Almost Cult Classics

Join cinephiles Ryan and Joe as they dive into the making and history behind some of cinema's forgotten gems. From Hats Off Entertainment.

Joe's Shelf - Murder By Death (1976) 01/15/2026

Joe's Shelf - Murder By Death (1976) On this episode of Joe's Shelf, Joe curates a double feature of films inspired by our recent YouTube clip show on . Kicking things off is the 1976 ensemble mystery parody Murder by Death, penned by Neil Simon and boasting an all-star cast including Peter Sellers, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, Eileen Brennan, James Coco, Truman Capote, and many more! For the second film, we watched Woody Allen's Play it Again, Sam (1972). You can listen to that discussion along with 50+ other bonus episodes only on our Patreon: Check out our YouTube channel for additional video episodes and more: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/39748175

Almost Cult Classics #47 - Norbit (2007) 11/26/2025

Almost Cult Classics #47 - Norbit (2007) We're finally back with the format that started it all! In this episode we dive into Norbit — Eddie Murphy’s infamous 2007 comedy that managed to be both a box office hit and a long-running cultural punching bag. We talk about how it fits into Murphy’s career, especially with the new Being Eddie documentary adding fresh context. And don't forget to check out our Patreon-only follow-up where we compare the original Jerry Lewis Nutty Professor with the Eddie Murphy remake: Check out our YouTube channel for additional video episodes and more: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/39184825

Movie Catch-up - Frankenstein (2025) 11/18/2025

Movie Catch-up - Frankenstein (2025) On this movie catch-up, we dive into Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein adaptation for Netflix and discuss where it fits in the long legacy of monster movies! Support us on Patreon for tons of bonus content and features at: Check out our YouTube channel for additional video episodes and more: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/39081510

Off the Radar - Mad Dog Time (1996) 10/15/2025

Off the Radar - Mad Dog Time (1996) In this episode of Off the Radar, we dive into Mad Dog Time — the 1996 gangster comedy that somehow managed to assemble an all-star cast (Richard Dreyfuss, Jeff Goldblum, Diane Lane, and even Joey Bishop) yet (rightfully) still slipped completely under the cultural radar. Written and directed by Larry Bishop, this bizarre mix of noir parody, nightclub drama, and philosophical gunfights left critics... and one of us baffled. Support us on Patreon for tons of bonus content and features at: Check out our YouTube channel for additional video episodes and more: https://www.youtube.com/@sidetrackspod You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/38593605

The Q&A Special 09/06/2025

The Q&A Special We asked our loyal Patreon supporters to send us some questions they would like answered by us for our first ever Q&A special. We got a really great response that resulted in a 2 hour and 14 minute episode! Here is a preview of that episode. The full episode is out now only at: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: https://www.almostcultclassics.com /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/38110370

Movie Catch-up - Weapons (2025) 08/27/2025

Movie Catch-up - Weapons (2025) Join us for a SPOILER heavy discussion on Zach Cregger's Weapons - a movie-going experience that involved us venturing to another state, following issues we- well, one of us- had with the closer alternatives. But at least we were able to get a nice beaver popcorn bucket, tax free! We also talk about the evolution of the podcast this past summer and what to expect in the future. Support us on Patreon for tons of bonus content and features at: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: https://www.almostcultclassics.com /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/37979560

Movie Catch-up - The Naked Gun (2025) 08/13/2025

Movie Catch-up - The Naked Gun (2025) We went to Regal to see the new Naked Gun movie... and we have some hot takes. Support us on Patreon for tons of bonus content and features at: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: https://www.almostcultclassics.com /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/37804465

Movie Catch-up - Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) 08/05/2025

Movie Catch-up - Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) After months of speculation, it's finally here! Were our predictions correct? Let's find out. Support us on Patreon for tons of bonus content and features at: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: https://www.almostcultclassics.com /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/37675395

Joe's Shelf - Night Moves (1975) 07/18/2025

Joe's Shelf - Night Moves (1975) Joe's Shelf finally returns! In this series, I pick a movie that Ryan has never seen, we watch it, and then discuss. Groundbreaking concept for a podcast, I know. This time, in honor of Gene Hackman and Harris Yulin, I chose Night Moves - a 1975 neo noir directed by Arthur Penn. Man, do I just love a good private detective movie and Night Moves is one of the best to ever do it. Support us on Patreon for tons of bonus content and features at: . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/37460695

