Discussed in this issue: The paragraph in Regime Change that sent chills down my spine and Gott’s finally hits LA. Plus – the movies are back, baby.
Are you a paying subscriber of Jamie’s List? If not, SUBSCRIBE NOW :)
Photo Credit: Austin Film Society
From Jamie’s Desk:
We are so back!! Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about? The movies, of course!
We are officially on pace to hit $10 billion annual revenue at the box office for the first time since 2019. We've all read the headlines: "the movie theaters are dead", but Hollywood fought back in so many different ways. And it’s worth noting that this box office feat isn’t a result of any one thing, other than the audience's desire to see great films in theaters. People yearn for community experiences, that’s as old as the dawn of time.
Right now, it's all about The Odyssey. If you haven't seen it yet, stop for a second, find where it's playing in IMAX (70mm, if you really want to be a nerd), and buy your tickets. Last I checked, it was still weeks out before you could get a seat that wasn't in the first few rows. Don’t sacrifice IMAX for a ticket sooner, just wait, it is worth it.
Christopher Nolan is a big part of the reason people are back in theaters — but he's just one of the many artists driving that shift. We've also got newcomers like Kane Parsons with Backrooms, and Curry Barker with Obsession. And of course, we have the studios that took a chance on those films, so thank you to A24 and Focus Features. We have the kids (and nostalgic young adults) to thank, too — Toy Story 5 raced past $1 billion to become the highest-grossing film of the year. That variety is part of what's so exciting. Even the Hadestown live capture broke records — the Bleecker Street release did $10.2 million its opening weekend, topping Hamilton for the highest-grossing musical recording opening ever. And we owe a big thank you to Rich Gelfond and the IMAX team — people are coming out in droves for these premium formats, which is awesome. Subscription services like AMC A-list are also a huge part of making the moviegoing experience affordable and part of everyone’s routine. It just shows: if you offer a great movie with a great theatrical experience and easy access, people will show up. It's like Field of Dreams — if you build it, they will come.
Now the question is: can we sustain this? Personally, I think we can. It just takes everyone involved keeping the experience at a premium level.
First – it starts with the filmmakers, the studios and the financiers. Franchises, sequels, and biopics aren’t going anywhere, but we need bold, original ideas to keep the audiences showing up, like we saw with Backrooms and Obsession. Or even standalone, first-time adaptations of IP – like Project Hail Mary or The Odyssey.
I want to make special mention of Obsession here. Unlike all of the other films, this was a true indie. It was a first time filmmaker, (sure he had a big following online, but he had never made a feature film). He pulled together $750k, got some unknown actors (outside of Youtube) and made, by all accounts, a great film. From the acting to the directing, from production design to the score, it all just worked. And they were rewarded handsomely. First, by the traditional model of heading to a festival and selling the film to a well known buyer. But it took a bold move by the people at Focus to pay the massive sum of $15 million to take a risk on all unknown creatives. But it worked. And when I say worked – it is going to go down as one of the most successful films of all time. Congratulations to Curry Baker and the entire team involved. I also want to give another shoutout to the team behind Iron Lung. I didn't see the film yet but again, this was a Youtuber who took a shot and self-distributed a film that ultimately made $51 million worldwide. See? It isn't just Taylor Swift who can do that.
Second, we need the theaters to offer a premium experience. From the moment you park the car to the moment you leave, it has to be worth choosing the movies over staying home or doing something else. The screens need to be big, the sound needs to be great, the seats need to be comfortable, and the food needs to be delicious.
Finally, the audience needs to come back. If you're one of the 53% who made it to a movie this year, go to a second. If you're one of the 47% who didn't go at all, please go. We need you back.
We’re seeing the shift here. LA is re-investing in theaters, with so many historic venues reopening in the next few years:
Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome (2028)
Fox Westwood Village Theater (2027)
Bruin Theater Westwood Village (Oct. 2026)
The Alex Theatre (is showing The Odyssey through August — the first time in 35 years they’ve presented first-run feature films. Hopefully that continues.)
Highland Theater (Kristen Stewart bought this recently and is working on creating a community space for film lovers — so stay tuned)
Have a friend who’s into food, culture, and politics?
Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]
You’re currently a free subscriber. Support Jamie’s List and unlock exclusive perks, from food guides to city lists and archives.
🎧 Lunch With Jamie is available as a podcast—perfect for easy, on-the-go listening. Follow along on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment. We want to hear from you!
Paying subscribers get extra: bonus guides, “the list” each week, access to the full newsletter archive, and more.
Photo Credit: Time Out
📍Los Angeles: Gott’s Roadside at the Original Farmer’s Market
Cuisine: American
Crew: Alex Tse, David Nathanson, Rachel Halilej, Eater, Infatuation, Time Out
Good For: Small Groups, Large Groups, Casual, No Reservations, Take Out, Good Drinks
Pro Tip: Since the owners of Gott's also are vineyard owners, they have a nice selection of wines.
What to Order: Ahi Poke Crispy Tacos, Avocado Tacos (for those vegetarians), Zab's Hot Honey Chicken Tenders, Vietnamese Chicken Salad, Cheeseburger, Ahi Burger, French Fries, Onion Rings, Organic Milkshake, Soft Serve
Notes: There are few better experiences than Gott's Roadside up in St. Helena's. I have spoken about it before, David Nathanson was the first person to introduce me to Gott's 10 years ago, and I was instantly hooked when I went. It is everything you want in a roadside diner. They had a few locations in Northern California, but after years of consideration (and even some prodding from David and I) the brothers who opened the place decided to venture south. Their first location outside of NorCal is at the Original Farmer's Market. And although it is a different space, they were able to keep the vibe of the original. It's hard to beat a movie at The Grove and dinner before or after at Gott’s. Also, they have TVs, so it's such a great place to watch a game. And for you west siders — they’re opening a new location later this year!
