The Canon: An Essential Movies Watchlist

Yippee ki yay Screenagers! The Season 6 finale is an action packed one. SAW’s very own, Romona Comet and Val Morreale are here to talk all things Die Hard. Raf and SAW’s leading ladies blast the NFL for having Christmas Day games, celebrate the glory of Nakatomi Plaza, and confirm Die Hard’s standing as the peak of the action genre. Plus: what makes a Christmas movie? Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-die-hard-1988/

This episode goes beyond the infinite! Dave Wilson is back to talk about one of the 3 or 4 most monumental movies ever made - Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Raf and Dave rank the best cinematic Daves and the Knicks winning the NBA cup. But also, what’s the real meaning of the monolith? And is the star child a version of space buddha or cosmic nirvana? Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-2001-a-space-odyssey-1968/

A sweeping epic! An indie passion project! What do these things have in common you may ask! The answer is the conversation between Raf and returning guest Dylan Gantz in this episode. Dylan joins to talk about the latest on his short film project, Liquor Store and David Lean's Doctor Zhivago. Dylan and Raf also talk favorite New York Mets and their hometown hotspots. Follow the Liquor Store instagram page for updates on the project: @liquorstorefilm

Bonjourno ScreenAgers! It’s time to explore the wonderful world of Italian neorealism. Bicycle Thieves is the definitive example of the genre. Jason Christian from Cold War Cinema and Felicia Maroni of the Seeing Faces in Movies podcast are back to offer their expertise on one of the greatest films ever made. Plus, Raf botches his Italian intro. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-bicycle-thieves-1948/ Check out Cold War Cinema and Seeing Faces in Movies: https://coldwarcinema.com/ https://www.seeingfacesinmovies.com/

A murder mystery! The blueprint for the screwball comedy-hard boiled crime drama hybrid, The Thin Man is a most deserving of the "essential" tagging. SAW contributor Bryan Loomis joins Raf to talk why this movie is such a good hang. Plus Bryan shows off his Eastern European cinema knowledge, and lists his least favorite movies of 2025. And Raf can't stop talking about martinis. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-the-thin-man-1934/

This episode is for our fatherland! For glory! Jacob Holmes fills in for Sailor Monsoon, who is still dealing with ongoing technical difficulties. All Quiet on the Western Front is maybe the most defiantly anti-war movie ever made. Jacob and Raf discuss its legacy, as well as where Emergen-C should be stored in the home, the best fast food chicken sandwich, and the current state of the Oscars race. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/saw-canon-all-quiet-on-the-western-front-1930/

Happy Noirvember! We're kicking off the season with Fritz Lang's 1931 classic. Jason Christian and Paul T. Klein of the Cold War Cinema podcast join Raf to break down this brilliant early version of a "talkie". Raf debuts his Trump impression, Jason shouts out his favorite video store, and Paul plays Film Studies 101 bingo. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-m-1931/ Check out Jason and Pauls writing and Cold War Cinema: https://coldwarcinema.com/ https://jasonchristianwrites.com/ https://www.howtoreadmovies.com/about/

Welcome to our 100th episode extravaganza! What better way to celebrate than with a Chainsaw Massacre. Aaron and Derek from the ‘Watch if You Dare’ podcast join us for the festivities, along with Bob and Val. Join us for a discussion about the smelliest, most unrelenting, filthiest movie of all time. The only reasonable way to close out the Halloween spooky season. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-1974/

Wouldst thou like to pod deliciously?! Things are still spooky here on The Canon with Robert Eggers’ The Witch. SAW Contributors Val and Jacob are here to discuss all things religion, family dynamics, and isolation in the woods. Jacob reveals his first R-rated theater experience, Raf defends a controversial film, and Val can’t stop knitting. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-the-witch-2015/

They’re hereeeeee! Romona and Bob are back for a haunting good time. We discuss the Amblin 80’s, how scary TVs are, and why homes should never be built on top of cemeteries. Plus we answered the following questions: are pumpkin spice lattes overrated, are there any Thanksgiving movies, and how much of Poltergeist did Steven Spielberg actually direct? Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-poltergeist-1982/

