The cinematic boxing match
This week on Netflix vs. Cinema, host Tosin Ajayi and the team dive into the biggest releases across the big and small screens. From harrowing historical dramas to sci-fi trilogies and quirky mysteries, there is plenty to debate.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Cinema): The team explores this highly anticipated sequel. While the atmosphere and performance of Jack O’Connell (as Lord Sir Jimmy Crystal) earn praise, the crew debates the "one-note" performance of the young lead, Spike.
The Voice of Hind Rajab (Cinema): Tosin leads a discussion on this powerful, harrowing documentary from Gaza. Utilizing actual distress call recordings, the film is described as a "masterclass in tension" and a vital, if difficult, watch.
Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery (Netflix): Holly introduces this three-part series starring Mia McKenna-Bruce . Is it just "Sunday afternoon fare," or a refreshing take on a lesser-known classic?
Primate (Cinema): A "secret screening" that divided the room. While some enjoyed the "rabid chimp" chaos, others were left frustrated by the illogical character choices common in the horror genre.
The team gets heated discussing the Sky Documentary, The Salt Path Scandal. Following the massive success of the book and film, this documentary investigates claims that the "true story" of a couple walking the coastal path might have been heavily embellished.
> "It’s what journalism should be—taking a story no one wants to debunk because they want to believe the magic, and asking the hard questions." — Sharon Bollen
0:00 – Intro: Host Tosin Ajayi introduces co-hosts Shaun Harris, Sharon Bollen, and Holly Nessling.
1:45 – Wuthering Heights Controversy: A discussion on the upcoming Emerald Fennell adaptation and the polarizing nature of the original story.
8:14 – Primate (Cinema): Sharon reviews this "secret screening" horror film about a rabid chimpanzee.
10:04 – 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Cinema): A deep dive into the zombie sequel, Jack O’Connell’s performance, and the divisive character of Spike.
19:20 – Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery (Netflix): Holly reviews the three-part series starring Mia McKenna-Bruce.
23:23 – Field Post (Streaming): Shaun reviews the German World War II drama available on Prime Video.
26:22 – The Voice of Hind Rajab (Cinema): Tosin discusses the harrowing documentary featuring actual distress calls from Gaza.
30:16 – The Salt Path Scandal (Sky/Streaming): The team debates the documentary that questions the authenticity of the famous memoir.
34:55 – The Verdict: The final scores are tallied, and the "Streaming" category is declared the weekly winner.
Is Netflix killing cinemas? Each week we weigh up what we've seen in cinemas with what we've watched online at home and figure out which provided the best time. At least, we did before COVID jumped in and declared Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and friends the winner.
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This week on Netflix vs. Cinema, we're caught between a rock and a hard place (or a house arrest and a pub trip). With Sharon away, our London correspondent Holly Nessling joins host Tosin Ajayi and resident expert Shaun Harris from "house arrest" to break down this week's viewing.
From Shakespearean tragedies to Netflix thrillers, we're diving into a mix of high art and guilty pleasures. Who wins the battle for your attention this week: The Big Stream or The Big Screen?
On the Big Screen (Cinema Reviews):
🎭 Hamnet: Tosin reviews the Oscar contender starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, mainly to see if it deserves to beat SINNERS to the Golden Globes, or any award (4/5)
🏨 The Housemaid: Shaun checks into this dark thriller. Is it a five-star stay or a nightmare vacation? (Rating: 4/5)
💍 Rental Family : Shaun reviews the heartwarming Japanese drama starring Brendan Fraser about a man who rents himself out as a family member. (Rating: 4.25/5)
On the Big Stream (Netflix & Home Reviews):
🔪 His & Hers (Netflix): Holly reviews the tense thriller series starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal .
⚔️ The Green Knight (Prime Video): Holly takes on the Arthurian epic starring Dev Patel . Is this A24 fantasy a visual masterpiece or a confusing quest? (Rating: 3.5/5)
🚕 Eenie Meanie (Disney+): Tosin discusses the crime comedy starring Samara Weaving . Is it a fun ride or a car crash? (Rating: 4/5)
Plus: We discuss the Avatar: Fire and Ash buzz (or lack thereof) and debate whether some films are just better suited for the cinema experience.
