Production note Rain Man won Best Picture and several Oscars in a highly competitive 1988 field.
Production note Hoffman had been nominated for seven Oscars, all for Best Actor, at the time discussed.
Production note The film was a box-office hit with a $25 million budget and roughly $355 million gross.
Production note The hosts say principal photography occurred during the 1988 Writers Guild strike.
Production note Rain Man was based on a real savant, Kim Peek.
Production note Hoffman and Cruise allegedly referred to the movie as 'Two Schmucks in a Car' during filming.
Production note Levinson reportedly cast himself as the psychiatrist because J.T. Walsh had a conflict.
Production note Nick Mazzola played the blackjack dealer and also worked in Vegas Vacation and Casino.
Midnight Cowboy Used as one of Hoffman's signature roles and an example of his 1960s prestige stature.
Kramer vs. Kramer Referenced as another major Hoffman Oscar win and one of his defining films.
All the President's Men Mentioned in the context of Hoffman's career and his research habits.
Tootsie Cited as another Hoffman classic and as a reference point for his rehearsal habits and conflicts.
Ishtar Used as the example of Hoffman's mid-80s career low point before Rain Man revived him.
The Graduate Presented as Hoffman's signature breakout and part of his iconic run.
Death of a Salesman Mentioned as a TV movie Hoffman did during his break from feature films.
Cocktail Used to describe Cruise's rise to full star power in 1988.
Top Gun Referenced as an earlier Cruise hit that helped establish his star power.
Forrest Gump Used as a later example of a sentimental prestige-drama template that Rain Man predates.
My Left Foot Mentioned as another disability-centered Oscar movie from the era.
Awakenings Cited as another Oscar-bait transformation drama that the hosts think has not aged well.
Jerry Maguire Used as a comparison for Cruise's later star-making work and emotional arc movies.
The Replacements Mentioned when Bill discusses Gene Hackman's performance as an example of late-career fun.
Qantas Referenced in a joke about the airline's safety record while discussing what has aged best.
