Binge Movies: Rankings and Reviews

Top Grossing Movies of 2009, Ranked Part II

EP 202: Top Grossing Movies of 2009, Ranked Part II

Few believed Blue Cat People would work, but by the end of the 2000s, it was the biggest movie of all time. Proving once again, you should never bet against Jim Cameron. Jason and Robert Yaniz Jr. (Crooked Table) close out the Top Grossing Movies of the 2000s series with the five biggest hits of 2009.

From Gladiator to Avatar, this series has tracked a decade where franchises rose, originality waned, and box office spectacle became Hollywood’s ultimate currency.

The Lineup:
5. 2012
4. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
3. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
1. Avatar 

Which of these blockbusters deserves preservation in the Vault, and which should be left behind with the aughts?

Credits
Host: Jason
Guest: Robert Yaniz Jr. (Crooked Table)
Produced by: Binge Movies
Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete
Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

Top Grossing Movies of 2009, Ranked Part I

EP #201: 2009, Part II — Conspiracy Season

2009 didn’t just entertain—it reflected a culture already steeped in paranoia and conspiratorial thinking. Jason and Chauncey Telese (La Podfidential) rank five box office giants that, in hindsight, reveal how stories of secret cabals, engineered crises, and “truth” shaped by vibes over facts were already dominating the mainstream.

The Lineup:
10. The Hangover (2009)
9. Angels & Demons (2009)
8. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
7. The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
6. Up (2009)

What seemed like harmless fun at the time now reads as a cultural preview of the conspiratorial mindset that would escalate throughout the next decade. The conversation also touches on the death of Hulk Hogan, the paranoia baked into Dan Brown’s novels, Ron Howard’s attempt to give pulp a prestige sheen, and Peter Thiel, who secretly bankrolled Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker, a real-world conspiracy that toppled a media empire.

Which film deserves preservation in the Vault, and which one feels like prophecy for America’s conspiratorial future?

Credits
Host: Jason
Guest: Chauncey Telese (LA Podfidential)
Produced by: Binge Movies
Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete
Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

 

 

80s Sex Comedies, Ranked

EP #200: VHS Summer V–80s Sex Comedies

200 episodes! To mark the milestone, Jason is joined by Clare from W-Rated to rewind to the neon-soaked heyday of 1980s sex comedies. From locker room pranks to ski slope stripteases, these raunchy relics of VHS culture pushed boundaries and buttons. Along the way, friends and fans drop in with special messages to celebrate the journey so far.

This week’s lineup:

• Porky’s (1981)

• The Last American Virgin (1982)

• Hardbodies (1984)

• Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

• Hot Dog...The Movie (1984)

Which film earns a spot in the Vault, and which ones get left in the bargain bin?

Credits
Host: Jason
Guest: Clare (W-Rated)
Produced by: Binge Movies
Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete
Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

John Hughes, Ranked

EP #199: John Hughes, Ranked

John Hughes gave us the dream of teen freedom, family bonding, and life lessons wrapped in pop hits. But in 2025, do his movies still hold up—or are they time capsules better left sealed? Jason and guest Kristin Battestella (Women InSession; I Think, Therefore I Review) rank five Hughes classics, from road-trip chaos to suburban rebellion, deciding which deserves the Vault…and which buckle under the weight of modern eyes.

• National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
• Sixteen Candles (1984)
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
• She’s Having a Baby (1988)
• Career Opportunities (1991)

Bonus conversations dive into The Great Outdoors, Home Alone, and Some Kind of Wonderful.

Credits
Host: Jason
Guest: Kristin Battestella (Women InSession; I Think, Therefore I Review) 
Produced by: Binge Movies
Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete
Support: patreon.com/bingemovies

Weapons (2025)

INSTANT REACTION: Seventeen kids vanish at 2:17 a.m., and that’s only the start of the nightmare. Director Zach Cregger (Barbarian) returns with Weapons — a chilling, multi-chapter descent into paranoia and dread. In this spoiler-free instant reaction, we break down the film’s tone, tension, and craft without giving away a single twist. No plot summaries. No safety nets. Just the gut-level verdict from the last video store in the universe.

Director: Zach Cregger
Starring: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich
Genre: Horror / Mystery / Thriller

Credits
Host: Jason
Guest: Evan Crean
Produced by: Binge Movies
Franchisees: Heather, Dan, Jason, Matt, Pete. 
Support: patreon.com/bingemovies
Merch: bingemovie.threadless.com