Stuff
Stuff To Watch host James Croot with Bridget Jones and Darren Bevan.
It’s no wonder James Croot has a “soft spot” for horror.
Some of his earliest cinematic memories include the emotionally jarring conclusion to the 1970s animation of Watership Down and “having nightmares” after watching Superman II.
Frequent movie trips with his parents kickstarted a lifelong love of film and TV which he’s converted into what many might consider a dream job – watching and writing about them for a living.
“I guess it is – it’s hard not to think of it that way,” he says.
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Croot is Stuff’s Stuff to Watch editor – helping audiences cut through the clutter and find things to watch online, on TV and in cinemas.
He’s got an almost encyclopaedic knowledge – dating to those earliest experiences and the glory days of 1980s tween/teen titles – Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Back to the Future and more.
“It was an amazing period for those sorts of films – you felt those stories could almost happen to you.”
When it comes to TV, Croot was “raised on Sesame Street” after deciding after-school care wasn’t for him.
He started parlaying his love into a living when he worked for Hoyts while at university in Dunedin.
Supportive bosses encouraged him to write reviews for a local paper.
“They didn’t mind if I didn’t like something – they just saw it as part of the marketing.”
Those same bosses were big into advertising stunts too.
“Like having people drop through the ceiling when Batman Forever came out and dressing up as firefighters for Outbreak.”
Croot joined the Stuff empire more than 20 years ago – initially as a cub news reporter in Mosgiel.
Since advancing to entertainment journalism, he’s had sitdown interviews with stars such as Jeff Goldblum, Tobey Maguire, Margot Robbie and Hayley Atwell, and spoken to hundreds more on the phone.
“Kate Winslet started by swearing at me – something to do with a mix-up over her kids’ lunchboxes I think.”
Croot started what has become Stuff to Watch two years ago, encouraged by bosses when New Zealanders were first locked down by the pandemic and were looking for ways to entertain themselves, Until now, it’s been based around written stories and a weekly newsletter.
But today, the brand grows with the launch of the premiere episode of the Stuff to Watch podcast.
Each week Croot will be joined by fellow experts from Stuff.co.nz to run the rule over the hottest new releases.
This week he discusses Conversations With Friends, Top Gun: Maverick, Julia, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Hannibal with Bridget Jones and Darren Bevan.
“Stuff to Watch has been a huge success – and we get great feedback from people who appreciate us helping them. I think of it as consumer advice. We’re really excited about the podcast helping us reach an even bigger audience.”
