of quasi sequel to the Avengers in that it's dealing with the fact that he got sucked into a portal into space for a 2nd there.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 0:15:43 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  3. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man (2008), which they acted in: Iron Man ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). The Iron Man trilogy is closed into a circle by the flashback to the party and Becca Hall and Pierce.
    “as individualistic as this movie is, it actually like... It's bringing the 1st 2 complete.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 0:18:57 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  4. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man 2 (2010), which they acted in: Iron Man 2 ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). Iron Man 2's failure forced something new, giving Shane Black room to make a better third film.
    “But also, that is why the 3rd one is good because the 2nd one was such a mistake that they were like, we don't know.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Incredible Hulk · 1:20:47 · Griffin or David (0.30 sure it was them)
  5. theme (theme) · through Iron Man (2008), which they acted in: Iron Man ⇒ Iron Man 3 (the host's read). Iron Man 3 later parodies the Osama-type Mandarin expectation that Iron Man originally planned (Ten Rings leader, no magic).
    “And then Iron Man 3 wisely parodies that expectation.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 1:25:03 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

The Avengers (2012): 3 lines, within their own work

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Incredible Hulk (2008), which they acted in: The Incredible Hulk ⇒ The Avengers (the host's read). Avengers' line about Hulk 'breaking Harlem' is false: the Abomination did it.
    “That's the one thing they reference in Avengers, where he says, I kind of broke Harlem.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Incredible Hulk · 1:34:36 · Griffin or David (0.30 sure it was them)
  2. industry (industry) · through Iron Man (2008), which they acted in: Iron Man ⇒ The Avengers (the host's read). The post-credits Nick Fury scene established the shared-universe model that changed Hollywood for a decade or more.
    “I mean, this has changed the next 10 years of Hollywood filmmaking.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 2:13:16 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  3. lineage (lineage) · through The Incredible Hulk (2008), which they acted in: The Incredible Hulk ⇒ The Avengers (the host's read). Ruffalo's first Hulk scene in a slum echoes this film's Rocinha opening, though otherwise the continuity is thrown out.
    “The only tale is that when the Mark Ruffalo hook was introduced, they find the little hot.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Incredible Hulk · 0:25:11 · Griffin or David (0.25 sure it was them)

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022): 2 lines

  1. theme (character introduction) · through Captain America: Civil War (2016), which they acted in: Captain America: Civil War ⇒ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (the host's read). Van says Black Panther was handled better in Civil War than in his own movie, and that Civil War served as his origin; Ironheart's introduction here does not land the same way.
    “Black Panther, to me, was portrayed better in Civil War than he was in the original Black Panther movie.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Is Here! · 0:37:09 · Van Lathan (0.85 sure it was them)
  2. theme (character introduction) · through Iron Man 2 (2010), which they acted in: Iron Man 2 ⇒ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (the host's read). Van says the MCU has introduced characters inside other movies before, like Black Widow in Iron Man 2.
    “Black Widow makes her a parent, her 1st appearance.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Is Here! · 0:37:22 · Van Lathan (0.80 sure it was them)

Thor: The Dark World (2013): 2 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Thor: The Dark World (the host's read). The Dark World is the correction to Joss Whedon cracking Loki: he becomes co-lead, Thor 1A to Loki 1B.
    “This is the correction to Joss Whedon cracking Loki, where they're like, we get it now.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Thor: The Dark World · 0:20:47 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Thor: The Dark World (the host's read). Avengers ends with the team scattering, which is why the Phase 2 sequels can stand alone.
    “And also, Joss Wheaton's like master stroke at the end of Avengers is like, we're not a team.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Thor: The Dark World · 0:30:50 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015): 1 line

  1. contrast (contrast) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Avengers: Age of Ultron (the host's read). Age of Ultron opens with the team already together and Fury in hiding, so it is a sequel to five films rather than to Avengers.
    “Avengers 2 can't be a sequel to Avengers one. It has to be a sequel to 5 other moments.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Avengers · 1:39:42 · David Sims (0.50 sure it was them)

