About this episode

Jason Reitman discusses his experiences in filmmaking and the influence of his father on his career.

This week, writer/director Jason Reitman (Saturday Night, Juno, Up in the Air) joins host Ben Mankiewicz to talk about growing up on a movie set, his brief stint writing for Saturday Night Live, and the joys of directing George Clooney. Reitman also reveals what his father, the late director Ivan Reitman, taught him about storytelling and making movies. During the Super 8, Jason surprises Ben with the movie props in his enviable collection. Films Mentioned: Meatballs Stripes Ghostbusters Dave Thank You For Smoking Juno Inglourious Basterds Animal House Up in the Air* Saturday Night The Front Runner Ghostbusters: Afterlife The Fabelmans Westworld Jurassic Park* Twins E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Back to the Future Jaws The Godfather Election Dr. Strangelove Harold and Maude Shampoo Carnal Knowledge The Graduate Taxi Driver The Conversation Run Lola Run The Blair Witch Project Sexy Beast American Psycho Wet Hot American Summer Pulp Fiction Dazed and Confused Slacker* Bad News Bears Boyhood A Scanner Darkly Before Sunrise Before Sunset Field of Dreams Stand by Me Breaking Away Little Miss Sunshine 24 Hour Party People Casablanca* Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Magnolia Boogie…

More episodes of Talking Pictures

• Joachim Trier · February 26, 2026 · 55 min
• Chloé Zhao · February 23, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Bonus Episode: Eli Roth · May 7, 2025 · 1h 5m
• Paul Scheer · February 4, 2025 · 58 min
• Pamela Adlon · January 28, 2025 · 57 min
• Charles Barkley · January 21, 2025 · 1h 1m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Talking Pictures podcast page.