Unspooled


Unspooled is a film podcast on the Earwolf network. It is hosted by film critic Amy Nicholson and actor/comedian Paul Scheer. Initially, the podcast covered the American Film Institute (AFI) Top 100 films. Later episodes of the podcast have covered other classic movies, with the ultimate goal of creating a list of the 100 best movies of all time.

Format

Each episode of Unspooled covers a single film and analyzes its artistic, thematic, and historical significance. Episodes begin with facts about the year the film was released and a summary of the cast and plot. As the hosts debate what works and what doesn't about each movie, they include audio excerpts from the film to illustrate their points, plus supplemental clips such as interviews with the director and cast. Scheer has described the podcast as a "book club where we are watching movies once a week."
Episodes wrap up with a negative review of the film from the time it was released. In Season 1, the show included clips of The Simpson's parodies of the film, if available, to demonstrate the film's continued cultural relevance. In Season 2, the show includes a clip of the top song on the Billboard charts the week of the film's release to examine the film's connection to the zeitgeist.

Reception

Unspooled debuted at number 1 on iTunes Film & TV podcast rankings and number 4 on the iTunes overall top chart.
The podcast has garnered many positive reviews in the popular press. Esquire called it one of the best podcasts of 2019. Rolling Stone wrote that the show was "wildly entertaining" and ranked the show as one of the best podcasts of 2020. Town & Country Magazine lauded it as a "sharp, funny series… charming chemistry," and Vanity Fair noted that the show's "fresh and intriguing takes on venerable movies make for entertaining listening." Vulture called it "funny and accessible." Another article in Vulture noted that "Unspooled is definitely among the best of ." The AV Club described it as "both serious and silly," and The Hollywood Reporter listed the show as an essential film history podcast. IndieWire said that the podcast "provides an interesting context for what does or doesn't remain timeless in the movie world." Discover Pods referred to the show as "slightly more highbrow" than Scheer's companion podcast, How Did This Get Made?, while Emily VanDerWerff in Vox complemented its "entertaining segments … dedicated to placing these movies in their proper historical context."
Other critics have noted that the podcast is as an "absolute joy... Scheer and Nicholson usually treat even the movies they don't care for with a measure of respect."
The podcast has been recognized for its willingness to take a critical eye to respected classics. One review commented that the show "fuels discussions of whether these movies are truly brilliant, or simply just respected because no one has ever questioned them." Another stated more directly, "Amy and Paul are not afraid to make the point: Do you really need so many movies about Vietnam?"

Episodes

Season 1, the AFI list

The show began by going through each of the 2007 AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies beginning with Citizen Kane. For the first half of season 1, films were chosen by a random roll of a polyhedral die. At the end of the season, the hosts eliminated 60 films from the AFI list. Many were eliminated because of repeated directors or genres, particularly war films and Westerns. Other films were rejected because the director is believed to have made a better film that should fill the slot instead, such as replacing William Friedkin's The French Connection with The Exorcist. The trimmed list was published as the API List, an acronym of the hosts' names Amy and Paul.

Season 2 and beyond

Following seasons of Unspooled have grouped films into thematic miniseries. Movies are chosen by the hosts and listeners with the goal of expanding the initial list to represent a more diverse, multi-faceted overview of cinema.

Specials, mini-episodes and live episodes

Unspooled has produced annual episodes covering each year's Oscars and year-in-review series about the best films of that year. Other special episodes include live shows taped at film festivals and at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
Unspooled also has an ongoing series of mini-episodes called Top 3. On Top 3, a guest is interviewed about the three movies they would add to the top 100 list.

