25 Best Movie And TV Podcasts In 2021

There seem to be hundreds — maybe thousands — of good movie and TV podcasts nowadays, and sometimes it can get overwhelming trying to choose the best ones. There are some that focus specifically on one film, series, or franchise, and others that focus on the whole media landscape. Some podcasts are filled with humor and lighthearted fun, and others are super serious accounts of film history. It is all over the map, which is part of the beauty of things.

For our list, we focused on a wide range of high-quality, entertaining podcasts about the big and small screen. All of these shows — some very new, some a decade old — had a stellar year and are worthy of celebration. They are unique and informative, with strong reviews and a clear voice. Above all, they are compelling for some reason or another — the type of podcast that becomes a must-listen after the first episode. Listed in alphabetical order, here is our list of the 25 best movie and TV podcasts of 2021.

This "Beverly Hills, 90210" podcast features alums of the show going back and giving you the inside scoop about filming each episode. Come for the blast from the past and a chance to revisit a show that set the world on fire three decades ago but stay for the chemistry between real-life close friends Tori Spelling, who played Donna Martin, and Jennie Garth, who played Kelly Taylor (the third cohost is "90210" superfan Sisanie). As far as actor-fronted podcasts go, "90210MG" is amongst the better ones that iHeart has produced. The show got its start in 2020 and has finished recapping two seasons of "Beverly Hills, 90210," with the most recent episodes venturing off into "Melrose Place" (which was a spin-off of "90210") territory.

Since we are movie and television lovers, it goes to say that we are also fans of awards shows to recognize the best of the best in these fields. "Awards Chatter" is a podcast that — in theory — conducts interviews with awards-quality people in Hollywood. In reality, it is a mix of industry people — some more award-worthy than others, but all fascinating interviewees. The interviews are in-depth and stimulating, and host Scott Feinberg is engaging. While they are labeled with an actor or filmmaker's newest project, the interviews always cover key moments in their lives and careers as a whole. The podcast comes from The Hollywood Reporter, and recent interviewees include Halle Berry, Nicholas Cage, Todd Haynes, and Oscar Isaac.

There are many, many "Real Housewives"-themed podcasts out there, but this is one of the best. "B**** Sesh: A Real Housewives Breakdown" began in 2015 and is hosted by "Saturday Night Love" alum Casey Wilson (the standout on "Happy Endings," one of the most underrated sitcoms ever) and fellow comedian Danielle Schneider, an accomplished writer and sometimes-actress. The ladies have a true friendship and a love for all things trash TV, and the podcast is a mix of catch up with the hosts, discussion of "Real Housewives" news, and recap of "Housewives" episodes, all done with self-deprecating humor and a slice of tongue-in-cheek ridiculousness. "B**** Sesh" is produced through Earwolf and is a must for any Bravo lover.

Like all of the podcasts on our list, "Black on Black Cinema" has a clear voice and a determined goal. In this case, it is to promote and discuss Black film from the perspective of four African American men, something the hosts have been doing since they began in 2012. The podcast — which is hosted by Terence Carpenter, Jay Jacksonrao, Micah Payne, and Rob Shively — is both insightful and funny, as well as socially relevant. Even in 2021, Black film still gets less attention in many instances, so this podcast continues to be important and necessary. Recent episodes covered films like "Passing," "King Richard," and "The Harder They Fall."

In terms of Apple ratings, "Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino" is one of the best-rated podcasts on our list, and we are pretty sure it's all because of its host's charm, wit, and thorough knowledge of everything in pop culture. In fact, Pellegrino has gotten so popular that he even has a book coming out. The Stitcher podcast began in 2017, and Pellegrino has already pumped out an impressive 420-plus episodes. His most common targets are the "Real Housewives" shows, but recent episodes have also delved into "Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club," "Vanderpump Rules," "Summer House," and "Southern Charm." Beyond reality TV, Pellegrino also does pop dives on specific people and interviews with celebrities; recent ones include Rosie O'Donnell, Keke Palmer, and Garcelle Beauvais.

Anyone who has seen "Ted Lasso" loves them some Brett Goldstein — for good reason! — but the actor and comedian is not just capitalizing on his newfound fame with his "Films to be Buried With" podcast. Goldstein actually began his well-reviewed podcast in 2018, and he has continued to pump out weekly episodes even amidst his "Ted Lasso" notoriety. Each week, Goldstein welcomes a guest and together they talk life, as told through movies. Guests are told to imagine they have died, and then they explore their lives through the movies that affected them and that describe their experiences. "It is the rare celebrity interview show that sidesteps the many pitfalls of an otherwise self-indulgent genre, containing some of the most hearty laughs and honest, unguarded conversations," wrote Vulture in 2020.

Yes, this Earwolf podcast has been around for over a decade (since 2010, to be precise), but you just can't have a list of great movie and TV podcasts and not include "How Did This Get Made?". It's just so damn entertaining, with three hilarious hosts and a premise that tickles. The show is focused on movies that are so bad that they are actually kind of good, like recent episodes that featured "Tough Guys Don't Dance," "Leprechaun in the Hood," and "A Gnome Named Gnorm." "How Did This Get Made?" is hosted by multihyphenate married couple Paul Scheer ("Black Monday") and June Diane Raphael ("Grace and Frankie), as well as comedian/actor Jason Mantzoukas ("How to Be Single").

It is a fact that many people got so bored during the pandemic that they started a podcast, but we would never have expected "Gilmore Girls"' grumpy diner owner Luke to be one of them. Actor Scott Patterson created "I Am All In with Scott Patterson" this year so that he could document his watching of "Gilmore Girls" — his own show — for the very first time. And while it is shocking that Patterson has never seen "Gilmore Girls" in full, it is also super cool that he is revisiting it 20 years after the fact. As of this writing, Patterson is in the middle of Season 2, and given that "Gilmore Girls" lasted for seven seasons, you can expect the iHeart pod to last at least a few more years.

HBO airs some of the best television out there, so it should surprise no one that the podcasts they have created are also stellar. We especially like "The Succession Podcast" and "We Stay Looking," but over favorite has to be "Insecuritea: The Insecure Aftershow." The podcast got its start in 2016 and is presumably in its last season, given that "Insecure" is on the verge of ending. We love the way that hosts Francheska "Fran" Medina and Crissle West sizzle and scrutinize one of the best shows on TV today.

Technically, "Lights Camera Barstool" began in 2017, but it saw a rebrand in 2021 that now has it labeled as the "2.0" version. The podcast has a 4.9 rating on Apple podcasts and is a product of the popular website Barstool Sports. Branded as "a movie podcast for the common man," the hosts are average joe's Jeff Lowe and Jack Kennedy. Recent episodes include absurd topics like "what is the most iconic hat?" and "what is the worst red thing?," celebrity interviews with the likes of Zachary Levi and Will Forte, and reviews of films such as "West Side Story," "King Richard," and "House of Gucci."

"Office Ladies" is another podcast featuring celebrities looking back at the show that made them famous. Nevertheless, it is a format of which we are absolutely not tired. The Earwolf podcast is hosted by actresses Jenna Fischer, who played Pam Beesly on the U.S. version of "The Office," and Angela Kinsey, who played Angela Martin. The women are both delightful, and as off-screen best friends, they have a strong chemistry that you just can't fake. The podcast ⁠— which started in 2019 ⁠— is not just a rewatch but also a place for a behind-the-scenes scoop, answers to fan questions, and a whole lot of fun.

Empire magazine has a fantastic cinema podcast called "The Empire Film Podcast," which has been around since 2012, but we opted to include their TV-focused pod on our list instead. "Pilot TV Podcast" began in 2018 and is just as good — if not better — than Bauer Media's film one. The podcast focuses on news and reviews, highlighting what is fresh and exciting on the small screen and helping you navigate a world in which we have over 500 scripted programs from which to choose. Recent celebrity guests include Henry Cavill, Olivia Colman, and five actors from the fantastic "Succession" ensemble.

Hosted by twin brothers who look like supermodels, "Raiders of the Lost Podcast" is a super fun, somewhat geeky, always informative podcast about TV and movies. Hosts James and Anthony Deveney are lifelong movie lovers and, being twins and all, work well off of each other. They most often tackle either movie news or have episodes devoted to a specific movie or show, but we are particularly fond of episodes where they countdown a list. Recent ones have included "MCU Movie Rankings," both brothers' versions of the "100 Greatest Movies of All Time," and "The 25 Best Vampire Movies." The brothers are also very good at putting out episodes twice per week — since they started in 2020, they have published over 200 episodes.

"Shortcomings" is one of the newest podcasts on our list, as it only began in July of 2021. Still, it has over 25 episodes that offer both entertainment and food for thought. The podcast is focused on discussion and analysis of the original "Sex and the City," made all the more relevant due to the currently-airing sequel series "And Just Like That..." Hosts Samantha Bush and Chris Lewis promise to "go all-in" on their "problematic fave," and so far, they have done just that. Much has been written about how "Sex and the City" does not hold up well in the current day landscape, but "Shortcomings" focuses on both the dated and the everlasting elements.

If nothing else, we love "Show Me the Meaning!" for its play on the classic "Jerry Maguire" line that made Cuba Gooding Jr. a star. But really, there is so much more to love. The Wisecrack podcast goes far beyond the surface in its dissection of the films it covers, offering interesting discussions of the deeper meanings in films and the ways that they shape and/or mirror our culture. The room can sometimes feel crowded with its large team of hosts — Jared Bauer, Austin Hayden Smidt, Claire Pickard, Helen Floersh, and Ryan Hailey. But at the end of the day, it is the more, the merrier when everyone has a clear point of view and something to say.

Former "Survivor" contestant Rob Cesternino has made a career out of being a reality television expert. And though he has podcasts devoted to "Big Brother," "90 Day Fiance," and many other programs, we still think his "Survivor" podcasts are the greatest. In 2021, he began a new podcast entitled "Survivor 41 – Recaps from Rob Has a Podcast" to discuss the newest season of the survival competition show. Cesternino has been in the podcast game since 2010, and it absolutely shows in his polished, proficient, and engaging content. And while we wish he would just label all of his offshoot podcast episodes under one name, not even a confusing organizational quirk can keep us away.

