Podcasts by The Popcorn Isnt Real: Fan Theory Podcast
Do you love fan theories? We do. We love them so much that we called up the creators of your favorite movies to get the inside-story, and confirm or deny the greatest fan theories out there! Our guests include legendary writers and directors like Jack Epps Jr (TOP GUN, TURNER AND HOOCH), Mark Pellington (THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES, ARLINGTON ROAD), Joseph Kosinski (TOP GUN: MAVERICK, OBLIVION, TRON: LEGACY), Michael Miner (ROBOCOP), Adam Green (HATCHET, FROZEN), Hans Bauer (ANACONDA, TITAN A.E.), Jim Fall (THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE) and more. We take deep-dive looks at these films, examine fan theories, explore alternate readings, collect facts and trivia, interview the writers and directors, and finally we present our podcast to you! So have a listen and find out once and for all what the movies you love were really about!
Join Hollywood writer Leif Eric and cybersecurity professional Torvald, as we present the most spectacular fan-theories Hollywood has to offer. TV, films, video games, even conspiracy theories! We'll take the stories you think you know, and turn them on their heads!
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Welcome Trailer from 2023-12-12T17:47:35.469171
Are you ready to explore the darkest secrets of your favorite movies and media? Join Leif Eric and Torvald, as we investigate the greatest fan theories out there! This episode will give you an over...
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ANASTASIA: Anastasia died, Dimitri conned EVERYONE! from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.629992
Is Anastasia the story of a Romanov princess being reunited with her grandmother? Or of the cold, cunning con-man Dimitri who exploited a poor clueless orphan girl to get his hands on Anasta...
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE: Ron cast imperius on Hermione! Hagrid and Dumbledore evil! from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.626507
We continue our epic 20 year anniversary celebration of the Harry Potter series with the Goblet of Fire. Did Ron cast the Imperius Curse on Hermione? Was Hagrid a death eater? Is Dumbledore ...
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN: Ron and Hagrid are dark wizards! Snape is Harry's father! Dumbledore is evil! from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.580642
We continue our epic 20 year anniversary celebration of the Harry Potter series with the Prisoner of Azkaban. Was Hagrid a death eater? Is Dumbledore a Dark Wizard? Did Ron cast the Imperius...
HOME ALONE and PLANES TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: Gus/Del (John Candy) was the Devil! (Christmas Special) from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.579812
Happy Christmas! Have we got a present for you! Home Alone and Planes, Trains and Automobiles are in a shared universe, connected by a soul-stealing, traveling Devil played by John Candy.
THE MATRIX and TOTAL RECALL: Quaid (Schwarzenegger) was in the Matrix! from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.578815
A revolutionary action film about a man stuck in a dream, pursued by agents, who must take a red pill to return to reality. Yes, we're talking the 1990 film TOTAL RECALL! Wait, what? Was Tot...
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS: Dumbledore is evil! Ron and Hagrid are dark wizards! Snape's Harry's father! from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.578008
We continue our epic 20 year anniversary celebration of the Harry Potter series with the Chamber of Secrets. Was Hagrid a death eater? Is Dumbledore a Dark Wizard? Did Ron cast the Imperius ...
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE: Hagrid is a Death Eater! Snape's Harry's father! Dumbledore and Ron are dark wizards! from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.577254
We're celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first HARRY POTTER film!! Was Hagrid a death eater? Is Dumbledore a Dark Wizard? Did Ron cast the Imperius Curse on Hermione? Was Snape Harry's ...
HALLOWEEN Part 2: Michael Myers was brainwashed by his psychiatrist, Dr Loomis! (Halloween Special) from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.576486
We're back with part 2 of our Halloween special! Everyone knows Michael Myers is the big bad of the Halloween series, and possibly the most iconic slasher ever. But few people know that his ...
HALLOWEEN Part 1: Michael Myers was brainwashed by his psychiatrist, Dr Loomis! (Halloween Special) from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.575735
Halloween special Part 1! Everyone knows Michael Myers is the big bad of the Halloween series, and possibly the most iconic slasher ever. But few people know that his psychiatrist Dr. Loomis...
TOP GUN with Writer Jack Epps Jr: Was Maverick gay? from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.574776
Today we interview Jack Epps Jr, co-writer of TOP GUN! We ask him the burning questions on everyone's mind: Is Quentin Tarantino right, and the film is all a metaphor for Maverick's closeted...
