Season 7 of The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs premieres tonight on Shudder, returning to a monthly double-feature format. The veteran horror host, alongside producer Matt Manjourides, discusses the show's evolution and passion for genre films. The opener honors a century-old classic with a themed remake and a special guest appearance.
Joe Bob Briggs, the horror-hosting persona of journalist John Bloom, has entertained audiences with exploitation and horror cinema for nearly four decades. He began in 1985 as a guest on The Movie Channel, staying for 11 years without a formal contract. After a 17-year hiatus focused on journalism, Briggs revived his act on Shudder in 2018, screening over 100 films with co-host Darcy the Mail Girl, played by Diana Prince.
The new season shifts from last year's biweekly schedule to one episode per month on the first Friday, running through February 2026, plus undisclosed specials. This change, as Briggs explains, accommodates fan-favorite double features while ensuring year-round consistency: "People like the double features... it just makes it more of an event." Producer Matt Manjourides, a longtime fan who reconnected with Briggs via Troma Entertainment around 2006, credits the ad-free Shudder format for creative freedom, allowing intros up to 40 minutes and multiple guests.
Tonight's premiere at 9 p.m. ET on Shudder TV and AMC+ TV feed features a 1925 horror milestone—touted by Briggs and Manjourides as "the first great American horror film"—paired with its "crazy remake." Special guest Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills undergoes monstrous makeup by Shane Morton, known for works like the Cheddar Goblin ad.
Briggs favors the 1970s for hosting due to its experimental output, including Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Halloween, while deeming the 1950s richest in quality, from thoughtful sci-fi like Invasion of the Body Snatchers to creature features. Manjourides leans toward 1980s video-store nostalgia and guerrilla shot-on-video oddities. Both emphasize celebrating indie efforts over mocking flaws: "We try to never be superior to the movie," Briggs says. Episodes stream Sundays on Shudder and AMC+.
The show's enduring appeal lies in rediscovering hidden gems and fostering community, as Briggs notes from live events evoking classic drive-ins.
