Melissa Kirsch

Thanks for having me. So I'm wondering if you could do something for me, which is I'd like you to read the list of the top grossing movies of 2024.

Thanks for having me. So I'm wondering if you could do something for me, which is I'd like you to read the list of the top grossing movies of 2024.

Okay, now of the movies you just mentioned, nine out of ten of them are sequels, and Wicked is technically a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. What's going on here?

Okay, now of the movies you just mentioned, nine out of ten of them are sequels, and Wicked is technically a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. What's going on here?

So very similar to what's going on with TV, where studios aren't looking for necessarily innovative or original work.

So very similar to what's going on with TV, where studios aren't looking for necessarily innovative or original work.

You liked some sequels.

You liked some sequels.

Okay, so let's talk about some of those things to see. I've got your list of the best films of the year here. Your number one movie of 2024 is an Indian film called All We Imagine is Light. I have not seen this movie.

Okay, so let's talk about some of those things to see. I've got your list of the best films of the year here. Your number one movie of 2024 is an Indian film called All We Imagine is Light. I have not seen this movie.

And now let's talk about a very different kind of movie. Another film you loved this year was Furiosa, a Mad Max saga. This is the latest entry in the Mad Max franchise. It's directed by George Miller and stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth.

And now let's talk about a very different kind of movie. Another film you loved this year was Furiosa, a Mad Max saga. This is the latest entry in the Mad Max franchise. It's directed by George Miller and stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth.

I think a movie people might be surprised to find in your top 10 is Megalopolis. This is the movie that Francis Ford Coppola, who directed The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, self-financed and wrote and directed. It stars Adam Driver. It was divisive, but you loved it.

I think a movie people might be surprised to find in your top 10 is Megalopolis. This is the movie that Francis Ford Coppola, who directed The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, self-financed and wrote and directed. It stars Adam Driver. It was divisive, but you loved it.

Okay, let's take a little break. And when we return, we're going to talk about movies you can see in the theater right now.

Okay, let's take a little break. And when we return, we're going to talk about movies you can see in the theater right now.

A lot of people have time off from work. This is a time when a lot of people go to the movies. What do you recommend?

A lot of people have time off from work. This is a time when a lot of people go to the movies. What do you recommend?

Well, it sounds like there's a lot of good stuff to see in the theater right now. Manola, thank you so much for being here.

Well, it sounds like there's a lot of good stuff to see in the theater right now. Manola, thank you so much for being here.