PREDATORS and THE PREDATOR: Edwin (Topher Grace) was really a genetic-hybrid predator! from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.574024
This week we talk PREDATORS! We believe Topher Grace's character, Edwin the doctor/serial killer, is actually a human-predator genetic hybrid who was trained like a dog by the Predators and ...
TRON LEGACY with Director Joseph Kosinski: Flynn killed hundreds and Quorra is his daughter from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.573287
We're joined by Joseph Kosinski (Director of Top Gun: Maverick and Oblivion) to talk about his film TRON: Legacy. We believe the ISOs were really humans, Kevin Flynn was responsible for kill...
WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: Wonka the murderer, a horror movie for kids from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.572513
Today's fan theories: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a horror film?! Wonka murdered five kids and turned them into candy? Violet Beauregarde deserved to win more than Charlie did? ...
ANACONDA and HOLES with Writers Jack Epps Jr and Hans Bauer: Demon Snake and Shared Universe from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.571671
Buckle in, because this is a big one. The snake in ANACONDA is a demon-god, worshipped by an evil priest who just wants to feel its warm embrace. And even more shocking, ANACONDA is in a sha...
THE BROTHERS GRIMM: They got away with murder from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.570586
Today we discuss Terry Gilliam's 2005 film THE BROTHERS GRIMM. You probably remember this as a strange dark fantasy, but there is no magic in this film. It is actually the story of one of th...
DEADLY WEAPON with Writer/Director Michael Miner: Kid with a Ray Gun from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.569838
This podcast takes place during the hours between midnight on Wednesday and dawn on Friday in the mind of a fifteen year old boy. We're joined by writer/director MICHAEL MINER (Robocop) to d...
CINDERELLA: She's out of her mind! from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.569077
Today we discuss the story of a poor, mentally unstable woman who dresses up animals, hallucinates fairy godmothers and believes that she falls in love with a prince she's never spoken to. T...
ROBOCOP with Co-Creator/Writer Michael Miner: American Jesus from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.568325
We chat with the co-creator/screenwriter of ROBOCOP, Michael Miner, and ask him that age-old question: Was this hyper-violent film about a robotic policeman actually an allegory for Jesus Ch...
MORTAL KOMBAT: Scorpion was Johnny Cage's Greatest Fan from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.567572
Today we talk about the greatest video game adaptation ever made: The 1995 film Mortal Kombat. Was Scorpion actually Johnny Cage's adoring fanboy? And was Mortal Kombat just a ripoff of Bruc...
THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE with Director Jim Fall: Paolo Never Lied to Lizzie from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.566606
Sing to me, Paolo. Director Jim Fall joins us to discuss his film: THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE. We try to convince him that the villainous, lip-syncing Paolo was NOT the bad guy! He actually ne...
JEEPERS CREEPERS Trilogy: The police were in on it from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.565870
The Jeepers Creepers trilogy: A horror series about a demon terrorizing a rural community, right? Wrong! This community worships the Creeper and sacrifices outsiders to appease it, unaware o...
FROZEN with Writer/Director Adam Green: It was all a prank from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.565140
No one died in FROZEN. This episode we're joined by legendary writer/director/producer and host of The Movie Crypt podcast Adam Green! Listen as we try to convince him that every character a...
FREDDY VS JASON with actor David Kopp (Blake): A New Killer from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.564348
Every horror fan recognizes the iconic showdown of Freddy vs Jason. But did you know there was a third killer in that movie? We bring David Kopp who played Blake onto the podcast to discuss ...
AMERICAN PSYCHO: Bateman Imagined Everything from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.563591
The age old question: Was he really a psycho or was he just boring? Join us as we dissect the extremely dull yet utterly bizarre man known as Patrick Bateman.
Rent or buy American P...
THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES with Director Mark Pellington: We know who the Mothman is from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.562621
We've solved it. We know what the Mothman really is. At least in the 2002 film THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES. Listen to the end as we are joined by the director himself, Mark Pellington, who gives ...
FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR: Trapped in my Mind from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.561891
Is Flight of the Navigator just a fun 80s sci-fi for kids? Or is it the fever dream of a comatose boy with head trauma who is now trapped in his own mind?