Sidetracks - The Grumpy Jerry Lewis Interviews Vol. IV 07/01/2025

Sidetracks - The Grumpy Jerry Lewis Interviews Vol. IV We swear we'll be getting back to talking about movies very soon. In the meantime, here's more Jerry! Intro 0:00:00 Jerry's 7-11 Commercials 0:04:45 Jerry Attacks the Press 0:10:09 Jerry Messing with People 0:19:24 Jerry's Acting Roles 00:29:45 Stories About Jerry 00:32:29 Jerry's Ethnic Jokes 00:35:33 Jerry Gets Mad at Viewers 00:42:12 Old Jerry 00:45:17 Jerry Behind the Scenes (1989) 00:55:05 Jerry Honors the Kennedys 01:10:04 Want to hear more? Join us on Patreon for 40+ bonus episodes and discussions: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/37244535

Sidetracks - Meeting "Mad" Mel Gibson 06/02/2025

Sidetracks - Meeting "Mad" Mel Gibson This is a true story. The events recounted in this podcast took place at a convention in 2025. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred. View some of the visuals from this episode exclusively on our Patreon at: . You can also find us on Twitter: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/36822810

Sidetracks - The Grumpy Jerry Lewis Interviews Vol. III 05/27/2025

Sidetracks - The Grumpy Jerry Lewis Interviews Vol. III On this (potentially final) installment in our quest to cover Jerry Lewis, we dive into Jerry's MDA Labor Day Telethons, including segments from various broadcasts of the telethon, showcasing the best moments between Jerry and his announcer, Ed McMahon. In addition to those clips, we also watch more of Jerry's interviews where he defends himself against his critics, like Chris Wallace and Phil Donahue. Want to hear more? Join us on Patreon for 40+ bonus episodes and discussions: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/36723170

Episode 46 - Brewster's Millions (1985) 05/02/2025

Episode 46 - Brewster's Millions (1985) On this episode we finally revisit a movie we have been talking about doing since we launched the show - Brewster's Millions starring Richard Pryor and John Candy! We also wanted to profile the career of writer/director Walter Hill and we used this as an excuse to check out his early film work, which includes: Intro 00:00:00 Walter Hill's Screenwriting Work 00:11:29 Hard Times (1975) 00:20:50 The Driver (1978) 00:34:24 The Warriors (1979) 00:44:35 The Long Riders (1980) 00:49:38 Southern Comfort (1981) 00:58:34 48 Hrs. (1982) 01:04:25 Streets of Fire (1984) 01:12:05 Brewster's Millions (1985) 01:23:28 Check us out on Patreon for exclusive episodes and content: . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/36404930

Sidetracks - The Grumpy Jerry Lewis Interviews Vol. II 04/28/2025

Sidetracks - The Grumpy Jerry Lewis Interviews Vol. II We're back with even more Jerry! The great response to our last Jerry Lewis episode inspired us to dive deeper and check out even more interviews with the King of Comedy. This time around, we not only listened but also watched a few interview clips with Jerry, where he opens up about a variety of topics including; Dean Martin, Las Vegas, cricket, the mob, Sammy Davis Jr., and more! Plus, we check out Jerry's notorious final interview where he makes a reporter squirm. Want to hear more? Join us on Patreon for 40+ bonus episodes and discussions: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: Interviews used: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/36341600

Sidetracks - The Grumpy Jerry Lewis Interviews 04/16/2025

Sidetracks - The Grumpy Jerry Lewis Interviews On this random episode about nothing, we listen to interviews with comedy legend Jerry Lewis, where he shits on everyone from his fans to Joan Rivers to the Academy. We also discuss some of Jerry's later movie roles and controversies. Want to hear more? Join us on Patreon for 40+ bonus episodes and discussions: You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/36190205

Off the Radar - The ORIGINAL Meet the Parents (1992) 04/11/2025

Off the Radar - The ORIGINAL Meet the Parents (1992) It's another new segment! On this series, we will look at some truly forgotten, OFF THE RADAR movies - mostly ones that were never released beyond VHS, if they even got a home video release at all. For our inaugral episode, Ryan chose Meet the Parents - not the 2000 film starring Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro, but rather the independent 1992 film of the same name that inspired the former, directed by and starring Greg Glienna. Universal aquired the rights to this movie along with Greg's script and have since refused to release this wonderful dark comedy. If you enjoyed this segment, be sure to check out our Patreon exclusive Off the Radar, where we take a look at Fever Pitch (1981): You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/36092270

