Nicole Sperling
Los Angeles-based New York Times culture reporter covering the movie business
Nicole Sperling (Los Angeles-based New York Times culture reporter covering the movie business) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros., One Battle After Another, Come See Me in the Good Light.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros.
Sperling warns that commercial consolidation will further shrink the film business, harming artists despite the year's original hits.
“we're going to see a business that has already contracted keep contracting. And it's not going to be great for artists”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 32:31
Sperling is skeptical of Netflix's promise to keep Warner Bros.' theatrical operation, noting the company's preference for fast streaming windows.
“they have never been big fans of the theatrical movie going experience. They want movies to come to their platform as quickly as possible”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 16:20
One Battle After Another
Sperling says One Battle After Another was Anderson's most expensive film and not a major box office win once marketing and theater revenue splits are factored in.
“It made $70 million domestically. It made $200 worldwide, which sounds like a lot of money. But when you factor in the marketing costs”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 4:19
- Came true
Sperling predicts One Battle After Another will win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
“I enjoyed it so much and walked out of it and said, well, that's our best picture winner. And I still think that's the case”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 4:04
Come See Me in the Good Light
Sperling, who interviewed Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley at Sundance, says the subjects intended the documentary to be watched at home.
“They wanted this to be a movie that you watch at home because they let you into their home”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 41:51
It Was Just an Accident
- Didn’t happen
Sperling predicts Jafar Panahi will receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Director.
“Panahi, I believe, will likely get a director nomination from the Academy this year”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 34:47
Theatrical moviegoing
Sperling credits James Cameron and Christopher Nolan with sustaining the theatrical experience.
“him and Chris Nolan are the guys who are so dedicated to the theatrical experience. Like, thank God for those guys”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 30:41
2025 box office
Sperling attributes the fall box office slump partly to social media spreading verdicts on films before they open.
“if critic reviews come out, social media spreads super fast. Like, you know if you have a hit or a bomb before something even debuts”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 23:36
Sinners (2025 film)
Sperling notes that Sinners, a wholly original film, became an unpredicted top-10 domestic box office hit.
“It made $280 million in the U.S. It's in the top 10 of the box office, which no one ever would have predicted”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 7:27
Predictions
1 came true · 1 didn’t
- Didn’t happen
Sperling predicts Jafar Panahi will receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Director.
“Panahi, I believe, will likely get a director nomination from the Academy this year”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 34:47 · It Was Just an Accident
When Oscar nominations were announced on January 22, 2026, the five Best Director nominees were Chloé Zhao, Josh Safdie, Paul Thomas Anderson, Joachim Trier and Ryan Coogler, so Jafar Panahi was not nominated; CBS News called his omission one of the biggest snubs. 'It Was Just an Accident' was instead nominated for Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay.
Sources: 98th Academy Awards Nominations List: Nominees by Category - Oscars 2026 News · Oscar nominations for 2026 announced. See the full list of nominees here. - CBS News · Iranian filmmakers head to the Oscars as war engulfs their country
Checked Oct 31, 2026
- Came true
Sperling predicts One Battle After Another will win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
“I enjoyed it so much and walked out of it and said, well, that's our best picture winner. And I still think that's the case”
The Daily: Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025 (Dec 28, 2025) · Listen from 4:04 · One Battle After Another
Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another won Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, beating nominees including Sinners, Hamnet and Sentimental Value. That is the outcome Sperling predicted on December 28, 2025.
Sources: Oscars 2026: 'One Battle After Another' wins best picture at 98th Academy Awards - ABC7 San Francisco · All the 2026 Oscar Winners, From Best Picture and More
Checked Oct 31, 2026
Appearances
Sunday Special: The Best Movies of 2025The Daily · Dec 28, 2025 · 54 min
Gilbert Cruz, Alissa Wilkinson and Nicole Sperling review 2025's best and biggest movies, Warner Bros.' banner year amid its sale, and play a film quiz.
Often appears with
- Gilbert Cruz · 1 shared episode
- Alissa Wilkinson · 1 shared episode