The Retro Nostalgia Podcast

Is there any movie that epitomizes the term "cult classic" more than THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!? Starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick, this outrageous horror-comedy musical is now over half a century old, yet it's so unconventional you'd think it was made today! From its flamboyant characters and outrageous musical numbers to its unapologetic exploration of sexuality and gender norms, this movie was decades ahead of its time!

When THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW first hit theaters in 1975, its bizarre blend of science fiction, horror, comedy, and sexual liberation was a little too much for mainstream audiences, and the movie initially flopped at the box office. But in 1976, a clever decision to revive the film through midnight screenings helped transform it into a cultural phenomenon. Audiences began showing up in costume, shouting at the screen, singing along, and turning ordinary movie screenings into wildly interactive events. A cult classic was born!

Cristina first saw ROCKY HORROR in high school and immediately became captivated by its wonderfully weird world. Chad, on the other hand, had always known about the movie but never had much interest in actually watching it. Until NOW! More than 50 years after its original release, Chad is finally experiencing THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW for the very first time!

Will he become the newest convert to the cult of ROCKY HORROR, or will he be left wondering what all the fuss is about? Watch and find out!

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Check out our friend Amy's channel👉 ⁨@PopCultureRetrospectivePodcast⁩

In this EPIC 5-podcast crossover, seven panelists debate which horror movie franchise reigns supreme as the BEST of the 20th Century! All the A-list names are here: Freddy Krueger; Jason Voorhees; Michael Meyers; Chucky; Ash; and more monsters, ghosts, ghouls, zombies, and apparitions than you can count! Will the Champion be a well-known property like A Nightmare on Elm Street; Friday the 13th; or Jaws? Or will the panel opt for quality over quantity and rank lesser-known properties like Sleepaway Camp higher? The victor of this bracket may shock you! (or not)

This is the second installment in our series of 20th Century Movie Franchise Brackets. We define a "franchise" as any series of movies with at least three entries. Many of these franchises are still producing new content today, but for the sake of this bracket we're only considering films released prior to 9/11.

Be sure to check out all the content creators in this panel

@megamikethemovieman

@The80sand90sCom

@TheReelLifePerspectiveShow

https://bit.ly/prettybadmoviegab

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Horror-Comedy is an interesting subgenre when done right. We've already looked at several successful examples: GREMLINS, FRIGHT NIGHT, and THE LOST BOYS. However, this week we're looking at a mostly forgotten attempt: THE MONSTER SQUAD. The idea behind this movie was essentially THE GOONIES vs The Universal Monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolfman, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon). It's one of the many 1980s movies where children managed to defeat supernatural villains.

This was a first viewing for both Chad and Cristina; which is surprising because Chad loved "kids as heroes" movies back in the day, and Cristina was a fan of horror even at a young age. Chad remembers the famous "Wolfman's got nards!" marketing, but Cristina doesn't remember this movie even existing.

So how will they enjoy this "cult classic" from 1987? Is it closer to STRANGER THINGS or HOWARD THE DUCK? Listen and find out!

Check out our friend Amy's channel @PopCultureRetrospectivePodcast

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Watch the video version👉 https://youtu.be/ZkvW0Nt3L48

Chad grew up loving comic books and comedy; Cristina grew up as a fan of horror (and especially vampires). So it seems only fitting that THE LOST BOYS would be the perfect synthesis of their favorite genres! This was actually Chad's first time seeing the 1987 horror-comedy hybrid directed by Joel Schumacher. It stars Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Jami Gertz and Dianne Wiest.

But is it really a horror-comedy or just a horror movie with some campy moments? We debate that in this podcast. We also discuss the film's subtle homo-eroticism; its clear inspiration on STRANGER THINGS; the two Coreys; its 80s vibe and aesthetic; its [undeserved] R rating; the hilarious grandpa character and plenty more.

P.S. Leo and Logan Cat both make cameos in this episode ;)

Check out our friend Milo's channel: ⁨@The80sand90sCom⁩

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Last October we revisited the original Ghostbusters movie from 1984, so naturally we had to review GHOSTBUSTERS 2 this year. Ivan Reitman directs Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson all return in their respective roles to combat a new ghostly villain - Vigo The Carpathian.