Avengers: Endgame (2019): 1 line

  1. unmapped (continuity) · through Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which they acted in: Avengers: Infinity War ⇒ Avengers: Endgame (the host's read). Thor knowing where the reality stone is sets up a bad decision in Endgame.
    “that plays into Endgame, and a bad decision they make”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 1:03:46 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018): 1 line, within their own work

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Avengers: Infinity War (the host's read). The Hulk echoes Tony Stark's words from the first Avengers; the movie is full of callbacks.
    “echoing Tony Stark's words from the Avengers 2012”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 0:25:44 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Captain America (First Avenger / MCU): 1 line

  1. programming (programming) · through The Incredible Hulk (2008), which they acted in: The Incredible Hulk ⇒ Captain America (First Avenger / MCU) (the host's read). The hero jumping out of a hangar plane becomes a recurring Marvel image, starting here and used in Black Panther and Captain America.
    “And this is the 1st of what then becomes the Marvel trope where a hero is either pushed out of or jumps out of the back of like a hangar plane.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Incredible Hulk · 1:31:34 · Griffin or David (0.35 sure it was them)

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man 2 (2010), which they acted in: Iron Man 2 ⇒ Captain America: The First Avenger (the host's read). The Stark Expo of the 1940s is the origin of the Expo seen in Iron Man 2, now as the full World's Fair version.
    “Like what we see in Iron Man 2, but now it's like the full like 40s World Fair version.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Captain America: The First Avenger · 0:19:47 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

Captain Marvel (2019): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Captain Marvel (the host's read). The Tesseract, the glowing box, was a MacGuffin in the first Avengers and in Infinity War.
    “you may remember the Tesseract from the 1st Avengers film, and then, of course, the most recent Avengers film, Avengers Infinity War”
    The Big Picture · ‘Captain Marvel’ Is a ’90s Nostalgia Play. Did It Work? | Exit Survey · 0:09:03 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Ghostface Killah: 1 line

  1. people (people) · through Iron Man (2008), which they acted in: Iron Man ⇒ Ghostface Killah (the host's read). Ghostface is the Wu-Tang member particularly obsessed with Iron Man, who is the avatar of many of his songs.
    “Iron Man is like the like his hero.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 0:40:17 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): 1 line

  1. programming (programming) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Guardians of the Galaxy (the host's read). Thanos' Chitauri subcontracting sets up the cosmic films; Guardians is next on their Marvel list.
    “We're gonna we're gonna cover Peter movie soon.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Avengers · 1:34:57 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

Oingo Boingo: 1 line

  1. craft (craft) · through Weird Science (1985), which they acted in: Weird Science ⇒ Oingo Boingo (the host's read). The speaker imagines the title song was written after the band was told the plot and shown the film, Frankenstein vibe included.
    “I'm making this movie. It's about these 15 year old kids that create basically like the perfect woman and she comes out of the computer and has sex with them.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt · 1:13:46 · Bill Simmons (0.55 sure it was them)

Old School (2003): 1 line

  1. craft (shared structural flaw) · through Back to School (1986), which they acted in: Back to School ⇒ Old School (the host's read). The late competition-element plot is a flaw borrowed from Back to School and also seen in Stripes' war.
    “when it starts to become too much like back to school, you know, where there's like a competition element to it.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Old School’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey · 0:34:32 · Bill Simmons (0.50 sure it was them)

Superbad (2007): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Weird Science (1985), which they acted in: Weird Science ⇒ Superbad (the host's read). Weird Science's ending was 'completely ripped off by super bad'.
    “Uh, really satisfying ending, then just completely ripped off by super bad.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt · 0:42:03 · Bill Simmons (0.50 sure it was them)

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018): 1 line

  1. craft (craft) · through Iron Man (2008), which they acted in: Iron Man ⇒ Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (the host's read). That film parodies the page-flipping Marvel logo, which opens Iron Man.
    “They, uh, they do a really good parody of that in, um, Teen Titans go the movies.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 0:08:41 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Thor: Ragnarok (2017): 1 line

