Hops and Box Office Flops

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a fantastic neo-noir that is carried by outstanding lead performances from Robert Downey, Jr. (RDJ) and Val Kilmer. Written and directed by Shane Black, it is a film that thrives on its witty banter, sleek visuals, and intricate plotting. Ok, that latter bit can sometimes be a bit convoluted, but that doesn't detract from the repartee. Kilmer has never been better than he is here. And RDJ capitalized on his exceptional performance as Harry Lockhart to catapult back into the mainstream. Yes, he's that good in this. Sadly, this movie didn't fare nearly as well at the box office as its spiritual successor, The Nice Guys, nor did it ever get the sequel it so richly deserved. Now, sit back, choke down a Rowdy Peach IPA from Sweetwater Brewing, and avoid peeing on the corpse! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are investigating the untimely and mysterious death of Proto-Cop! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Sex. Murder. Mystery. Welcome to the party! Lingering Questions – Why didn't this revive Kilmer's career the way it did RDJ's? (36:24) The "Johnny Gossamer Thriller" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:10:50) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude our tribute series for the great Val Kilmer with the campy, caped classic Batman Forever! (1:26:02) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

The Island of Dr. Moreau has the ignoble distinction of being the only movie to appear on this podcast twice. But, to be fair, the first episode was in dire need of further conversation. Thus, we've gone back to the island with all manor of misfit mutants. As we suspected, the film remains just as bizarre as ever. Like the ill-fated experiments of the titular doctor, The Island of Dr. Moreau itself is a Frankenstein's monster. Hurricanes, clashing egos, and an emergency director swap (that's not even the half of it) all ensured that this would be just as odd offscreen as it was on. And believe us, all the on-set discord shows in the final product. Yet there is something unexplainably watchable about this movie. Val Kilmer is at his campiest, and Marlon Brando saves what would be a dull affair with his flair for the absurd. Watch it and wonder how it even exists at all. Now, sit back, mutate your mind with a BajaJack Salted Lime Lager from SanTan Brewing Co., and go on two legs! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are hunting, killing, and running with the pack! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – On the sixth day, God created man. On the seventh day, He rested. And on the eighth...! Lingering Questions – Is this movie good-bad or just plain bad-bad? (30:32) The "I've Seen the Devil in My Microscope" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (49:11) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our tribute series for the great Val Kilmer as we tackle the modern noir classic Kiss Kiss Bang Bang! (58:55) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

Real Genius was Val Kilmer's second big screen appearance. His first, Top Secret!, we also covered on this podcast. Like that one, Real Genius is a tremendous showcase for his immense acting talents. This is a truly great 80s comedy, propelled by the infinite charisma of Kilmer as brilliant slacker Chris Knight. It doesn't hurt that William Atherton plays his despicable foil Professor Jerry Hathaway. Atherton just excels at playing an asshole. Thus, as Knight relishes in making a fool of him, the audience can't help but laugh. Alas, Real Genius is on this pod for a reason. Despite being a cult classic now, it fared poorly upon its release, grossing $13 million on a budget of $8 million. Thankfully, people smartened up, cementing its rewatchable status over the years.  Now, sit back, get inspired with a Space Food from Warped Wing Brewing Co., and fill out those entries for the Frito-Lay sweepstakes! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are unwittingly building murder lasers for the government! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – When he gets mad, he doesn't get even... he gets creative! Lingering Questions – Best Chris Knight one-liner? (24:42) The "Long Series of Distractions" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (45:23) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our tribute series for the great Val Kilmer as we head back to The Island of Dr. Moreau! (1:03:19) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