Many GenXers remember GHOSTBUSTERS 2 being a flop akin to Howard the Duck. But that's a Mandela Effect as this movie actually had a bigger opening weekend than the original and still pulled in well over $200 million worldwide; making it the seventh highest-grossing movie of 1989! That's hardly a bomb. While it didn't garner huge critical acclaim the way the original did, it wasn't universally panned, either.

Chad and Cristina decided to give GHOSTBUSTERS 2 a fair shake after all these years and were rather surprised at what they saw versus what they remembered. They reminisce on the Bobby Brown "On Our Own" theme song, special effects, casting, The Real Ghostbusters animated series and toyline, and take plenty of detours along the way. Did they enjoy it as much as the original? Listen and find out!

Watch the video version👉 https://youtu.be/aWYhqcjcSiw

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We're getting started on Horror Movie Month a little early this year. First up is FRIGHT NIGHT - a 1985 genre-defying film starring Chris Sarandon, Roddy McDowall, William Ragsdale and Amanda Bearse. It was Tom Holland's directorial debut (he'd go on to direct Child's Play, Amazing Stories, Tales From The Crypt and several Stephen King adaptations).

FRIGHT NIGHT was one of Cristina's favorite horror movies as a kid and even claims she was "obsessed" with it as a teenager (mostly due to Chris Sarandon). Chad wasn't familiar with it at all and assumed it was just another cheesy 80s slasher flick. He was pleasantly surprised to find it to be an interesting combination of horror and satire (which Wes Craven's SCREAM series would go on to perfect).

But how well does FRIGHT NIGHT hold up in 2026? Listen to our show and find out.

Watch the video version👉 https://youtu.be/6nxlcHbCLpk

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Check out our friends at The Retro Resurgence Podcast👉 https://theretroresurgence.com/

NOTE: This is a re-upload. somehow the audio was muted the first time. it should be working now!

A lot of podcasts have debated the greatest comedies of the 20th Century, but we decided to debate the greatest comedy FRANCHISES. It was an epic showdown between A-list properties such as Ghostbusters; Bill & Ted; Monty Python; Jay & Silent Bob; Home Alone; Austin Powers; The Naked Gun and more! We couldn't do this alone, so we brought in Mo and George from @GenXGrownUp and Amy from @PopCultureRetrospectivePodcast.

We're planning on making three more of these franchise brackets: scifi/fantasy; horror; and action/adventure. Be sure to subscribe to see which movies we think were the BEST franchises of their genres in the minds (and hearts) of Gen Xers!

FYI: we defined "franchise" as any series of movies that originated in the 20th Century that included 3 or more films; or 2 films plus one or more of the following: a TV show, animated series, video games; toys, etc. We did bend the rules a little at times, but anyone can reasonably agree these are some of the biggest properties in comedy movies in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

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HOWARD THE DUCK has already gone down in cinematic history for being one of the biggest flops of all time. Not even STAR WARS creator George Lucas, nor the screenwriters from INDIANA JONES could make this thing work. Most people don't know it's actually based on a MARVEL comic book (which would technically make it the first entry in the MCU).

We collab'ed with Mike and Christian from the PRETTY BAD MOVIE GAB podcast to look back at this infamous flick. We all saw it as kids in the 1980s, but it's been DECADES since our last viewing. Is it really as bad as its reputation, or is it one of those so-bad-its-good movies? Is there ANYTHING to enjoy, or is it just 110 minutes of puns, dad jokes, wildly inappropriate adult situations, and special effects that have aged like organic produce?! Listen and find out!

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Terminator 2 really needs no introduction. It's an EPIC Arnold Schwarzenegger action/scifi spectacle directed by James Cameron. As ground-breaking as the original Terminator film was, "Judgment Day" ups the ante to an extreme degree. Though its remembered for its mesmerizing "liquid metal" CGI; those SFX only add up to a few minutes of runtime. Everything else is practical effects and real stunts. They're still as impressive in 2026 as they were in 1991.

We saw this movie in the theaters for its 35th anniversary, and it was quite an event watching it on the big screen. Both Chad and Cristina had seen this multiple times back in the 1990s, but it's been a while since our last viewing. Going the old school route of actually leaving the house was the retro nostalgia experience we were hoping for.

