Movies on the Side
A podcast about movies, mayonnaise on hot dogs, and everything else on the side. Hosted by Nate Baranowski and Stephen Robles. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter to send us your bad movie suggestions!
Episodes
The Odyssey (2026) Review
Turns out, people like going to the movies when the movies are good.The Odyssey | In Studio: Ludwig GöranssonRichard Roeper on The OdysseyThe Odyssey - Official 'Completely in IMAX' Behind the Scenes Clip (2026)
Mercy (2026) Review
A harrowing story about Chipotle Queso, and Rebecca Ferguson makes a great AI judge.
Project Hail Mary (2026) Review
Could Ryan Gosling and Rocky be the best buddy pair in cinema? And more importantly, when to use the microwave vs toaster oven.Air fried burger song [Reel]Rocky Plush Toy
Materialists (2025) Review
Love is a many splendid thing, love lifts us up where we belong, all you need is love! Or maybe love is a list of checkboxes and the highest compatibility between two people wins.
Eternity (2025) Review
We spiral our contemplating eternity, love, and working on a cruise ship forever.Eternity on Apple TV+Every eternity mentioned (Reddit)
F1: The Movie (2025) Review
Can't wait for the sequel: F1: Part Deux: Tokyo DriftVFX Artists React to 2026 Oscar-Nominated CGILewis Hamilton Just Confirmed an ‘F1’ Sequel Is Happening
Wicked: For Good (2025) Review
Can a musical with so many first-act hits...end with a bang?
Nate's Rules of Theater Etiquette
The etymology of "brekkie," Nate handles a theater talker, and we all need more pneumatic tubes.
Superman (2025) Review: Maybe That’s the Real Punk Rock
Sometimes it’s ok to be corny. Also, Nate and Stephen try to remember how to review movies.
Everything is Cottage Cheese
We catch up on recent movie experiences, but more importantly, Stephen is putting cottage cheese in everything.
Gladiator II (2024) Review
Can Denzel Washington carry an entire sequel 20+ years in the making? Nate delivers what is possibly the best dissertation on why a movie is bad, and CG monkeys are bad.
Stephen Goes to a Sportsball Game
Stephen doesn’t understand how to attend a live sports event.
Wicked (2024) Review and Top 5 Songs
We gush a lot about Wicked, there's singing, and we list out top 5 songs from the movie!Follow Us On:MOTS Instagram
How Famous Would You Want to Be?
Are you more of a Taylor Swift, or Keenu Reeves level of fame?Follow Us On:MOTS Instagram
Our Top 5 Christmas Movies with Jason Aten!
Returning guest Jason Aten joins us to rank our top 5 favorite Christmas movies, and call out what’s clearly the worst in history! The audacity! The unmitigated gall!Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS Instagram
Holiday Traditions with a Special Guest!
Friend of the show Jason Aten joins us to review our favorite and new holiday traditions! He loves Christmas, even though he admittedly does absolutely NOTHING to facilitate it.
Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Godfather Review!
After 52 years, it turns out, this movie stands the test of time. It's Nate's first viewing, and we get treated to Marlon Brando impressions, infinitely quotable lines, and we dissect why The Godfather really is that good.Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS Instagram
First-Time Onion Cutting, and How Long to Be an Expert
Yes, at 38-years-old it may be the first time Stephen has actually cut an onion. After Nate shames Stephen about his onion naiveté, they both vastly underestimate how long it takes to become an expert at: chess, figure skating, pottery, and other wildly inaccurate estimates.
Pixar Movie Ranking and Inside Out 2 Review!
We wax poetically how Inside Out 2 is both a great movie, and an important movie. After, Nate utterly fails a ranking a top 5 Pixar movie list. Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS Instagram
Nate Goes to the Symphony
Turns out, live orchestral music is pretty great, and Stephen tries to explain how it all went wrong.
Emily Blunt is Already Taken: The Fall Guy Review!
We review a movie about movie making, Emily Blunt is married to John Krasinski in every movie in our minds, we discover all the titles on a movie set, and Nate has the most incredible knock-off AirPods Max.Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS Instagram
Dealing with Rejection
Rejection is tough, but Stephen advises Nate on a strategy to help cope.