2024's Road House is surprisingly watchable, even if it pales in comparison to the original. Jake Gyllenhaal does a serviceable job as Elwood Dalton—the bouncer with a penchant for violence but a heart of gold. And the general premise of a man who busts up bar fights for a living is still wildly entertaining. Where this one stumbles is the odd use of CGI to make the fights appear more "brutal." It's often distracting and offputting. Not distracting enough, though, to make you forget how bland and boring Billy Magnussen's villainous Brandt is. He lacks any semblance of the sleaze Ben Gazzara brought as Brad Wesley. Honestly, and it is baffling to type this, the movie is kind of saved by the ludicrous performance of Conor McGregor. He may be high as hell on blow, but he definitely understands the assignment. Now, sit back, get belligerent with an Orange Blossom Pilsner2 from Orange Blossom Brewing Co., and take it outside! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are brokering shady real estate deals in the Florida Keys! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – We thought this would be better ... and bigger! (0:00) Lingering Questions – How much of the budget went up Conor's nose? (24:16) The "Double Deuce Restaurant" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (38:11) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff our tribute series for the great Val Kilmer with Real Genius! (48:50) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

The Crow for a long time was considered a property that was untouchable. The tragedy of Brandon Lee's passing during the making of the 1994 film immortalized his portrayal for fans. Although there was zero interest in the property being formally rebooted—there were three sequels and a TV show—the studio soldiered on. They even ignored all the signs that it probably wasn't meant to be. The Crow's path back to the big screen saw multiple directors sign on and off, and a myriad of lead actors come and go. By the time it finally happened in 2024, the fans couldn't even be bothered to hate watch it. The Crow, with a box office around $24 million, was one of the bigger flops of the year. This despite having a rather modest budget of just $50 million. Reviews were just as scathing. Critics made it clear The Crow was better off staying dead this time around, excoriating it with a 21% on Rotten Tomatoes. Now, sit back, free your soul with a Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale from Dogfish Head, and quench your thirst for vengeance! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are looking for the exit in this weird purgatory warehouse! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – True love never dies! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Did this do anything better than the 1994 classic? (32:32) The "Crow will Guide You" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (47:24) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We finish off our Wretched Remakes series with 2024's Road House! (1:00:02) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

2012's Total Recall lacks the bizarre charm of Paul Verhoeven's 1990 film. Substituting Mars for dystopian earth, the movie ultimately feels like just any other action movie. Whereas the 1990 version was full of oddities, one-liners, and gore galore, this Total Recall is just a bland, PG-13 wannabe. What it lacks in personality and style, though, it does make up for with a few kinetic action scenes and solid special effects. Those, however, were not enough to save it from the critics' wrath. At 30% on Rotten Tomatoes—compared to 82% for the 1990 version—there wasn't much behind the spectacle to warrant a recommendation. Fans agreed. Thus, with a gross of $211.8 million on a budget of $125, audiences clearly felt this trip wasn't worth taking. Now, sit back, shake the memory fog with a Super Fun Hazy Hop from Paperback Brewing, and get your ass to the Colony! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are dreaming of better days on Mars! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – What is real?! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Which Arnold movie would send us over the edge if they remade it? (30:47) The "Fall Enslaves Us" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (53:46) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our Wretched Remakes series with The Crow! Yes, the one everyone hated. (1:07:20) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

The 2015 remake of Point Break is all style and no substance. It's an extreme sports highlight video that flourishes when the stunts are on display, but fizzles whenever the cast has to act. Ultimately, there is just too much going on, and as we bound from place to place and stunt to stunt, very little in the way of plot or character depth is ever established. Sure, having the radical Robin Hoods branch out into several extreme sports seems cool on the surface, but there has to be more to the film than insane feats across beautiful locales. Hence why this Point Break couldn't muster the same following as its predecessor. It's empty calories. The stakes feel shallow when we don't care about any of the people engaging in the death-defying pageantry. The lesser Bodhi's empty philosophizing doesn't help either. Now, sit back, get gnarly with a Antihero IPA from Revolution Brewing, and follow your line! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake aren't living off the grid! We're living on it—just on our own terms! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The only law that matters is gravity! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Why? Why did this need to happen? (53:27) The "Ozaki 8" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:23:04) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our Wretched Remakes series with the Total Recall not set on Mars! (1:39:06) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