List

EP#TitleRelease Date
Season 1
1Citizen KaneMay 16, 2018
2Ben-HurMay 23, 2018
3The Wizard of OzMay 30, 2018
4Swing TimeJune 6, 2018
5The French ConnectionJune 13, 2018
6TitanicJune 20, 2018
72001: A Space OdysseyJune 27, 2018
8Bonnie and ClydeJuly 4, 2018
9PlatoonJuly 11, 2018
10The GeneralJuly 18, 2018
11The Shawshank RedemptionJuly 26, 2018
12King KongAugust 1, 2018
13All About EveAugust 8, 2018
14Double IndemnityAugust 16, 2018
15Singin' In The RainAugust 22, 2018
16The Sixth SenseAugust 30, 2018
17Taxi DriverSeptember 6, 2018
18E.T. The Extra TerrestrialSeptember 12, 2018
19High NoonSeptember 19, 2018
20Apocalypse NowSeptember 26, 2018
21The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingOctober 3, 2018
22PsychoOctober 10, 2018
23Raiders of the Lost ArkOctober 17, 2018
24The African QueenOctober 25, 2018
25Duck SoupOctober 31, 2018
26Listener Questions SpecialNovember 7, 2018
27Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonNovember 14, 2018
28Sophie's ChoiceNovember 21, 2018
29A Clockwork OrangeNovember 28, 2018
30RockyDecember 6, 2018
31Schindler's ListDecember 12, 2018
32It's a Wonderful LifeDecember 19, 2018
33Heat of the Night (film)|In the Heat of the Night]December 26, 2018
34The SearchersJanuary 2, 2019
35UnforgivenJanuary 9, 2019
36The Last Picture ShowJanuary 16, 2019
37Sunset BoulevardJanuary 23, 2019
38One Flew Over The Cuckoo's NestJanuary 31, 2019
39Best of 2018: BlockbustersFebruary 6, 2019
40Best of 2018: Critic's PicksFebruary 14, 2019
41Best of 2018: Listener's PicksFebruary 20, 2019
42BONUS: 2019 OscarsFebruary 25, 2019
43The GraduateFebruary 27, 2019
44Saving Private RyanMarch 7, 2019
45A Night at the OperaMarch 13, 2019
46West Side StoryMarch 21, 2019
47City LightsMarch 27, 2019
48Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]April 4, 2019
49All the President's MenApril 10, 2019
50The [Treasure of the Sierra Madre (film)|The Treasure of the Sierra Madre]April 17, 2019
51ChinatownApril 24, 2019
52TootsieMay 1, 2019
53The Silence of the LambsMay 8, 2019
54To Kill A MockingbirdMay 15, 2019
55VertigoMay 22, 2019
56Halfway There SpecialMay 30, 2019
57Horror & The AFI List: Live from the Overlook Film FestivalJune 6, 2019
58Midnight CowboyJune 12, 2019
59Toy StoryJune 19, 2019
60Do The Right ThingJune 26, 2019
61The Deer HunterJuly 3, 2019
62Gone With The WindJuly 11, 2019
63Who's Afraid of Virginia WoolfJuly 17, 2019
64Pulp FictionJuly 25, 2019
65Bringing Up BabyAugust 1, 2019
66NashvilleAugust 8, 2019
67The Maltese FalconAugust 14, 2019
68The Philadelphia StoryAugust 21, 2019
69NetworkAugust 29, 2019
70Lawrence of ArabiaSeptember 4, 2019
71On The WaterfrontSeptember 11, 2019
72North By NorthwestSeptember 19, 2019
73SpartacusSeptember 25, 2019
74Some Like It HotOctober 3, 2019
75BONUS REEL: Shea SerranoOctober 8, 2019
76American GraffitiOctober 9, 2019
77BONUS REEL: Joker & Taxi DriverOctober 14, 2019
78The GodfatherOctober 16, 2019
79The Godfather Part IIOctober 23, 2019
80The Grapes of WrathOctober 30, 2019
81Forrest GumpNovember 6, 2019
82The Best Years of Our LivesNovember 13, 2019
83BONUS REEL: Lorene ScafariaNovember 18, 2019
84Annie HallNovember 20, 2019
85BONUS REEL: Rian JohnsonNovember 25, 2019
86Raging BullNovember 27, 2019
87Best of the Decade Pt. 1December 4, 2019
88Best of the Decade Pt. 2December 11, 2019
89Star WarsDecember 18, 2019
90Best of the Decade Pt. 3December 25, 2019
91Best of the Decade Pt. 4January 1, 2020
92Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombJanuary 9, 2020
93The Gold RushJanuary 15, 2020
94The Wild BunchJanuary 22, 2020
95The ApartmentJanuary 29, 2020
962020 Oscars PreviewFebruary 5, 2020
97The Sound of MusicFebruary 13, 2020
98ParasiteFebruary 19, 2020
99LAPOCALYPSE ( Live from Alamo Drafthouse)February 26, 2020
100M*A*S*HMarch 4, 2020
101SunriseMarch 12, 2020
102Rear WindowMarch 18, 2020
10312 Angry MenMarch 25, 2020
104Sullivan's TravelsApril 1, 2020
105Easy RiderApril 8, 2020
106CabaretApril 16, 2020
