Movie Mayhem

Big Picture Science

Science, Technology

4.6 • 986 Ratings

🗓️ 22 December 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Science fiction movies force us to face a multitude of end-of-the-world scenarios. Whether the final curtain is dropped by rampaging aliens, killer rocks from space, or virus-infected zombies, these big screen glimpses of a dystopian future are as tantalizing as they are frightening. But one American city seems to be a favorite backdrop for stories of mass destruction. We speak with a cultural critic about why New York City is often the chosen setting for disaster films, and what dystopian fiction reveals about our shifting anxieties about humanity’s future no matter where we live. Movies discussed include Deep Impact, Escape from New York, Planet of the Apes, King Kong, Cloverfield, Deluge, Failsafe, The Day After Tomorrow, AI: Artificial Intelligence, Contagion, I Am Legend, and Seth’s very own short film: The Turkey that Ate St. Louis Guest: Dan Saltzstein – Deputy Editor for Projects and Collaborations, New York Times Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact [email protected] to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	You're listening to an Airwave Media podcast.
0:04.3	Head home for the holidays with Abercrombie and Fitch.
0:07.4	Between family dinners and making time to catch up with friends, my calendar gets booked up.
0:12.9	When I need to look put together, Abercrombie makes it easy to find outfits for all of my fans.
0:18.0	With their classic jumpers, essential hoodies and Abercrombie denim, I've got my
0:22.2	holiday fits covered for the whole season. Shop Abercrombie in the app, online, and in stores.
0:35.1	If you care about your digital safety, you should know what's happening behind the headlines.
0:39.8	Hi, it's Leo Lipport here.
0:41.2	And each week on Security Now, Steve Gibson and I explain what's happening in the world of digital security.
0:47.3	Threats, reaches, clever hacks, and the policies that affect all of us.
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	...

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