2026 Best Picture Power Rankings, and the Best Movies at TIFF. Plus: Zach Cregger on ‘Resident Evil’!
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What is the opening premise of the Big Picture and Conversation Show?
I'm Sean Fennessey. I'm Amanda
Dodd.
And this is the Big Picture and Conversation Show about awards and gore. Today on the show, Adam Nayman stops by with his annual report from the Toronto International Film Festival. Adam will share his favorite films from the fest and some movies he didn't like very much, and we'll talk about the big picture of that festival. The end of TIFF truly signals the start of award season, so we are also kick starting our monthly best picture power rankings tradition. And then after all that, Zach Krager joins. Me to break down Resident Evil, his amazing new success video game adaptation. Zach has come on for all of his films. This time it was in person. He's incredibly insightful and fun and funny to talk about movies with.
You'll want to stick around for that, which is a slightly spoiler-filled conversation. But first, some movie news right after this. This episode is presented by State Farm. You know the feeling. Long day, good meal, you finally sit down, and now you're just staring at your screen. Slasher, rom-com, period drama, psychological thriller, but some decisions don't have to be that hard. State Farm is here to help. Like when you choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Bundling, just another way to save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings, and eligibility vary by state.
Okay, there's a lot of news going on.
Yes.
There's a lot you know, I feel like I saw you every day this weekend. We hung out a lot and yet we didn't talk about any of this stuff.
Well, yeah, because we didn't actually talk that much. We were just running after and or played soccer with them. I guess I did see you every day. Yeah, that's nice. Nice to be back. Nice
to be back with you as well. Uh I played a lot of soccer with your son. He's getting very good. Um Resident Evil made sixty million dollars in the United States of America. This is Krager's biggest movie of all time. Um, it's a hundred and eight million dollar global debut. Biggest opening in franchise history, biggest opening of Krager's career, biggest opening ever for an R-rated video game adaptation. And I think I think he g goes into the like For sure. Jo Jordan Peel, Greta Gerwin. And this person
has a movie coming out, and now we need to go to see it. It's, you know, not on the Nolan scale, but no one but Christopher Nolan is on the Nolan scale. And
you know, it's not Tarantino, it's not Spielberg, but it's like it's pretty name brand, you know?
I went to the first available showing at a two PM on a Thursday in Pasadena. I was the only woman there, but there are Many m there were people seemingly solo. There were a couple I was like I saw it a
second time last night and there were a lot of dates.
Oh, that's nice. Um I d I don't know how many of these were dates. It was mostly just people who had the vibe of my guy released a new movie and so I'm there at two PM on Thursday to see it. And I was also there for that reason.
Okay. We'll talk about your thoughts on the movie in a little bit. Um And and we'll talk Zach will talk a lot more about making the movie, which I think people will enjoy. So A paramount is gonna settle the lawsuits and the merger's gonna happen. I mean this. I think
or the or Rob Bonta and the AGs are gonna settle the lawsuits. Maybe
AG's Benthony, is that what happened here?
Yeah, I you know, I only was able to read part of the reading of the consent decree, whatever, and also I am not legally trained in any way.
Okay, some high level takeaways from this news, which you and I have been not really discussing over the last two months very purposely because
most of it has been posturing from one side or the other in public to try to influence this the ultimate resolution
of sorts. And everyone really wanted this to get done by the end of the year on the Paramount side, obviously, because of the ticking fee that's happening and because who knows as administrations change, there is going to be midterms.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the opening premise of the Big Picture and Conversation Show?
0:15–3:54
2
How do Sean and Amanda break down the surprise box‑office success of ‘Resident Evil’?
3:54–8:46
3
What are the key takeaways from Paramount’s lawsuit settlement and the Warner Bros. merger news?
8:46–15:55
4
Why are the new ‘Cliff Booth’ trailer and Adam Nayman’s TIFF recap important for the episode?
15:55–1:05:15
5
What movies are the hosts debating for the Best Picture power rankings?
1:05:15–1:23:34
6
How does Zach Cregger describe the biggest creative and health challenges while making Resident Evil?
1:23:34–1:46:50
7
What production tricks and storytelling choices did Zach use to balance horror, comedy, and Easter‑egg fan service in Resident Evil?
1:46:50–2:06:55
8
How do the hosts reflect on genre filmmaking, mentorship, and what’s next after Resident Evil?
2:06:55–2:11:03
Speakers
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