Disney

Made films the shows talk about.

Counted as studio. The films the hosts said they were behind, which the two lists below run through too: The Color of Money (1986); What About Bob? (1991); Cool Runnings (1993); Dead Presidents (1995); The Insider (1999); Pearl Harbor (2001); The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Lady in the Water (2006); Zodiac (2007); The Avengers (2012); Iron Man 3 (2013); Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014); Guardians of the Galaxy (2014); Frozen 2 (2019); Mulan (2020); Soul (2020); The New Mutants (2020); Cruella (2021); The French Dispatch (2021); Avatar: The Way of Water (2022); 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Disney, unmade); 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (unmade Fincher project); Alien franchise; Artemis Fowl; Black Widow; Marvel Studios; Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales; The Shadow King.

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.

The Hustler (1961): 7 lines

  1. lineage (callback) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: The Hustler ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). The mentoring conversation Newman has with Vince and Carmen mirrors the one George C. Scott has with Newman in The Hustler; both films also go on the road.
    “that's basically the George C. Scott has the same conversation with Paul Newman and the Hustler.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Color of Money’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey · 0:44:53 · Chris Ryan (0.65 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (sequel/continuation) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: The Hustler ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). Newman's Eddie Felson in 1986 becomes the George C. Scott hustler-mentor character of the original, and the sequel answers rather than remakes it.
    “the Newman character in the color of money becomes the George C. Scott character in the Hustler.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Color of Money’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey · 0:45:31 · Sean Fennessey (0.60 sure it was them)
  3. lineage (lineage) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: The Hustler ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). The Color of Money revisits Eddie Felson years later, with Paul Newman in his twilight and a new protege.
    “Now we find Paul Newman bringing up like a new protégé.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Gladiator II’ Is Here. Are We Not Entertained? · 1:47:28 · Chris Ryan (0.60 sure it was them)
  4. lineage (callback) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: The Hustler ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). Newman getting drunk and hustled by Amos is the first time he plays the Jackie Gleason role of the original, drunk and overconfident.
    “it's basically the 1st time he plays Jackie Gleason and the hustler where he's just like wasted and thinks he's going to win and then gets gets hustled.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Color of Money’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey · 0:45:56 · Sean Fennessey (0.50 sure it was them)
  5. lineage (source material) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: The Hustler ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). The film is theoretically based on Walter Tevis's follow-up novel to The Hustler but has almost nothing to do with it; Minnesota Fats was in the novel.
    “this is theoretically based on Walter Tevis's follow-up novel to the Hustler, but the movie has almost nothing to do with the novel”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Color of Money’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey · 0:52:26 · Sean Fennessey (0.50 sure it was them)
  6. unmapped (continuing tragedy) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: The Hustler ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). The Color of Money carries the original film's tragedy as backstory without explaining it in a monologue.
    “And that's all the backstory for this movie, which is so interesting that he doesn't give the big monologue explaining what happened in the 1st film.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · The Color of Money with Chris Ryan · 0:12:13 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  7. lineage (sequel) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: The Hustler ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). The Color of Money is the sequel to The Hustler, but built from a new script that keeps only the title of the Tevis sequel novel.
    “Even when they start developing scripts and go, like, throw all that out, start fresh, they kept writing in parts from Minnesota fats.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · The Color of Money with Chris Ryan · 0:13:06 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Iron Man (2008): 3 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man 3 (2013), which they were behind as studio: 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 were behind as studio: 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 were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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 were behind as studio: 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. programming (programming) · through Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which they were behind as studio; could have forced Gunn off Suicide Squad: 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)
  3. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man 3 (2013), which they were behind as studio: 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)

The Incredible Hulk (2008): 2 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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 were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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)

