The Town with Matthew Belloni

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Puck founding partner Matthew Belloni takes you inside Hollywood, using exclusive reporting and insight to explain the backstories on everything from Marvel movies to streaming wars. Multiple times each week, Matt will touch on what is getting made and why, who is winning and losing, and what people in show business are actually talking about.

Recent Episodes
  • How Did ‘Sinners’ Really Do This Weekend?
    Apr 21, 2025 – 35:26
  • What Streamers Really Want From Their Sitcoms, With a Netflix Showrunner
    Apr 17, 2025 – 35:10
  • David Zaslav and the Dying Era of Media Moguls
    Apr 15, 2025 – 33:25
  • The Trump Tariff Pain Index: Who Suffers the Most in Hollywood?
    Apr 14, 2025 – 33:08
  • Coachella and the Changing Music Festival Hierarchy
    Apr 11, 2025 – 33:28
  • Director Eli Roth Will Kill You On-Screen for $1 Million
    Apr 9, 2025 – 33:01
  • A ‘Minecraft’ Megahit and the Studios Best Suited for Gen Z and Beyond
    Apr 7, 2025 – 32:47
  • Tom, Leo, Gosling (!), and the CinemaCon Studio Power Ranking
    Apr 4, 2025 – 50:17
  • Agents, Managers, and the Shifting Power Dynamics of Representation
    Apr 3, 2025 – 32:42
  • Four Industry Experts Debate Hollywood’s Moviegoing Crisis
    Apr 2, 2025 – 53:45
  • Amazon’s Studio Head Firing and the Prime Video 7-Year Report Card
    Mar 28, 2025 – 37:21
  • Why YouTubers Are Having a Hollywood Moment
    Mar 27, 2025 – 33:27
  • The Most Important Movie for Each Studio in 2025
    Mar 24, 2025 – 33:28
  • Apple’s Hollywood Identity Crisis: Who Do They Want to Be?
    Mar 22, 2025 – 36:51
  • Trump 2.0: Should Hollywood Be Panicking?
    Mar 20, 2025 – 33:28
  • The Four Hottest Topics Around Town: ‘Mickey 17’, Warner Bros., Trump, and Apple TV+
    Mar 18, 2025 – 33:26
  • Lively Vs. Baldoni and the Legal Stakes With Baldoni’s Lawyer
    Mar 13, 2025 – 42:04
  • Is Netflix Spending its $18 Billion Content Budget Correctly?
    Mar 12, 2025 – 32:47
  • An AI Studio Making 'Quality' Movies for Dirt Cheap: Revolutionary or Dystopian?
    Mar 10, 2025 – 36:04
  • How the Hell Do Nielsen Ratings Actually Work?
    Mar 7, 2025 – 31:50
  • How YouTube Became TV (While TV Struggles to Be YouTube)
    Mar 5, 2025 – 33:28
  • 2025 Oscars: Sneaky Winners and Losers. Plus, Neon CEO Tom Quinn on a Big Night for 'Anora'
    Mar 4, 2025 – 41:27
  • Does an Oscar Matter More or Less Than Ever?
    Feb 28, 2025 – 39:04
  • Inside Tips to Predict the 2025 Oscar Winners
    Feb 27, 2025 – 38:27
  • Amazon and James Bond: What Could Go Wrong?
    Feb 24, 2025 – 33:25
  • 'Severance’: When a Hit Show Goes Over Budget, Who Pays?
    Feb 20, 2025 – 35:15
  • SNL’s Fate After Lorne, and Streaming’s Most Overpriced Platforms
    Feb 18, 2025 – 32:57
  • What’s Next at Netflix With Content Chief Bela Bajaria, Part 2
    Feb 14, 2025 – 36:57
  • Netflix vs. Everyone With Content Chief Bela Bajaria, Part 1
    Feb 14, 2025 – 40:28
  • Can the ‘Emilia Pérez’ Oscars Implosion Be Salvaged?