Joe's Shelf - Sharky's Machine (1981) 03/28/2025

Joe's Shelf - Sharky's Machine (1981) It's a brand new segment! We have been exploring ways to produce more content outside of the main show and we've come up with a few new concepts that we think you'll enjoy. The first up is something we are calling Joe's Shelf, where Joe will pick a movie from his physical media collection (must be PHYSICAL MEDIA) that Ryan has ideally never seen. The two of us will then discuss. As Ryan says in the episode "Pretty groundbreaking." These episodes will give us some freedom to explore more mainstream/classic films that wouldn't work on the main show. It's also a chance for us to dive into some of the films that have been sent to the Patreon PO box, as was the case with the movie featured on this inaugural episode - Sharky's Machine! This is pretty much a pilot episode and we'll keep ironing out the format as we go on. The current plan is to do two of these a month, one released publicly, the other a Patreon exclusive. We also have another new segment coming soon that Ryan will control the picks for that is currently available only on Patreon at: . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/35911040

Episode 45 - The Cable Guy (1996) 03/16/2025

Episode 45 - The Cable Guy (1996) We're back with a discussion on a movie we have been meaning to talk about since we launched the podcast - The Cable Guy! This dark comedy stars Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick, and was directed by Ben Stiller. We spent the first half of the podcast doing a deep dive on Ben Stiller's early acting career and the movies he directed, including: Intro 00:00:00 Hot Pursuit (1987) 00:14:23 Reality Bites (1994) 00:17:12 Heavyweights (1995) 00:25:23 Flirting with Disaster (1996) 00:35:29 Zero Effect (1998) 00:41:16 Permanent Midnight (1998) 00:46:00 Zoolander (2001) 00:50:28 Tropic Thunder (2008) 00:56:43 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) 01:07:35 The Cable Guy (1996) 01:11:21 We kept the mics rolling for another hour and chatted about Jim Carrey, in particular the documentary Jim & Andy and the Ace Ventura movies. That bonus episode is available, along with dozens more, exclusively on our Patreon at: . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/35710280

Movie Catch-up - Winter Extravaganza 02/20/2025

Movie Catch-up - Winter Extravaganza Not sure how we got this carried away talking about what essentially amounts to seven movies, but here we are! On this catch-up, we discuss mostly newer theatrical and streaming releases, along with some older stuff as well. Spoilers are heavy so consult the timecodes below: Joe’s BluRay Viewings (8 Million Ways to Die, 1917, Hang 'Em High) - 00:00:00 Nosferatu (2025)... again - 00:14:27 Wolf Man (2025) & Universal Monster Movies - 00:24:38 The Tom Green Documentary (2025) & Freddy Got Fingered (2001) - 00:39:56 Saturday Night (2024) - 01:13:33 Flight Risk (2025) - 01:42:42 Flight (2012) - 01:53:50 Here (2024) - 02:03:13 Check us out on Patreon for more awesome content: . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/35366085

Patreon Preview: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) 02/13/2025

Patreon Preview: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) Following our episode on The Matador, we decided to revisit another hitman comedy: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which was George Clooney's directorial debut. Ryan also revisited two later films by screenwriter Charlie Kaufman; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Synecdoche, New York. We also got sidetracked a bunch and talked about other topics like The Gong Show in its various iterations. You can hear the full episode now only on Patreon at . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/35273155

Episode 44 - The Matador (2005) 01/31/2025

Episode 44 - The Matador (2005) On this episode, we look back at 2005's The Matador - a really unique black comedy starring Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear, directed and written by Richard Shepherd. Before getting into the plot of the movie, we also discuss some other Pierce Brosnan movies such as The Long Good Friday, Nomads, Taffin, The Thomas Crown Affair, GoldenEye, and The Tailor of Panama. We also decided to talk about another hitman comedy, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind on Patreon. That bonus episode is available, along with dozens more, exclusively on our Patreon at: . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/35099185

Movie Catch-up - Favorites of 2024 01/21/2025

Movie Catch-up - Favorites of 2024 On our first movie catch-up of 2025, we discuss some of our favorite pieces of media from the previous year, along with some unrelated recent movies thrown in. As always, SPOILERS are heavy so timecodes to skip what you don't want spoiled are below: 00:00:00 - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle 00:10:40 - The Apprentice 00:23:50 - The Penguin (2024) & Batman Forever Revisited 00:40:25 - Anora 00:57:17 - Wicked 01:06:55 - Nosferatu & The Lighthouse 01:16:22 - Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl 01:18:39 - The Substance Check us out on Patreon for more awesome content: . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/34943790

Discussing David Lynch 01/19/2025

Discussing David Lynch Last year we had a discussion on a few David Lynch movies at the end of a Movie Catch-up, including The Elephant Man, Eraserhead, Lost Highway, and Inland Empire. We figured some of you might have missed this conversation and wanted to re-post it in tribute to him. Also included is a discussion we had on Blue Velvet on a later episode. Here's the full episode from April 2024: Song used: Support us on Patreon: . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/34908615