Three Days of the Condor (1975): 2 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), which they were behind as studio/owner of Marvel: Three Days of the Condor ⇒ Captain America: The Winter Soldier (the maker said so). The filmmakers say outright they were making a Condor movie.
    “But they're like, we're like, we're making a 3 days of the Condor movie.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Captain America: The Winter Soldier · 0:27:10 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), which they were behind as studio/owner of Marvel: Three Days of the Condor ⇒ Captain America: The Winter Soldier (the host's read). The Russos and Marcus/McFeely were told they could make a Three Days of the Condor style political thriller inside the MCU, provided Feige got his Helicarrier back.
    “You want to do a 3 day of the Condor movie?”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Captain America: The Winter Soldier · 0:19:33 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

101 Dalmatians: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Cruella (2021), which they were behind as studio: 101 Dalmatians ⇒ Cruella (the host's read). Cruella is the origin story of the evil lady from 101 Dalmatians who wants coats from dog fur.
    “Cruella is the origin story of this lady.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘Easy A’ With Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins, and Shea Serrano · 1:28:52 · Shea Serrano (0.50 sure it was them)

After Hours (1985): 1 line

  1. career (career bridge) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: After Hours ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). The camera moves of After Hours carry into Color of Money's pool table, tied to Ballhaus; both lead to Goodfellas.
    “that same thing, that camera is flying across the pool table.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘After Hours’ with Bill Simmons and Sean Fennessey · 0:30:24 · Sean Fennessey (0.60 sure it was them)

All the President's Men (1976): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Insider (1999), which they were behind as studio/distributor: All the President's Men ⇒ The Insider (the host's read). The Insider is hoped to capture the same wave of reaction that All the President's Men did.
    “they're hoping to capture that same kind of that wave that people have when they saw all the president's men.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Insider’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey · 0:21:08 · Chris Ryan (0.45 sure it was them)

Apocalypse Now (1979): 1 line

  1. craft (craft) · through Dead Presidents (1995), which they were behind as studio, $10 million budget: Apocalypse Now ⇒ Dead Presidents (the host's read). The Hughes brothers kept an Apocalypse Now poster; the film borrows its helicopter shots.
    “The directors were big time movie obsessives, who kept an apocalypse now poster on the wall of their Hollywood studio.”
    The Big Picture · 8. I Love America | Do We Get to Win This Time? · 0:50:27 · Brian Raftery (0.90 sure it was them)

Blaxploitation films: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Dead Presidents (1995), which they were behind as studio, $10 million budget: Blaxploitation films ⇒ Dead Presidents (the host's read). It also drew on Blaxploitation films and gangster sagas, scored with 70s soul.
    “But so were Black'sploitation films and gangster sagas.”
    The Big Picture · 8. I Love America | Do We Get to Win This Time? · 0:51:07 · Brian Raftery (0.90 sure it was them)

Bloods (book): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Dead Presidents (1995), which they were behind as studio, $10 million budget: Bloods (book) ⇒ Dead Presidents (the host's read). Dead Presidents was inspired by Wallace Terry's oral history of Black Vietnam veterans.
    “It was inspired by a book called Bloods, an oral history of the Vietnam War by Black Veterans.”
    The Big Picture · 8. I Love America | Do We Get to Win This Time? · 0:48:28 · Brian Raftery (0.90 sure it was them)

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

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), which they were behind as studio/owner of Marvel: Captain America: The First Avenger ⇒ Captain America: The Winter Soldier (the host's read). Zola surviving and joining the other side is the seed for Winter Soldier.
    “Because you need Zola to join the other side.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Captain America: The First Avenger · 1:34:27 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Collateral (2004): 1 line

  1. people (casting) · through Zodiac (2007), which they were behind as studio (owned Touchstone; sold script to it): 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)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Mulan (2020), which they were behind as studio: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ⇒ Mulan (the host's read). The remake's wuxia/mystical style follows the wave of Chinese films that grew popular after Crouching Tiger and the Zhang Yimou films.
    “they've gotten very big, kind of post, crouching tiger hidden dragon, and the Jang Yi-Mu films”
    The Big Picture · Did Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Experiment Work? A Binge Mode Investigation · 0:28:58 · Jason Concepcion (0.80 sure it was them)