    Feb 13, 2025 – 37:14
  • New Trouble for the Paramount Sale
    Feb 10, 2025 – 33:28
  • NFL and Streaming: A Super Bowl Data Dive
    Feb 6, 2025 – 33:27
  • What Worries Directors: AI, Peaked TV, and Baldoni-Gate
    Feb 5, 2025 – 33:29
  • Inside the 2025 Grammys: Beyoncé's Win, Chappell’s Speech, and Kendrick’s Sweep
    Feb 4, 2025 – 37:16
  • The Secrets to Success in Producing, With Marc Platt of ‘Wicked’
    Feb 1, 2025 – 37:20
  • Irving Azoff on His A-List L.A. FireAid Concert, and Six Decades in the Music Business
    Jan 29, 2025 – 38:27
  • Is There a Netflix Bubble?
    Jan 27, 2025 – 33:27
  • Narratives Surrounding the Oscar Nominations
    Jan 24, 2025 – 33:26
  • Changes to the 2025 Grammys and the Complicated State of Music
    Jan 23, 2025 – 33:24
  • The 2025 Box Office Draft
    Jan 22, 2025 – 45:47
  • Is Hollywood Assistant Life Still Insane?
    Jan 16, 2025 – 35:51
  • Why Broadcast Television Won’t Die
    Jan 15, 2025 – 33:29
  • How Hollywood (and Awards Season) Can Help Rebuild Los Angeles
    Jan 13, 2025 – 31:19
  • The Magical (and Profitable) World of Disney Cruises
    Jan 10, 2025 – 34:27
  • Golden Globes Takeaways and the Biggest Questions for 2025
    Jan 6, 2025 – 33:25
  • The Townies, Part 2: Who Won the Year in Hollywood?
    Jan 1, 2025 – 50:35
  • The Townies: Hollywood’s Best and Worst of 2024
    Dec 30, 2024 – 50:20
  • Turning Music Rights Into a Bob Dylan Biopic
    Dec 25, 2024 – 36:55
  • A Holiday Grab Bag: Blake Vs. Baldoni, NFL on Netflix, Disney’s Next CEO, and UFC's Next Home
    Dec 23, 2024 – 33:27
  • The Multi-Billion-Dollar Plan to Improve Going to the Movies
    Dec 20, 2024 – 37:02
Recent Reviews
  • J,B and E
    AIG
    APA will never get a break😂
  • SLCUtahUser
    The one-and-only Hollywood podcast
    Matt & Craig do such a great job — the topics are timely, relevant, and interesting. The guests are a 360-degree, top-to-bottom ‘Who’s Who’ of their industry — which is completely different from what every other Hollywood podcast does (i.e., interviews with actors, and/or the host’s opinions on content). And importantly, the shows cover the day’s topic efficiently, and in a reasonable amount of time. As a podcaster, Matt is like the #1 bartender in L.A., who has come up with the recipe for the perfect Hollywood Cocktail. Five stars, gentleman…and kudos to The Podfather Bill Simmons — who once again proves, by introducing Matt to the national audience, what a good eye for talent he has. It’s a credit to Matt, that he has this in common with Lakers star Luka Doncic: Bill Simmons saw the talent and potential of both Luka & Matt, long before they became what they are today. Yeah, that’s right: I just compared Matt Bellami to Luka Doncic. (I only was introduced to “The Town,” because it popped up on The Ringer. Now I never miss an episode, and will discuss & forward to friends in the business in CA, and my brother who works in the video game industry.) Keep up the good work!
  • MFcreep
    Baldoni stooge lawyer
    Two men fully not knowing that breast feeding is NOT the same as pumping. JFC. Team Blake. Doesn’t fake feminist man bun know the difference since he thought Blake should be giving birth naked so Justin & the wayfarer creep producers could see her breasts. HW 2.0
  • Ergarner82
    Insightful but Undermined by Bias
    I’ve enjoyed listening to The Town for its interesting perspective on the intersection of commerce and art. However, Matt’s repeated derision of several Black celebrities has been increasingly off-putting. Whether it’s unconscious bias or not, it’s noticeable and frankly, disappointing. Unfortunately, this has made the podcast unenjoyable for me, and I’ll no longer be listening.
  • Leonidus90
    Need More Podcasts Like This
    Please keep bringing on executives, distribution chiefs, and explore more on the indie film front.
  • allysoneorourke
    At least he didn’t interupt
    I have to agree with another reviewer..he is snarky and a bit dismissive. In addition to his prickly interview style it was evident he had not done adequate research on the subject the guest was there to talk about. It’s like he just read multiple articles on the topic in the trades. There were multiple times when asking questions, he would say he’s playing devils advocate. He didn’t have to tell us, it was very obvious. When he transitioned into talking about the guest’s 2nd legal case he said ,”Now this one I have an opinion on.” Oh, jeez! Buckle up!