Rent or buy Flight of the ...
HELLRAISER and EVENT HORIZON: Shared Universe, Levent Configurizon from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.561023
We watched 10 movies to bring you our most epic theory yet. We definitively link the universe of the infamous Hellraiser series to Paul W.S. Anderson's Event Horizon. Is Event Horizon one of...
SPACE CAMP: Friends... Forever with a murderous robot from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.560271
SPACE CAMP, a fun 80s family film about kids trapped in space, trying to get back home, right? WRONG! This is actually a film about a malfunctioning robot and its plot to kill 5 kids and the...
PREDATOR: Punishing Toxic Masculinity from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.559531
In today's testosterone-fueled episode, Torvald has a theory that the manly Predator was punishing the toxicity of the men that it hunts. Get ready, we're about to turn this high-T horror on...
STAR TREK: The Best Captain (Road Trip) from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.558549
In this special road trip episode we hold a savage debate, comparing personalities, feats, and skills to determine Star Trek's greatest captain of all time!
Rent or buy Star Trek: T...
DIE HARD: Gruber's Mole at Nakatomi (Christmas Special) from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.557780
Happy holidays! Now we have a Christmas episode. Ho. Ho. Ho. Today's theory features the greatest Christmas movie of all time: DIE HARD. Did Hans Gruber have a mole at Nakatomi? And was he p...
THOMAS AND FRIENDS: Rise of the Machines from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.557005
A beloved children's show? Or the chronicles of a heartless businessman, creating advanced artificial intelligence robots to take over the world? Join us as we explore the deep learning neur...
MOANA: Well. She's dead. from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.556229
Could Disney's MOANA have a dark secret? Was the ocean really Moana's friend, or a sadistic entity bent on ending her life? Join us with special guest: Britta, archeologist extraordinaire! S...
CANDYMAN: Helen was the Real Killer from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.555483
Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Who was the real killer in the 1992 cult classic CANDYMAN? Join Leif Eric and Torvald as they find the definitive answer. Just don't say "Candyman" a ...
THEY LIVE: Subliminal Messages are Controlling Your Life! from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.554303
Put on your tin foil hats everyone, today's theory is turning into a full-blown conspiracy! Torvald thinks that John Carpenter's THEY LIVE was actually a wake-up call, warning that the gover...
PHANTASM: A Delusion of a Disordered Mind from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.553134
Today we'll be analysing an entire series, starting with the 1979 horror film PHANTASM. Leif Eric has a theory that the strange and bloody reality of this series may have an even deeper and ...
DEADPOOL: Ajax Loves Deadpool from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.538099
Well, hello gorgeous. Some of the best love stories start with a murder. And that's exactly what this is, a love story. But not the love story you think. Torvald's going to prove that DEADPO...
IDIOCRACY: A Blueprint for the Perfect President from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.537122
Do you know what makes a good leader? Because Torvald wants to help you cast your vote. And he's ready to prove that, hidden deep within the insightful and hilarious socio-political satire o...
SUICIDE CLUB: The Pied Piper of Tokyo from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.536249
In today's episode we delve into the dark, twisted depths of SUICIDE CLUB, the 2002 Japanese psychological horror. Leif Eric believes the film's true inspiration and origins may stem from a ...
RETURN TO OZ: The Girl Who Drowned from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.534975
Leif Eric and Torvald kick-off The Popcorn Isn't Real with a dark theory surrounding the 1985 children's fantasy film, RETURN TO OZ. Leif is prepared to prove that there was no happy ending,...
Welcome Trailer from 2022-02-22T09:28:13.533536
Are you ready to explore the darkest secrets of your favorite movies and media? Join Leif Eric and Torvald, as we investigate the greatest fan theories out there!
Sign up for a fr...
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE: Snape is Harry's father! Hagrid, Dumbledore, and Ron are dark wizards! from 2021-11-23T14:51:59.898611
We're celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first HARRY POTTER film!! Was Hagrid a death eater? Is Dumbledore a Dark Wizard? Did Ron cast the Imperius Curse on Hermione? Was Snape Harry's ...
ROBOCOP with Michael Miner: American Jesus from 2021-06-17T07:56:05.179489
We chat with the screenwriter of ROBOCOP, Michael Miner, and ask him that age-old question: Was this hyper-violent film about a robotic policeman actually an allegory for Jesus Christ?