Donnie Darko (2001): 1 line

  1. people (casting) · through Zodiac (2007), which they were behind as studio (owned Touchstone; sold script to it): 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)

Ed Brubaker: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), which they were behind as studio/owner of Marvel: Ed Brubaker ⇒ Captain America: The Winter Soldier (the host's read). The film adapts the Brubaker Winter Soldier comic arc.
    “They wanted to take the Ed Brubaker Winter Soldier Arc, which is one of the most famous Captain America Arcs.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Captain America: The Winter Soldier · 0:14:25 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Francois Truffaut: 1 line

  1. lineage (influence) · through The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), which they were behind as studio behind release: Francois Truffaut ⇒ The Royal Tenenbaums (the host's read). French New Wave influence.
    “Francois Truffaux, Sholu Qadar, the French New Wave.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ With Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald · 1:15:59 · Chris Ryan (0.50 sure it was them)

French New Wave: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), which they were behind as studio behind release: French New Wave ⇒ The Royal Tenenbaums (the host's read). Combines the emotionality and cutting style of French new wave with the rawness of 70s American cinema.
    “You've got 70s American cinema and you've also got 60s French new wave.”
    The Big Picture · The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 12 - 'The Royal Tenenbaums’ · 0:06:33 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), which they were behind as studio behind release: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler ⇒ The Royal Tenenbaums (the host's read). The vibe of that kid-runaway book imbues the first 40 minutes, including the narration and child-genius portraiture.
    “the whole vibe of that book is imbued in the 1st 40 minutes of this movie, most of the narration, most of the young Tenenbaum's portraiture of these 3 child geniuses.”
    The Big Picture · The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 12 - 'The Royal Tenenbaums’ · 0:05:56 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Fu Manchu (character): 1 line

  1. theme (theme) · through Iron Man 3 (2013), which they were behind as studio: 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)

Full Metal Jacket (1987): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Dead Presidents (1995), which they were behind as studio, $10 million budget: Full Metal Jacket ⇒ Dead Presidents (the maker said so: Lorenz Tate recalling the Hughes brothers' videotapes). Allen Hughes made a VHS of Vietnam scenes; Tate was assigned Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now, Platoon.
    “So I watched Full Metal Jacket.”
    The Big Picture · 8. I Love America | Do We Get to Win This Time? · 0:50:43 · Lorenz Tate (0.80 sure it was them)

Harold and Maud: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), which they were behind as studio behind release: Harold and Maud ⇒ The Royal Tenenbaums (the host's read). Off-kilter characterization, 70s feel, overcoats, and suicide attempts; in the bloodstream of Tenenbaums and Squid and the Whale.
    “Harold and Maud is very much in the bloodstream of, of, the Royal Ten of bombs and Squid and the whale.”
    The Big Picture · The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 12 - 'The Royal Tenenbaums’ · 0:37:40 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Harry Potter (films/books): 1 line

  1. contrast (contrast) · through Mulan (2020), which they were behind as studio: Harry Potter (films/books) ⇒ Mulan (the host's read). The remake's fox, witch, and magic lore feel borrowed from Harry Potter and Game of Thrones without gelling.
    “There is these kind of, um, Game of Thrones and uh, Harry Potter kind of lore.”
    The Big Picture · Did Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Experiment Work? A Binge Mode Investigation · 0:33:28 · Jason Concepcion (0.75 sure it was them)

Hero (2002): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Mulan (2020), which they were behind as studio: Hero ⇒ Mulan (the host's read). The remake borrows wuxia conventions in an attempt to appeal to international audiences, reading as a try at remaking Hero or House of Flying Daggers.
    “it really just feels like an attempt to remake hero or house of flying daggers, which obviously makes sense to Amanda's point about appealing to international audiences”
    The Big Picture · Did Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Experiment Work? A Binge Mode Investigation · 0:29:22 · Jason Concepcion (0.80 sure it was them)