  • teyired
    Articulate
    Why does everyone have a lisp on this pod? It’s good info but the lack of clear oratory is distracting. The only skill needed on a podcast is a clean, articulate delivery. The guests lisps are even worse. So odd.
  • Writer Gurl2283
    Wow
    I’ve never heard someone be more snide and self righteous about every topic. This host is painful to listen to and he’s just talking about entertainment news. They need to recast, immediately.
  • Real Critic_
    Bellini’s Appalling Bias
    Just listened to the podcast on Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. To say Matt is biased against Baldoni is an understatement. His favoritism toward Lively is evident. Not to mention the fact he had little knowledge of the case and doesn’t realize the Lively has absolutely nothing to back up her claims. Baldoni is the party that had provided evidence to back his claims.
  • richard4044
    Shameful
    Of course this soulless show platforms Baldoni’s lawyer. Gross move by a gross show.
  • AMC!
    Buy a Pop Filter
    Hit or miss for the episodes, but it’s the editing/audio that annoys me the most. Get a post team and a pop filter!
  • alonzomourningfan33kidney
    Doesn’t respect animation
    It is crystal clear by the way that Matthew speaks about animation that he doesn’t respect it as an artform. It’s an incredible shame considering that animation is a huge part of our industry and box office.
  • MidtownATLGal
    A must-listen!
    I love this podcast and I appreciate that Matt doesn't hang so far left on most issues and instead understands that some policies are just plain business. The interview that impressed me most was his interview with Scott Galloway about the bottom-line gains and losses of the WGA strike in 2023. Matt isn't afraid to give a platform to someone who says something unpopular with industry mouthpieces. I'm not saying Galloway was 100% correct, but I'll bet his comments will influence WGA board members in the next negotitaion, whether they admit it or not. Thanks, Matt! Love the show.
  • Jin Harbor
    I love how angry Ghasslehoff is at this great podcast
    Some people get furious to hear other people using their brains, when they wish the world around them was as witless as they are. Keep it up lefties!
  • HoodlumZee
    The Bela Bajaria interview.
    I started listening to this podcast based on Matt’s appearances on ‘The Business’. The interview with Bela Bajaria is the reason why I don’t listen to this as much as I used to….or as much as I listen to Kim Masters. The interview was snarky and combative at times when it didn’t need to be. I was excited to see this interview. Of course, I want him to dig deep and get a good story from Bela, but his neo-aggressive style makes his approach less than pleasurable to listen to (at times). Give more engaging journalism. Less courtroom examination. This show is good at times. Other times, I like Matt more as Kim Masters “B Mic”.
  • Ghasslehoff
    Lefty Libs Living in a Bubble
    ANOTHER UPDATE: This host is so stupid. There are people who are clueless or common sense doesn’t come easy. But this lefty douche bag is a stupid person. This dude is only concerned with what the industry wants him to spew. Trannies, terrorist Muslims, illegal aliens can all come here and get a fresh dose of encouragement and support for their mental illnesses or their criminal acts. I’m baffled that two clearly slanted, in their own bubble libs with lisps, run a show about a multimillion dollar industry. These two clearly have no idea why shows and movies are failing. Disney. Hero movies. Franchises. It’s because the MAJORITY of the nation doesn’t want to have transgender trash and demonic garbage shoved down their throats. They want good story not shallow characters and pointless plots with green alien babies. Why did Top Gun Maverick do well? Great story about Americans. Why is Yellowstone doing so well? It’s about American. With American cowboys. Before you do the show get a feel for the pulse of the rest of the country. And it is 2023 where there is easy access to speech therapy. Go be an adult and get the help you need so when you speak you don’t sound like an 8 year old asking mommy for a PBJ sandwich. UPDATE JULY 2023 The fact that this “host” is calling “SOUND OF FREEDOM” a Qanon movie, and that he hasn’t seen it, shows he is a clueless dope. My respect for him has completely tanked. I am hoping it isn’t long before this guy is completely out of work because he supports the disgusting practices in Hollywood that are becoming exposed. Enjoy the unemployment line, Lefty Boy.
