Survival Showdown: The Rip vs The Running Man

The Mandalorian & Grogu Surprised Us… But Is God Is Stole The Show

Two films. Two completely different kinds of love. One night that changed how we see both.Tonight on The Cinema Goodness Podcast Kahim and JP sit down with two of 2026's most talked about films — and one of them completely stole the show.Is God Is arrives with a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and zero apologies. A Southern Gothic revenge thriller about twin sisters commanded by their dying mother to hunt down and destroy the man who burned them alive. Directed by Aleshea Harris in her feature film debut it blends Afropunk aesthetics, Spaghetti Western energy, Greek tragedy, and pitch black comedy into something cinema hasn't seen before.Sterling K. Brown plays one of the most chilling villains of 2026 — and the choice to withhold his face until the third act is a masterclass in building dread.Then we shift to a galaxy far far away. The Mandalorian and Grogu brings Din Djarin and his tiny green son back to the big screen for the first time in seven years. Grand. Cinematic. Emotionally satisfying. But did it earn its theatrical ticket?We get into all of it — Sterling K. Brown's devastating reveal, the twins' unspoken mental connection, the cursing cult pastor nobody saw coming, Grogu showing up for Mando when Mando couldn't show up for himself, the Martin Scorsese Easter egg, and the question that connects both films:Is your love building something… or burning something down?

Michael Jackson Biopic Got It Wrong & MK2 Finally Got It Right

Two of 2026's biggest films. Two completely different kinds of legacy. This week on The Cinema Goodness Podcast, Kahim and JP break down the Michael Jackson biopic and Mortal Kombat II — and what both films reveal about what it really costs to become legendary. We're getting into Jaafar Jackson's haunting performance, the shocking legal drama that forced a complete third act rewrite, and why critics and audiences couldn't be more divided on Michael. Then we shift to Mortal Kombat II — Karl Urban's scene-stealing turn as Johnny Cage, the most emotionally devastating fight in the whole film, and the moment Kitana's fatality made the entire theater lose their minds. Plus the Cinema Goodness Hall of Fame, our Final Mic-Drop, and the question that connects both films: Are you building your own legacy… or just surviving someone else's version of you?

Hollywood vs NASA: Are Space Movies Lying to Us?

Space is back in a big way — and we're breaking it all down.This week on Cinema Goodness, we react to the Masters of the Universe trailer, go deep on Project Hail Mary (one of the most anticipated sci-fi adaptations in years), and stack it all up against the real thing — because with Artemis II bringing humans back to deep space, we have to ask:Do movies actually get space right… or are they selling us fantasy?In this episode:• Masters of the Universe trailer reaction• Project Hail Mary breakdown and expectations• Artemis II and real space exploration• Sci-fi vs reality debate• Where Hail Mary ranks among the greatsDo you prefer grounded sci-fi like Interstellar — or full fantasy like He-Man? Drop it in the comments.

Spider-Man Isn’t Okay, War Machine Chaos, & Oscars Recap

This week on the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we’re diving into three massive moments shaping film and pop culture right now: 🕷️ Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer Breakdown Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is completely alone. No friends. No identity. No safety net. We break down the emotional gut-punch of a forgotten hero, the shocking mutation teases, and what the Punisher and Scorpion mean for this darker, street-level future. 🤖 War Machine (2026) Review & Breakdown Alan Ritchson leads a brutal survival story that starts as a military test… and turns into something far more dangerous. We unpack the film’s intense three-act structure, its “Predator-style” DNA, and whether its simplicity is a strength or a weakness. 🏆 98th Oscars Recap From One Battle After Another dominating the night to historic wins and unforgettable speeches, we break down what the Academy rewarded—and what it says about the future of cinema.

Survival Showdown: The Rip vs The Running Man

Two high-octane thrillers. Two very different systems of control.This week on the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we dive into The Rip (2026) and The Running Man (2025) — two star-driven thrillers that ask the same dangerous question from opposite directions: what happens to morality when survival becomes the job?Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunite in The Rip, a gritty, neo-noir crime thriller inspired by real-world police corruption, where a single night, a locked house, and $22 million in cartel cash turn trust into a ticking clock. Directed by Joe Carnahan, the film feels like a throwback to adult, mid-budget thrillers that Hollywood rarely makes anymore.Meanwhile, Edgar Wright’s The Running Man reimagines Stephen King’s dystopian novel for 2025, with Glen Powell sprinting across America in a lethal reality TV manhunt. Faithful to the book and stripped of flashy excess, the film takes aim at media manipulation, deepfakes, and a system that turns desperation into content.