Iron Man 2 (2010): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Iron Man 3 (2013), which they were behind as studio: 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)

Jean-Luc Godard: 1 line

  1. lineage (influence) · through The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), which they were behind as studio behind release: Jean-Luc Godard ⇒ The Royal Tenenbaums (the maker said so: Matt Zoller Seitz's book on the movie). The mosaic of book covers was inspired by a Godard movie doing something similar.
    “he was inspired by, I think it was a Godard movie that did something similar, of course.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ With Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald · 0:53:10 · Andy Greenwald (0.50 sure it was them)

L.A. Confidential (1997): 1 line

  1. lineage (structure / influence) · through Zodiac (2007), which they were behind as studio (owned Touchstone; sold script to it): 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)

Louis Malle: 1 line

  1. lineage (influence) · through The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), which they were behind as studio behind release: Louis Malle ⇒ The Royal Tenenbaums (the host's read). French New Wave directors listed among its influences.
    “some of the influences on this movie include films by Louis Maule. Um, uh, Francois Truffaux, Sholu Qadar, the French New Wave.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ With Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald · 1:15:51 · Chris Ryan (0.50 sure it was them)

Michael Ovitz: 1 line

  1. industry (packager) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: Michael Ovitz ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). Ovitz engineered the Newman-plus-Scorsese pairing, nudging Newman to write a letter and nudging Scorsese toward a commercial project.
    “I know he's an artiste. He's probably not going to want to do like a commercial thing. So I'm going to try and like nudge him towards something commercial.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · The Color of Money with Chris Ryan · 0:55:45 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Mike Wallace Is Here (2019): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through The Insider (1999), which they were behind as studio/distributor: Mike Wallace Is Here ⇒ The Insider (the host's read). The documentary on Wallace informs the Plummer scenes.
    “And I think it actually informs this scene a lot”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Insider’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey · 0:37:42 · Sean Fennessey (0.45 sure it was them)

Mulan (1998): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Mulan (2020), which they were behind as studio: Mulan ⇒ Mulan (the host's read). Sean says the remake is what happens when filmmakers do not know what is good about the original.
    “I think Mulan is kind of what happens when you don't really know what's good about your movie.”
    The Big Picture · Did Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Experiment Work? A Binge Mode Investigation · 0:26:03 · Sean Fennessey (0.85 sure it was them)

Paul Newman: 1 line

  1. unmapped (mentorship) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: Paul Newman ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). Cruise picked up tips on managing movie stardom from Paul Newman on The Color of Money.
    “he picked up from the Paul Newmans of the world when appearing in the color of money.”
    The Big Picture · The Tom Cruise Hall of Fame · 0:44:17 · Sean Fennessey (0.40 sure it was them)

Raging Bull (1980): 1 line

  1. people (origin of collaboration) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: Raging Bull ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). Newman watched Raging Bull on Ovitz's recommendation and wanted to work with Scorsese.
    “Paul Newman watches Raging Bull on, I guess Ovid's his recommendation and says, like, that's one of the best things I've ever seen.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · The Color of Money with Chris Ryan · 0:53:44 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): 1 line

  1. craft (camera-movement coverage) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: Raiders of the Lost Ark ⇒ The Color of Money (the host's read). Scorsese covers scenes with morphing moving master shots, like Spielberg's quick efficient coverage, to stay under schedule.
    “But he's doing like all this Spielberg, like coverage with camera movement.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · The Color of Money with Chris Ryan · 1:21:44 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Robert Graysmith: 1 line

  1. lineage (adaptation) · through Zodiac (2007), which they were behind as studio (owned Touchstone; sold script to it): 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)

Rumor Has It: 1 line

  1. people (casting) · through Zodiac (2007), which they were behind as studio (owned Touchstone; sold script to it): 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 were behind as studio (owned Touchstone; sold script to it): 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)

