‘Ready Player One’ Is Better Than Anyone Imagined, But Does That Mean It’s Commercial? — IndieWire’s Movie Podcast

Two weeks after the end of awards season, we have a whole new set of events to talk about, starting with the SXSW Film Festival. That’s where Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One” premiered in a secret screening slot during the festival’s opening weekend, surprising many audiences by delivering a far more satisfying ride than expectations had suggested. Spielberg was on hand for the festival’s lively premiere, where even sound problems couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the final product. But does that mean this epic dose of eighties nostalgia will become a commercial hit?

That’s a major talking point in this week’s episode of Screen Talk, as Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson trade notes from their experiences watching the movie. Kohn also offers some additional highlights from SXSW, including the big competition winner “Thunder Road,” while Thompson discusses her experiences attending the Miami International Film Festival.

Listen to the full episode below.

Screen Talk is available on iTunes.

You can subscribe here or via RSS. Share your feedback with Thompson and Kohn on Twitter or sound off in the comments. Browse previous installments here, review the show on  and be sure to let us know if you’d like to hear the hosts address specific issues in upcoming editions of Screen Talk. Check out the rest of IndieWire’s podcasts on iTunes right here.