This episode has us howling! The one and only Bob Cram is back for yet more Spooky fun. This time around, Bob and Raf are hopping across the pond for John Landis' classic horror comedy. Bob and Raf also discuss the most haunted US and international cities, the spooky nature of Creedence Clearwater Revival's discography, and whether this is the definitive werewolf movie. Plus: Bob reveals that he was in a band back in the day! Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-an-american-werewolf-in-london-1981/

You can see right through this episode! Spooky season is officially here. And we’re celebrating the beginning of Bobtober with our second HG Wells adaptation of the week. Bob is back yet again, this time around to discuss James Whale’s take on The Invisible Man. Obviously, Bob and Raf discuss what they’d do with invisibility powers, pumpkin spice lattes, and Tom Cruise running (again). Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-the-invisible-man-1933/

When Mars attacks! Spooky season is right around the corner (or already here), so we’re getting in the mood for it with some spooky sci-fi. Space invaders and SAW contributors Bob and Val are here to talk The War of the Worlds. Val explains how much better this 1953 version is than the 2025 Ice Cube version and Bob shares some fun factoids. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-the-war-of-the-worlds-1953/

We're doubling up this week! Raf gathers a crew of SAW legends - Jacob, Bob, and the return of Alvarez - for a lively discussion about Duncan Jones' Moon. Although it's not a classic in the way many other movies in The Canon are, Moon fully earns its spots. The SAW gang breaks down why it deserves to be here. The gents also debate the legacy of Sam Rockwell's performance and rank their encounters with him. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-moon-2009/

The perfect murder! I mean perfect podcast. The Canon is back and we're talking the master of suspense yet again. Stephen Gillespie joins Raf to talk about the brilliance of Alfred Hitchcock's Rope. Come for the murder mystery, stay for a discussion about what a Pitbull directed version of Rope would look like. Dalé! Plus, Stephen and Raf talk favorite Pokemon. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-rope-1948/

Let’s take a trip down memory lane! The Canon is going back to high school with George Lucas’ American Graffiti. Raf is joined by Dylan Wolf Gantz writer, director of the upcoming film Liquor Store. Raf and Dylan discuss their high school years, the hardest parts of being an independent filmmaker, and Harrison Ford’s handsome face.  Follow Liquor Store on Instagram - @liquorstorefilm Help fund the project here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/liquor-store-short-film#/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaftTzD-3fFETyZKNn-vEUdBkWMwdb7l7hyIJ8HWeHqMOgsZ4jBzvnSSglriNA_aem_rZTWYtpOG_5d2W4To2eO5g Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-american-graffiti-1973/

You’ll believe a podcast can fly! SAW favorite Jacob Holmes is back again. Join us on a trip to Krypton, Smallville, and Metropolis. We’re discussing Superman ’78 as the watershed moment for big screen comic book filmmaking and why Christopher Reeve is the definitive version of the character. Plus, Raf shares his love for Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman. Read the full Canon entry: https://screenagewasteland.com/saw-canon-superman-1978/

Follow the Canon brick road! Season 6 is off and running with an absolute classic. SAW contributor Jacob Holmes joins Raf on a wonderful trip to they magical land of Oz. They meet lions and tigers and bears along the way, discuss why Toto is the greatest movie dog of all time, and why it's okay to like "normy" things. Plus: a discussion about the god awful Wizard of Oz screenings at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-the-wizard-of-oz-1939/

Let's kick off season 6! ScreenAge Wasteland contributors Bob and Val join Raf to preview the movies being discussed in season 6 of The Canon. Get the full schedule, including which episodes Bob, Val, and the rest of the SAW contributors will be appearing on. We'll see you soon for more essential movie talk.

This episode is as real as a doughnut! We’re closing out Season 5 of The Canon with a bang. Quentin Tarantino’s 9th film, which maybe should have been his final film is full of meta moments and fun vibes. Dave Wilson and Jacob Holmes join Raf to break down what makes Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood so beloved. Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland: https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-2019/