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980): 1 line

  1. unmapped (model for the unmade film) · through 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (unmade Fincher project), which they were behind as studio that held 20,000 Leagues: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back ⇒ 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (unmade Fincher project) (the maker said so: in interviews). In interviews Fincher says he wanted 20,000 Leagues to be his Empire Strikes Back, a dark film that still works for children.
    “I wanted to make my Empire Strikes Back in that I have always found it astonishing how dark Empire Strikes Back is while working as a movie for children.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Gone Girl with Esther Zuckerman (Ad-Free) · 0:22:52 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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)

Sydney Pollack: 1 line

  1. craft (craft) · through Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), which they were behind as studio/owner of Marvel: Sydney Pollack ⇒ Captain America: The Winter Soldier (the host's read). Winter Soldier's look is said to approximate a Sydney Pollack movie (transcribed 'Sydney Poland').
    “And, you know, Captain America's sort of trying to approximate like a fucking Sydney Poland movie or whatever.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Thor: The Dark World · 0:34:31 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

The Catcher in the Rye / Franny and Zooey: 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), which they were behind as studio behind release: The Catcher in the Rye / Franny and Zooey ⇒ The Royal Tenenbaums (the host's read). Salinger's Glass-family stories are the key literary influence.
    “Zoe is like the key influence on this film”
    The Big Picture · The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 12 - 'The Royal Tenenbaums’ · 0:05:35 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

The Conversation (1974): 1 line

  1. craft (temp score) · through Zodiac (2007), which they were behind as studio (owned Touchstone; sold script to it): 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 Deer Hunter: 1 line

  1. craft (craft) · through Dead Presidents (1995), which they were behind as studio, $10 million budget: The Deer Hunter ⇒ Dead Presidents (the host's read). The film carries the Deer Hunter's post-war isolation, Platoon's combat, Apocalypse Now's helicopters.
    “The post-war isolation of the Deer Hunter, the bloody combat, a platoon, even the majestic helicopter shots from Apocalypse Now.”
    The Big Picture · 8. I Love America | Do We Get to Win This Time? · 0:50:57 · Brian Raftery (0.90 sure it was them)

The Magnificent Ambersons (1942): 1 line

  1. lineage (influence) · through The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), which they were behind as studio behind release: The Magnificent Ambersons ⇒ The Royal Tenenbaums (the host's read). Named as a huge influence; rewatching Ambersons shows how much of it is in Tenenbaums.
    “it's wild how much, uh, ten bombs or how much Amberson's is in ten bombs.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ With Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald · 1:16:15 · Chris Ryan (0.50 sure it was them)

The Shining (1980): 1 line

  1. unmapped (stolen move) · through Zodiac (2007), which they were behind as studio (owned Touchstone; sold script to it): 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)

The Thin Red Line (1998): 1 line

  1. craft (music borrowed) · through Pearl Harbor (2001), which they were behind as studio (used Thin Red Line score in trailer): The Thin Red Line ⇒ Pearl Harbor (the host's read). Disney used the Thin Red Line score in the Pearl Harbor trailer without permission, and Malick later cashed that in.
    “Disney uses the score for the thin red line, um, when they, uh, when they do the Pearl Harbor trailer.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Empire of the Sun with Bilge Ebiri · 0:40:07 · Bilge Ebiri (0.80 sure it was them)