Fast X Review: Vin Diesel May Actually Become a Car
Physics don’t exist, John Cena drives a gadget mobile, and somehow, Vin Diesel may morph into a car before this franchise is over. Enjoy our review of Fast X!Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS Instagram
Pre-Sliced vs Deli Cheeses
Stephen may have bought too many pre-sliced cheeses, and Nate attempts to persuade that bespoke deli cheese ordering is superior.
Did ChatGPT Star in Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning?
Tom Cruise is currently 62 years old, how many more Mission Impossibles you think he has left? Also, “The Entity” is basically AI, let’s be real.Bonus EpisodesListen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS Twitter
Olympics and Musicals
Despite not caring about sportsball, Stephen is oddly moved by the Olympics. Plus, musicals.
The Trilogy Meter and Terminator (1984) Review!
Is The Terminator just one long chase scene with bad makeup and a weak love story? Appears so, but more importantly, we judge the qualities of various trilogies, like Jurassic Park, X-Men, Indiana Jones, and do the important work of recasting a Terminator reboot!See the Trilogy MeterBonus EpisodesListen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS Twitter
(00:41) - The
Valet Parking and the Indignity of 15¢ Bags
Stephen was forced to use valet parking, Nate believes in reusable bags, and most horrific ending concerning nail clippings.
Don't Taint the Chocolate: Wonka (2023) Review!
Is the charisma of Timothée Chalamet enough to recede Gene Wilder? What about Pure Imagination variations? And what exactly is a hall pass? We review the 2023 musical movie: Wonka!Pure Imagination VariationsJosh GrobanFiona AppleTimothée ChalametGene Wilder Bonus EpisodesListen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS Twitter
Rubber Snakes, Cereals, and Raw Milk
What do you do with mischievous acquaintances at a birthday party, we might get arrested for drinking raw milk, and the top 5 cereals we would bring to a desert island.
Dune: Part Two (2024) Review! Nate Couldn’t Be More Wrong
Thankfully, I do all the publishing for this podcast and can definitely say that Nate has the worst take on Dune: Part Two that one can have.Videos on Dune: Part Two MusicHow Hans Zimmerman Created the Score for Dune: Part TwoThe Sounds of Dune: Part Two
The Fall of Chipotle, and Stephen Almost Joined a Cult
One false step and Stephen could have been knee-deep in a vicious fitness ring, Nate talks some sense in to him, plus the Chipotle portion fiasco, and we basically solve capitalism.
Einstein Stole the Show...Oppenheimer (2023) Review!
The vibes are great in this movie, even though Stephen only saw half of it. We review the 2023 Christopher Nolan movie: Oppenheimer!Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS Twitter
Dewey Decimal and Watermelon Disdain
Apparently, Melvil Dewey wasn't a great dude, we diverge into more AI talk, but both agree that watermelon are terrible.Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS Twitter
The Henry Cavill Bait-and-Switch, Argylle (2024) Review!
A star-studded cast, $200 million budget from Apple, how could this movie possibly fail? Turns out, Argylle beats all odds, and does in fact, fail miserably. Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS Twitter
Dropping Things, Deciding on a Phone Pocket, and Ai Gadgets
Stephen literally hates dropping things, we brainstorm better pithy sayings than the usual tropes, but fail, Nate is wondering in which pocket he should keep his phone, and turns out, Ai gadgets are useless.
Too Many Frames, Not Enough Plot, and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) Review!