Patreon Preview: Tango & Cash (1989) 01/14/2025

Patreon Preview: Tango & Cash (1989) Following our Kurt Russell triple-feature, we decided to talk about even more Kurt Russell movies on Patreon! Those movies ended up being Tango & Cash (1989), 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001), and Bone Tomahawk (2015). Here is a small snippet of our discussion on that first film. You can hear the full episode now only on Patreon at . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/34851695

Episode 43 - Kurt Russell Triple Feature 01/08/2025

Episode 43 - Kurt Russell Triple Feature It's our first ever triple feature episode! We decided that instead of discussing one movie, we would check out three starring one of our favorite actors - Kurt Russell! We picked three films that couldn't be more different from one another. They are: The Best of Times (1986), Escape from LA (1996), and Breakdown (1997). But we didn't stop there as on Patreon we decided to talk about even more Kurt Russell movies: Tango and Cash (1989), 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001), and Bone Tomahawk (2015). That bonus episode is available, along with dozens more, exclusively on our Patreon at: . Timecodes: Intro - 00:00:00 The Best of Times (1986) - 00:09:49 Escape from LA (1996) - 00:27:51 Breakdown (1997) - 00:55:15 You can also find us on Twitter: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/34778240

Patreon Preview: Wag the Dog (1997) 12/24/2024

Patreon Preview: Wag the Dog (1997) For the Patreon after-show following our episode on Bulworth, Ryan suggested we check out another political satire from the year prior called Wag the Dog. This great comedy stars Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman as a political operative and a film producer who orchestrate a fake war to improve the president's approval rating going into the next election. You can hear the full episode now only on Patreon : . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: Views expressed on this podcast do not represent the views of Hats Off Entertainment. /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/34600715

Sidetracks - Meeting Alec Baldwin 12/14/2024

Sidetracks - Meeting Alec Baldwin On this random Sidetracks, we discuss attending a Monster Mania horror convention to meet Mr. Alec Baldwin! As this was Ryan's first time at any type of movie/pop-culture convention, we detail every aspect of the experience, including; awkward fans, strange odors, long lines, depressing celebrity encounters, terrible panel questions, and more! There are even more of random episodes available exclusively on our Patreon at: . Use promo code BALDWIN to get yourself 10% off an Almost Cult Classics t-shirt at You can also find us on Twitter: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: The views expressed on this podcast do not reflect the views of Hats Off Entertainment. /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/34444520

Episode 42 - Bulworth (1998) 12/05/2024

Episode 42 - Bulworth (1998) For the second time this year, we discuss a Warren Beatty movie! This time for his 1998 political satire: Bulworth. Leading an all-star cast that includes some of our favorite character actors like Oliver Platt, Jack Warden, Wendell Pierce, and Laurie Metcalf, the movie was also directed by Beatty with a script that was worked on by the likes of Aaron Sorkin and James Toback. The mics kept rolling after this episode as we discussed another political satire from the year prior, Wag the Dog. That bonus episode is available, along with dozens more, exclusively on our Patreon at: . You can also find us on Twitter: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: The views expressed on this podcast do not reflect the views of Hats Off Entertainment. /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/34302460

Patreon Preview: Welcome to Marwen (2018) 11/30/2024

Patreon Preview: Welcome to Marwen (2018) For the Patreon after-show following our episode on Miracle Mile earlier this year, we decided to dig into our Patreon mailbag and pick a movie that was sent to us by a listener. Did you know that our supporters on Patreon can send us movies at our PO Box? For just $5 a month you'll also get monthly bonus episodes just like this one, chances to vote in polls that decide our next episodes, and opportunities to have your comments read on the show. You can find this episode in full exclusively on our Patreon at . You can also find us on X: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: Views expressed on this podcast do not represent the views of Hats Off Entertainment. /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/34209910

Movie Catch-up - The Bombs of 2024 11/18/2024

Movie Catch-up - The Bombs of 2024 On the newest movie catch-up, we discuss some of the big recent theatrical bombs, in addition to some unrelated pleasant surprises both new and old. Timecodes: 00:00:00 - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) Revisited 00:07:30 - The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024) 00:09:49 - No One Died: Wing Bowl Documentary (2024) 00:13:58 - Joker: Folie a Deux (2024) 00:21:33 - Kelly's Heroes (1970) 00:26:47 - Horizon - Chapter 1 (2024) 00:39:44 - Megalopolis (2024) 00:57:09 - Casa Bonita: Mi Amor (2024) Check us out on Patreon for more awesome content: . You can also find us on Twitter: Joe: Ryan: And don't forget to check out our website and merch store: The views expressed on this podcast do not reflect the views of Hats Off Entertainment. /episode/index/show/almostcultclassics/id/33974567

Almost Cult Classics

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