Drawn on by

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

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017): 4 lines

  1. craft (craft) · through Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which they were behind as studio; could have forced Gunn off Suicide Squad: Guardians of the Galaxy ⇒ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (the host's read). Vol. 2 used a brightly blue Yondu and a bright Milano interior to dodge the washed-out look of the first film's color grading.
    “He's just smart about working in, like, I'm going to make his skin so bright blue.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Guardians of the Galaxy · 0:25:17 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which they were behind as studio; could have forced Gunn off Suicide Squad: Guardians of the Galaxy ⇒ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (the host's read). The sequel deepens Yondu's relationship with Quill so the first film's scene reads differently in retrospect.
    “Knowing what you know about their relationship that you learn in the sequel, you know, colors this scene a little bit more”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Guardians of the Galaxy · 1:26:31 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  3. lineage (lineage) · through Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which they were behind as studio; could have forced Gunn off Suicide Squad: Guardians of the Galaxy ⇒ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (the host's read). The sequel doubles down on Yondu's arrow by building its best action sequence around it.
    “And then that the 2nd movie doubles down on it with like building its best action sequence around the era.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Guardians of the Galaxy · 1:42:42 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  4. lineage (lineage) · through Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which they were behind as studio; could have forced Gunn off Suicide Squad: Guardians of the Galaxy ⇒ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (the host's read). Vol. 2 is the movie that develops Nebula's backstory with Gamora; this film is about Quill and dads in embryo.
    “Because 2 is the one that's gonna, you know, is trying to win you over to Nebula.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Guardians of the Galaxy · 1:43:46 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Captain Marvel (2019): 3 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which they were behind as studio; could have forced Gunn off Suicide Squad: Guardians of the Galaxy ⇒ Captain Marvel (the host's read). As a prequel, Captain Marvel brings back Guardians characters Ronan (Lee Pace) and Korath (Djimon Hounsou).
    “this is, of course, a prequel, so their characters appear in this film again.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Captain Marvel’ Is a ’90s Nostalgia Play. Did It Work? | Exit Survey · 0:43:32 · Sean Fennessey (0.80 sure it was them)
  3. craft (craft) · through Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which they were behind as studio; could have forced Gunn off Suicide Squad: Guardians of the Galaxy ⇒ Captain Marvel (the host's read). The Flarkin cat in Captain Marvel is a version of the Drax metaphor joke, but this film's joke lands better thanks to the cut to his face.
    “And you know, you know, the cat in Captain Marvel is like a version of this joke.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Guardians of the Galaxy · 1:46:06 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015): 2 lines

  1. contrast (contrast) · through The Avengers (2012), which they were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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)
  2. programming (programming) · through Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), which they were behind as studio/owner of Marvel: Captain America: The Winter Soldier ⇒ Avengers: Age of Ultron (the host's read). The post-credits scene sets up the twins and Strucker's experiments.
    “You know what they're setting up here, Benny.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Captain America: The Winter Soldier · 2:12:03 · unknown (0.35 sure it was them)

Iron Man 3 (2013): 2 lines, within their own work

  1. theme (theme) · through The Avengers (2012), which they were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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 were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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)

Thor: The Dark World (2013): 2 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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 were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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)

Ant-Man (2015): 1 line

  1. programming (programming) · through Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which they were behind as studio; could have forced Gunn off Suicide Squad: Guardians of the Galaxy ⇒ Ant-Man (the host's read). After Guardians' success with unknown characters, Ant-Man was an easy next gamble.
    “you do Ant-Man after that because you're just like, yeah, let's do Ant-Man.”
    The Big Picture · The Past, Present, and Future of Superhero Movies | The Big Picture (Ep. 35) · 0:17:03 · Jason Concepcion (0.40 sure it was them)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through The Avengers (2012), which they were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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)

Doom (2005): 1 line

  1. unmapped (cultural legacy) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: The Color of Money ⇒ Doom (the host's read). Cruise saying 'Doom' in the pool hall scene led a software company to name its video game Doom.
    “That leads to the software company coming up with the name for their new revolutionary video game.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘The Color of Money’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey · 0:59:44 · Bill Simmons (0.60 sure it was them)

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): 1 line, within their own work

  1. programming (programming) · through The Avengers (2012), which they were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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)