Stephen thinks this movie is one, long, video game cutscene, while Nate tries to dissect the spiritual worldview of the Na’vi. Also, what is happening?Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS Twitter
Seeing Totality, Stephen Goes to Hollywood
Nate was in the path of totality, but it didn’t change his life. Stephen brought MOTS to Hollywood, and talks to a stranger.Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS Twitter
The World of The Creator (2023)
A unique and compelling dystopian world, all filmed on a camera you can get at Best Buy. We review our third John David Washington film, with music by Hans Zimmer and the same DOP as Dune, The Creator!Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
Sunburn to Sun Tzu
Stephen’s first beach trip and inevitable sunburn, we make a hard pivot to discuss military philosophers like Sun Tzu and Machiavelli, and Nate compares parenthood to being at war.Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
Maybe We Don’t Like Superhero Movies Anymore
Nate and Stephen recorded this episode LIVE and in-person, after consuming paralyzing amounts of cheesecake. We review the terrible 2023 movie, The Flash, and Stephen still stands by Man of Steel.Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
Parent Trap and Getting Older
Nate has concerns about a rather old Lindsay Lohan movie, and we ponder out own mortality as we discuss getting older.
We Don’t Know How to Say “The Marvels”
We’re a little rusty, but we managed to review the next installment in the demise of the MCU, The Marvels! Tune in to our bonus episode for thoughts on AI generated video, hoarding, and those storage wars videos. Watch this on YouTube!Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
AI Generated Video and What to Do with Storage Bins
We discuss the existential crisis of AI generated video, and what we would do with all the storage bins in the garage.
Get Your Papes, Pulitzer-Winning Plot Holes, and Newsies (2017) Review!
MOTS returns with a Top 5 songs, questionable mustache performances, and review of the 2017 musical movie: Newsies!Watch this on YouTube!Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
Nate Loves Weddings, Stephen’s Just Here for Toasted Ravioli
Chicken, steak or fish? What’s your dancing etiquette? And how many pieces of untouched cake do you claim by the end of the night?
Bad Haircuts, Tragic TV Deaths, and Lessons in Chemistry (2023) Review!
Stephen has an existential crisis about his hair, Nate is trying his best to hold it together, and we return to TV on the Side as we review the Apple TV+ original series: Lessons in Chemistry!Watch this on YouTube!Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
Late Night Shenanigans, Cheesecake, and New Year’s Resolutions
Yes, we recorded this episode after 10pm — welcome to MOTS After Dark! Nate is bribing his child with cheesecake and popcorn, and we share our “themes” for the New Year!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
MacGuffins Galore, Time Travel Sphincter, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Review!
We take issue with CGI young Indiana Jones, this movie has one too many MacGuffins, and we touch on the time travel sphincter as we review The Dial of Destiny!Hollywood Reporter Interview about VFXWatch this on YouTube!Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
Flat Earthers and Nate’s Family Goes to the Movies
Stephen debates doing a video that may tempt flat Earther comments, Nate makes lazy sandwiches, and the Baranowski family goes to the movies!Watch this bonus episode on YouTube
Mojo Dojo Casa House, the Patriarchy Isn’t About Horses, and Barbie (2023) Review!
Greta Gerwig reminds us what good writing is all about, Stephen fights Nate on Ryan Gosling vs. the other Ryan, and we review the 2023 Mattel-inspired movie: Barbie!Oh, and Stephen bought a snake, but you have to hear our bonus episode for that story! Get it in Apple Podcasts or Patreon:Bonus episodes on PatreonListen to Greta Gerwig on SmartLessWatch this episode on YouTubeFollow Us On:M
Stephen Bought a Snake, and Shoplifting Strategies
Nate grills Stephen on snake ownership, we discuss how to shoplift at self-checkout, and a failed Old Navy interview.
CG Fighting, Henry Cavill Got the Shaft, and our Black Adam (2022) Review!
Stephen is finally on the same page when it comes to CG-infused fight scenes, Nate searches for a moral to this disaster of a story, we’re still bitter about Henry Cavill’s Superman, and the Rock is never not the hero. Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
What Would You Do with a Line Drive?
Nate decides what to do with a line drive to the face, and Stephen hates stickers.
Claymation Body Horror, Oogie Boogie Man…The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Review!