Captain America: Brave New World carries on the distressing trend of underachieving and subpar MCU movies. Worse, like much of Phase 4 and 5, there still seems to be no clear direction for what is coming next or why. Brave New World is not a terrible film, but it is one that is clearly stitched together. Plagued by behind-the-scenes drama and frequent reshoots, the whole is clearly made from disparate parts. Thus, despite game efforts from Anthony Mackie as the titular Captain and Harrison Ford, replacing William Hurt, as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, it can never overcome its issues. That said, there is fun to be had. The height of which never should have been spoiled in the film's trailers. Now, sit back, enrage your soul with a Pogzilla Double IPA from Scofflaw Brewing, and don't think you're Steve Rodgers! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are sneaking onto Celestial Island to steal all that sweet adamantium! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The future favors the brave. Enter a brave new world! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Did this course correct the MCU enough to get us excited for Doomsday? (28:55) The "Plausible Deniability" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (58:28) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off our Wretched Remakes series with Point Break! (1:07:51) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

When Tremors was released in 1990, Kevin Bacon—who starred as Valentine McKee—thought it would kill his career. Like all great cult classics, though, Tremors has come to be one of the actor's most beloved films. And that's not a mistake. Tremors is a ton of fun. With an interesting new creature that burrows under the surface and terrorizes a small town, it does exactly what a monster movie should do. Add in its abundance of humor and great characters, and the recipe is there for an infinitely rewatchable film. It's no surprise then that after a tepid theatrical box office, Tremors tripled its gross on VHS rentals and purchases. That is what insiders call, "bringing home the bacon." Now, sit back, bring the heat with a Hatch Chile Gatos from Fate Brewing, and get off the ground! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are feeding these damned motherhumpers a bucket of hot lead! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The monster movie that breaks new ground! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Tremors boasts great practical effects, but which is our favorite? (23:47) The "Deadgar Deems" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (40:11) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We catch up with Captain America and his Brave New World! (50:52) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

Army of Darkness, the finale of Sam Raimi's iconic Evil Dead series, is truly a cult classic. A minor departure from the series more comedic/horror roots, it is a film that revels in its absurdity, taking the protagonist, Ash, back through time to the 14th century. Though it is goofier, it is no less fun than the first two. And its one-liners—frequent throughout—remain infinitely quotable to this day. There is a reason Ash and the hordes of undead he's dispatched over the years with prejudice have continued to captivate the hearts and minds of fans. Good ... bad ... we're the guys with the mics! Now, sit back, wash down tiny Ash with a Dragon Stout Fire, and listen up, you primitive screw heads! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are blasting deadites with our boomsticks! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – In an age of darkness. At a time of evil. When the world needed a hero! (0:00) Lingering Questions – How would we rank the Evil Dead movies? (26:11) The "S-Mart" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (38:25) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude our 90s Cult Flops series with Tremors! (46:05) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

Empire Records poses the important question: What do a bunch of pre-20s slackers do at work all day? Well, they have random sex with has been celebrities, eat weed brownies, argue over mundane things, and thoroughly explore the existential crises they're all experiencing. To no one's surprise, very little work is actually done amidst all the melodrama. Now, that may not sound all that great, but Empire Records is very much a time capsule film. If you grew up in the 90s, you've no doubt seen it and probably have fond memories of it. Thus, its devout following, despite its lack of box office and critical success, is well earned. Empire Records is a shared experience film. We've all had jobs where we screw around all day, and we've all worked with people who fit the familiar archetypes in the movie. That is what makes it so relatable and has helped it to endure over the years. Now, sit back, compliment your special brownie with a Bloodline Blood Orange IPA from Flying Dog, and delight in the sweet stylings of Rex Manning! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are damning the man to save the Empire! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – They're selling music but not selling out! (0:00) Lingering Questions – In a movie full of clichés and tropes, which is the tropiest? (41:18) The "Rex Manning Day" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:07:03) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our 90s Cult Flops series with Army of Darkness ... This is our boomstick! (1:19:19) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