Photo Credit: Ben Hundreds
📍Atlanta: Delbar (reviewed by Ben Hundreds)
Cuisine: Persian
Crew: Jamie Patricof, Kate Burr, Eater, Michelin Guide, The Infatuation
Good For: Small Groups, Date Night, Casual
Pro Tip: Their weekend brunch is one of the best in the city.
What to Order: Chenjeh, Chicken Barg, Chicken Koobideh, Shah Kabob, Wings, Beet Carpaccio
Notes: The best Persian restaurant in the country is Delbar in Atlanta. They do everything right. The room has good energy. The drinks are nice. The food is some of the best I’ve eaten outside of my mom’s kitchen. The chenjeh, chicken barg and chicken koobideh are some of the best kabobs I’ve ever had. So juicy and kissed by the charcoal perfectly. The shah kabob, wings and beet carpaccio are a great way to start the meal. There are so many hits on this menu that you really can’t go wrong. When you’re in Atlanta, you’ve gotta eat at Delbar.
Photo Credit: Max Shapiro
📍Los Angeles: Broken Spanish Comedor (reviewed by Max Shapiro for Mad Food World)
Cuisine: Upscale Mexican
Crew: Alex Tse, Conde Nast Traveler, Eater, Infatuation, LA Times, Michelin Guide, Time Out
Good For: Date Night, Small Groups, Good Cocktails
Pro Tip: If you’re solo, you can probably get away with walking in without a reservation and finding a bar seat.
What to Order: Guacamole, Refried Lentils, Flauta, Ceviche, Albondigas, Barbacoa, Tres Leches Bundt Cake
Notes: Back in the day, I was a big fan of Broken Spanish 1.0. I probably went a dozen times. At its peak, it was my favorite upscale Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles. Ray García was not afraid of heat. He was not afraid of offal. He was not afraid to take familiar dishes and push them somewhere personal. Tradition and creativity lived comfortably together, which is not an easy thing to pull off. Why did I stop going toward the end of its downtown run? I honestly do not know. Maybe I stopped spending as much time downtown. Maybe there was a little drop off. Maybe it was just life. Either way, Broken Spanish faded from my regular rotation. Fast forward five years and here we are with Broken Spanish Comedor, reborn in Culver City. This is the food of a chef who knows exactly who he is and what these dishes are supposed to be. There is confidence here. These are not experiments. These are dishes that have been refined over years. When I think about upscale Mexican food in Los Angeles, the first comparison that comes to mind is Damian. Damian is beautiful. The room is better than Broken Spanish. But the food is where they diverge. I often find Damian to be too dialed back. Too timid. Broken Spanish Comedor is not afraid to go for it. So if you are asking where to go right now for upscale Mexican food in Los Angeles, for me, the answer is Broken Spanish Comedor. I’m looking forward to going back and digging in deeper.
To see the rest of Max’s review, as well as other hot LA dining picks, subscribe to Mad Food World.
Maggie Haberman will never give up her sources, so I didn’t even try. She’s a journalist with integrity, grit, and a deep knowledge of President Trump that I definitely don’t envy. She was my guest this week – and we had lots to discuss.
The first order of business was her new book, Regime Change, which she co-authored with Jonathan Swan. If you haven’t read it, drop everything now and get a copy. It brilliantly gives color and new details to watershed moments of Trump 2.0, while also introducing new information.
There were many moments that shocked, disappointed, or angered me – but one passage in the book’s epilogue stopped me in my tracks. Maggie set the scene for us – it was when she went into the White House to meet with Trump after the book was locked. She described the inside of the new golden Oval Office as “being inside of a jewelry box”. That’s not the shocking part – although it is pretty vile.
What shocked me was her recounting Trump showing her and Jonathan a document, essentially stating he has more power than anyone who has ever walked the planet. It listed some of the most brutal monsters in history: Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, Attila the Hun, and more – and Trump relished in being told he was more powerful than them.
The book says: He drew no distinction between those who built and those who destroyed., between those who liberated and who enslaved. What mattered was that they had huge power — and that he had more.
You should definitely listen to this conversation, and read the book. It’s important we all are aware of the inner-workings of this White House and the man who is undoubtedly the most consequential figure of our time.
Want access to Jamie’s latest obsessions, more recommendations, exclusive discount codes, and insider event information? Upgrade to become a paid subscriber of Jamie’s List.
Gemma with Scott Galloway; Cafe Telegrama with Natalie Nickens, Ella Glassman, Ginna Nebrig, Rachel Halilej, Michaela Sullivan, and Jennifer Vu; Betsy with Kevin Iwashina, Matt Walden, and Adam Grossman; Max & Helen’s with Adam Friedman; Bavette’s with Wes Spivak; Zarella’s and Johnnie’s Beef solo; San Vicente Bungalows with Rachel Halilej, Chloe Dan, and Jeff Boone; Cookbook with Kent Sanderson and Kevin Iwashina; and Dodger Dogs with Matt Karatz.
Know someone who’d love this newsletter? Forward Jamie’s List to a friend.
Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Blake Lively, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Chris Rice, Condé Nast Traveler, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Goop, Kristina O’Neill, Iman Dakhil, Infatuation, James Beard Award, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joe Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Alagem, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, The LA Times, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lloyd Sacks, Marc Rose, Marc Mezvinsky, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Kives, Michelin Guide, Nicole Richie, Neal Moritz, The NY Times, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Phill Ettinger, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.
Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan
