Home/Advanced analytics

Advanced analytics

Across 454 episodes of The Rewatchables.

Top Directors

People who directed the most films covered on the show.

  1. 01Steven Spielberg9 films
  2. 02Tony Scott9 films
  3. 03Michael Mann8 films
  4. 04Martin Scorsese8 films
  5. 05David Fincher7 films
  6. 06Rob Reiner7 films
  7. 07Robert Zemeckis6 films
  8. 08Brian De Palma5 films
  9. 09Ridley Scott5 films
  10. 10William Friedkin4 films

Top Actors

People who starred in the most films covered on the show.

  1. 01Tom Cruise17 films
  2. 02Robert De Niro14 films
  3. 03Al Pacino13 films
  4. 04Sylvester Stallone12 films
  5. 05Denzel Washington12 films
  6. 06Matt Damon10 films
  7. 07Tom Hanks10 films
  8. 08Brad Pitt9 films
  9. 09Kevin Costner9 films
  10. 10Bill Murray8 films

Top Decades

Which decade the covered films come from.

1990s179
1980s101
2000s73
2010s56
1970s33
2020s3
1960s1

Top Genres

The genres of the films covered.

Drama281
Comedy150
Crime137
Action121
Thriller100
Romance80
Adventure58
Mystery39
Sport39
Sci-Fi29
Horror26
Biography20

Top Referenced Movies

Movies mentioned most across all episodes — usually films other than the one being discussed.

  1. 01Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope479 mentions
  2. 02Die Hard465 mentions
  3. 03Top Gun430 mentions
  4. 04Fargo421 mentions
  5. 05Jaws394 mentions
  6. 06Goodfellas387 mentions
  7. 07John Wick373 mentions
  8. 08Pulp Fiction358 mentions
  9. 09The Rock355 mentions
  10. 10Alien352 mentions

Top Hosts

Who has appeared on the most episodes.

  1. 01Bill Simmons414 episodes
  2. 02Chris Ryan269 episodes
  3. 03Sean Fennessey167 episodes
  4. 04Van Lathan69 episodes
  5. 05Amanda Dobbins37 episodes
  6. 06Mallory Rubin36 episodes
  7. 07Shea Serrano33 episodes
  8. 08Craig Horlbeck28 episodes
  9. 09Kyle Brandt26 episodes
  10. 10Wesley Morris24 episodes

Top Host Combinations

The exact host panels that recur most often.

  1. 01Bill, Chris & Sean90 episodes
  2. 02Bill & Chris47 episodes
  3. 03Bill, Chris & Van27 episodes
  4. 04Bill & Van14 episodes
  5. 05Bill & Kyle12 episodes
  6. 06Bill, Chris & Craig9 episodes
  7. 07Bill & Mallory9 episodes
  8. 08Bill & Sean9 episodes
  9. 09Amanda, Bill & Juliet8 episodes
  10. 10Bill, Chris & Shea7 episodes

Host Patterns

Which hosts gravitate to which genres and directors.

When Bill’s away, the show gets younger and artier

2010s films 2.0× · Wes Anderson both times · Nolan 3/4 · sci-fi & rom-coms up, thrillers & ’90s dramas down. Sean & Chris cover the 8% Bill misses.

Sean Fennessey is the auteur guy

Tarantino 5/5 · PTA 4/4 · Scorsese 8/9 · Spielberg 8/9 · Fincher 7/8

Chris Ryan owns the action stylists

Michael Mann 10/10 · Tony Scott 9/9 · Friedkin 5/5 — they’ve done Heat three times

Juliet Litman = rom-coms

Romance 4.8× the show’s rate · Comedy 2.6×

Jason Concepcion = the genre / nerd lane

Sci-Fi 4.8× · Adventure 3.4× · Action 3.0×

Amanda Dobbins = rom-coms, too

Romance 3.6× · a Rob Reiner streak (3/8)

Van Lathan = James Cameron & fantasy

Cameron 3/5 films · Fantasy 3.2×

Mallory Rubin = mysteries

Mystery 1.9× the show’s rate

Categories

Every recurring segment, by the numbers — open a category page for the full answer list.

Apex Mountain

Career peak debate for actors/directors.

Appears in 400 episodes

Most-debated careers

  1. 01Eddie Murphy14
  2. 02Tom Cruise13
  3. 03Keanu Reeves12
  4. 04Seth Rogen12
  5. 05Robert Redford11
  6. 06Leonardo DiCaprio11
  7. 07Sylvester Stallone11
  8. 08Brad Pitt11
  9. 09Al Pacino10
  10. 10Tom Hanks10

Films most often crowned someone’s apex

  1. 01Titanic11
  2. 02Forrest Gump8
  3. 03Back to the Future7
  4. 04Terminator 2: Judgment Day7
  5. 05La La Land6
  6. 06Wedding Crashers6
  7. 07Jerry Maguire5
  8. 08The Bourne Identity5
  9. 09The Social Network5
  10. 10Ordinary People5

Flip-flops — same host, same person, different peak

Bill Simmons on Bradley Cooper

A Star Is Born → Limitless

Bill Simmons on Robert Redford

All the President's Men → Ordinary People

Bill Simmons on William Goldman

All the President's Men → Marathon Man

Bill Simmons on Richard Gere

Pretty Woman → An Officer and a Gentleman → Internal Affairs

Bill Simmons on Michael Douglas

Wall Street → Basic Instinct

Bill Simmons on Eddie Murphy

Beverly Hills Cop → Trading Places

Bill Simmons on Ryan Coogler

Creed → Sinners

Bill Simmons on Jim Carrey

Dumb and Dumber → The Truman Show

Casting What-Ifs

Alternate casting possibilities.

Appears in 359 episodes

Actors most often reimagined into another role

  1. 01Harrison Ford8
  2. 02Robert Downey Jr.8
  3. 03Denzel Washington5
  4. 04Leonardo DiCaprio5
  5. 05Kevin Costner4
  6. 06Mark Wahlberg4
  7. 07Sean Connery4
  8. 08Brad Pitt4
  9. 09Richard Dreyfuss4
  10. 10Meryl Streep4

Who Won the Movie

Who benefits most from the film.

Appears in 374 episodes

Most wins

  1. 01Tom Cruise21
  2. 02Sylvester Stallone10
  3. 03Steven Spielberg9
  4. 04Kevin Costner9
  5. 05Al Pacino9
  6. 06Quentin Tarantino9
  7. 07Eddie Murphy8
  8. 08Denzel Washington8
  9. 09Martin Scorsese7
  10. 10Tom Hanks7
See all 11 films Tom Cruise won →

A Few Good Men · Cocktail · Collateral · Days of Thunder · Edge of Tomorrow · Jerry Maguire · Magnolia · Mission: Impossible · Mission: Impossible - Fallout · Top Gun · Top Gun: Maverick

Dion Waiters Award

Best short screen-time performance (heat check).

Appears in 241 episodes

Multiple-time winners (of 219 total)

  1. 01Andrew Dice Clay3
  2. 02Bernie Mac3
  3. 03Leilani Sarelle3
  4. 04John Witherspoon3
  5. 05Randy Quaid3
  6. 06Alan Cumming3
  7. 07Frank Vincent3
  8. 08Devin Ratray3
  9. 09Murray Hamilton3
  10. 10Sydney Pollack3

Joey Pants Award

Best character actor ('that guy' actor).

Appears in 204 episodes

Multiple-time winners (of 209 total)

Joe Pantoliano won his own award 6×.

  1. 01Joe Pantoliano6
  2. 02James Rebhorn4
  3. 03Tracey Walter3
  4. 04Nick Mazzola3
  5. 05Rick Aviles3
  6. 06Leland Orser3
  7. 07Cara Buono3
  8. 08Balthazar Getty3
  9. 09Benedict Wong3
  10. 10Martin Balsam2

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Most controversial opinion.

Appears in 165 episodes

The hottest takes

Hotness = how much debate a take sparked (reaction-window discussion) blended with an AI spiciness rating — recomputed as new episodes land.

01

“Tom Hanks is neither the GOAT movie star nor the GOAT actor - not even close. He's made too many movies that suck in the last 20 years”

Catch Me If You Can Sean Fennessey▶ 1:07:42

93hotness
02

“Trading Places is the most underrated Christmas movie and is a better Christmas movie than Home Alone”

Trading Places Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:13

90hotness
03

“This is Cameron's finest directing work ever, better than Terminator 2, because of his versatility in directing multiple genres within one film”

True Lies Van Lathan▶ 7:40

90hotness
04

“Rudy's brother Frank was right about everything - Rudy should have stayed with his wife, job, and stable life instead of pursuing his dream, which ultimately broke up his family and led to him being mocked”

Rudy Kyle Brandt▶ 1:08:21

89hotness
05

“This movie (Jaws 2) is actually what killed the New Hollywood, not Jaws or Star Wars, because it proved movies don't even have to be okay to make money”

Jaws 2 Sean Fennessey▶ 1:01:49

86hotness
06

“Two takes: 1) Kevin orchestrates being separated and wants to be alone, is bummed when his mom finds him. 2) Harry and Marv are lovers in a romantic relationship.”

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Kyle Brandt▶ 1:03:23

86hotness
07

“This is Harrison Ford's best part of any role he's ever played, ranking it above Indiana Jones and Han Solo”

Witness Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:17

85hotness
08

“The scene after the bar fight where Lee breaks down in George's wife's arms is better than the hill scene”

Manchester by the Sea Chris Ryan▶ 45:48

84hotness
09

“Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone's chemistry in Crazy Stupid Love is so much better than La La Land, and the romantic scene in this movie is better than any scene in La La Land”

Crazy, Stupid, Love. Mina Kimes▶ 17:57

83hotness
10

“Billy Jacoby gives an all-time 80s comedy performance in this movie with a 90+ percent batting average, comparable to Eddie Murphy and Chevy Chase”

Just One of the Guys Bill Simmons▶ 1:25:24

82hotness

Is This Movie Better With

Hosts run through a growing list of recurring 'utility player' actors/characters and decide whether the movie would be improved by their inclusion.

Appears in 156 episodes

Most-invoked utility players

  1. 01Samuel L. Jackson51 eps
  2. 02Philip Baker Hall20 eps
  3. 03Danny Trejo17 eps
  4. 04Kathryn Hahn16 eps
  5. 05J.T. Walsh15 eps
  6. 06Steve Buscemi14 eps
  7. 07Zane Lowe11 eps
  8. 08Jon Bernthal10 eps
  9. 09Doris Burke7 eps
  10. 10Wilford Brimley5 eps

Best Double Feature

Best companion film pairing.

Appears in 136 episodes

Most-recommended pairing films

  1. 01The Warriors5
  2. 02Cast Away3
  3. 03Top Gun3
  4. 04No Country for Old Men3
  5. 05Good Will Hunting3
  6. 06Dumb and Dumber2
  7. 07Fearless2
  8. 08Waiting for Guffman2
  9. 09Den of Thieves: Pantera2
  10. 10Varsity Blues2

Just One Oscar

One award the movie deserves.

Appears in 122 episodes

Multiple-time winners (of 104 total)

  1. 01Matt Damon4
  2. 02Danny McBride4
  3. 03Chazz Palminteri3
  4. 04Kathleen Turner3
  5. 05Ryan Coogler3
  6. 06Sean Connery3
  7. 07Mike Myers3
  8. 08Tom Hanks2
  9. 09Brokeback Mountain2
  10. 10Michael Rooker2

Overacting Award

Most exaggerated performance.

Appears in 103 episodes

Multiple-time winners (of 80 total)

  1. 01Saul Rubinek4
  2. 02Al Pacino4
  3. 03Will Patton2
  4. 04Richard Crenna2
  5. 05Kurtwood Smith2
  6. 06Jeff Goldblum2
  7. 07Bradley Whitford2
  8. 08Woody Harrelson2
  9. 09Richard Attenborough2
  10. 10Julianne Moore2

Great Shot Gordo Award

Most cinematic shot.

Appears in 82 episodes

Cinematographers who earned the most great shots

  1. 01Janusz Kaminski9
  2. 02Julio Macat8
  3. 03Robert Elswit8
  4. 04Reynaldo Villalobos6
  5. 05John Bailey6
  6. 06Michael Chapman6
  7. 07Gilbert Taylor5
  8. 08Tom Priestley Jr.4
  9. 09Bruce Surtees4
  10. 10Don Burgess4

Racehorse Name Award

Phrase that sounds like a racehorse name.

Appears in 64 episodes

The 10 funniest

  1. 1.Bong Mitzvahfrom Pineapple Express
  2. 2.Screaming Irish Pigfrom The Untouchables
  3. 3.Historic Chili Dogfrom Singles
  4. 4.My Son and My Partner HWfrom There Will Be Blood
  5. 5.No Bullets Bitchfrom Cliffhanger
  6. 6.Pussy Without the Hairfrom Above the Rim
  7. 7.Giant Ass Pandafrom Adventureland
  8. 8.Giant Ass Pandafrom Adventureland
  9. 9.Lactic Acidosisfrom A Few Good Men
  10. 10.One on Bumfrom Above the Rim

Hanks or Cruise

Hosts debate whether Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise would have been better in lead roles, often comparing across multiple parts.

Appears in 37 episodes

Tom Hanks

14

category wins

VS

Tom Cruise

25

category wins

Films Cruise was chosen for (12) →

A Few Good Men · Cocktail · Collateral · Days of Thunder · Edge of Tomorrow · Jerry Maguire · Magnolia · Mission: Impossible · Mission: Impossible - Fallout · Rain Man · Top Gun · Top Gun: Maverick

Films Hanks was chosen for (5) →

Big · Cast Away · Forrest Gump · Toy Story · What Lies Beneath

Horlbeck Runtime Scale

Runtime evaluation metric.

Appears in 4 episodes

Over / just right / under

Plus 8 minutes (could cut out 10 minutes from the plus 18)

Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Plus 14 on the Horlbeck scale

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

86 minutes is perfect length - doesn't feel too short and has everything you want

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Plus five - 95 minutes vs 100 minute baseline

Another 48 Hrs.

Perfect length, right in the sweet spot

Another 48 Hrs.

154 minutes is probably the right move

What Lies Beneath

Agrees it could be shorter, citing unnecessary lengthy sequences like the trip to get the key

What Lies Beneath

Should be shorter, remove about 20 minutes from the front - the slow deliberate pacing is too much on rewatch

What Lies Beneath