  1. theme (theme) · through The Avengers (2012), which they acted in: The Avengers ⇒ Thor: Ragnarok (the host's read). Ben's favorite Marvel movie; Hulk's journey into space follows from here.
    “Ragnarok is 100% Ben's favorite Marvel movie.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Avengers · 1:18:58 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

modern superhero movies: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man (2008), which they acted in: Iron Man ⇒ modern superhero movies (the host's read). Called the prototype format every later superhero film riffs on.
    “this is the prototype for the modern superhero movie.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 0:09:11 · unknown (Griffin or David) (0.30 sure it was them)

What the speakers said they did

Acting (51) everyone in acting

Other (1) everyone in other

What was said about them, by kind

career (9)

  1. career (career): Robert Downey Jr. → Pound. Pound is called Downey's first movie as an adult.
    “Excuse me, his 1st movie is Pound.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · After Hours with Alison Sivitz · 0:41:17 · unknown host (0.30 sure it was them)
  2. career (career-detour): Robert Downey Jr. → Ally McBeal. Downey went from lost movie star to TV in Ally McBeal season four, won a Golden Globe, and was fired.
    “Very nice job. And he's fired by the end of that season.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 0:13:34 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)
  3. career (career-turning-point): Gothika → Robert Downey Jr.. Gothika, though a bad film, was his first big-studio return on the straight and narrow, and led to Susan.
    “Gothica's weirdly the turning point, okay?”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 0:18:03 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  4. career (career-turning-point): Kiss Kiss Bang Bang → Robert Downey Jr.. As a critical hit with Downey leading, it worked as a calling card to prove he could carry a movie.
    “It is a critical hit and it is, yeah, it's basically a calling card.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 0:19:52 · David Sims (0.50 sure it was them)
  5. career (career): Robert Downey Jr. → Less Than Zero. Downey did not really pop until Less Than Zero.
    “I don't think he really popped until, uh, until less than zero.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt · 0:49:45 · Bill Simmons (0.45 sure it was them)
  6. career (career): Iron Man → Robert Downey Jr.. Downey was a gamble at that stage of his career.
    “Robert Downey Jr. was it sort of a, you know, that was a crapshoot when Iron Man one came out.”
    The Big Picture · The Past, Present, and Future of Superhero Movies | The Big Picture (Ep. 35) · 0:13:01 · David Shoemaker (0.50 sure it was them)
  7. career (career): Robert Downey Jr. → Shane Black. Downey is described as pulling Black up after Kiss Kiss Bang Bang failed and sent Black back to drink; Black says he got sober for this movie.
    “Shane Black was like, I got sober for this movie.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 0:12:29 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  8. career (career): Iron Man 2 → Robert Downey Jr.. Tony's blood toxicity is read as a stand-in for the alcoholism storyline, suggested by Downey's own life.
    “It's their way around like the alcoholism thing where it's basically like he's an alcoholic who's on the road to ruin.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 2 · 0:15:24 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  9. career (career): Robert Downey Jr. → Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Downey's performance template and real comeback came in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which made no money.
    “But he'd already given you the template for this performance in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which is his real comeback movie.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 1:47:57 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

contrast (1)

  1. contrast (contrast): Sam Rockwell → Robert Downey Jr.. Rockwell plays the shadow Tony Stark and is more likable than Downey, who is overdoing it.
    “he's kind of more likable in this movie.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 2 · 0:15:52 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

craft (4)

  1. craft (craft): Robert Downey Jr. → Mark Ruffalo. Banner now dresses like Tony Stark.
    “now Bruce Banner just dresses like Tony Stark”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 0:42:41 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  2. craft (craft): Robert Downey Jr. → Avengers: Infinity War. Downey's growing control of the Tony Stark wardrobe.
    “It is funny how increasingly he gets complete control over the wardrobe.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 1:25:10 · unknown (0.35 sure it was them)
  3. craft (craft): Robert Downey Jr. → W. C. Fields. Downey plays W.C. Fields to Harley, which stops the cute kid being annoying.
    “That's the thing this movie does write is he makes Downey Jr. WC Field to this kid.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 1:01:48 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  4. craft (craft): Jeff Bridges → Robert Downey Jr.. Bridges and Downey threw the script down and made the scenes real acting exercises.
    “And the 2 of them and Favreau are controlling the scene because they decide to throw the script down.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 1:46:24 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

industry (4)

