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‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ With Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg, and Sean Fennessey

June 1, 2026 · 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) · Adventure · Sci-Fi · 2:20:33

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 1:20:22The scene where Dave tries to disconnect HAL ('What do you think you're doing, Dave?') - says it's his favorite part, though he also highlights the Dawn of Man leopard attack and the Stargate sequence as contenders.
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:18:53The scene on Clavius where they land and witness the monolith, including the 'selfie' moment right before the piercing sonic tone hits.
Steven Spielberg▶ 1:16:02The HAL lip-reading scene where HAL reads Bowman and Poole's lips through the pod window, cutting to HAL's eye - said it's his favorite scene in the movie because he didn't see it coming. Also mentioned the 'Stop, Dave. I'm afraid' disconnection scene as another favorite (character moment), and separately praised the Stargate slit-scan sequence as his favorite visual effect.

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:39:18The Rock Hudson walkout story/quote and the Who-Kubrick Tommy anecdote (leading to Who's Next cover parody), plus the use of classical music over an original score, have aged the best.
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:41:05The moon surface/Clavius landing sequences are eerily close to real Apollo imagery, even though Kubrick was likely just being meticulous with accurate details rather than intentionally faking anything.
Steven Spielberg▶ 1:40:50Kubrick loved leaning into conspiracy theories and would have enjoyed the idea that he 'directed the fake moon landing.'

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:41:43We did land on the moon, but Stanley Kubrick also filmed staged/fake footage as a hybrid backup in case real footage couldn't be shown.

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:42:03The ape in slow motion learning how to use a weapon (2001: A Space Odyssey), and how it was filmed
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:42:16The floating pen shot in 2001: A Space Odyssey
Steven Spielberg▶ 1:42:27The floating pen shot, plus the front projection screen shots at the Dawn of Man in 2001: A Space Odyssey (also cites his own use of front projection in Close Encounters, and his 'Jaws dolly zoom/trombone shot' on the beach as a Hall of Fame Great Shot Gordo winner)

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:54:11Notes Kubrick wanted Sterling Hayden for Floyd but MGM vetoed it; also considered Henry Fonda and George C. Scott before casting William Sylvester. Also mentions Robert Shaw was considered for Moonwatcher the lead ape.
Steven Spielberg▶ 1:54:21William Holden was also considered for Floyd; argues Holden would have been good but comparable to Janet Leigh in Psycho—too memorable a star to disappear from the rest of the film, which needs a clean slate.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:56:32Cites two 2001: A Space Odyssey trivia bits as questionable/urban-legend-ish: Kubrick rejected Martin Balsam to voice HAL, and Pink Floyd was approached to do the music but turned it down due to other commitments — notes he's skeptical of how true the Pink Floyd claim is
Steven Spielberg▶ 1:55:26Biggest urban legend: that his new movie (Disclosure Day, June 12th) was made in concert with the 'deep state' to prep the public for extraterrestrial disclosure; he denies making it in coordination with them but jokingly admits he's starting to believe there might be something to it

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:56:54Hal (the AI)
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:57:05Daniel Richter as Moonwatcher, the chief ape
Steven Spielberg▶ 1:57:13Vivian Kubrick, who wants a bush baby and whose father calls her a squirt (his number two pick)

Hanks or Cruise

Bill Simmons▶ 2:03:28Tom Cruise — Suggests Cruise as the lead ape, imagining him physically committing to the role, but doesn't clearly frame it as a Hanks-or-Cruise pick for the main category question
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:03:20Tom Cruise — Says the answer is both - Bowman would be Cruise, Floyd would be Hanks
Steven Spielberg▶ 2:03:08Tom Hanks — Hanks, because he made Apollo 13 and would love to be an astronaut

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 2:08:33Kubrick for Best Director (and would also give Best Film)
Steven Spielberg▶ 2:08:43Would give Doug Trumbull an Oscar alongside Stanley Kubrick for special effects

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 2:10:54Yes, this movie ended the name Hal — Hal was too scary/villainous as HAL 9000, and jokingly speculates Kubrick may have been a Jets fan explaining the darkness in his films
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:12:26Would have picked HAL's eye (which he understands Peter Jackson owns) as the memorabilia, and questions how any props survived given stories of Kubrick burning sets
Steven Spielberg▶ 2:12:04He actually bought David Bowman's spacesuit as his piece of memorabilia (later donated to the Academy Museum); also believes Kubrick wasn't sentimental and likely didn't burn all the props himself

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 2:13:33Keep questioning what's out there
Steven Spielberg▶ 2:13:37Never, ever close your mind off to an impossible possibility

