With our PROJECT HAIL MARY review coming Friday, we’re revisiting a Filmspotting blast from beyond: 2014’s Top 5 Things From Space (That Came to Destroy Us). B-movies, classic sci-fi, and Arnold Schwarzenegger all make the cut.

Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you join the Filmspotting Family.

With our PROJECT HAIL MARY review coming Friday, we&rsquo;re revisiting a Filmspotting blast from beyond: 2014&rsquo;s Top 5 Things From Space (That Came to Destroy Us). B-movies, classic sci-fi, and Arnold Schwarzenegger all make the cut.
<p data-encore-id="text" data-slate-node="element" data-slate-fragment="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">Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you <a href="https://filmspotting.supportingcast.fm/">join the Filmspotting Family</a>.

Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).

New and classic movie reviews and top 5 lists.

Filmspotting

Top 5 Things From Space (That Came To Destroy Us) [Archive]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/652a2e17-71fd-4bad-b1bc-b418002d73d4/transcript

Adam and Josh review PROJECT HAIL MARY, exploring Ryan Gosling’s blend of humor, melancholy, and middle‑school‑teacher energy. They also discuss the practical effects approach that makes it all work before turning to Round 2 of '40s Madness.

This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.

(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:03:30)

Project Hail Mary (00:03:31-00:33:55)

Filmspotting Family (00:33:56-00:40:43)

Notes / Save the Date (00:40:44-00:45:15)

‘40s Madness Rd. 2 (00:45:16-01:13:00)

Credits / New Releases (01:13:01-01:18:01)

Links:

-Filmspotting Madness

https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

Support:

-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.
https://filmspottingfamily.com

-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.
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Adam and Josh review PROJECT HAIL MARY, exploring Ryan Gosling&rsquo;s blend of humor, melancholy, and middle‑school‑teacher energy. They also discuss the practical effects approach that makes it all work before turning to Round 2 of '40s Madness.
This episode is presented by&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.regmovies.com/join-unlimited?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=filmspotting">Regal Unlimited⁠⁠</a>, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.
(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:03:30)
Project Hail Mary (00:03:31-00:33:55)
Filmspotting Family (00:33:56-00:40:43)
Notes / Save the Date (00:40:44-00:45:15)
&lsquo;40s Madness Rd. 2 (00:45:16-01:13:00)
Credits / New Releases (01:13:01-01:18:01)
Links:
-Filmspotting Madness
<a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/">https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/</a>
Feedback:
-Email us at <a href="mailto:feedback@filmspotting.net">feedback@filmspotting.net</a>⁠⁠
-⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://forms.gle/T7aEzSXEovNDCArV9">Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> and we might answer your question in bonus content.
Support:
-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. <a href="https://filmspottingfamily.com">https://filmspottingfamily.com</a>
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. <a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/shop%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠</a>
Follow:
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Rocky love Gosling. Filmspotting love Gosling.

Project Hail Mary: Sensitivity in Space | '40s Madness Round 2 (#1058)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/374db4bf-8c83-4d57-ab2b-b419013191da/transcript

Adam and Josh consider the Pantheon credentials of Kelly Reichardt’s MEEK’S CUTOFF, reflecting on its spare frontier world, questions of free will, and place in Reichardt’s larger American project.

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

Support:

-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.
https://filmspottingfamily.com

-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠

Follow:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠

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https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm

⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠

Adam and Josh consider the Pantheon credentials of Kelly Reichardt&rsquo;s MEEK&rsquo;S CUTOFF, reflecting on its spare frontier world, questions of free will, and place in Reichardt&rsquo;s larger American project.
Feedback:
-Email us at <a href="mailto:feedback@filmspotting.net">feedback@filmspotting.net</a>⁠⁠
-⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://forms.gle/T7aEzSXEovNDCArV9">Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> and we might answer your question in bonus content.
Support:
-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. <a href="https://filmspottingfamily.com">https://filmspottingfamily.com</a>
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. <a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/shop%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠</a>
Follow:
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Kelly Reichardt’s frontier story of faith and free will.