Based on a William Gibson story of the same name, Johnny Mnemonic centers on the titular data courier as he embarks on his latest assignment, transporting 320 gigabytes of corporate secrets. That intel is quite sensitive, and its owner, Pharmakom, will stop at nothing to get it back, employing the Yakuza to track down Johnny. Like most of Gibson's work, the world in which Johnny lives is a cyberpunk dystopia. Corporations rule with impunity and an overreliance on/addiction to technology has left much of the populace in dire straits. The messaging of Johnny Mnemonic is as relevant as ever. The issues with the film lie within its execution. Despite costing upward of $30 million, the movie looks and feels cheap. This aesthetic is only worsened by shockingly dated CGI VR segments. The ideas just weren't enough to salvage the subpar acting, shoddy action sequences, and atrocious effects. Hence Johnny Mnemonic's poor reviews and paltry box office performance. Now, sit back, jack in with a Halfway to Hefen from Fate Brewing, and don't ignore the ghost in the machine! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are riding Jones the dolphin through cyberspace! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The future's most wanted fugitive. The hottest data on earth. In the coolest head in town! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Which of the many dystopian ideas presented here aged the best? (27:06) The "Snatch Back Your Brain, Zombie" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (53:57) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our 90s Cult Flops series with a dose of angst at Empire Records! (1:06:57) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

Transformers: The Last Knight is the fifth film directed by Michael Bay about the storied toy line. The prior four were of varying quality, but The Last Knight stands out as by far the worst. A convoluted mess, it rewrites the legend of King Arthur, infusing the Autobots into the tale. This, of course, leads to a whole bunch of other nonsense, including Merlin's magical staff being of Cybertron origin. Anyway, as we rumble through this slog, we're treated to secret societies, moronic plot twists, and a smorgasbord of explosions and CGI bombast. It's a lot to digest, folks. Mercifully, though, The Last Knight's poor box office performance and abysmal reviews ensured this would be the last of the so-called Bayformers.  Now, sit back, transform your taste buds with an Automatic IPA from Creature Comforts, and don't let Merlin's staff fall into Megatron's hands! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are sliding under giant robots and wielding Excalibur! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Every legend hides a secret! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Why? Just why?! (34:43) The "Sir Edmund Burton" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (54:10) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off our 90s Cult Flops series with Keanu Reeves' precursor to The Matrix and Cyberpunk 2077, Johnny Mnemonic! (1:01:41) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

The Last Jedi, despite being a massive financial success, has been highly divisive since its release in December 2017. Sure, there are those who love and defend it, especially for its willingness to subvert expectations. Its detractors, though, often cite The Last Jedi's nonsensical plot and less than favorable depiction of beloved Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker for why they hate it. The pod tends to lean toward the latter. For all its exceptional visuals and some genuinely great Star Wars moments, The Last Jedi often feels like a muddled mess—less a sequel to a $2 billion movie, more a piece of odd fan fiction. Hence the divide between fans. As the middle part of a trilogy, The Last Jedi too often throws away or outright dismisses plot threads from The Force Awakens. When there was still a film to follow it, perhaps writing the characters into a narrative corner wasn't the best idea. Now, sit back, feel the Force with a Mind Haze Cosmic Crusher from Firestone Walker Brewing, and find the master codebreaker! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are seeing who can chug the most thala-siren milk! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Let the past die! (0:00) Lingering Questions – When subverting expectations goes wrong... (36:47) The "Jar of Snokes" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:03:51) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We finish our $1 billion+ follow up flops with a doozy of a dumpster fire, Transformers: The Last Knight! (1:12:11) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

