Ticket to Ride

The Blair Mantz Project - TTR Welcomes Scott "Movie" Mantz

The Ticket to Riders welcome special guest Scott "Movie" Mantz for a an exciting discussion across a wide range of cinephile topics.  Hear about the making and release of the 1999 horror classic 'The Blair Witch Project', which Mike was involved in distributing during his time at Artisan Films and Scott watched by himself at home one night, from a VCR tape that was handed to him without any further instructions.  The team also breaks down this summer's wide and varied movie releases, which has offered something for everyone. Scott also introduces his own new podcast series titled "Consider This with Scott Mantz,"  featuring interviews the filmmakers and celebrities behind top new movies that are worthy of consideration for industry awards and classics from the last 30 years that you'll remember, and may want to watch again after you hear what Scott and his guests have to say about them. Press play and have fun.

Indoor Box Office Fireworks

Sparks fly as the TTR team lights the fuse on a special Independence Day edition of the podcast. Thaddeus, Mike & Paul discuss the challenge that the holiday presents in terms of making apples-to-apples historical box office comparisons, speculate on the JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH potential weekend & 5-day performance, and walk down memory lane discussing the monumental impact that the first JURASSIC PARK film made on both your hosts and the industry at large. Press play for more sharp takes, big trends, and a few surprise predictions.

Jaws at 50, Summer Box Office Flashbacks & a Dispatch from CineEurope

This week, the Ticket to Ride trio time-travels through blockbuster history and lands in Barcelona—literally. Paul and Thaddeus kick off the episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jaws and reflect on how it rewrote the rules of summer movie releases forever. Mike drops in straight from CineEurope, where he gives us the inside scoop on his time there. All this, AND more in this episode, which blends nostalgia, industry insight, and optimism for what's next.

Forecast: Blockbusters with a Chance of Competition

In this episode, the Ticket to Ride trio breaks down the Memorial Weekend battlefield and what it means for the summer ahead. With high-stakes titles like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Lilo & Stitch, Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth on the horizon, the crew debates how theaters—and audiences—are navigating the crowd. Inside the episode: – Memorial Day Weekend: a crucial litmus test for cinema’s summer momentum – Opening weekend vs. the long game: why playability might just be the real king – Marketing muscle, premium formats, and the evolving strategy to win eyeballs – The fickle audience factor—and how even “can’t-miss” movies still have to fight for attention – What happens when multiple tentpoles go head-to-head? – Plus: why strong holdovers might quietly become this summer’s secret winners Whether you're a studio exec, exhibitor, or box office nerd, this one’s for anyone trying to decode the why behind the what opened big this weekend.

A Sin-fully good weekend leads into a season of blockbusters Ticket to Ride Podcast

In this episode, the Ticket to Ride goodfellas discuss April's surge in moviegoing, Mike's passion for hockey, how the success of 'Sinners' bodes well for Ben Affleck's upcoming 'Accountant 2' and the sunny outlook for the upcoming summer, which kicks off with a packed release schedule in May. Inside the episode: – How 'A Minecraft Movie' turned into an unexpected juggernaut – 'Sinners' is a prime example of the potential for filmmaker-driven, original content - Bold choices in release scheduling that paid dividends for studios - see: 'The Hunger Games' gamble to open on March 23, 2012