107Yankee Doodle DandyApril 22, 2020
108IntoleranceApril 29, 2020
109GoodfellasMay 7, 2020
110Spool Party: House PartyMay 13, 2020
111The Bridge On The River KwaiMay 20, 2020
112A Streetcar Named DesireMay 27, 2020
113Blade RunnerJune 4, 2020
114ShaneJune 10, 2020
115Modern TimesJune 17, 2020
116It Happened One NightJune 24, 2020
117JawsJuly 1, 2020
118Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidJuly 8, 2020
119CasablancaJuly 15, 2020
120Wrapping Up The AFI 100July 22, 2020
Season 2
121Coming 8/20: Unspooled Season 2July 24, 2020
122Mean GirlsAugust 19, 2020
123Stand and DeliverAugust 26, 2020
124The 400 BlowsSeptember 2, 2020
125Rebel Without A CauseSeptember 9, 2020
126Cooley HighSeptember 16, 2020
127Fast Times At Ridgemont HighSeptember 23, 2020
128Dazed and ConfusedSeptember 30, 2020
129FrankensteinOctober 7, 2020
130The BabadookOctober 14, 2020
131Night of the Living DeadOctober 21, 2020
132Ganja & HessOctober 28, 2020
133The ThingNovember 4, 2020
134Raising ArizonaNovember 11, 2020
135Tokyo StoryNovember 18, 2020
136Eve's BayouNovember 25, 2020
137The Royal TenenbaumsDecember 2, 2020
138Guess Who's Coming To DinnerDecember 9, 2020
139BONUS: THE GODFATHER, CODA: THE DEATH OF MICHAEL CORLEONEDecember 10, 2020
140BONUS: Screen Test Rattle My ChainsDecember 14, 2020
141The FarewellDecember 16, 2020
142Home AloneDecember 23, 2020
143DogtoothJanuary 6, 2021
144When Harry Met SallyJanuary 13, 2021
145Chungking ExpressJanuary 20, 2021
146Groundhog DayJanuary 27, 2021
147A Place in the SunFebruary 3, 2021
148BONUS: Promising Young WomanFebruary 9, 2021
149Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindFebruary 10, 2022
150Love and BasketballFebruary 17, 2021
151Brokeback MountainFebruary 24, 2021
152The Princess BrideMarch 3, 2021
153Mike Nichols March 10, 2021
154HoosiersMarch 17, 2021
155Brian's SongMarch 24, 2021
156Cool RunningsMarch 31, 2021
157Chariots of FireApril 7, 2021
158A League of Their OwnApril 14, 2021
1592021 Oscar SpecialApril 21, 2021
160Hoop DreamsApril 28, 2021
161A Trip to the MoonMay 5, 2021
162Galaxy QuestMay 12, 2021
163Spool Party: Big May 19, 2021
164Screen Test: Darkness In The ForceMay 26, 2021
165Spool Party: CluelessJune 2, 2021
166ContactJune 9, 2021
167AlienJune 16, 2021
168SolarisJune 24, 2021
169Top 3: Daveed DiggsJune 28, 2021
170AliensJune 30, 2021
171Top 3: Tom ScharplingJuly 6, 2021
172Apollo 13July 7, 2021
173Top 3: Karen GillanJuly 13, 2021
174The State of Summer BlockbustersJuly 14, 2021
175Jurassic ParkJuly 21, 2021
176Bonus: Vaccination Hesitation w/ Dr. Kate GrossmanJuly 28, 2021
177Men in BlackJuly 28, 2021
178Top 3: Steve ZahnAugust 3, 2021
179Back To The FutureAugust 4, 2021
180SpeedAugust 11, 2021
181The FugitiveAugust 18, 2021
182The HangoverAugust 25, 2021
183BridesmaidsSeptember 1, 2021
184InceptionSeptember 8, 2021
185Mad Max: Fury RoadSeptember 15, 2021
186Season 2 FinaleSeptember 22, 2021
Season 3
187Top 3: Melanie LynskeySeptember 26, 2021
188The ExorcistSeptember 29, 2021
189The Cabinet of Dr. CaligariOctober 7, 2021
190Saw Massacre">Saw (2004 film)">Saw MassacreOctober 13, 2021
191Top 3: Tim Blake NelsonOctober 18, 2021
192RawOctober 20, 2021
193Top 3: Ed BrubakerOctober 25, 2021
194The Blair Witch ProjectOctober 27, 2021
195A Nightmare on Elm StreetNovember 3, 2021
196The Nightmare Before ChristmasNovember 10, 2021
197GreaseNovember 17, 2021
198ChicagoNovember 24, 2021
199LagaanDecember 1, 2021
200Little Shop of HorrorsDecember 8, 2021
201Love ActuallyDecember 15, 2021
202The MatrixDecember 22, 2021
203A Christmas StoryDecember 29, 2021
204FargoJanuary 12, 2022
205ScreamJanuary 19, 2022
206FrozenJanuary 26, 2022
207Top 3: Brian CoxJanuary 31, 2022
208The Grand Budapest HotelFebruary 2, 2022
209JackassFebruary 9, 2022
210Force MajeureFebruary 16, 2022
211Remembering Ivan ReitmanFebruary 21, 2022
212The ShiningFebruary 23, 2022
213Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky BobbyMarch 2, 2022