<...
17. AMERICAN PSYCHO - Bone and Silian Rail from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.659444
The age old question: Was he really psycho or was he just boring? Join us as we dissect the extremely dull yet utterly bizarre man known as Patrick Bateman.
Rent or buy American Psy...
16. THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES with Director Mark Pellington from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.658564
We've solved it. We know what the Mothman really is. At least in the 2002 film THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES. Listen to the end as we are joined by the director himself, Mark Pellington, who gives ...
15. FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR - Trapped in my Mind from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.657641
Is Flight of the Navigator just a fun 80s sci-fi for kids? Or is it the fever dream of a comatose boy with head trauma who is now trapped in his own mind?
Rent or buy Flight of the ...
14. HELLRAISER and EVENT HORIZON - Levent Configurizon from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.656731
We watched 10 movies to bring you our most epic theory yet. We definitively link the universe of the infamous Hellraiser series to Paul W.S. Anderson's Event Horizon. Is Event Horizon one of...
13. SPACE CAMP - Friends... Forever from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.655525
SPACE CAMP, a fun 80s family film about kids trapped in space, trying to get back home, right? WRONG! This is actually a film about a malfunctioning robot and it's plot to kill 5 kids and th...
12. PREDATOR - The Manliest Catch from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.654619
In today's testosterone-fueled episode, Torvald has a theory about the manly Predator and the men that it hunts. Get ready, we're about to turn this high-T horror on its head!
Rent ...
11. STAR TREK - The Best Captain (Road Trip) from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.653680
In this special road trip episode we hold a savage debate, comparing personalities, feats, and skills to determine Star Trek's greatest captain of all time!
Rent or buy Star Trek: T...
10. DIE HARD: The Gruber Five (Christmas Special) from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.652734
Happy holidays! Now we have a Christmas episode. Ho. Ho. Ho. Today's theory features the greatest Christmas movie of all time: DIE HARD. Did Hans Gruber have a mole at Nakatomi? And was he p...
9. THOMAS AND FRIENDS: Rise of the Machines from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.651546
A beloved children's show? Or the chronicles of a heartless businessman, creating advanced artificial intelligence robots to take over the world? Join us as we explore the deep learning neur...
8. MOANA: Well. She's dead. from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.650515
Could Disney's MOANA have a dark secret? Was the ocean really Moana's friend, or a sadistic entity bent on ending her life? Join us with special guest: Britta, archeologist extraordinaire! S...
7. CANDYMAN: Candyman Candyman Candyman Candyman from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.649600
Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Who was the real killer in the 1992 cult classic CANDYMAN? Join Leif Eric and Torvald as they find the definitive answer. Just don't say "Candyman" a ...
6. THEY LIVE: Subliminal Messages are Controlling Your Life! from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.648449
Put on your tin foil hats everyone, today's theory is turning into a full-blown conspiracy! Torvald thinks that John Carpenter's THEY LIVE was actually a wake-up call, warning that the gover...
5. PHANTASM: A Delusion of a Disordered Mind from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.647515
Today we'll be analysing an entire series, starting with the 1979 horror film PHANTASM. Leif Eric has a theory that the strange and bloody reality of this series may have an even deeper and ...
4. DEADPOOL: A Love Story from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.646612
Well, hello gorgeous. Some of the best love stories start with a murder. And that's exactly what this is, a love story. But not the love story you think. Torvald's going to prove that DEADPO...
3. IDIOCRACY: A Blueprint for the Perfect President from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.645632
Do you know what makes a good leader? Because Torvald wants to help you cast your vote. And he's ready to prove that, hidden deep within the insightful and hilarious socio-political satire o...
2. SUICIDE CLUB: The Pied Piper of Tokyo from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.644346
In today's episode we delve into the dark, twisted depths of SUICIDE CLUB, the 2002 Japanese psychological horror. Leif Eric believes the film's true inspiration and origins may stem from a ...
1. RETURN TO OZ: The Woman Behind the Curtain from 2021-04-06T05:12:03.643288
Leif Eric and Torvald kick-off The Popcorn Isn't Real with a dark theory surrounding the 1985 children's fantasy film, RETURN TO OZ. Leif is prepared to prove that there was no happy ending,...