  • Durham PG
    Braindead
    For the love of god why is this middle aged mediocre white man being interviewed on this show. He’s a sexist imbecile who makes only dated references and has nothing interesting or insightful to say. Bringing him on just demonstrates poor judgement by the producers of this podcast
  • sam gels
    New movie podcast
    This podcast is very good You did a good job interviewing people Matthew
  • thę bīg guy
    Great podcast
    Fantastic host
  • whatup22222
    Sooooooo.
    Many. Ads. All pucks shows are little more than spam with all the ads. The town isn’t quite at bad as TPTB, but still egregious, and a strange business model.
  • jaydolli
    DJ
    Nikki Glaser killed hosting the globes, if she were a man the hosts would have no problem admitting that. Matt holds women to a different standard on this show and doesn’t measure their success fairly. He is constantly unimpressed by some of the most talented women in the industry (ex: Nikki Glaser, Taylor Swift).
  • cmdm
    what a jackass…
    that’s it…hosts is a jackass…
  • Guitargirl142
    Great analysis undermined by sexist host
    I have tried hard to stomach Matt Belloni’s dudebro attitude and misogynistic behavior because I do really think this is one of the better podcasts out there for gaining insight into the financial and social aspects of Hollywood, but the complete dismissal of Blake Lively’s serious and disturbing sexual harassment claims on the most recent podcast was the last straw for me. Belloni has a history of disregarding serious accusations of misconduct against women (Amber Heard, Angelina Jolie, etc.) and it’s clear he is just a straight up misogynist. I’m not giving any more downloads/listens to someone who struggles to demonstrate even the most basic decency anytime a woman accuses a powerful man of harassment. It honestly makes me wonder what types of skeletons Belloni may have in his closet.
  • qstiles
    Yikes
    Good entertainment dealmaking and politics at first but then realized they were kinda morons. 2 stars??
  • TMnSD
    Belloni is Sexist
    Seriously the reason Poor Things did well on streaming is because of nudity? Oh wait you did acknowledge a bit that maybe the awards had something to do with it. I wish just once you weren’t so in love with your own voice.
  • trixie303
    Why the yelling
    I don’t understand why the host of this show is yelling.
  • JayJay in LA
    Fun analysis
    Love Matt Belloni’s analysis of the entertainment industry. I’m not in the industry but love having the knowledge as an LA resident.
  • Bunny Cub
    Is this guy going deaf??!
    WHY IS HE ALWAYS YELLING?!!!
  • DC to CA
    No to Craig
    Why are we giving airtime to producer Craig? Uninformed, not knowledgeable. Good for him for falling into an opportunity, but I would prefer to hear information from someone who knows what they are talking about.
  • didi 29457
    Please improve audio quality- last interview another example
    Can’t be that hard? Please?
  • user852727
    My favorite pod
    I work on the business side of the industry and every week I look forward to this pod’s take on the hottest issues of the day. The guest list is well curated and I’ve gotten several colleagues to start listening as well. Unlike some other reviewers I don’t mind Matt’s style; he challenges his guests and asks tough questions, what any good podcaster/journalist should do.
  • Aazzssfkcdksk
    Other than a few select music artists
    In regards to your music industry peaked episode. The top time was that Brittney and n sync time as far as real sales. Things have changed due to the internet but there’s one thing you guys don’t know. Spotify’s numbers are completely fake and Sabrina Carpenter is not a fraction as popular as Brittney’s worst period. It only costs dollars to send millions of listens, saves, thumbs ups, etc to Spotify from online services. The big companies have private systems that are even better. Then they also tell us that X artist is getting billions of listens to make the masses think that artist actually is what’s hot when it’s the most generic, poorly written and mastered music ever, and they keep beating that record. They have farms of people who just put together the cheapest songs and then assign them to artists. I know many producers and artists and all about the fake numbers side of this and I see the work real artists (who aren’t getting famous) put into their work that SHOULD actually get more “real” thumbs ups and listens and saves and real fans for life. Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa and their likes are the worst things to happen to the music industry and if I could choose between their music and never hearing any music again, I’d rather have none. Also, Spotify’s algorithm for discovering new music is terrible compared to Pandora’s. Unfortunately, Pandora’s library is nowhere the size of Spotify, but if you’re someone who wants to discover music similar to what you like, their algorithm is unmatched. Spotify just had all the aggressive marketing.