  1. industry (awards-theory): Robert Downey Jr. → Rain Man. Best case for Downey was playing Tom Cruise to Duvall's Dustin Hoffman, supporting the Oscar-bait part.
    “Best case scenario, he's the Tom Cruise to the Dustin Hoffman and Rainman.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 1:24:25 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)
  2. industry (awards-theory): Robert Downey Jr. → Meryl Streep. Streep keeps getting nominated because she visibly changes things up; Downey should surprise audiences similarly.
    “I'm not saying she's always good, but she is always at least changing it up.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 1:27:01 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)
  3. industry (industry): Robert Downey Jr. → Captain America: Civil War. Downey used this film's draw to negotiate a $20 million Civil War deal with box-office bonuses over Winter Soldier.
    “where he gets paid $20 million with a bonus if it outgrosses Winter Soldier by like some amount.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 1:15:16 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  4. industry (industry): Robert Downey Jr. → Scarlett Johansson. Downey renegotiated Marvel's thrifty early contracts and raised co-stars' pay.
    “He renegotiated for all of them so that Scarlett Johansson started making actual money off these movies”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 1:16:34 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

people (8)

  1. people (producer): Robert Downey Jr. → The Judge. The Judge was Downey's first film as a producer, under his new banner at Warner Bros.
    “This is his 1st film as a producer. He sets up a 1st look deal at Warner Brothers to bring them properties.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 0:27:27 · David Sims (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. people (suggested-collaboration): Robert Downey Jr. → Paul Thomas Anderson. To get an Oscar he needs a director who will push him out of his zone, such as PTA or Sam Raimi, not Dobkin.
    “But someone like Paul Thomas Anderson. You know who's not going to let him close.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 1:27:31 · Griffin Newman (0.40 sure it was them)
  3. people (missed-casting): Robert Downey Jr. → Oz the Great and Powerful. Downey would have improved Raimi's Oz, though still not made it good.
    “He actually would have been great and I was the great and powerful.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 1:27:38 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)
  4. people (people): Benedict Wong → Robert Downey Jr.. While shooting this film Wong flew to New York on Downey's private jet to see Serafinowitz.
    “And he took a trip back to New York on Robert Di Jr.'s private jet to visit Peter.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 0:32:05 · Griffin Newman (0.70 sure it was them)
  5. people (people): Robert Downey Jr. → Shane Black. Downey, who worked with Black on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, was the obvious route to getting Black the Marvel job.
    “But he was an obvious choice to work with Robert Downey Jr.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 0:09:22 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  6. people (people): Marisa Tomei → Robert Downey Jr.. Downey has done several films with Tomei, so he may have pushed for her as Aunt May.
    “And Donnie Jr.'s done a bunch of movies with her before.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 0:55:10 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  7. people (people): Robert Downey Jr. → Joss Whedon. Downey pushed to be the star of the team movie in his first meeting with Whedon, then admitted he was wrong.
    “I know you think you're making a team movie, but I'm the big star.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Avengers · 0:11:22 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  8. people (people): Robert Downey Jr. → Mark Ruffalo. Downey personally lobbied Ruffalo, promising fun, money, and financing for his other movies.
    “It will let you get the other movies financed, which I think is what really pushed him over the edge.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Avengers · 0:26:12 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

theme (1)

  1. theme (parallel): Doctor Strange → Robert Downey Jr.. Strange's origin as a brought-low egotist who rebuilds mirrors Tony Stark's.
    “the true origin story of Doctor Strange is so parallel to Tony Stark”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 0:37:00 · John Hodgman (0.40 sure it was them)

unmapped (3)

  1. unmapped (intervention): Jodie Foster → Robert Downey Jr.. On Home for the Holidays Foster confronted Downey about his behavior even though he still delivered.
    “Jody Foster would come in and be like, I know that no one calls you out on this because you're still able to deliver, but I will not let you behave this way.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 0:11:37 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)
  2. unmapped (backing): Mel Gibson → Robert Downey Jr.. After Air America together, Gibson put up the insurance bond so Downey could be hired when no one else would insure him.
    “Mel Gibson puts up the insurance bond because he believes this guy needs a chance, but the movie doesn't do very well.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 0:17:49 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  3. unmapped (suggested-biopic): Robert Downey Jr. → Chaplin. He should do another physical biopic like Chaplin, such as sad old Buster Keaton.
    “Biopic, you know, like you did with Chaplin, something where you're really physically testing yourself as an actor.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 1:24:39 · Griffin Newman (0.40 sure it was them)

what-if (2)