214BONUS: Batman On FilmMarch 8, 2022
215Boogie NightsMarch 9, 2022
216The PianoMarch 16, 2022
217Best of 2021/Oscars PreviewMarch 23, 2022
218The Green KnightMarch 30, 2022
219Monty Python and the Holy GrailApril 7, 2022
220ShrekApril 14, 2022
221Conan the BarbarianApril 21, 2022
222Gauging Nicolas Cage April 24, 2022
223AdaptationApril 27, 2022
224AkiraMay 5, 2022
225Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitMay 12, 2022
226Porco RossoMay 19, 2022
227Top GunMay 26, 2022
228Spider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseJune 2, 2022
229BONUS: Top Gun: Maverick, Chip 'N Dale, and Doctor Strange 2June 7, 2022
230SupermanJune 9, 2022
231RRRJune 16, 2022
232SupercopJune 23, 2022
233Paddington 2June 30, 2022
234BladeJuly 7, 2022
235RoboCopJuly 14, 2022
236Top 3: Patton Oswalt & Meredith SalengerJuly 21, 2022
237Starship TroopersJuly 28, 2022
238The Three Musketeers & The Four Musketeers August 4, 2022
239Fatal AttractionAugust 11, 2022
240The Night of the HunterAugust 18, 2022
241Training DayAugust 25, 2022
242Top 3: Scott Aukerman & Shaun DistonAugust 26, 2022
243White HeatSeptember 1, 2022
244HeatSeptember 8, 2022
245The Dark KnightSeptember 15, 2022
246Season 3 FinaleSeptember 22, 2022
Season 4
247Bonus: Summer Movie WrapupSeptember 23, 2022
248MidsommarSeptember 29, 2022
249HellraiserOctober 6, 2022
250Jennifer's BodyOctober 13, 2022
251HalloweenOctober 20, 2022
252RinguOctober 27, 2022
253GoldfingerNovember 3, 2022
254Austin Powers: International Man of MysteryNovember 10, 2022
255Casino RoyaleNovember 17, 2022
256Planes, Trains and AutomobilesNovember 24, 2022
257Thelma & LouiseDecember 1, 2022
258Bonus: The Sight and Sound [Greatest Films of All Time 2022|The 2022 Sight & Sound 100]December 7, 2022
259Black SwanDecember 8, 2022
260AvatarDecember 15, 2022
261Die HardDecember 22, 2022
262Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 BruxellesJanuary 12, 2023
263Blue VelvetJanuary 19, 2023
264Star Wars: The Last JediJanuary 26, 2023
265Bonus: 2023 Oscar NominationsJanuary 27, 2023
266CrashFebruary 2, 2023
267The NotebookFebruary 9, 2023
268Top 3: Smriti MundhraFebruary 14, 2023
269Magic MikeFebruary 16, 2023
270Top 3: Trap House">Trap (2024 film)">Trap HouseFebruary 23, 2023
271Hollywood ShuffleMarch 2, 2023
272Best of 2022 & Oscars PreviewMarch 9, 2023
273CreedMarch 16, 2023
274Bonus Reel: Creed III, Magic Mike's Last Dance, and Scream VIMarch 17, 2023
275John WickMarch 23, 2023
276In BrugesMarch 30, 2023
277Top 3: Bruce CampbellApril 4, 2023
278El MariachiApril 6, 2023
279Evil Dead IIApril 13, 2023
280Top 3: Karina LongworthApril 20, 2023
281What We Do in the ShadowsApril 27, 2023
282Young FrankensteinMay 4, 2023
283Bonus: Sex Scenes In Film May 9, 2023
284Blazing SaddlesMay 11, 2023
285Willy Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryMay 18, 2023
286The Little MermaidMay 25, 2023
287Top 3: Adam McKayJune 1, 2023
288LabyrinthJune 8, 2023
289Inside OutJune 15, 2023
290Talking Trek June 22, 2023
291Indiana Jones and the Temple of DoomJune 29, 2023
292Who Framed Roger RabbitJuly 6, 2023
293Hot FuzzJuly 13, 2023
294There Will Be BloodJuly 20, 2023
295Children of MenJuly 27, 2023
296The Listener's Choice Winner RevealedAugust 3, 2023
297Big Adventure">Big (film)">Big AdventureAugust 10, 2023
298Barbie & Oppenheimer August 17, 2023
299Legally BlondeAugust 24, 2023
300Ranking the Mission: Impossible Films August 31, 2023
301Psycho (film)|American Psycho]September 7, 2023
302BullittSeptember 14, 2023
303The Karate KidSeptember 21, 2023
304Imitation of LifeSeptember 28, 2023
305SawOctober 5, 2023
306HairsprayOctober 12, 2023
307The Wolf of Wall StreetOctober 19, 2023
308The [Rocky Horror Picture Show]October 26, 2023
309ElectionNovember 2, 2023
310Fight ClubNovember 9, 2023
311The Hunger GamesNovember 16, 2023
312Ferris Bueller's Day OffNovember 23, 2023
313Concert FilmsNovember 30, 2023
314Scott Pilgrim vs. the WorldDecember 7, 2023
315The Emperor's New GrooveDecember 14, 2023
