The Full Picture

The Big Picture · Auction

Introducing the 2021 Movie Auction

April 16, 2021/ 89 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Chris Ryan

The first movie auction. After mourning the ArcLight's closure and a rules primer from Danny Heifetz, Sean, Amanda, and Chris each get $1,000 to buy five upcoming 2021 films. Bobby Wagner keeps the books.

A sale of 15 lots across 3 paddles, $2,917 at the hammer.

Top lot: No Time to Die, to Paddle 2, $370.

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 paddles who spent what

Paddle 1
Sean Fennessey
$917
5 lots · $83 unspent
Paddle 2
Amanda Dobbins
$1,000
5 lots
Paddle 3
Chris Ryan
$1,000
5 lots

The board this sale, by hammer price

  1. 01
    No Time to Die poster
    No Time to Die 2021
    No.2 Amanda Dobbins
    $370

    The one she came for. Cary Joji Fukunaga's Bond, with Daniel Craig; she says she'd have gone to $600.

  2. 02
    The Matrix Resurrections poster
    The Matrix Resurrections 2021
    No.1 Sean Fennessey
    $355

    Sean's costliest lot, run up by Chris out of pure mischief. Lana Wachowski returns with Keanu Reeves and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

  3. 03
    The French Dispatch poster
    The French Dispatch 2021
    No.2 Amanda Dobbins
    $310

    Spent her entire remaining budget on the last pick, uncontested. Wes Anderson.

  4. 04
    House of Gucci poster
    House of Gucci 2021
    No.3 Chris Ryan
    $275

    The market-setting first lot, more than a quarter of his budget. Ridley Scott; Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jared Leto.

  5. 05
    Top Gun: Maverick poster
    Top Gun: Maverick 2022
    No.1 Sean Fennessey
    $255

    Amanda nominated it to bait a bidding war, then let Sean have it. Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Jon Hamm.

  6. 06
    Dune poster
    Dune 2021
    No.1 Sean Fennessey
    $225

    Denis Villeneuve's Frank Herbert adaptation with Timothée Chalamet. Chris tapped out and later regretted it.

  7. 07
    The Beatles: Get Back 2021
    No.2 Amanda Dobbins
    $135

    Stolen from Sean over his objection that he doesn't care about the Beatles. Peter Jackson's documentary.

  8. 08
    No Sudden Move poster
    No Sudden Move 2021
    No.2 Amanda Dobbins
    $110

    Steven Soderbergh's HBO Max heist picture; Chris nominated it and lost it. Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Jon Hamm.

  9. 09
    Black Widow poster
    Black Widow 2021
    No.1 Sean Fennessey
    $81

    Chris bid him up on a movie Sean called a turkey Marvel was dumping. Scarlett Johansson's solo turn.

  10. 10
    The Last Duel poster
    The Last Duel 2021
    No.2 Amanda Dobbins
    $75

    Uncontested at her opening bid. Ridley Scott; Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, Ben Affleck.

  11. 11
    Cry Macho poster
    Cry Macho 2021
    No.1 Sean Fennessey
    $1

    A $1 uncontested grab. Clint Eastwood directs and stars.

  12. 12
    The Velvet Underground poster
    The Velvet Underground 2021
    No.3 Chris Ryan
    —

    One of four uncontested end-game picks: Chris swept his final slots with his remaining $725, 'divided equally.' Todd Haynes's music documentary.

  13. 13
    The Guilty poster
    The Guilty 2021
    No.3 Chris Ryan
    —

    Antoine Fuqua's 911-dispatcher thriller with Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard.

  14. 14
    Last Night in Soho poster
    Last Night in Soho 2021
    No.3 Chris Ryan
    —

    Edgar Wright's psychological horror with Anya Taylor-Joy.

  15. 15
    Next Goal Wins poster
    Next Goal Wins 2023
    No.3 Chris Ryan
    —

    Taika Waititi's soccer comedy with Michael Fassbender; delayed to 2023.

Titles link to TMDb where a confident match exists. Unlinked entries are too new to be cataloged or aren't films.

Also mentioned raised along the way

2021 films raised in passing Clifford the Big Red DogF9Don't Look UpThe Souvenir Part IIThe Tragedy of MacbethKing RichardShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsVenom: Let There Be CarnageGodzilla vs. KongEternalsJackass Forever

Older films name-checked Top GunThe SouvenirJokerApollo 13Exodus: Gods and KingsUncut GemsThe Killing of a Chinese BookieMichael ClaytonThe Princess BrideThe MatrixThe Matrix RevolutionsThor: The Dark WorldThor: RagnarokCaptain America: Civil WarCaptain America: The Winter SoldierBlack PantherGuardians of the GalaxyOut of Sight

Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads

TV The Falcon and the Winter SoldierWandaVisionWatchmenFull HouseTop ChefMare of Easttown

Podcasts The WatchThe Ringer Fantasy Football ShowThe Ringerverse

Ads TremfyaWells Fargo Active CashGet Vaccine AnswersTalkAboutPDFanDuelBoar's HeadFIFA World Cup Launch EditionAthletic Brewing