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Top Five Gen X Director Debuts, the Fate of ‘Black Widow,’ and a Potential Oscars Disaster

March 26, 2021/ 90 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins

Disney sends Black Widow to Disney Plus, the PGA and WGA all but crown Nomadland, and Brian Koppelman joins Sean to draft the best directorial debuts from filmmakers born between 1960 and 1980.

24 films across 4 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.

Disney Sends Black Widow to Premiere Accessand what it means for theaters

Black Widow poster

Black Widow 2021

Pushed to July 9 and going to Disney Plus Premiere Access instead of theaters only.

Cruella poster

Cruella 2021

Also moved to the same Premiere Access day-and-date model.

Nobody poster

Nobody 2021

The Bob Odenkirk revenge thriller, still waiting for a real theatrical release.

The PGA, the WGA, and a Very Undramatic Oscar Raceplus the new, Zoom-free ceremony rules

Nomadland poster

Nomadland 2020

Won the PGA, which has called 15 of the last 20 Best Picture winners.

Minari poster

Minari 2020

The one longshot that could still play spoiler.

Parasite poster

Parasite 2019

The last time the PGA winner didn't take Best Picture.

Sean's Top Five Gen X Directorial Debutsfirst films from directors born 1960 to 1980, best to worst

Reservoir Dogs poster
No. 1

Reservoir Dogs 1992

No. 1: Brian argues it doesn't even count, since Tarantino disowns an earlier, unreleased first feature.

Boyz n the Hood poster
No. 2

Boyz n the Hood 1991

No. 2 on both lists: John Singleton was 23 when he made it.

Sexy Beast poster
No. 4

Sexy Beast 2000

No. 4: Jonathan Glazer's music-video eye applied to a gangster story.

Brian Koppelman's Top Five Gen X Directorial Debutsthe Rounders and Billions co-creator picks his own five

Margin Call poster
No. 3

Margin Call 2011

No. 3: J.C. Chandor's finance drama, shot in 11 days.

Pi poster
No. 4

Pi 1998

No. 4: Darren Aronofsky's black-and-white numerology thriller.

Hard Eight poster
No. 5

Hard Eight 1996

No. 5: Paul Thomas Anderson's debut, originally titled Sydney before the studio forced a title change.

Also mentioned raised along the way

Honorable mentions from the debut draft BrickThe Brothers BloomDistrict 9BoundAway From HerStories We TellBottle RocketWalking and TalkingEx MachinaAnchorman: The Legend of Ron BurgundyKiss Kiss Bang BangEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindGone Baby GoneThe TownArgoSynecdoche, New YorkAdaptationShe's Gotta Have ItRaising ArizonaRushmoreUn 32 août sur terre

In passing Citizen KaneNorth by NorthwestField of DreamsBraveheartMoonlight

Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads

TV WandaVisionThe Falcon and the Winter SoldierBillions

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