Substacks recommended by Simon Dillon | The Dillon Empire: Simon Dillon on Substack

Recommended by Simon Dillon

The newsletter 35K+ monthly readers choose to talk about films. TFS connects cinema to the conversations that matter now. Weekly essays that make you the smartest voice in every party, plus regular takes from readers to chew on.

Go Double Plus

By Marmi

Anyone here ever read Grant Naylor? Well, that was the pen name of Rob Grant and Doug Naylor who made the excellent Britcom Red Dwarf back in the day. "Go Double Plus" was the main character Lister's caffeine pills. Yay for hyperbole! Go big or go home :)

Humor Saves!

By Sheila Moeschen

Where curiosity meets comedy. Satire, comedic essays, and topical investigations of an irreverent nature.

What Am I Making

By Matty C

An exploration of making a life in and around music and art in the 21st century.

The Losers of Film Noir

By Carol Saint Martin

You know the drill. A private investigator with a past. A crook with no future. A femme fatale who wants to escape. And they all end up here. Welcome to The Losers of Film Noir.

Extended Cut

By Eric

An irreverent collision of pop culture and life. True stories and things I wish were true.

All the Fanfare with the brilliant Eric Pierce is pop culture writing par excellence. His obsession with Star Wars may border on a medical condition, but he is immensely entertaining to read, whether analysing arcane details of that galaxy far, far away, claiming Predator is a love story, or waxing lyrical on any other number of pop culture related topics. In short, All the Fanfare is an exhilarating blast, and has the full endorsement of The Dillon Empire.

- Simon Dillon

Pop & Prose

By Buddy Gott

Posts and podcast episodes about pop culture, writing, and life in general.

Widening the Lens

By Robin A Henderson

Shining a light on overlooked film and television featuring diverse underrepresented voices.

The Judean People's Front

By Sally Prag

A caffeine-fuelled, mildly heretical newsletter delivering unhinged stories, unsolicited opinions, and fierce support for Jewish authors in the ongoing fight against antisemitism—one Substack post at a time.

150 Word Reviews

By John DeVore

Opinions on new & classic movies. Mercifully Short™ + longer essays full of feelings.

The Gen Z Report

By Ben Ulansey

This publication covers a wide assortment of topics, from AI, technology, politics, and religion to travel, film, dreams, drones, drugs, dogs, music, video games, and writing. You can subscribe to receive updates about only specific topics.

On Repeat Records

By Kevin

Ditch the algorithm. Music discovery made easy—curated by someone who remembers when a mixtape could change your life.

FOCUS! A Reader In Animation History, Theory, and Practice

By David Perlmutter

An occasional series of essays on the art and commerce of animation.

Made From What's Not Real

By David Perlmutter

The writings and musings of Canadian historian and speculative fiction writer David Perlmutter

I'd Rather Be Writing

By Walter Rhein

My perspective is never given equal representation in the mainstream media. I believe character matters. I believe the experts. I believe in education. I believe women. Let me know if you have a story to tell. There's no AI content in my newsletter.

The Things That Matter

By Paul Combs

I was going to call this "Talking Books, Music, Film, Faith, and History," but that's entirely too long for a title. Then I remembered that great John Cusack quote from High Fidelity: "Books, records, films - these things matter." I just added two more.

The Celtic Chameleon

By The Shadowbanned

Lost in three continents. Just open your veins and write.

Creativity Fiends United

By Aimée Brown Gramblin

Where creatives meet creativity...Current Project: 52 Weeks of Audio Memoir Stories on Substack. Listen to Aimée narrate her published memoir, with a new story coming out weekly and a monthly creative 3-2-1 reflection with synthesized recommendations.

Amy’s Newsletter

By Amy Culberg

Daily Humor on the State of the World

Smillew Top Hat Seminar

News, Tips, and Insider Info for the sophisticated members of the Smillew Top Hat Seminar Society

The Spartan Entertainment Vault

By Asadullah Khan

This Substack is dedicated to all the reviews and discussions related to Films, TV Series, Anime, Games, and Books/Novels that I stumble upon while navigating life.

Edwin’s Substack

By Edwin Green

My personal Substack

Edwin Green is an exceptionally well-informed pop music connoisseur, lacking both snobbery and the dull "modern music is rubbish" attitude that frequently blights otherwise excellent music writers. Edwin writes with eloquence and wit about everything from Elvis and The Beatles through to the soundtrack of KPop Demon Hunters, whilst dipping into rock, R&B, and every other pop subgenre you can think of. Highly recommended.

- Simon Dillon

This Week In Writing

By Justin Cox

Weekly discussion and encouragement for writers.

Sarah Paris

Author. Writer in multiple niches. Former screenwriter. Former TV and Film Features Writer at Looper. TV editor at Fanfare. Traveler. Believer. Sometimes funny (although I think I'm hilarious)