Who won the week? Listen in to hear the final scores and decide where you should be spending your time this weekend.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro & Where is Sharon?
09:30 Cinema: Hamnet Review
16:15 Streaming: The Green Knight (Amazon Prime)
28:00 Cinema: Rental Family
36:00 Streaming: His & Hers (Netflix)
42:30 Cinema: The Housemaid Review
51:30 Streaming: Eenie Meanie (Disney+)
57:00 The Final Verdict: Netflix vs. Cinema
Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating! It helps us determine if we are winning the battle against the algorithm.
Is Netflix killing cinemas? Each week we weigh up what we've seen in cinemas with what we've watched online at home and figure out which provided the best time. At least, we did before COVID jumped in and declared Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and friends the winner.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/netflix-vs-cinema/id1448277363
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Happy New Year! Netflix vs. Cinema is back for the first official battle of 2026. Will you stay on the sofa or head to the big screen this January?
Join host Tosin and the resident experts Shaun Harris and Sharon as they kick off the year with a diverse slate of reviews. From Timothée Chalamet’s table tennis skills to a hive-mind virus on Apple TV+, we’re crunching the numbers to find out who wins the week: The Big Stream or The Big Screen.
On the Big Screen (Cinema Reviews):
Marty Supreme:
Sean serves up a review of the A24 sports biopic starring
Timothée Chalamet
. Is the story of table tennis champion Marty Reisman a smash hit or a miss? (Rating: 4.6/5)
Song Sung Blue:
Sharon takes a look at the musical drama starring
Hugh Jackman
as a Neil Diamond tribute artist. Does it rock, or is it just noise? (Rating: 3.75/5)
Anaconda (2026):
Tosin braves the meta-reboot starring
Jack Black
and
Paul Rudd
. Is this self-aware creature feature a fun romp or a constricting bore? (Rating: 2.5/5)
On the Big Stream (Netflix & Home Reviews):
The Abandons (Netflix):
Sharon heads West for
Kurt Sutter’s
(
Sons of Anarchy
) gritty new drama starring
Lena Headey
and
Gillian Anderson
.
Pluribus (Apple TV+):
A sci-fi standout? Sharon reviews the mind-bending series about a virus that connects human consciousness.
The Tank (Amazon Prime):
Sean reviews the WWII thriller. Does it tread new ground or get stuck in the mud?
Plus: We briefly touch on the buzz surrounding Avatar: Fire and Ash and Tosin explains why Titanic Sinks Tonight might be a step too far for reality TV.
Who won the week? Listen in to hear the final scores and decide where you should be spending your time this weekend.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro: New Year's greetings, 2025 stats recap, and what we watched this week.
04:30
Marty Supreme (Cinema): Shaun reviews the A24 table tennis biopic starring Timothée Chalamet.
The Abandons (Netflix): Sharon reviews Kurt Sutter's new Western series.
Anaconda (Cinema): Tosin discusses the meta-reboot featuring Jack Black and Paul Rudd.
Pluribus (Apple TV+): Sharon reviews the sci-fi series about a shared-consciousness virus.
Song Sung Blue (Cinema): Sharon reviews the Hugh Jackman musical drama.
The Tank (Amazon Prime): Shaun reviews the WWII thriller set in a "bargain basement" Fury.
Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating! It helps us determine if we are winning the battle against the algorithm.
Is Netflix killing cinemas? Each week we weigh up what we've seen in cinemas with what we've watched online at home and figure out which provided the best time. At least, we did before COVID jumped in and declared Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and friends the winner.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/netflix-vs-cinema/id1448277363
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Episode Summary Happy New Year! It's officially 2026, and the Netflix vs Cinema team is kicking off the year with a massive retrospective. Tosin, Shaun, and Holly look back at the last 12 months to crown the Best Films & TV of 2025. From the Ryan Coogler vampire thriller Sinners to Netflix's groundbreaking drama Adolescence, we break down the absolute must-watches.
Plus, we finally settle the debate: Who won 2025? Tosin reveals the "Dave Beaton Stats"—a comprehensive breakdown of every star rating given on the show this year. Did the Big Screen or the Big Stream come out on top? The results are closer than you think.