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 2:15:232001: A Space Odyssey paired with The Shining (watch 2001 first, then The Shining) to see connections/influences between the two Kubrick films
Sean Fennessey▶ 2:14:14A.I. Artificial Intelligence, paired with 2001: A Space Odyssey, due to the lineage and relationship between Kubrick and Spielberg and how the films speak to each other
Steven Spielberg▶ 2:14:26Destination Moon (1950-52) paired with 2001: A Space Odyssey — Destination Moon was the first scientifically realistic film about landing on the moon and prefigures Kubrick's vision

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 2:16:03Stanley Kubrick

Movies Referenced (44)

Jaws (1975)

17 mentions · Steven Spielberg, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 39:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Shining (1980)

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg, Sean Fennessey▶ 15:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stargate (1994)

6 mentions · Steven Spielberg▶ 7:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Planet of the Apes (2001)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Steven Spielberg▶ 7:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Apollo 13 (1995)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg▶ 44:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jaws 2 (1978)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 38:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg▶ 30:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

2 mentions · Steven Spielberg▶ 20:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Killer's Kiss (1955)

2 mentions · Steven Spielberg▶ 23:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ready Player One (2018)

2 mentions · Steven Spielberg▶ 1:32:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Vertigo (1958)

2 mentions · Steven Spielberg▶ 1:46:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:39:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (17)

Stanley Kubrick

80 mentions · Steven Spielberg, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon▶ 8:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Douglas Trumbull

9 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Blade Runner▶ 16:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steven Spielberg

9 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan▶ 1:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Peter Jackson

4 mentions · Steven Spielberg, Sean Fennessey · Known for King Kong▶ 1:16:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alfred Hitchcock

3 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest▶ 25:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brian De Palma

3 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Body Double, Dressed to Kill, The Bonfire of the Vanities▶ 10:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

George Powell

2 mentions · Steven Spielberg▶ 48:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Brady

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg · Known for The Hot Chick▶ 1:28:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Vivian Kubrick

2 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Full Metal Jacket▶ 17:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Carol Reed

1 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for The Third Man▶ 1:12:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clint Eastwood

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 58:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hal Ashby

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for In the Heat of the Night, Harold and Maude, Being There▶ 2:10:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (45)

Pink Floyd

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg, Sean Fennessey · Known for Eternals▶ 28:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paris Hilton

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg▶ 2:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Cagney

5 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for White Heat▶ 1:35:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steve McQueen

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Great Escape▶ 54:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Daniel Craig

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg · Known for No Time to Die, Casino Royale, Skyfall▶ 2:03:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Dreyfuss

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg · Known for The Goodbye Girl, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Mr. Holland's Opus▶ 38:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gary Lockwood

3 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for 2001: A Space Odyssey▶ 27:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Howard Johnson

3 mentions · Steven Spielberg, Bill Simmons · Known for Eddie and the Cruisers▶ 45:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jack Nicholson

3 mentions · Steven Spielberg, Bill Simmons · Known for Chinatown, As Good as It Gets, The Departed▶ 1:00:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jade Scott Yorker

3 mentions · Steven Spielberg, Sean Fennessey · Known for Gridiron Gang, He Got Game▶ 17:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Shaw

3 mentions · Steven Spielberg, Bill Simmons · Known for Jaws, A Man for All Seasons, The Sting▶ 39:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Albert Brooks

2 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Drive, Broadcast News▶ 18:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (11)

Guillermo del Toro

4 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio▶ 1:07:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Koepp

2 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Jurassic Park, Stir of Echoes, Black Bag▶ 1:04:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

J. David Stem

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 2:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:14:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tony Kushner

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg · Known for Lincoln, Munich▶ 1:04:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Eleanor Perry

1 mentions · Steven Spielberg▶ 54:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

George Lucas

1 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, THX 1138, American Graffiti▶ 13:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

György Ligeti

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for 2001: A Space Odyssey, Godzilla▶ 2:00:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Krzysztof Penderecki

1 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Children of Men, Ready Player One, The Shining▶ 42:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Taylor Worst

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 2:13:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ted Jessup

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Ted 2, The Girlfriend Experience▶ 1:00:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (5)

Janusz Kaminski

3 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Schindler's List, Minority Report▶ 1:57:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Christopher Duddy

1 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgment Day▶ 56:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gordon Willis

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Godfather Part II▶ 1:41:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mary Poplin

1 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for The Green Hornet, The Last Airbender▶ 1:47:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Yuricich

1 mentions · Steven Spielberg · Known for Blade Runner▶ 1:45:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