Welcome to Season Nine of So Many Sequels! We are kicking off the new year—and "Rob Reiner Month"—with a look at one of the most beloved films of all time: The Princess Bride (1987).

In this episode, we admit where we were wrong ("I was dumb") and break down why this movie’s initial box office struggle didn't stop it from becoming a cult phenomenon. Join us as we analyze Rob Reiner’s authentic direction, the "perfect" sword fight between Westley and Inigo Montoya, and how the film’s framing device changes the entire narrative.

In this episode:

• Why the box office numbers lied about this movie's quality.

• The genius of casting Andre the Giant and Wallace Shawn.

• How the "fairy tale" genre was reinvented with humor.

• Our final ratings on the "Timeless" scale.

In this Season 8 finale of So Many Sequels, Josh, Garrett, and David reflect on an incredible year of film. Garrett champions unexpected picks like the David Attenborough documentary Oceans and the hilarious Keke Palmer/SZA comedy One of Them Days. Josh defends his "predictable" selections including the emotionally resonant Wake Up Dead Man and Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another. David builds a case for music-driven cinema with K-pop: Demon Hunters, Life of Chuck, and Superman leading his list.The only universal pick? Ryan Coogler's Sinners—a vampire film that transcends horror to explore faith, freedom, and identity. The hosts unpack why this film resonated so deeply and debate whether its pre-horror slow burn was a feature or a flaw.Beyond rankings, the episode delivers fascinating podcast statistics from 2025: 38 movies reviewed spanning 1947 to 2025, John Hughes as the year's most-watched director, and revelations about Jack Black dominating David's viewing and listening habits. The discussion concludes with 2026 resolutions (David wants to watch 150 movies!) and predictions, including Josh's controversial take that Toy Story 5 will redeem the franchise.

We wrap up So Many Santas on So Many Sequels with Miracle on 34th Street (1947), the Christmas classic that starts out as a department store comedy and somehow turns into a straight-up courtroom drama. We talk Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) getting put on the stand, the movie’s surprisingly spicy take on Christmas commercialism, and how everyone around him goes from “aww, cute Santa guy” to “call the authorities” in record time.By the end, it’s less “Ho ho ho” and more “Your Honor, I’d like to call the U.S. Postal Service.” So what’s your verdict—are you buying the magic, or do you need the paperwork to believe? Drop your take in the comments, and subscribe & leave us a review.