316Edward ScissorhandsDecember 21, 2023
3162023 Holiday PartyDecember 28, 2023
317Space Finalists: Season 4January 4, 2024
Season 5
318Terminator 2: Judgment DayJanuary 11, 2024
319Wayne's WorldJanuary 19, 2024
320Out of SightJanuary 25, 2024
321Jackie BrownFebruary 1, 2024
322AmadeusFebruary 8, 2024
323American BeautyFebruary 15, 2024
324The StingFebruary 22, 2024
325Dune (2021)February 29, 2024
3262024 Oscars SpecialMarch 7, 2024
327The MartianMarch 14, 2024
328MoonMarch 21, 2024
329Jesus Christ SuperstarMarch 28, 2024
330Moonstruck w/ David SimsApril 4, 2024
331Lost in Translation w/ Rico GaglianoApril 11, 2024
332HerApril 18, 2024
333Call Me by Your NameApril 25, 2024
334Point BreakMay 2, 2024
335Carrie (1976)May 9, 2024
336The GooniesMay 16, 2024
337Mad MaxMay 23, 2024
338The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert June 6, 2024
339Sweet Smell of Success June 13, 2024
340Movie Round UpJune 20, 2024
341Dune: Part TwoJune 27, 2024
342 Independence DayJuly 4, 2024
343Godzilla Minus OneJuly 11, 2024
344 Twister (1996)July 18, 2024
345Edge of TomorrowJuly 25, 2024
346This Is the EndAugust 1, 2024
347Dawn of the Planet of the ApesAugust 8, 2024
348Airplane!August 15, 2024
349ArmageddonAugust 22, 2024
350Deadpool & Wolverine, It Ends with Us, TrapAugust 29, 2024
351Shaun of the DeadSeptember 5, 2024
352BeetlejuiceSeptember 12, 2024
353Batman ReturnsSeptember 19, 2024
354Office SpaceSeptember 26, 2024
355The JerkOctober 3, 2024
356Folie à Deux: Taxi Driver & JokerOctober 10, 2024
3572024 Horror Movie RoundupOctober 24, 2024
358SevenOctober 31, 2024
359HeathersNovember 14, 2024
360GladiatorNovember 21, 2024
361The Big LebowskiDecember 5, 2024
362MagnoliaDecember 12, 2024
363Eyes Wide ShutDecember 19, 2024
Season 6
364 InterstellarJanuary 16, 2025
365The Social NetworkJanuary 23, 2025
366WALL-EJanuary 30, 2025
367Captain Condor February 6, 2025
36810 Things I Hate About YouFebruary 13, 2025
369Mulholland DriveFebruary 20, 2025
3702025 Oscars SpecialFebruary 27, 2025
371AnoraMarch 6, 2025
372Movie Madness: 2005March 13, 2025
373The 40-Year Old VirginMarch 20, 2025
374Pretty WomanMarch 27, 2025
375Being John MalkovichApril 3, 2025
376Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonApril 10, 2025
377Life of BrianApril 17, 2025
378TrainspottingApril 24, 2025
379No Spoilers: Sinners and Minecraft Movie|Minecraft]April 29, 2025
380The Empire Strikes BackMay 1, 2025
381The Big SleepMay 8, 2025
382Basic InstinctMay 15, 2025
383Wet Hot American SummerMay 22, 2025
384John Wick: Chapter 4May 29, 2025
385But I'm a CheerleaderJune 5, 2025
386Tommy BoyJune 12, 2025
38728 Days LaterJune 19, 2025
388Speed RacerJune 26, 2025
389NYT Top 100 FilmsJuly 1, 2025
390Air Force OneJuly 3, 2025
391Superman RevisitedJuly 10, 2025
392WaterworldJuly 17, 2025
393BoratJuly 24, 2025
394The Naked GunJuly 31, 2025
395Summer Movie Recap 2025August 7, 2025
396They LiveAugust 14, 2025
397Donnie DarkoAugust 21, 2025
398MementoAugust 28, 2025
399The Breakfast ClubSeptember 4, 2025
400ClueSeptember 11, 2025
401Celebrating Robert RedfordSeptember 17, 2025
402Spinal TapSeptember 18, 2025
403Dog Day AfternoonSeptember 25, 2025
404One Battle After AnotherSeptember 29, 2025
405Minority ReportOctober 2, 2025
406Dead Poets SocietyOctober 9, 2025
407Remembering Diane KeatonOctober 14, 2025
408Pan's LabyrinthOctober 16, 2025
409MiseryOctober 23, 2025
410The ConjuringOctober 30, 2025
411PreyNovember 6, 2025
412The WizNovember 20, 2025
413Reel Confessions: Kareem RahmaNovember 25, 2025
4142025 Thanksgiving SpecialNovember 27, 2025
415AnchormanDecember 4, 2025
416BrickDecember 11, 2025
417Reel Confessions: Molly LambertDecember 16, 2025
418Remembering Rob ReinerDecember 17, 2025
419The Muppet Christmas CarolDecember 18, 2025
420Top 100 Comedies of All TimeJanuary 1, 2026
421Kill BillJanuary 8, 2026
422Napoleon DynamiteJanuary 15, 2026
423Reel Confessions: Sarah MarshallJanuary 19, 2026
424Uncut GemsJanuary 22, 2026