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We conclude "Animation August" with a modern classic of sorts: BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD DO AMERICA! This movie was penned and directed by Mike Judge who went on to create KING OF THE HILL, OFFICE SPACE, and IDIOCRACY among many other shows and films. Judge was also the creator of Beavis and Butt-Head, and provided their voices (along with many other characters).

GenXers probably remember Beavis and Butt-Head as being edgy, controversial characters of the 1990s. They were making crude, boorish jokes and literal toilet humor years before SOUTH PARK. At some point they just kind of vanished, but their 1996 movie will forever be remembered as the point Beavis and Butt-Head broke into the mainstream.

But does the lowbrow sense of humor still work 30 years later (if only as time capsule nostalgia)? Or are these characters aged relics who don't hold up today? Watch this episode and find out!

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We're big fans of Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse. Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Dogma were favorites of ours back in the 1990s. So when CLERKS: THE ANIMATED SERIES was announced during the Super Bowl in 2000, fanboys like us totally geeked out over the idea that Dante & Randall and Jay & Silent Bob would be on NETWORK TV during prime time!

Unfortunately, it really didn't work out that way. Only two of the six episodes ever actually made it to air... during the SUMMER (where new shows go to die). It wasn't until this was made available on DVD in 2001 that CLERKS: THE ANIMATED SERIES truly found its audience.

For those of you who LOVE nerdy/geeky humor with jokes about obscure pop culture references; Gen X youth nostalgia; and just random nonsequiturs - this show is for you! It'll remind you of The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, Robot Chicken and countless YouTubers!

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Watch the video version👉 https://youtu.be/Vi-LUIR2c2U

Continuing with "Animation August," Cristina picked AN AMERICAN TAIL; Steven Spielberg's first foray into animation which was released in late 1986. This movie was directed by Don Bluth, who had a minor hit with "The Secret of NIMH" back in 1982.

Much like NIMH, this movie uses all hand drawn animation and painted detailed backgrounds. However, the tone is a little lighter as it contains quite a few musical sequences. The most famous being "There Are No Cats in America" and of course "Somewhere Out There" which went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Neither Cristina nor Chad has seen this since they were young children, so it was almost like a first time viewing for both. Is it as visually impressive as NIMH? Is it just a kids' movie or something adults can enjoy too? Did it make us cry? Does it hold up 40 years later? Listen to our podcast to find out!

Watch the video version👉 https://youtu.be/4Q4pSTfgTnw

Our SECRET OF NIMH review👉 https://youtu.be/T5DzoKaDEdQ

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It's "Animation August" so Chad picked AKIRA - the 1988 cyberpunk fever dream that introduced Japanese animation (or anime) to mainstream American audiences. This is definitely one of the most influential films across a variety of genres and Chad and Cristina both agree it's got a timeless quality.

If you've never seen Akira, it's rather difficult to describe because there are at least three or four sub-plots that interconnect and the pacing is rather frantic. It's one of those rare films that gets better upon repeated viewings. There's so much detail to both the story and the imagery; you'll notice something new each time you see it.

What other Japanese animation do you think we should watch? Let us know in the comments!

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Back in 1994 a show debuted on ABC that would pretty much define what it was like being a GenX/Millennial (Xennial?) of the day: MY SO-CALLED LIFE starring Claire Danes. Unlike other "teen dramas" of the day that were essentially prime time soap operas, this show took a fairly earnest approach of depicting life in the suburbs. The show centers around 10th grader Angela Chase and her relationships with friends Rayanne, Sharon and Brian; her crush on Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto); and her parents Patty and Graham (who tend to steal the spotlight quite often). This show only produced 19 episodes in the 1994-95 season, but it remains one of the greatest "one hit wonders" of TV.

Not surprisingly, we thought the best guest to discuss this show would be Natalie from @mysocalledgenxlife. In this podcast, we discuss the main cast; the most memorable, funniest and tearjerking moments; various fan theories; and everything that made it a perfect time capsule of the 1990s. We also contrast how we felt about it as teenagers versus how we view it through adult eyes. It's quite amazing what teens got away with back in the 20th Century!

Did you watch this show back in 1994? Did you catch it in syndication, streaming, or on DVD? Let us know in the comments what we got right and wrong!

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There were a LOT of comedies in the 1980s about summer vacations gone awry. This niche sub-genre probably got its start in 1983 with NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION. The movie stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo with a young Anthony Michael Hall and a then-unknown Randy Quaid. Written by comedy virtuoso John Hughes and directed by Harold Ramis, it launched a franchise of SIX* films!

