Late Night 2019
Mindy Kaling wrote it and co-stars opposite Emma Thompson as a female late-night host fighting to keep her show; Sean and Amanda call it a rom-com between a mentor and a mentee.
The Big Picture · Discussion · Review · Interview
Why 'Dark Phoenix' Flopped and 'Late Night' Works, Plus Joe Talbot on 'The Last Black Man in San Francisco'
June 11, 2019/ 87 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Late Night's slow rollout, why Dark Phoenix cratered, and Joe Talbot on The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
34 films across 6 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.
'Late Night'Amazon's $13 million Sundance buy
Morning Glory 2010
Amanda's closest comparison point: an Aline Brush McKenna rom-com about a morning-show producer, with Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, and Diane Keaton.
Booksmart 2019
The release-strategy foil: it went wide into 2,000 theaters and underperformed, while Amazon slow-rolled Late Night into limited release to build word of mouth.
Why 'Dark Phoenix' Bombed$33 million opening, 22% on Rotten Tomatoes, a B- CinemaScore
Dark Phoenix 2019
The 11th X-Men movie, repeating a storyline already told 13 years earlier, and moved twice on the release calendar before landing in a dead June.
X-Men: The Last Stand 2006
Already told the Dark Phoenix storyline once.
X-Men: First Class 2011
The reboot that relaunched the franchise well.
X-Men: Apocalypse 2016
The prequel-era misstep that cost the franchise fan trust ahead of Dark Phoenix.
Captain Marvel 2019
The comparison point for a movie that didn't work but still made money.
Solo: A Star Wars Story 2018
The cautionary tale for a production's troubles going public.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 2016
Had a similarly fraught production, salvaged by Tony Gilroy reshoots.
Bohemian Rhapsody 2018
Swapped into Dark Phoenix's original November release date.
Alita: Battle Angel 2019
Took Dark Phoenix's rescheduled February date instead.
What Even Is a Summer Movie Anymore?the rest of the 2019 slate
Avengers: Endgame 2019
The biggest movie of the year, which set an expectation the rest of the summer couldn't meet.
Joker 2019
Shaft 2019
Child's Play 2019
Toy Story 4 2019
Annabelle Comes Home 2019
Yesterday 2019
Midsommar 2019
The Lion King 2019
'Pavarotti'
Pavarotti 2019
Ron Howard's straightforward, hagiographic documentary on the tenor. Amanda says the point is just hearing him sing loud in a theater, closing on his Nessun Dorma from the first Three Tenors concert.
'The Black Godfather'
The Black Godfather 2019
A Netflix documentary on Clarence Avant, the largely anonymous manager and label executive who's also Ted Sarandos's father-in-law.
In conversation
Joe Talbot on
The Last Black Man in San Francisco 2019
Talbot's first feature, built from years of walks and conversations with childhood friend and co-writer Jimmy Fails about the house Fails's family lost; Jonathan Majors plays his best friend Montgomery.
Joe Talbot on
Medicine for Melancholy 2008
Talbot cold-emailed director Barry Jenkins for notes on early drafts.
Joe Talbot on
Women in Love 1969
Talbot's answer to the show's closing question: a Ken Russell film he says left him blown away.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Late Night's world The Big SickManchester by the SeaWorking GirlThe Devil Wears PradaAlways Be My Maybe
Emma Thompson's back catalog Sense and SensibilityThe Remains of the DayMuch Ado About NothingPrimary ColorsThe Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)Last ChristmasSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Dark Phoenix context Inglourious BasterdsThe Secret Life of Pets 2UsJohn Wick: Chapter 3 - ParabellumGhostbusters
Also mentioned I, Tonya
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV The OfficeThe Mindy ProjectVeepGame of ThronesCrazy Ex-GirlfriendThe Chef ShowNash BridgesAngels in America
Ads The Press Box (podcast promo)
Podcasts Jam Session