Welcome to summer blockbuster season! This week, on The Kids Are In Bed, we’re going all-in on movie nostalgia—digging into the wild, wonderful history of blockbuster movies and why summer at the theater just hits different.
In This Episode:
- We break down what makes a movie a “blockbuster” (spoiler: it involves bombs, beaches, and Steven Spielberg)
- Relive the golden age of 80s and 90s movies: Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Men in Black, Independence Day, Twister, Armageddon vs. Deep Impact, Volcano vs. Dante’s Peak, and more
- Real-life stories: Tim’s $4.50 movie tickets (with that coveted 50-cent piece), disastrous Reese’s Pieces spills, and why Dan Aykroyd was always smoking in every scene
- Parenting confessions: How summer movies bring out the best and worst in us, and why trying to keep kids calm at the theater is its own adventure
- Debates: Who’s the best blockbuster president—Bill Pullman or Morgan Freeman? Is Armageddon more rewatchable than Deep Impact? Who’s your favorite Chris (Evans, Pine, Pratt, Hemsworth)?
- Popcorn & Snacks: Our love letter to the old-school movie theater experience (RIP to the big bags of Reese’s Pieces—you’ll always have our hearts)
- Blockbusters of Summer 2025: From the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, Pixar’s latest, and the new Jurassic World, to Mission Impossible and Final Destination—this summer’s lineup is stacked.
Restaurants & Snacks Shoutouts:
While this episode is all about movie memories, we always make time for the important things: snacks! Tim relives the days when Reese’s Pieces were the best theater value, and we debate which movie snacks are worthy of blockbuster status. (If your summer doesn’t include popcorn, candy, and a blockbuster on the big screen, are you even doing it right?)
Why Summer Blockbusters Matter
From the original Jaws scaring a whole generation off the beach, to the excitement of seeing Independence Day on the Fourth of July, summer blockbusters aren’t just movies—they’re a vibe. We share why these films stick with us, why our kids will never understand $4.50 tickets (shout out to Movies 10 in Brainerd, MN), and how every summer movie is an excuse to make a memory.
Your Turn!
Which blockbuster defined your childhood? Team Armageddon or Deep Impact? Leave a comment below, share your most embarrassing movie snack moment, or let us know which summer 2025 movie you’re most excited to see!
Listen to Episode 65 now—and don’t forget to subscribe for more pop culture, parenting, and a lot of late-night laughs.
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