The API List

At the conclusion of Season 1, the hosts eliminated 60 movies from the AFI list and kept 40, publishing these selections as the core of their own "API" list, with the goal of again expanding the new list to 100 films, this time with an eye to gathering a more diverse representation of film creators and subjects than the AFI list offers. In the following seasons, additional films have been viewed and discussed, and added to the list. The hosts maintain that the collection, when complete, will be "shot into space" so that humanity's artistic endeavors can be shared with alien civilizations.
The API list currently includes 76 films and 2 tentative additions; 40 of which were retained from the AFI list in the final episode of Season 1, 18 of which were added in the final episode of Season 2, 13 of which were added in the final episode of Season 3, replacing 3 previously added films, 2 of which were added in the Listener's Choice episode mid-season 4, replacing 1 previously added film, and 7 of which were added in the final episode of Season 4.
Notably, the hosts have attempted to include no more than one film by any particular director, but due to the variety and quality of their work three directors are currently featured twice: Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Billy Wilder.

The API List

Spinoffs

''Screen Test''

Screen Test is an Unspooled film-themed game show hosted by Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson. Contestants are tested on their "wits, bravado, and collaboration—the three necessities if you want to make it in Hollywood". The show launched in October 2020 on Stitcher, with some episodes airing live on Paul Scheer's Twitch Channel, FriendZone.

''Spool Party''

Spool Party is a live stream that focuses on fan favorite films with special guests. Episodes premiere live on YouTube. Shows have featured the films Big, Clue, and Clueless. One episode featured a House Party reunion with director Reginald Hudlin and Christopher "Play" Reid.