Vacation was a box office success, so naturally a sequel was created: NATIONAL LAMPOON'S EUROPEAN VACATION (which went up against Back To The Future in the summer of 1985). This time John Hughes only provided the story and it was directed by Amy Heckerling (who did pretty well with Fast Times At Ridgemont High).

Cristina grew up watching the original Vacation with only vague memories of the sequel. Chad had NEVER seen either movie in its entirety until just now! Are these comedy masterpieces that hold up decades later or are they just arbitrary pop culture fixtures? Listen and find out!

*Technically there were six films in the series: Vacation, European Vacation; Christmas Vacation; Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure; Vegas Vacation, and the 2015 Vacation reboot starring Ed Helms and Christina Applegate.

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There may have been buddy-cop movies before LETHAL WEAPON, but this franchise has outlived (and out-earned) them all! Mel Gibson and Danny Glover actually play it fairly straight in this first installment. Sure there are jokes and the usual action sequences, but compared to competitors like BEVERLY HILLS COP and DIE HARD; Lethal Weapon is quite dark and serious... so much so that it borders on being campy.

We discuss Mel Gibson and Danny Glover’s chemistry, Gary Busey’s role as the psychotic villain, the recognizable ’80s soundtrack, that ridiculously long final fight scene; and why the sequels probably improved this franchise. And of course, why does the internet consider DIE HARD a Christmas movie, but not LETHAL WEAPON!?

Watch the video version👉 https://youtu.be/Sf1Z8VWHry4

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Chad and Cristina head to Amity Island (wherever that is) to revisit Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic, JAWS! Cristina has watched it every summer since childhood, while Chad came to the movie much later. We debate whether Jaws is a horror, thriller or drama; its rather titillating and gruesome PG-rated moments; the mayor’s questionable priorities; and whether that enormous shark could really swim in such shallow water. Does the original summer blockbuster remain an all-time masterpiece? Listen and find out!

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Any list of greatest summer blockbuster movies would have to include 1988's DIE HARD starring Bruce Willis. It's one of the few films of the genre that could perfectly balance explosions, gunfire and plenty of insane stunts with a rather lighthearted and comical approach.

Believe it or not, Cristina had never seen DIE HARD until just now! In fact, she wasn't all that familiar with the premise of the story, so Chad refused to give her any spoilers going into it. Thus, she's in a perfect position to judge this movie with fresh eyes 38 years after its release. But is it a Christmas movie? What and find out the results of that debate!

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Chad and Cristina revisit INDEPENDENCE DAY for its 30th anniversary and find out if this alien invasion classic is as fun to watch now as it was in 1996. It definitely was one of the biggest science fiction blockbusters of the 1990s (rivaling The Matrix and The Phantom Menace!). Starring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Randy Quaid, Vivica A. Fox, Judd Hirsch, and Brent Spiner, INDEPENDENCE DAY became one of the defining summer blockbuster movies of the decade with groundbreaking visual effects, unforgettable action sequences, memorable one-liners, and one of the most iconic movie speeches ever filmed.

Of course we share our favorite moments, discuss the film's strengths and weaknesses, compare it to other '90s blockbusters, and decide whether this is movie essential viewing or simply a fun nostalgic popcorn movie.

Watch the video version👉 https://youtu.be/yQ4tjVnE0yw

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check out The 80's and 90's Uncensored podcast👉 https://the80sand90s.com

Two weeks ago, Chad and Cristina reviewed the 1989 movie THE WIZARD featuring Fred Savage. Something that movie is best known for is its sneak preview of SUPER MARIO BROS 3. It seemed only natural that we would discuss that game for its own episode. But we had to bring in an expert in Nintendo NES games: James from @BigOleWords. Chad had been following James since he initially launched his channel 5 years ago and has been a member of his Patreon for quite some time now.

Since this is a podcast, there's no gameplay footage in this episode; but rather a fun nostalgic discussion of our memories of this game back in 1990 and how it holds up today. We reminisce on Nintendo Power, the Super Mario Bros franchise, Easter Eggs scattered throughout the game, tips and tricks, and so much more. Plus, James delights us with some behind-the-scenes information on his channel.

Watch the video version👉 https://youtu.be/amzxCxHQBwM

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