Stephen’s upset that Nate has forced him to watch even more body horror (albeit claymation style), the Oogie Boogie man may have stolen the show, and Kevin’s Mom from Home Alone tries to warn the Pumpkin King of impending Christmas doom!See, that last part barely even makes sense.Watch this on YouTubeListen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twi
Harvest Party = Halloween
What’s the difference between a Harvest Party, Fall Festival, and Halloween? One doesn’t allow ghost costumes, one has the disgusting practice of bobbing for apples, and the other may include sharp objects in your Snickers bar!Watch this on YouTube!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
Bebop and Rocksteady, Blue Mary Poppins, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Review!
Nate is moved by an anthropomorphized otter, Stephen is done with body horror bebop and rocksteady, and will we ever have another golden age of the MCU?Watch this episode on YouTube!Support the show and listen to hundreds of bonus episodes at: patreon.com/moviesonthesideFollow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
Hotel Eggs and Stephen Goes on an INTENSE Hike
The viability of hotel eggs, the safest meat choices, and Stephen goes on a wild hike.Follow Us On:MOTS on TikTokhttps://tiktok.com/@moviesonthesideMOTS Instagramhttps://instagram.com/moviesonthesideMOTS Twitterhttps://twitter.com/moviesontheside
Pivotal Music Experiences, Bad Tomatoes, and Elvis (2022) Review!
Nate and Stephen recall moments of musical epiphany, Elvis was actually a great musician, and we wouldn’t want to be trapped in Vegas.Watch this episode on YouTube!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
The Other Stanley Cup and Proper Hydration
Stephen goes on a quest to find the Holy Grail of water tumblers, Nate wonders about the appropriate amount of times to use the restroom in a day, and is shocked at how much water one needs to “stay hydrated.”
MOTS Alignment Chart, Ninja Turtle Personality Test…Dungeons and Dragons (2023) Review!
Nate and Stephen analyze each other’s moral alignment, we develop a comprehensive MOTS personality test, and Stephen makes a startling admission about his shorts.Links from the ShowD&D Alignment ChartMOTS Personality TestWatch this episode on YouTube!Movie Links:Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) - IMDbDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) - Rotten Tomatoe
Stephen Flew First Class, Room Service Dilemma, Nate Doesn’t Like Tuna
After multiple weeks of travel, Stephen shares several travel stories, including his first experience of…First Class flying! Further discussion on room service options, salads, and Nate’s thoughts on fish.
The Worst Disney Song, Sneaky Grandmas, and Moana Review!
Dwayne Johnson tries to sing, a grandmother undermines Moana’s parents, and an insufferable crab literally sings a song called “Shiny,” but it’s written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, so there’s that.Join the after party (our bonus episode) to hear about Stephen’s road trip to Washington D.C., our hosts thoughts on chili, and the best soups!Watch this episode on YouTube!Links MentionedMoana (2016
Road Trip, Chili Hot Take, and the Best Soup
Stephen went on a road trip and face planted, visited Cincinnati and get zero chili, and Nate picks a fight with French Onion soup.
One of Us is Wrong About The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Stephen mispronounces Mario in the first five seconds, Nate gets worked up over the PLOT of this movie 🙄 and the Brooklyn theme carries across to our bonus episode this week!Watch this episode on YouTube!The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) - IMDbThe Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) - Rotten TomatoesListen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on TikTokMOTS Twitter
Proper Cream Cheese Ratio, Hot Dogs are for Kids
Stephen wants to know how much cream cheese on a bagel is acceptable, Nate doesn’t know the brand bread he buys, bagel blasphemy, cookout menu etiquette, brats over dogs, and we find another mayo hot dog aficionado.
A Trinity of Trilogies, Melty Faces, and Raiders of the Lost Ark Review!
After a bonus episode of what maketh a fitness bro, we review the 1981 classic: Raiders of the Lost Ark! How young is too young to see face-melting, what makes Indiana Jones so fun, and what did he do in this plot anyway?• Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - IMDb• Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Rotten Tomatoes• Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On:•
What Maketh a Bro?
How can one discern a bro? Fitness bros, productivity bros, and most importantly, is Dwayne Johnson a BRO? And we discuss the new social app: Threads!