In This Episode:
The 2025 Cinema Awards: The hosts pick their top movies of the year.
Shaun’s Picks: Sinners and Weapons
Tosin’s Picks: The "visceral experience" of Sinners and Weapons .
Holly’s Picks: The Brazilian drama I'm Still Here .
The 2025 Streaming Awards: The best TV and streaming movies.
Tosin: The BBC's one-shot masterpiece Adolescence .
Shaun: The Amazon Prime thriller Relay .
Holly: The AMC/Sundance series Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale .
Cinema vs. Streaming Stats: We crunch the numbers. We break down the data, including the "highest highs" and "lowest lows" of the year.
Other Watches:
Chad Powers (Hulu/Disney+): Is Glen Powell's prosthetic-heavy quarterback comedy a touchdown or a fumble?
The Instigators (Apple TV+): Matt Damon and Casey Affleck reunite for a heist comedy.
13 Days: Shaun revisits the Kevin Costner Cuban Missile Crisis classic.
Keywords: Best Movies of 2025, Sinners Movie Review, Weapons Movie, Superman Legacy, Fantastic Four 2025, Adolescence BBC, Sanctuary A Witch's Tale, Relay Movie, Chad Powers Glen Powell, Film Podcast, Netflix vs Cinema.
Hosts:
Tosin
Shaun Harris
Holly Nesling
Would you like me to draft a "Winner of 2025" social media post announcing the Cinema vs. Streaming stats?
Is Netflix killing cinemas? Each week we weigh up what we've seen in cinemas with what we've watched online at home and figure out which provided the best time. At least, we did before COVID jumped in and declared Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and friends the winner.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/netflix-vs-cinema/id1448277363
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In the final episode of 2025, the team gathers to debate the future of the industry: with rumors of Netflix potentially acquiring Warner Bros, is there still value in the cinematic experience? Tosin, Sean, and a house-bound Holly break down the week's biggest releases on the big screen and the big stream, before revealing their top movie picks of the year.
In This Episode:
Zootropolis 2 (Cinema): Tosin heads to the cinema for the highly anticipated animated sequel Zootropolis 2 (Zootopia 2). Does the introduction of reptiles and the heavy focus on "zoning law" politics hold up to the original? Featuring a voice cast including Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Ke Huy Quan, and Fortune Feimster.
Irish Blood (Netflix): Holly reviews Alicia Silverstone's comeback in the Netflix mystery-drama Irish Blood . We discuss Silverstone's performance as an LA lawyer following a trail of clues to Wexford, Ireland.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (Cinema): Sean reviews the slasher Silent Night, Deadly Night , featuring a killer Santa, "Garbage Day" vibes, and a convoluted plot involving an old people's home.
Stream of the Week: Sean recommends Relay on Amazon Prime, a thriller starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James, directed by David Mackenzie.
Best Films of 2025: The hosts share their standout films of the year, including:
Sinners
Weapons
The Fantastic Four
I'm Still Here
September 5
Hosts:
Tosin (Bromsgrove)
Sean Harris (World Cup Bound)
Holly Nesling (London Correspondent)
Keywords: Zootropolis 2 Review, Irish Blood Netflix, Alicia Silverstone, Zootopia 2, Riz Ahmed, Relay Amazon Prime, Best Movies of 2025, Film Reviews, Netflix vs Cinema Podcast.
Is Netflix killing cinemas? Each week we weigh up what we've seen in cinemas with what we've watched online at home and figure out which provided the best time. At least, we did before COVID jumped in and declared Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and friends the winner.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/netflix-vs-cinema/id1448277363
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Is the cinema experience still king, or is streaming taking over the throne? In this episode of the Netflix vs. Cinema podcast, host Tosin (from Bromsgrove, UK) and London correspondent Holly Nesline dive deep into the latest theatrical releases and streaming gems to find out where your time and money are best spent.
At the Cinema: We review the high-concept sci-fi rom-com Eternity , starring Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner . Tosin breaks down the film’s unique depiction of the afterlife and why it’s a "top-level rom-com" you need to see before it leaves theaters.
Box Office Giants: We discuss the massive global success of Zootropolis 2 (Zootopia 2) and why its half-billion-dollar opening weekend is keeping it on the big screen well through the holidays.
Must-Watch Streaming: Holly shares a glowing 5-star review for the gritty Indian crime series Delhi Crime on Netflix. We discuss the show's evolution across three series, including its powerful portrayal of the 2012 bus case and its exploration of sex trafficking.
The Tarantino Cut: Resident expert Sean gives his take on Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair . Is the four-hour extended cut a "whole new film," or just for die-hard fans?
Documentary Spotlight: Sharon introduces All the Empty Rooms , a "quietly devastating" short documentary by Steve Hartman and Lou Bopp that explores the lasting impact of school shootings through the rooms left behind.
We also debate the changing landscape of film distribution, including Apple and Netflix moving into theatrical spaces and the rumors surrounding Netflix’s potential acquisition of Warner Bros.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction: Big Screen or Big Stream?
01:30 – Zootropolis 2: The Half-Billion Dollar Success
05:10 – Eternity Review: Rom-Com in the Afterlife
10:30 – Delhi Crime (Netflix): A Gritty Masterpiece
15:20 – Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair – The 4-Hour Experience
19:00 – All the Empty Rooms: A Powerful Documentary Short
22:00 – The Future of Cinema: Apple, Netflix, and Warner Bros.
Connect with us: Like, comment, and subscribe to help us grow! If there’s a movie or series you want us to cover, let us know in the comments.
#MovieReviews #CinemaVsNetflix #EternityMovie #DelhiCrime #ElizabethOlsen #KillBill #Zootropolis2 #StreamingHacks #Podcast
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IN CINEMAS
Tosin sees Wake Up Dead Man before it makes it's swift way to Netflix
Sharon Sees the return of Sisu in Road to Revenge
AT HOME
Holly is late to the party as she finally watches Broadchurch on ITVX
Tosin sees My Dead Friend Zoe on Sky Cinema
Is Netflix killing cinemas? Each week we weigh up what we've seen in cinemas with what we've watched online at home and figure out which provided the best time. At least, we did before COVID jumped in and declared Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and friends the winner.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/netflix-vs-cinema/id1448277363
Listen and subscribe on Youtube Music https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8xPMfsDQIDjM70v1Tah6BiKV4E3UQbaK
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IN CINEMAS
Holly falls in Love with Wicked : For Good
Shaun ses Keeper
Shaun watches through his fingers as Pillion unfolds on screen
AT HOME
Sharon sees Train Dreams on Netfllix
Holly Sees Return o Paradise on BBC iPlayer
Sharon Na Holly see the Witcher season 4 on Netflix
Is Netflix killing cinemas? Each week we weigh up what we've seen in cinemas with what we've watched online at home and figure out which provided the best time. At least, we did before COVID jumped in and declared Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and friends the winner.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/netflix-vs-cinema/id1448277363
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IN CINEMAS
AT HOME
Ballad of a Small Player on Netflix
Frankenstein on Netflix
Is Netflix killing cinemas? Each week we weigh up what we've seen in cinemas with what we've watched online at home and figure out which provided the best time. At least, we did before COVID jumped in and declared Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and friends the winner.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/netflix-vs-cinema/id1448277363
Listen and subscribe on Youtube Music https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8xPMfsDQIDjM70v1Tah6BiKV4E3UQbaK
Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6beXVeSImcgHLsPB22BgE3?si=wdoNI6E0SNqNfoqg4qnw4Q
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With so many films out in the cinema and only having an hour, we have a Cinema special tonight
Sharon discusses the Running Man
Tosin and Holly take on Bugonia
Shaun discussses dinosaurs in the Vietnam War with Primitive War
Tosin and SShaun revel in Predator Badlands
Sharon sees the Choral
Shaun and Sharon discuss Nuremberg
Is Netflix killing cinemas? Each week we weigh up what we've seen in cinemas with what we've watched online at home and figure out which provided the best time. At least, we did before COVID jumped in and declared Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney + and friends the winner.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/netflix-vs-cinema/id1448277363
Listen and subscribe on Youtube Music https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8xPMfsDQIDjM70v1Tah6BiKV4E3UQbaK
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Support Netflix vs Cinema by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/netflixvscinema
Find out more at http://netflixvscinema.com
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