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‘Species’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

July 22, 2025 · Species (1995) · Action · Horror · Sci-Fi · 1:31:23

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 26:42Young Michelle Williams escaping in the glass hole - they're trying to gas her out and she gets out of there

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 52:02All the shit that little kid ate in the train - banana with the peel still on, puddings
Chris Ryan▶ 52:08The banana with the peel on

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 58:14the last 12 minutes
Chris Ryan▶ 58:19the girl that she kidnaps

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:16This should have been an HBO TV show in 1995, which would have become the first great cable one-hour show before The Sopranos
Chris Ryan▶ 1:04:17The movie would have been more interesting if the alien was like a six - not an uggo, but just average looking, making it harder for her to find a mate and turning it into a rom-com
Van Lathan▶ 1:05:29The movie should have had more fucking - it should have been a hard R or NC-17 with more explicit sexual content

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:32Pierce Brosnan — Pierce Brosnan was offered Kingsley's part but couldn't do it due to GoldenEye; Arnold Schwarzenegger was interested but budget wouldn't allow, likely for Preston/Lennox role
Chris Ryan▶ 1:09:04Arnold Schwarzenegger — Joked that Schwarzenegger could have played the empath role instead

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:12:20Substance two
Chris Ryan▶ 1:12:11What's Syl's aging like? Does she just turn into Betty White in a week?

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:12:25H.R. Giger designed the creatures and was unhappy because he thought the movie ripped off too many other alien movies, so he forced them to change the ending to the headshot kill instead. Also, the nightclub was built in the Pantages Theater, and Alfred Molina helped nervous Natasha Henstridge by joking about his previous sex scene experience.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:13:03Agreed that Giger got mad about Species ripping off other alien movies despite being paid well for his work.

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:14:10Natasha Henstridge — Agrees on Natasha (definitive yes), debates Madsen between this film and Reservoir Dogs but leans toward this being his apex, confirms Marge Helgenberger from CSI, says no to Ben Kingsley and Forest Whitaker
Chris Ryan▶ 1:14:31Michael Madsen — Supports Madsen apex mountain argument by noting this movie made over $100 million, engages in BMW convertible discussion
Van Lathan▶ 1:14:42Michael Madsen — Disagrees that this is Madsen's apex mountain, argues people would name five other Madsen movies before this one

Hanks or Cruise

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:47Tom Cruise — Cruise - specifically suggests Cocktail Cruise, Magnolia Cruise, or current-day Cruise in the Ben Kingsley role
Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:47Tom Cruise — Cruise - states he doesn't see Hanks being able to keep a straight face in this movie
Van Lathan▶ 1:16:50Tom Cruise — Cruise as the Michael Madsen character - notes it would get him running and allow for stunts

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:15Anyone in 1995 turning down sex or being like 'this is too fast' - especially that guy; Madsen's tough guy character handing a cat to his cat sitter instead of having a cool dog; Train porter clothes being clean despite horrific murder scene; How they tracked her from club to Hollywood Hills house; Whether semen could be tested in hot tub water in 10 minutes
Chris Ryan▶ 1:22:27The motel manager at the Sahara being incredibly nice instead of sketchy like you'd expect; After the hot tub murder, Ben Kingsley's character says 'let's go home, get some sleep' instead of continuing the hunt
Van Lathan▶ 1:22:50People weren't horny enough for her - she's in L.A. and there's not one scene where someone goes 'Jesus Christ'; They put a microbiologist in combat later in the movie

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:21Byron Mayo and First Take Jay Williams - Mayo for his catchphrases about the wedding dress situation, Jay Williams for skeptically questioning if the alien was actually good at mating
Chris Ryan▶ 1:23:46Doris Burke — Doris Burke (DB) commenting on the naked cocoon scene and Byron Mayo as an interesting addition

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:50Michael Madsen — Special effects (probably) or Madsen just for the hell of it

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:27:59Don't underestimate hot horny aliens
Chris Ryan▶ 1:28:01If a six foot blonde woman wants your baby at the club, it's probably too good to be true / Women are not to be used

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:28:14Under the Skin — Under the Skin and Mimic
Van Lathan▶ 1:28:27Amanda & the Alien — Amanda and the Alien

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:29:29Natasha Henstridge — Natasha (after initially saying Mikey)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:29:22Natasha Henstridge — Natasha

Movies Referenced (38)

Donnie Brasco (1997)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 2:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:14:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Can't Buy Me Love (1987)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 18:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Borat (2006)

2 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 33:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Magnolia (1999)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

No Way Out (1987)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 52:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pulp Fiction (1994)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 24:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Speed (1994)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 52:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

True Romance (1993)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 3:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Under Siege (1992)

2 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 57:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Air Force One (1997)

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 53:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Annie Hall (1977)

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 50:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (2)

Roger Donaldson

6 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for No Way Out, Species▶ 52:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ken Burns

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 10:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (64)

Michael Madsen

46 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for The Hateful Eight, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Species▶ 0:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ben Kingsley

19 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Sexy Beast, Gandhi, Schindler's List▶ 9:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alfred Molina

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Boogie Nights▶ 9:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Cruise

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Top Gun, Minority Report▶ 1:16:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michelle Williams

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Blue Valentine, My Week with Marilyn, Manchester by the Sea▶ 26:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steven Seagal

5 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Under Siege 2: Dark Territory▶ 36:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tony Romo

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 43:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Walton Goggins

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for The Hateful Eight, Predators▶ 20:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chris Laker

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Fallen, Bad Company, Bringing Out the Dead▶ 55:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael McDonald

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The 40-Year-Old Virgin, No Way Out, Twister▶ 7:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sean Young

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Blade Runner 2049, Dune, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective▶ 26:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Betty White

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for The Proposal, Lake Placid▶ 14:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (5)

Dennis Feldman

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Species, The Golden Child▶ 47:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jackie Files

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 1:06:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Cameron

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day▶ 47:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 25:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stanley Roberts

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Caine Mutiny, Death of a Salesman▶ 55:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Albert J. Dunk

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Black Christmas▶ 54:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