Who’s Your Spider-Man? Secret Identities, and Tobey vs. Andrew vs. Tom
It is a universal truth that everyone has their Spider-Man. But is it Tobey, Andrew, Tom, or maybe you’re more of a Miles? Tune in as we rank our favorite Peters Parker, Spiders-Man, and try to decide if we would reveal our secret identity 🤔Watch this episode on YouTube!• Spider-Man (2002) - IMDb• Spider-Man (2002) - Rotten Tomatoes• Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon!Follow Us On
World Travel Stories, Overhead Bins, Nate Always Checks His Bag
Stephen just returned from traveling to Tel Aviv and was almost forced to check a bag. Nate always checks his bag, like a crazy person.
Gravelly Voices, Unintelligible Villains, and Dark Knight Trilogy Review
We discuss eight hours of movies in 25 minutes in our comprehensive Dark Knight Trilogy review! Stick around past the ending theme for a literally terrifying Joker impression by one of our hosts.Watch this episode on YouTubeBonus episodes on Patreon!Batman Begins - Rotten TomatoesThe Dark Knight - Rotten TomatoesThe Dark Knight Rises - Rotten TomatoesFollow Us On:MOTS InstagramMOTS on Tik
Old TV Network Numbers, AI Movie Recommendations, and We’re Grumpy
Stephen persuades Nate he had the best TV network channel numbers as a kid, we’re a little grumpy, and Nate devises a genius AI-movie recommendation tool.
90's Nostalgia Tour, MOTS 5th Anniversary, and Tetris (2023) Review
Welcome to our 5th Anniversary Special of Movies on the Side! Your hosts Stephen Robles and Nate Baranowski discuss the newly released Apple TV+ original movie, Tetris, along with a nostalgic trip down memory lane. We reminisce about our earliest video game experiences, from NES to Game Boy, and share our thoughts on the evolution of gaming. Plus, we're making some exciting changes to the
Holiday Inn Breakfast, Winking, and Would You Rather
Is Maria Menounos taking over the world, how bad is the Holiday Inn breakfast, would you rather fly or never sleep, and the ethics of winking.
John Wick (2014)
John Wick is Keanu Reeves is John Wick. Got it? Tune in as we dissect the mysterious oeuvre of both Keanu the actor and the character, plus stay til the end to take a quiz and find out which Keanu you are!Watch on YouTube!Links of InterestFor Your Consideration: Keanu ReevesKeanu on What Happens When We DieJohn Wick (2014) - IMDbJohn Wick (2014) - Rotten TomatoesListen to our bonus episod
Easter Candy and Flipping Eggs
Nate shows up in a suit, Stephen's failed attempt at flipping eggs, and we discuss our favorite Easter candies!
Big Hero 6 (2014)
Sandwiched between Frozen and Inside Out, Big Hero 6 may be an overlooked gem in the Disney pantheon. We discuss the action, the music, feel all the feelings, and then argue about Mufasa. Don’t forget, you can watch this episode on YouTube!Watch on YouTube!• Big Hero 6 (2014) - IMDb• Big Hero 6 (2014) - Rotten tomatoes• Story Behind Baymax Fist Bump• Listen to our bonus episodes on Pa
Stephen Watched a Movie on TikTok, Plus the Ludicrous TikTok Hearing
Is watching a movie in 3-minutes clips on TikTok…fine? Plus, Nate and Stephen do their best to impersonate congressman at the TikTok hearing.Follow Us On:MOTS on TikTokhttps://tiktok.com/@moviesonthesideMOTS Instagramhttps://instagram.com/moviesonthesideMOTS Twitterhttps://twitter.com/moviesontheside
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
What kind of movie gives people hot dogs for fingers, includes an evil everything bagel, and includes a multi-dimensional plot?? One that makes you cry at googly eyes by the end! Join us as we review the Best Picture Oscar Winner: Everything Everywhere All at Once.Watch this episode on YouTube!Links from the showEverything Everywhere All at Once (2022) - IMDbEverything Everywhere All at O
Stephen Goes to Las Vegas
If you listen to an audiobook, is it the same as reading that book? Nostalgia for Steve Irwin, and Stephen is back from Vegas!
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