HeyJaredJon McBrine - Author
Def Rec - Jon McBrine's totally unserious blog where movie minutia and television tidbits get ranked, rated, reviewed and skewed, and in the end, you’ll know which one to def rec.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 16
- Latest publication
- Sep 30, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 13, 2026
Latest issues
What Is the Best Belated Sequel Ever Made? (opens the original)
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<img alt="" class="sizing-normal" height="720" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gjfr!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F25d911b7-0e63-4870-b879-444f502d2cd3_1280x720.jpe
What Is the Best Belated Sequel Ever Made? (opens the original)
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Some sequels arrive a decade late and still stick the landing. Others should have stayed in the vault.On this Def Rec, three belated sequels get the verdict: Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020), Psycho II (1983), and Top Gun: Maverick (2022). Which one was actually worth the wait?CHAPTERS0:00 The Def Rec premise0:24 Better late than never, or better never late at all?1:20 Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)4:16 Reason to Rec: the Bill & Ted verdict4:33 Psycho II (1983)7:06 Reason to Rec: the Psycho II
What Is the Best Part 4 Ever Made? (opens the original)
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Ever wondered what happens when a Hollywood studio sees a perfectly wrapped-up trilogy and says, "Wait, we can wring more money out of this!"? I dive into the highly "scientific" world of movie Part 4s. From Ghostface getting a 2011 wake up call to Indiana Jones fighting CGI monkeys, and Forky sparking a full-on existential crisis—I'm ranking the top three fourth entries that shattered beloved trilogies forever.Get a free story:jonmcbrine.com/newsletterNew subscribers get a free digital copy of
Why Do Sequels Just Add an "S"? (opens the original)
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<img alt="" class="sizing-normal" height="819" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!RNY3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfcf5d56-73f5-4e54-b337-3a8af3893f2f_1600x900.png"
The Best “The” Movies (Video) (opens the original)
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Forget simple numbers — Hollywood decided adding "The" was the ultimate way to signal gravitas. In this video, I review the top three sequel "The" upgrades: The Dark Knight, The Wolverine, and The Suicide Squad. Did James Gunn’s shark-filled soft reboot take the crown? Did Hugh Jackman’s hairdo get any sillier? Christian Bale’s Batman ruined simple numerals forever - but is that a good thing?Read the blog version here
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