  1. what-if (what-if): Robert Downey Jr. → Weird Science. Downey would have been the right Wyatt, with Hall and Downey as the two stars.
    “I think you could have realistically put him in that in that Wyatt spot and it would have played.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt · 1:07:02 · Bill Simmons (0.40 sure it was them)
  2. what-if (casting-what-if): Robert Downey Jr. → The Royal Tenenbaums. Proposed modern Royal: a franchise star who needs a real movie.
    “you've wasted like 15 years now on franchises, like make a real movie.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ With Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald · 1:20:47 · Chris Ryan (0.50 sure it was them)

Fun items about them

  1. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: His first on-screen line in his father's film Pound, at four or five, was a crude one about body hair, which says a lot about the household.
    “And his 1st line is, what, you don't think I got hair on my balls?”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 0:09:22 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: On Inside the Actors Studio, Downey called Home for the Holidays the most relaxed performance in film history because of the heroin, and said Jodie Foster once confronted him.
    “Yeah, home for holidays, which on that episode of Inside the Actor Studio, he refers to as the most relaxed performance in the history of film because of how much heroin he was on.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 0:11:26 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)
  3. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: Pitch to Downey for an Oscar: play Buster Keaton, whose voice was a gravelly surprise after MGM made him do talkies with Jimmy Durante.
    “He'd be great old, sad Buster Keaton.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Judging The Judge · 1:24:49 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)
  4. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: Downey told Howard Stern he and Rusler joked about leaving a deposit in a trailer and did it in a female castmate's trailer, not LeBrock's.
    “He admitted they eventually did it in one female cast member's trailer, but it was not Kelly LeBrock.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Weird Science’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt · 0:47:24 · Kyle Brandt (0.65 sure it was them)
  5. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: Downey's line on working for Fincher, from the dossier: he can do it because he understands gulags.
    “I think I'm a perfect person to work for him because I understand gulags.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 1:07:32 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  6. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: Downey's Oppenheimer press-tour story: after 60 takes, Fincher made him watch the footage on the monitor and Downey had to admit it was not right.
    “And he made him watch all the takes on the monitor.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 1:07:59 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  7. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: Griffin recalls Downey's baffling Instagram video announcing a Rolling Stones and NASA collaboration, in front of a 1997 screensaver.
    “Have you guys seen the video of Robert Downey Jr. announcing the collaboration between The Rolling Stones and NASA?”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Avengers: Infinity War with John Hodgman · 1:44:19 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  8. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: Black wrote Tony chained to a wall for several scenes to work around Downey's broken ankle; production paused and Black edited in the break.
    “But I think they purposely wrote him chained to a wall for several scenes so that he could like have a giant cast on.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man 3 · 1:38:55 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  9. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: Downey asked to pick the magnetic bracelets in the final suit-up and ad-libbed the Gallagher-at-the-computer riff that became a real shot.
    “he was like, can I pick the bracelets?”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Avengers · 1:41:27 · David Sims (0.30 sure it was them)
  10. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: The ending: Tony Stark appears in backlight to Thunderbolt Ross at the bar, with a sharper goatee and more hair height, saying they are putting a team together.
    “But it's so weird that he says, we're putting a team together too.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Incredible Hulk · 1:49:19 · Griffin or David (0.35 sure it was them)
  11. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: Downey did 20 screen tests, got the role, and immediately told Favreau they both agreed the script was bullshit.
    “And then the 2nd he gets the part, he sits down with Favreau and he's like, so we both agree the script is bullshit, right?”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 0:35:38 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  12. fun, about Robert Downey Jr.: The Monday after opening he told Jimmy Kimmel he'd been locked at a $25,000 raise for the sequel and now held the cards for $20M.
    “And now I hold the cards, baby.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Iron Man · 2:07:41 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)