"The Sopranos" is one of the best shows of all time and the pinnacle of prestige television, so we are here for any podcast that revisits the classic series. But "Talking Sopranos" is not just a revisit — it is a revisit from Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti on the show, and Steve Schirripa, who played Bobby Baccalieri. The pair watch and discuss each episode, and they also provide stories from the set, talk about the entertainment business more generally, and interview insiders like Aida Turturro (Janice Soprano) and Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Melfi). The hosts also published an oral history of the show in November 2021, proving they are not just actors but also superfans.

"The Always Sunny Podcast" is the newest show on our list — it started in November 2021 — but with around 5,000 ratings on Apple as of writing and a 5.0 score, how could we not include it? Branded as an "unofficial look back on the past fourteen seasons of the hit show," this podcast is hosted by "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" stars Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Glenn Howerton (who play Ronald "Mac" MacDonald, Charlie Kelly, and Dennis Reynolds, respectively). The guys clearly love each other, and they obviously love the show since they have kept on the air for a decade and a half. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is entering Season 15, and the hosts have promised to look back at each episode, so expect this podcast to be around for quite a while.

"Blank Check with Griffin & David" is a film podcast with a very interesting concept. The idea is that some filmmakers have such success early on that they are eventually gifted with the ability to make whatever they want — given a "blank check" from studios, if you will. Hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims cover the passion projects of Hollywood's biggest auteurs, no matter how grandiose or off-the-beaten-path. Recent episodes have covered John Carpenter's "Memoirs of an Invisible Man," "Big Trouble in Little China," and "Prince of Darkness."

Since 2013, there have been nearly 600 episodes of "The Weekly Planet," a podcast that discusses movies, TV shows, and comics. From the Planet Broadcasting Network, the show has everything from news to reviews to what the hosts call "general nonsense." Nick Mason and James "Mr. Sunday Movies" Clement host, and this podcast should be especially appealing for anyone into comic book and action movies. Recent episodes have discussed "Movies We Changed Our Minds On" and "Best Movie Spies of All Time," as well as reviews of "Dune," "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," and "Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage."

A podcast from Carpool Critics, "They're Just Movies" has been pumping out awesome episodes since it started back in 2019. The podcast most frequently features recently released titles — recent episodes have explored "Dune," "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," and "No Time to Die" — but it also revisits movies of the past. Often, those movies are relatively new as well — like "Arrival," which was recently featured — but the hosts also like to go back to earlier films in a franchise or genre. For example, in preparation for "No Time to Die," they covered "Skyfall." In preparation for "Spider-Man: No Way Home," they covered "Spider-Man 2." The show is hosted by James Strieb, David Gauthier, and Riley Murdock, who call themselves a "small group of nerds."

"This Had Oscar Buzz" is not your average film awards podcast. In fact, it is kind of the opposite, instead focusing on good films that "the awards forgot." We love the concept, and we have loved nearly every episode the show has put out since it began in 2018. Recent films featured include 2019's "Hustlers," 2010's "Never Let Me Go," and 1995's "To Die For." As entertainment writers, hosts Joe Reid and Chris Feil draw upon their vast knowledge to explain how and why one-time Oscar hopefuls failed to make it all the way.

We have a few reality television podcasts on our list, but the guys at "Watch What Crappens" are probably at the top of the pile at this point. Though it seems superhuman, hosts Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam always post episodes daily (weekends excluded), sometimes more than once a day. Their main focus is everything on Bravo, and their bread and butter is the "Real Housewives" franchise. And not only do Mandelker and Karam recap the shows and give their opinions, but they also do killer impressions of their favorite (and less-than-favorite) housewives. "Watch What Crappens" has been around since 2012, and it is incredibly popular amongst fans of "Housewives," "Summer House," "Below Deck," and — as the hosts say — "whatever other crap Bravo throws at us."

"We Hate Movies" started in 2010, but there has been no dip in quality for the highly-rated podcast. The Headgum pod brands itself as a comedy show first and foremost, though the focus is also squarely on film. In particular, the hosts like to focus on "bad movies that were better left forgotten," impressions, and general ridiculousness. And while hosts Chris Cabin, Andrew Jupin, Stephen Sajdak, and Eric Szyszka have been critiquing movies since they went to college together, their wrath is not only for bad movies. Recent episodes have discussed classic films like "Alien," "Casablanca," and "Spider-Man," all with the WHM team's trademark snark and bluntness.

Yet another celebrity rewatch podcast that started during the pandemic, "Welcome to the OC, B******!" is perhaps our favorite of the bunch. Named for the iconic line from Fox's hit show "The OC," the podcast is hosted by "The OC" stars Rachel Bilson (who played Summer Roberts) and Melinda Clarke (who played Julie Cooper). We love that the women truly seem like friends and that their age difference allows us to get a point of view from both the younger cast on "The OC" as well as the parental figures. The women just hit Season 2 in December, so if they go the full distance, the Kast Media podcast should last at least two more years.