This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt are joined by Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast and Back To Bluey to discuss Milana Vayntrub’s latest film, ‘Project Hail Mary’, featuring Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller, and directed by Phil Lord & Chris Miller, the team behind the Spider-Verse series. Does Ms. Vayntrub finally get the recognition she deserves as one of the planet’s pre-eminent actors, comedians, and greatest all-round human beings? Is this gag barely amusing given the disturbing amount of online sexual harassment she’s received. Possibly? I think so. So let’s move on dear listener and discuss what some are describing as an heart-warming sc-fi insta-classic.

00:00-32:23: Intro/Project Hail Mary

32:24-35:17: Wrap Up

Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 801: Undertone, 2026 Oscars Wrap Up

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt find out first hand why this is a movie podcast and not a spooky cast with the haunted podcast flick ‘Undertone’. Then, they give your the results of their annual battle royale for the Oscar winners, an awards show they have opinions on but stopped watching years ago.

00:00-20:25: Intro/Undertone

20:26-27:08: 2026 Oscars Wrap Up

27:09-29:22: Wrap-Up

Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

Welcome to The First Run 2026 Oscars special! Chris and Matt share their predictions for the big 6 categories: Best Supporting Actress/Actor, Best Actor/Actress, Direction, and Best Picture. You can also review Matt and Chris’ selections for all the other categories as well as they’ve linked their ballots in the show notes. Enjoy and good luck on your Oscars Pool!

Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt celebrate their 800th episode by paying tribute to all you brides out there! First up, Jessie Buckley leads Maggie Gyllenhaal’s (let’s say) reinterpreting of the classic Universal horror film, with ‘The Bride!’. Then it’s on to one of Scalzo’s holy grails, ‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’. Has the wait been worth it? And in classic TFR fashion when they break off another hundo, it’s Matt and Chris’ 5 Favorite Films from episodes 701 to 800! Now let’s get this party started!

00:00-23:11: Intro/The Bride!

23:12-35:05: Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair

35:06-45:27: 5 Favorite Films From Episode 701-800

45:28-47:25: Wrap Up

Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey.

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt check out the latest film that should have gone straight to streaming but somehow slipped through, ‘How to Make a Killing’. Does Glen Powell retain his positive position over the Tatum Line? And what happens with a black comedy fails on its central premise? Well, Chris goes from indifferent to angry, thanks to Matt’s prodding.

00:00-21:52: Intro/How to Make a Killing

21:53-26:01: Wrap Up

Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt venture once more into the breach to assist the always effervescent Sam Rockwell save the future in Gore Verbinski’s ‘Good Luck Have Fun Don’t Die’! All that and that’s about it!

00:00-12:33: Intro/Good Luck Have Fun Don’t Die

12:34-15:15: Robert Duvall

15:16-18:06: Wrap Up

Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt call an audible and decide to watch ‘Whistle’, the tale of high schoolers who can't leave well enough alone and being supernaturally punished for it in brutal fashion. A tale as old as time, really.

00:00-16:44: Intro/Whistle

16:45-19:12: Wrap Up

Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt discuss Sam Raimi’s first horror film since ‘Drag Me To Hell’ from 2009(!) with ‘Send Help’! And that’s it. Actually no, Chris has had a breakthrough with the MCU he’s very excited to share with Matt. And that’s it. For real this time.

00:00-14:38: Intro/Send Help

14:39-18:38: Wonder Man

18:39-20:57: Wrap Up

Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey