‘Species’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan
July 22, 2025 · Species (1995) · Action · Horror · Sci-Fi · 1:31:23 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsYoung Michelle Williams escaping in the glass hole - they're trying to gas her out and she gets out of there▶ 26:42
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Bill SimmonsAll the shit that little kid ate in the train - banana with the peel still on, puddings▶ 52:02
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsThis should have been an HBO TV show in 1995, which would have become the first great cable one-hour show before The Sopranos▶ 1:06:16
Chris RyanThe movie would have been more interesting if the alien was like a six - not an uggo, but just average looking, making it harder for her to find a mate and turning it into a rom-com▶ 1:04:17
Van LathanThe movie should have had more fucking - it should have been a hard R or NC-17 with more explicit sexual content▶ 1:05:29
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsPierce Brosnan — Pierce Brosnan was offered Kingsley's part but couldn't do it due to GoldenEye; Arnold Schwarzenegger was interested but budget wouldn't allow, likely for Preston/Lennox role▶ 1:08:32
Chris RyanArnold Schwarzenegger — Joked that Schwarzenegger could have played the empath role instead▶ 1:09:04
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsH.R. Giger designed the creatures and was unhappy because he thought the movie ripped off too many other alien movies, so he forced them to change the ending to the headshot kill instead. Also, the nightclub was built in the Pantages Theater, and Alfred Molina helped nervous Natasha Henstridge by joking about his previous sex scene experience.▶ 1:12:25
Chris RyanAgreed that Giger got mad about Species ripping off other alien movies despite being paid well for his work.▶ 1:13:03
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsNatasha Henstridge — Agrees on Natasha (definitive yes), debates Madsen between this film and Reservoir Dogs but leans toward this being his apex, confirms Marge Helgenberger from CSI, says no to Ben Kingsley and Forest Whitaker▶ 1:14:10
Chris RyanMichael Madsen — Supports Madsen apex mountain argument by noting this movie made over $100 million, engages in BMW convertible discussion▶ 1:14:31
Van LathanMichael Madsen — Disagrees that this is Madsen's apex mountain, argues people would name five other Madsen movies before this one▶ 1:14:42
Hanks or Cruise
Bill SimmonsTom Cruise — Cruise - specifically suggests Cocktail Cruise, Magnolia Cruise, or current-day Cruise in the Ben Kingsley role▶ 1:16:47
Chris RyanTom Cruise — Cruise - states he doesn't see Hanks being able to keep a straight face in this movie▶ 1:16:47
Van LathanTom Cruise — Cruise as the Michael Madsen character - notes it would get him running and allow for stunts▶ 1:16:50
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsAnyone in 1995 turning down sex or being like 'this is too fast' - especially that guy; Madsen's tough guy character handing a cat to his cat sitter instead of having a cool dog; Train porter clothes being clean despite horrific murder scene; How they tracked her from club to Hollywood Hills house; Whether semen could be tested in hot tub water in 10 minutes▶ 1:18:15
Chris RyanThe motel manager at the Sahara being incredibly nice instead of sketchy like you'd expect; After the hot tub murder, Ben Kingsley's character says 'let's go home, get some sleep' instead of continuing the hunt▶ 1:22:27
Van LathanPeople weren't horny enough for her - she's in L.A. and there's not one scene where someone goes 'Jesus Christ'; They put a microbiologist in combat later in the movie▶ 1:22:50
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsByron Mayo and First Take Jay Williams - Mayo for his catchphrases about the wedding dress situation, Jay Williams for skeptically questioning if the alien was actually good at mating▶ 1:24:21
Chris RyanDoris Burke — Doris Burke (DB) commenting on the naked cocoon scene and Byron Mayo as an interesting addition▶ 1:23:46
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Chris RyanIf a six foot blonde woman wants your baby at the club, it's probably too good to be true / Women are not to be used▶ 1:28:01
Movies Referenced (40)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliens (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | ▶ 12:49 |
| Donnie Brasco (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 2:37 |
| Reservoir Dogs (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:14:17 |
| Shooter (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:19 |
| Can't Buy Me Love (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:11 |
| The Beach (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 33:47 |
| Borat (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 33:14 |
| Cube (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | ▶ 51:30 |
| Magnolia (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:16:29 |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 24:24 |
| True Romance (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 3:06 |
| Under Siege (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 57:58 |
Directors Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Donaldson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | No Way Out, Species | ▶ 52:50 |
| Ken Burns | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 10:22 |
Actors Referenced (64)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Madsen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 46 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | The Hateful Eight, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Species | ▶ 0:37 |
| Ben Kingsley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 19 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Gandhi, Schindler's List | ▶ 9:10 |
| Alfred Molina | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Spider-Man 2, Boogie Nights | ▶ 9:24 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 1:16:04 |
| Michelle Williams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Blue Valentine, My Week with Marilyn, Manchester by the Sea | ▶ 26:41 |
| Steven Seagal | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | Under Siege 2: Dark Territory | ▶ 36:23 |
| Tony Romo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 43:56 | |
| Walton Goggins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | The Hateful Eight, Predators | ▶ 20:35 |
| Chris Laker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Bringing Out the Dead | ▶ 55:39 |
| Michael McDonald | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | The 40-Year-Old Virgin, No Way Out, Twister | ▶ 7:09 |
| Sean Young | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Blade Runner 2049, Dune, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective | ▶ 26:42 |
| Betty White | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | The Proposal | ▶ 14:28 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Feldman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Species | ▶ 47:27 |
| Jackie Files | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:06:52 | |
| James Cameron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day | ▶ 47:48 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:00 | |
| Stanley Roberts | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Caine Mutiny, Death of a Salesman | ▶ 55:59 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert J. Dunk | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 54:46 |