Rocky IV 1985
The cold open: Siskel defends it, Ebert begs Rocky to retire. America beats Russia; Paulie gets a robot.
The Big Picture · Discussion
1. “I Must Destroy Him” | Gene and Roger
July 20, 2021/ 25 min/ Brian Raftery
Episode 1 of The Ringer's 'Gene and Roger.' Brian Raftery traces how two rival Chicago newspaper critics became the country's most powerful thumbs, using the movies they fought over on air.
13 films across 3 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
The Two Thumbs Erathe films Gene and Roger fought over on air
RoboCop 1987
The R-rated movie Raftery's parents wouldn't let him see, but Siskel & Ebert could air a clip of at 11 a.m.
My Dinner with Andre 1981
Cited as proof that two thumbs up carried weight across the whole range of movies.
Anaconda 1997
The other end of that range from My Dinner with Andre.
Reservoir Dogs 1992
One of their stranger calls: both gave it a thumbs down.
Goodfellas 1990
Ebert, almost dazed: 'a great American film.' Their reaction shows how big the movie felt in 1990.
Die Hard 1988
Ebert thumbs down over the plot holes; Siskel stayed interested.
The Silence of the Lambs 1991
Siskel voted thumbs down; Ebert didn't buy it either. 'This is the movies.'
Before Siskel and Ebertthe critics and films that set the table
The Shining 1980
Gene Shalit's tightly scripted pun on the Today Show: 'Kubrick is responsible for the dulling of The Shining.'
Conan the Barbarian 1982
Tarantino's example of the local-newscast critic as consumer advocate: should you waste your money?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 1975
Among the films Siskel and Ebert covered in their disastrous, barely-seen 1975 pilot.
Dog Day Afternoon 1975
Also in the pilot, back when film, not TV, led the cultural conversation.
This Season on Gene and Roger
Pulp Fiction 1994
Cannes teaser: Ebert saw it and couldn't decide if it was one of the best movies he'd ever seen or one of the worst.
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
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