The Big Picture · Review
February 6, 2026/ 99 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
The sixth Sean-and-Amanda movie swap: she watches 'The Strangers,' he finally watches 'Mamma Mia!,' both from 2008, and they argue about not knowing.
2 films across 2 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 Strangers'Sean's pick — Amanda watches for the first time
Brian Bertino's directorial debut, shot in 2006-07 and shelved a year. Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman come home from a wedding where his proposal was turned down; three masked strangers terrorize them for no reason. Both love that it withholds almost everything: the killers stay masked, and the only explanation ('Because you were home') is the one moment Sean thinks tips too far. Made $85M; Amanda gives it 3.5 stars on Letterboxd.
'Mamma Mia!'Amanda's pick — Sean finally watches it
Phyllida Lloyd's only feature (before The Iron Lady), an ABBA jukebox musical shot in Greece. Sean calls it simultaneously very good and very badly directed, like great karaoke with famous people slightly hungover on vacation. Amanda's peak: Meryl Streep singing 'The Winner Takes It All' at Pierce Brosnan on a cliff. Made $610M worldwide; third-highest-grossing movie musical if you drop the Disney titles. Ends without naming the father, the swap's shared theme of not knowing.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Past movie swaps Spider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseSense and SensibilityAliensFour Weddings and a FuneralTerminator 2: Judgment DayTitanicFargoThe English PatientCasablancaThe In-LawsSpy KidsShrek
The horror around 'The Strangers' Funny GamesThe Texas Chainsaw MassacreA Nightmare on Elm StreetThe Last House on the LeftSawHostelThe Town That Dreaded SundownFriday the 13thNightmaresThe Strangers: Prey at NightThe Strangers: Chapter 1
Brian Bertino and friends MockingbirdThe MonsterThe Dark and the WickedViciousPrimateA Minecraft MovieWeaponsNow You See Me 2
Meryl, from every angle The Iron LadyThe Devil Wears PradaInto the WoodsFlorence Foster JenkinsRicki and the FlashPostcards from the EdgeDeath Becomes HerThe Bridges of Madison CountyAdaptationThe HoursLemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate EventsLions for LambsDoubtJulie & JuliaIt's ComplicatedA Cry in the DarkMary Poppins ReturnsMamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Movie musicals, argued over Les MisérablesThe Greatest ShowmanWest Side StoryIn the HeightsWickedStep UpWonkaBohemian Rhapsody
Amanda Seyfried Mean GirlsIn TimeJennifer's BodyThe HousemaidThe Testament of Ann Lee
2008 at the movies The Dark KnightIron ManWALL·EIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal SkullTwilight
In passing LincolnOne Battle After AnotherBergman IslandAvatar: The Way of WaterSonic the HedgehogWantedSaltHappy GilmoreThe Rocky Horror Picture ShowThe Thursday Murder ClubThe Super Mario Bros. MovieMelaniaDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity CastleMichael
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV FelicityThe Good WifeSex and the CitySeinfeldSpongeBob SquarePantsGabby's DollhouseMaury
Podcasts Second in CommandWinds of Change
Ads State FarmTremfayaWells Fargo Autograph JourneyWayfairZazzle