By feeling more like optional homework than obligatory viewing, The Marvels falls into a familiar trap of the Phase 4 and 5 MCU films. And it fails to up the ante for its main heroine from her first solo outing. There is certainly more to juggle here—adding in both Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau—but The Marvels fails to find the right balance. The titular three are charming and have decent chemistry. The villain, however, is one of the most paper thin ever produced by the Marvel movie machine. As for the plot, what little there is, it just feels like a retread of better films. Another issue The Marvels shares with some its more recent MCU counterparts is an abundance of cheap looking effects. For a movie with a budget north of $250 million, it looks more like a hastily produced Disney+ show. None of this should've been enough for it to tank as badly as it did, earning just 20% of the first's gross; but it is indicative of the larger MCU issue: too much, too often, too little quality control. Now, sit back, swap places with a Juiced to Jupiter from Fat Head's Brewery, and warm up those pipes for Aladna! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, Capt. Cash, and Bling Blake are hijacking the sun! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Higher. Further. Faster. Together! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Who is in a position for better future success: DC or Marvel? (40:02) The "Flerken Transit Authority" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:08:28) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We analyze perhaps the most divisive Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi! (1:20:53) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

In 2019, Todd Phillips' Joker, though divisive, received heaps of praise and a box office shattering $1 billion+ take. Joker: Folie à Deux, however, received none of that acclaim or success. That is for good reason. Joker: Folie à Deux is a meandering mess of a film — one that features impromptu musical segments. Those songs, shockingly, are not at all the issue. Instead of carrying on Arthur Fleck's story, Folie à Deux just sort of castrates the character. Certainly, it can be argued that Fleck never intended to become the Joker. But he did. Going back on that in every conceivable way makes for a film with no identity. It honestly feels as if Phillips did not want to make this movie. Their is a palpable disdain that can be felt throughout its trudging two hours. Which begs the question: Why, aside from the potential for a big theatrical haul, was it ever greenlit? The script, like Fleck, is empty. Now, sit back, feed your psychoses with a Psychedelic Rabbit from New Realm Brewing, and stop harassing poor Mr. Puddles! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are gonna build a mountain! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The world is a stage! (0:00) Lingering Questions – What the hell happened? (18:56) The "Mr. Puddles" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (35:42) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff the pod's seventh season with sequels to billion dollar hits that flopped with The Marvels! () And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Kraven The Hunter, Marvel's most dangerous huntsman, has always been linked with perhaps their most famed hero, Spider-Man. Yet, for his big screen debut, there is a distinct lack of the web-head. Yes, folks, this is another of Sony's moronic attempts to build a shared universe out of the wall crawlers villains. And, like all those that came before it—Madame Web, Morbius, and the trilogy of Venom films—it doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense. The titular predator resembles little the character he's based on. In fact, this movie makes Kraven the Hunter a more benevolent version of the Punisher. He's a straight up hero, leaving one to wonder how this version would ever come to odds with Spider-Man. It should come as no surprise then that this movie flopped and was reviled by critics. Even the most ardent of Kraven supporters didn't ask for this. Now, sit back, track down a Dr. Octoberfest from Next Level Brewing, and look out for the man traps! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are sampling vials of lion's blood to try and gain super powers! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Villains aren't born. They're made. His hunt begins! (0:00) Lingering Questions – If this is the end of Sony's ill-conceived Spider-Man-less Spiderverse, what will our lasting impressions be? (23:43) The "Kraven that D" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (50:59) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff the pod's seventh season with sequels to billion dollar hits that flopped with Joker: Folie à Deux! (58:18) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Red One is a big budget Christmas action film with an array of stars to make it shine; it is also a mindless hunk of studio schlock. In it, Santa Claus has been kidnapped by a malevolent holiday witch. It is up to the Rock's Callum Drift (yes, that is his name) to get him back in time for the big day. What follows is a paint-by-numbers blockbuster that is crammed with enough CGI and bad one-liners to rip the seams of even the largest stocking. This thing is a jingle bell mess from start to finish. Hence why it sits at 30% on Rotten Tomatoes and was given a lump of coal at the box office. Red One couldn't even muster enough holiday cheer to break even with its asinine $250 million budget. Now, sit back, get into the spirit with a glass of Evan Williams' Bourbon-infused Eggnog, and rip off some snowmen noses! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are hacking into Santa's secret lair to blow the whistle on his elf sweatshop! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Enforcement, logistics and fortification! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Did this silly Rock em' Sock em' Christmas Film work for us? (32:48) The "Kavalame" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (56:59) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude our season with the mother of all 2024 flops, Kraven: The Hunter! (1:07:42) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire directly proceeds the events of 2021's Afterlife, following the Spengler gang as they begin their exploits in the Big Apple. Wider in scope and scale than its predecessor, Frozen Empire features plenty of ghoulish fun for fans of the franchise. However, it's also poorly paced and overstuffed with characters and sub-plots—some of which work far better than others. That latter fact is probably why critics skewered it upon its release. At 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, Frozen Empire is the worst reviewed entry in the storied franchise. Those tepid reactions may have been responsible for its soft box office. Costing $25 million more to produce than its predecessor, Frozen Empire grossed slightly less ($201 million vs $204 million worldwide). Despite that, it is hard to ignore its charms, and the presence of the OG Ghostbusters is sure to make the most pessimistic of us smile. Now, sit back, make the busting feel that much better with a Joe-Joe's Chocolate Vanilla Creme Stout from Trader Joe's, and hit us with that mood slime! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are harnessing our Firemaster powers to put the heat on Garraka! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – It'll send a chill down your spine! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Would we like to see more paranormal adventures with the Spengler family? (34:05) The "Death Chill" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (59:40) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our series of 2024 flops with one fit for the Christmas season, Red One! (1:10:54) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Based on a 1980s television show of the same name, The Fall Guy seemed to be on course to be the summer season's first hit. Screening more than a month before its release at South by Southwest, the buzz (reviews included) for the Ryan Gosling/Emily Blunt film was strong. And with Gosling—who plays the titular character Colt Seavers—coming off of Barbie, his movie star bonafides had never been stronger. Yet, despite all that momentum, The Fall Guy failed to break the bank. It grossed just north of $181 million. Its budget was rumored to be around $150 million—resulting in a break even point of roughly $275 million. The Fall Guy deserved so much better during its theatrical run, especially considering the hell all the stunt people went through to deliver this delightful gem. Now, sit back, take the liquid courage leap after a Long Leash from Sleepy Dog Brewing, and attaque! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, Bling Blake, and a special guest are crying in our car listening to T. Swift! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Fall hard! (0:00) Lingering Questions – How on earth did this flop!? (19:04) The "Metalstorm" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (41:49) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our series of 2024 flops with Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire! (53:30) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Borderlands is yet another vapid video game adaptation that fails to capture what made the games it's based on so great—a colorful explosion full of nonsensical plot points and weak action. Not surprisingly, it couldn't ignite the box office or earn the adoration of fans and critics. Now, sit back, fuel your anarchy with a Oberon Eclipse from Bell's Brewery, and roll up the damn windows! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are trying are hands at vault hunting. What could go wrong?! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Chaos loves company! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Whose to blame for this debacle? (23:09) The "Other Pandora" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (36:49) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our series of 2024 flops with the ultra charming Ryan Gosling vehicle The Fall Guy! (47:06) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Loosely based on the daring exploits of a ragtag group of soldiers during World War II, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a tale of heroism with a Guy Ritchie spin. The film chronicles Operation Postmaster—in which a battalion led by Gus March-Phillips (Henry Cavill) is sent on an off the books mission to disrupt, ideally destroy, the Nazis U-Boat resupply operation. March-Phillips, played with extraordinary flair by Cavill, is joined by an eclectic group of commandos. Though the subject matter is serious, their personalities allow for plenty of fun, and that levity drives The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. As historically embellished as it may be, this is still a journey through the past well worth taking. Now, sit back, gear up for some sabotage with an Old Speckled Hen from Green King, and do not sing in Yiddish! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are prying the nipple clamps off Capt. Cash to free him from Nazi prison! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Keep calm and Cavill on! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Which of these motley crew members is our respective spirit animal? (36:17) The "Operation Postmaster" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (50:42) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our series of 2024 flops with the video game adaptation disaster Borderlands! (1:00:49) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Sting is a nasty little creature feature that came and went to little notice. Released on under 1,000 screens, this tale of a cosmic spider running amok is sure to make the hairs of any arachnophobe stand up. It's lean; it's mean; and it's got enough gross gore to unsettle even the least squeamish of us. It's like Alien—if the Xenomorph was an eight-legged freak who enjoyed dining on birds, babies, and pups. Now, sit back, drown the ick with a West Bestern IPA from Belching Beaver, and don't you dare whistle! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are washing ourselves with mothball water to keep Sting away! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Your biggest fear just got bigger! (0:00) Lingering Questions – How quickly to we flee a building being menaced by a giant arachnid? (21:41) The "Bug Brothers" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (40:31) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off our series of 2024 flops with The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare! (51:12) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Oddity, a small Irish film, is one of the better horror movies of 2024. It centers on Darcy, whose twin sister Dani was brutally murdered alone in the remote house she was renovating with her husband. Darcy, who is blind, is a medium. When she touches an object, she can peer into its experiences. She, still unsure of what truly happened to her sister, takes it upon herself to unravel the mystery of Dani's murder. A slow burn, Oddity is full of creepy visuals and uses its setting to maximum effect. Horror fans should not sleep on this one. Now, sit back, peer into the memories of the deceased with a Hop Chowda Hazy IPA from Goldwater Brewing, and don't ring for the bellhop! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK) and Bling Blake are using Olin Boole's glass eye to track down the real killer! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Every murder lives on! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Best weapon to take down a wood golem? (22:38) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our month-long series dedicated to torturing poor Bling Blake with gross little creature feature, Sting! (38:34) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