Sonic the Hedgehog (upcoming film): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which they were behind as studio; could have forced Gunn off Suicide Squad: Guardians of the Galaxy ⇒ Sonic the Hedgehog (upcoming film) (the host's read). The new Sonic design looks like it copied Rocket's design.
    “I also think they copied Rocket's design for the new Sonic.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Guardians of the Galaxy · 0:32:18 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014): 1 line

  1. verdict (verdict) · through The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), which they were behind as studio behind release: The Royal Tenenbaums ⇒ The Grand Budapest Hotel (the host's read). Grand Budapest is the best alternative case for the Anderson slot, but it could not exist without Tenenbaums' blueprint.
    “Um, but Grand Budapest does not exist.”
    The Big Picture · The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 12 - 'The Royal Tenenbaums’ · 0:38:16 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988): 1 line

  1. career (career enabler) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: The Color of Money ⇒ The Last Temptation of Christ (the host's read). The paycheck-gig hit stabilizes Scorsese's career and makes Last Temptation and Goodfellas possible.
    “Must admit though, it is the guarantor that allows him to immediately then make. Last temptation of Christ in Goodfellas.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · The Color of Money with Chris Ryan · 0:17:57 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Thor: Ragnarok (2017): 1 line

  1. theme (theme) · through The Avengers (2012), which they were behind as bought Marvel; paid $500M to buy Avengers and Iron Man 3 rights from Paramount: 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)

Top Gun: Maverick (2022): 1 line

  1. lineage (legacy-sequel heirs) · through The Color of Money (1986), which they were behind as studio; Touchstone distributor: The Color of Money ⇒ Top Gun: Maverick (the host's read). Gap-based legacy sequels like Top Gun Maverick, Tron Legacy and Blade Runner follow the template Color of Money invented, though in 1986 sequels were derided.
    “now we get more and more like your your Tron legacies and your Top Gun Mavericks, where it's just casually... 37, 40 years later”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · The Color of Money with Chris Ryan · 1:07:05 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

Wendell and Wild (2022): 1 line

  1. unmapped (unfinished predecessor) · through The Shadow King, which they were behind as backed Cinderbiter Studios; took a $50M write-down: The Shadow King ⇒ Wendell and Wild (the host's read). The Shadow King combined stop motion with shadow animation; some of that is used in Wendell & Wild.
    “And they use some of that in this film, Wendell and Wild.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Wendell & Wild · 0:44:46 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

What the speakers said they did

Studio (30) everyone in studio

What was said about them, by kind

industry (3)

  1. industry (industry): Soul → Disney. Soul skipping theaters for free Disney+ release shows Disney+ is aimed at kids and families and keeps subscribers from churning.
    “it's a reason to not let your subscription lapse”
    The Big Picture · 300th Episode Ask-Us-Anything Mailbag Spectacular · 0:04:55 · Sean Fennessey (0.70 sure it was them)
  2. industry (studio ownership): The French Dispatch → Disney. Because Disney owns the Fox Searchlight film, it is not expected to go to VOD.
    “the French dispatch is owned by Disney. It's a Fox Searchlight film.”
    The Big Picture · Emergency Mailbag: The Oscars Are Streaming and Hollywood Is Fighting Over Trolls | The Big Picture · 0:33:08 · Sean Fennessey (0.50 sure it was them)
  3. industry (industry): Disney → Alien franchise. Disney bought Fox for streaming content and franchises; Alien and Predator are design-based, not actor-based.
    “They are tied to designs.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Alien: Covenant · 0:03:46 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

people (1)

  1. people (people): George Lucas → Disney. Spielberg compared Lucas to Disney for putting out a vision so attractive you would be a fool to deny it.
    “George is a bit like Disney.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 0:53:53 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Fun items about them

  1. fun, about Disney: Griffin's thesis: the flop ended an entire kind of Disney live-action film.
    “This movie like killed an entire, like, realm of possible films that Disney could make.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · OLD DOGS - Blank Check LIVE! at the Bell House (May 12, 2022) · 0:12:13 · Griffin Newman (0.80 sure it was them)