Meek’s Cutoff: Why It Belongs in the Pantheon

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f7006190-08fa-4fbb-aae4-b418013ecc83/transcript

Why does STAND BY ME still resonate 40 years later? Adam and Josh revisit Rob Reiner’s classic, reflecting on its friendships, its wistfulness, and River Phoenix’s unforgettable performance. Plus: a review of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s THE BRIDE and a look at the Round 1 matchups of Filmspotting '40s Madness.

Join the Filmspotting Family for the full archive, bonus episodes, ad‑free listening, and more: filmspottingfamily.com

This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.

(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:02:53)
Stand by Me (00:02:54-00:49:35)
Filmspotting Family (00:49:36-00:57:12)
The Bride (00:57:13-01:02:59)
Notes / Save the Date (01:03:00-01:08:22)
'40s Madness Rd. 1 (01:08:23-01:24:03)
Credits / New Releases (01:24:04-01:25:53)

Correction:

-Yes, Adam realizes that he said "Jesus, does anybody" – twice! – not "anyone."  He regrets the error.

Notes/Links:

-Filmspotting Madness
https://www.filmspotting.net/madness

-Stephen King: Why I Hugged Rob Reiner After Watching ‘Stand by Me’
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/opinion/culture/stephen-king-rob-reiner-stand-by-me.html

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

Support:

-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.
https://filmspottingfamily.com

-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠

Follow:

https://youtube.com/filmspotting

https://instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/larsenonfilm⁠

https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠⁠

https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm

⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠

Why does STAND BY ME still resonate 40 years later? Adam and Josh revisit Rob Reiner&rsquo;s classic, reflecting on its friendships, its wistfulness, and River Phoenix&rsquo;s unforgettable performance. Plus: a review of Maggie Gyllenhaal&rsquo;s THE BRIDE and a look at the Round 1 matchups of Filmspotting '40s Madness.
Join the Filmspotting Family for the full archive, bonus episodes, ad‑free listening, and more: <a href="http://filmspottingfamily.com">filmspottingfamily.com</a>
This episode is presented by<a href="https://experience.regmovies.com/join-unlimited?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=filmspotting">⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠</a>, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.
(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:53) Stand by Me (00:02:54-00:49:35) Filmspotting Family (00:49:36-00:57:12) The Bride (00:57:13-01:02:59) Notes / Save the Date (01:03:00-01:08:22) '40s Madness Rd. 1 (01:08:23-01:24:03) Credits / New Releases (01:24:04-01:25:53)
Correction:
-Yes, Adam realizes that he said "Jesus, does&nbsp;anybody" &ndash; twice! &ndash; not "anyone." He regrets the error.
<p data-encore-id="text" data-slate-node="element" data-slate-fragment="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">Notes/Links:
-Filmspotting Madness <a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/madness">https://www.filmspotting.net/madness</a>
-Stephen King: Why I Hugged Rob Reiner After Watching &lsquo;Stand by Me&rsquo; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/opinion/culture/stephen-king-rob-reiner-stand-by-me.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/opinion/culture/stephen-king-rob-reiner-stand-by-me.html</a>
Feedback:
-Email us at <a href="mailto:feedback@filmspotting.net">feedback@filmspotting.net</a>⁠⁠
-⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://forms.gle/T7aEzSXEovNDCArV9">Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> and we might answer your question in bonus content.
Support:
-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. <a href="https://filmspottingfamily.com">https://filmspottingfamily.com</a>
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. <a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/shop%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠</a>
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Stand by Me at 40: Why It Still Hits Hard | '40s Madness Round 1

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/aa3432b5-6264-42b9-8f3f-b412011b45a2/transcript

Top 5 Things From Space (That Came To Destroy Us) [Archive]

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