  • bailatony
    Endless Hot Topics That Fascinate
    What an awesome amount of Hollywood news, I devour it on the release dates. It’s great to have different perspectives with Lucas Shaw, Producer Craig and insider guests (recent one, Leslie Goldberg talks like me & my friends). My only worry is that Matt will realize what a gem this is and put up a paywall. Let’s face it, I’ll pay.
  • Parnassus
    Matt is a tool
    Why does Matt talk to all guests like they are stupid? He clearly only thinks his own takes are worth the time, disagreeing just to disagree. And is just waiting for the guest to stop talking so he can loudly. He has no respect for them. He also always leaves out the fact that we are in a recession when talking about the success of these big studios. Maybe people can’t afford every streamer and every movie nowadays. Just clueless analysis going in circles over and over.
  • Jeannette. A.
    Good Content, but Interrupts Amazing Guests
    I always thought Matt was a little condescending, but enjoyed learning about the business and economic side of the entertainment industry. However, I have officially stopped listening after guest tried to converse and Matt stopped him saying “please save your questions until the end”. This happens all the time and ends up being him talking the whole time.
  • T. Ferguson
    Great, like no other
    The haters are on the wrong podcast. Topics are things NOT discussed on other podcasts.
  • nicolas_yo
    Keeps Me In the Loop
    I left LA in 2019 and The Town makes me feel like I never left. Matt is a king and Lucas is his Monday queen! Shout out to producer Craig too. Thanks for me foreshadowing the Roku disaster so I could sell those stocks too!
  • Wakelaunch
    Professional gaslighting
    With his titles, he does nothing more than gaslight for headlines.
  • douggernaut92
    Different Angle
    I live movie pod casts and Bellini has a really unique angle. Thinking deeply and critically about the infrastructure of moviemaking.
  • Heya555666
    Always talking over women
    Another day, another opportunity for Matt to completely steamroll and condescend to a woman guest.
  • dasmsc
    A Must Listen if You’re Tracking the Business
    I cover the media and entertainment businesses for my job. I listen to every episode. The Town is entertaining enough to listen while doing my morning routine, and insightful enough for me to make it appointments listening. Every time I listen, I learn something new.
  • drblw
    Shhh
    Quite annoying! This is a very crass way to talk about movies
  • Kyle Deladien
    Ok show. Sexist/Annoying host
    Matt’s interview with Kelly Campbell, President of Peacock, was hard to listen to. She’s the PRESIDENT of Peacock! Stop talking to her like she’s an intern. “This is probably above your pay grade…” What a condescending thing to say to someone that took time to be a guest on your mediocre podcast. And there were multiple comments of this nature that clearly offended the guest.
  • cjcreggsgoldfish
    here because of who?weekly
    And I’m happy for it! For well over a year I’ve listened to every episode. Business news is just gossip (complimentary). Matt has a great style and incomparable access. Lucas Shaw adds wonderful detail on Mondays with excellent reporting, and I appreciate when he pushes back. Craig seems like a gem!
  • flangeslammer
    Belloni should stick to writing newsletters
    this guy is the least engaging listen in the genre of hollywood-reporters-podcasting. it’s fine but he actually gets so much wrong on the film side of the entertainment industry and then just moves on and never reconciles with how wrong he so often is. it’s weird. those pods are still up! get more things right if you’re such an insider lmfaooo.
  • QuenepaPR
    Interesting topics but not the best host
    The problem with this podcast is that Mr. Belloni invites people to discuss interesting topics but he doesn’t let them talk. Eventually he does all the talking because apparently his opinion is the one that counts. That makes for a really boring podcast.
  • J triple J
    Tik tok
    Find someone or something that you love more then Nathan Hubbard loves Taylor Swift and is pretty much begging for a job with her
  • Admiral Anonymous
    Great Show, Jerk Host
    MB is the ultimate yada, yada when his guest challenges a flippant stance. Topics and guest are great, what he discusses is great. He’s just a jerk 40% of the time. Producer Craig rocks!
  • So Deep.
    Just okay because of barking dogs.
    It seems like every episode with certain guests has barking dogs in the background. The host seems totally fine with it. I have to skip ahead through the dog barking because it’s unlistenable and miss those parts. Otherwise, the opinions are usually fine.
  • Gnathand
    Good insights, sometimes way off
    Sold out to disney
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