Elio - Gift Bag Beam Me Write Up Clip
Elio
The Friend - Bill Murray Exclusive Interview
The Friend
Cleaner - Daisy Ridley Exclusive Interview
Cleaner
My Life with the Walter Boys Season 2 - Noah LaLonde as Cole
My Life with the Walter Boys
Superman - Official Teaser Trailer
Superman
Xeno - Official Poster
Xeno
Black Bag - Cate Blanchett Exclusive Interview
Black Bag
The Running Man - Glen Powell as Ben Richards
The Running Man
Lilo & Stitch - Car Ride Scene
Lilo & Stitch
The Long Walk - Cooper Hoffman Character Poster
The Long Walk
Squid Game: Season 3 - Final Round Teaser Clip
Squid Game
Eddington - Matt Gomez Hidaka at LA Premiere
Eddington
Words of War - Sean Penn Exclusive Interview
Words of War
Eddington - Emma Stone at LA Premiere
Eddington
Elio - Freeze Frame Clip
Elio
Eddington - Luke Grimes at LA Premiere
Eddington
Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema

Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema Series 2: Episode Guide & Ratings

Audience Score
80

Series 2 Episodes

80

1. Superheroes

March 19th, 20201 hr

From flying saviour figures in primary-coloured costumes to brooding nocturnal vigilantes, the superhero movie has spawned many record-breaking global hits. It has also provoked a backlash from some leading film-makers, yet superheroes have had a relationship with cinema that stretches back to the first half of the 20th century, and the genre taps deeply into timeless themes and storytelling traditions. Drawing on a range of films, past and present, Mark Kermode explores the key elements of superhero movies, including origins, superpowers, costumes, secret identities, villains and sacrifice, to show why they resonate with audiences across the world. Mark also addresses criticisms of the genre, and offers his own thoughts on how superhero movies must adapt for the future.

2. British history movies

March 26th, 20201 hr

'History', says Mark Kermode, 'is the quintessential British film genre'. America may have its great outdoors for road movies and westerns, and teeming cities for cop and crime sagas. But there is more than enough in two millennia of British history to provide a bottomless well of story material. To prove the point, Mark looks at some of the best films about British history in the order of when they are set, tracing the story of Britain from the Roman invasion to the modern era, via medieval times, the Tudors, the English Civil War and the 18th and 19th centuries. He shows, from action and adventure to political intrigue, and from forest-dwelling outlaws to embattled kings and queens, that British history encompasses a remarkable range of styles and situations. Each period is almost a genre in itself, with its own particular themes and characters. And facts are rarely allowed to stand in the way of a good story or striking image.

3. Spies

April 2nd, 20201 hr

Mark Kermode explores one of the most distinctive and popular genres of all. The spy movie plays on our paranoia and feeds our fears as well as fulfilling our fantasies of secret missions and special skills. It has also given us perhaps the most famous hero in all of cinema – James Bond. Spy movies capture a world not of black and white but shades of grey. But if the morality is often ambiguous, the genre is full of tried and tested conventions. Mark opens up the cinematic agent’s essential toolkit, from the spy boss to the mysterious McGuffin, surveillance techniques to a striking set of opening titles, and he traces the development of the genre from its earliest days. Whether you’re a blockbuster superspy or a compromised cold warrior, Mark reveals all you need to survive in the murky yet thrilling world of big screen espionage.

All Seasons

Series 3

Series 3

Jan 11, 2021
Series 2

Series 2

80
Mar 19, 2020
Series 1

Series 1

Jul 17, 2018
Specials

Specials

Dec 20, 2018