Mindframes
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton Written by: Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers (based on the Marvel comic by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko) Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Michael Mando, Mark Ruffalo, Liza Colón-Zayas, Florence Pugh IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22084616/ Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave discuss Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), a soft-reboot superhero film that finds Peter Parker fighting crime full-time in a New York that no longer remembers he exists. The discussion...
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The Odyssey (2026) Directed by: Christopher Nolan Written by: Christopher Nolan Starring: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, Mia Goth, Bill Irwin, Travis Scott IMDB: [IMDB LINK] Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave discuss The Odyssey (2026), Christopher Nolan's three-hour adaptation of Homer — a $250 million epic and the first narrative feature shot entirely on IMAX 70mm. The discussion covers Nolan as an auteur...
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Mindframes Show Notes Episode 121 — Disclosure Day (2026) Directed by: Steven Spielberg Written by: David Koepp Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson, Wyatt Russell IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15047880/ Special guest: Tarek Fayoumi (movieswithtarek.com), director of the Chicago Independent Film Critics. Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave — joined by returning guest Tarek Fayoumi — discuss Disclosure Day (2026), Steven Spielberg's return to the alien genre and his first big sci-fi swing since War of the Worlds....
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Mindframes Show Notes Obsession (2026) Directed by: Curry Barker Written by: Curry Barker Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37287335/ Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave dig into Obsession (2026), Curry Barker's micro-budget feature debut that turned into one of the biggest horror phenomenons in years — a $750K film bought for $15 million out of TIFF that went on to gross well over $148 million worldwide, growing at the box office in consecutive weekends rather than...
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Backrooms (2026) Directed by: Kane Parsons Written by: Will Sudick Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell IMDB: Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave discuss Backrooms (2026), an A24 horror film directed by 20-year-old YouTube filmmaker and wunderkind Kane Parsons — believed to be the youngest person to ever direct a widely released feature film. The discussion covers the film's expansion of the internet liminal space phenomenon into a feature-length narrative, its Tarkovsky-esque atmosphere, and the remarkable work...
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Mindframes Show Notes I Love Boosters (2026) — Episode 118 Directed by: Boots Riley Written by: Boots Riley Starring: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, Demi Moore Cinematography: Natasha Braier Costume Design: Shirley Kurata Score: Tune-Yards Distributor: Neon IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30827810/ Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave discuss I Love Boosters (2026) — the sophomore feature from writer-director Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You). And they didn't just watch...
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🎬 Mindframes Show Notes Hokum (2026) Directed by: Damian McCarthy Written by: Damian McCarthy Starring: Adam Scott IMDB: Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave discuss Hokum (2026), a slow-burn Irish folk horror film from Damian McCarthy centered on a cynical horror writer who travels to a haunted inn to scatter his parents’ ashes—only to uncover hidden violence, buried grief, and a terrifying supernatural presence lurking within the hotel. The discussion explores the film’s atmospheric craftsmanship, old-school suspense techniques, creature design, and...
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Mindframes Show Notes Normal (2026) Directed by: Ben Wheatley Written by: Derek Kolstad Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Lena Headey, Henry Winkler IMDB: Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave break down Normal (2026), a genre-blending action thriller from Ben Wheatley starring Bob Odenkirk as a temporary small-town sheriff uncovering a hidden criminal system beneath a seemingly quiet Minnesota town. The discussion explores the film’s strengths—particularly its sharp, inventive action sequences—while wrestling with its weaker character development and underdeveloped...
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The Drama (2026) Directed by: Christopher Borgli Starring: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamadou Athie Episode: 115 🎬 Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave explore The Drama (2026), a psychologically charged romantic drama directed by Christopher Borgli. The film follows an engaged couple whose relationship is destabilized during a wedding tasting dinner when a seemingly harmless party game—confessing the worst thing you've ever done—reveals a deeply disturbing secret. What begins as an offbeat romantic setup quickly spirals into a tense moral...
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Mindframes Show Notes: Sirat (2025) Film Credits Title: Sirat Director: Olivier Laxe Country: Spain / Morocco Starring: Non-professional cast Festival Run: Fantastic Fest, Cannes recognition (director) IMDb: (Add link once available) Episode Summary In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and Dave explore Sirat, a visually striking and spiritually immersive journey through the Moroccan desert. Following a father and son searching for a missing daughter, the film evolves from a grounded quest into something far more abstract and existential. The hosts unpack how the film uses rave culture,...
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Film / Topic
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Title: Looking to 2026: The Future of Cinema
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Focus: Industry trends, cultural anxieties, and the most anticipated films of 2026
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IMDb: N/A (discussion episode)
Episode Summary
In this episode of Mindframes, Michael and David look ahead to 2026 and ask a deceptively simple question: what kind of year will it be for movies? Coming off what they consider a creatively rich—but commercially uneven—2025, the conversation explores the tension between artistic vitality and economic uncertainty. From box office struggles and bloated marketing budgets to shifting audience habits and global cinema’s rising influence, the hosts balance cautious concern with genuine excitement for what’s coming next.
Themes & Discussion
Theme 1 – Cinema Thriving Creatively, Struggling Economically
While 2025 delivered exceptional films and performances, many acclaimed movies failed to connect with large audiences. The episode interrogates whether this gap reflects streaming habits, rising costs, marketing excess, or deeper cultural fatigue with the theatrical model.
Theme 2 – Event Movies vs. Personal Cinema
The hosts contrast massive IP-driven releases (Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, Toy Story 5) with filmmaker-driven projects from auteurs like Nolan, Villeneuve, Gerwig, Eggers, Spielberg, and Iñárritu—questioning whether spectacle alone can sustain moviegoing culture.
Theme 3 – Hope Through Global & Generational Shifts
Despite storm clouds, there are signs of renewal: Gen Z showing renewed interest in theaters, international films breaking through, and genre cinema thriving on modest budgets. The episode argues that cinema isn’t dying—it’s recalibrating.
Timestamps
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | Intro & framing the question of 2026 |
| 05:30 | Why 2025 was a great creative year |
| 12:00 | Box office disappointments & marketing excess |
| 22:00 | Streaming, audience fatigue, and cultural shifts |
| 34:00 | Big tentpoles vs. auteur-driven films |
| 47:00 | Superhero fatigue & the future of franchises |
| 58:00 | Dune, Nolan, Spielberg, and prestige cinema |
| 01:12:00 | Horror, genre films, and low-budget success stories |
| 01:25:00 | Why there’s still reason to be hopeful |
| 01:32:00 | Final thoughts on where cinema is heading |
Hosts
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Michael Cockerill
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David Canfield
Contact & Links
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📘 Facebook: Mindframes Film
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🎧 Now Playing Network