In a Violent Nature is an art house version of Friday the 13th. It's minimalist, lacking a score, and generally follows the killer Johnny around as he tromps through the woods. It's an interesting twist on the classic slasher formula, but its style certainly won't be for everyone. That said, In a Violent Nature deserves credit for daring to be distinct in a genre full of tropes and clones. That alone probably warranted a better at the box office. It grossed just $4.56 million on a budget of $3 million. Good enough to earn it a sequel, but nothing to write home about. Now, sit back, enjoy the serene sounds of nature with a Moose Drool from Big Sky Brewing, and don't touch Johnny's locket! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are trying not to die during our downward facing dog! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Nature is unforgiving! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Did we enjoy the muted style of the movie? (23:58) The "White Pine Slaughter" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (50:13) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our month-long series dedicated to torturing poor Bling Blake with another critical darling of the horror world, Oddity! (1:00:48) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Terrifier 2 ups the ante of the first film in nearly every way. It is brutal, shocking, and repugnant. Despite that, it is hard not to appreciate the practical effect work of Damien Leone—the film's writer, director, editor, and producer. This is a carnival of splatter. And Art the Clown, the principal antagonist of the Terrifier franchise, is quite creepy. Where the movie fails is in creating a narrative tension. It is disturbing to watch, and the kills only get more grotesque as the movie meanders across its lengthy 138-minute runtime. There is just a distinct lack of pathos to balance out the mayhem. Too often, Terrifier 2 just feels like an endurance exercise. How long can the viewer survive before they've seen enough mutilation? A person's mileage on that may vary. It just does not make for a compelling movie experience.  Now, sit back, keep your dinner down with a Smashed Pumpkin from Shipyard Brewing, and remember: there is now why! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Mayor McCheese and Chumpzilla are waving our white flags because we've had all the viscera we can handle! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Who's laughing now? (0:00) Lingering Questions – Will we still Terrifier 3 in theaters or did this one sate our appetite for the deranged? (33:32) The "Art the Clown" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (59:02) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our month-long series dedicated to torturing poor Bling Blake with In a Violent Nature! (1:09:40) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Rebel Moon – Part Two Director's Cut: Curse of Forgiveness is the ultimate payoff to our team of rebels coming together. Essentially, it all culminates in one massive battle scene, where each of our heroes gets their due. It is a visual feast of explosions, violence, and destruction. And, quite frankly, it is awesome. In the PG-13 cut, The Scargiver, the majority of the battle scenes were in tact; but what makes the Director's Cut so superior is all the small moments of connective tissue it adds. Our investment in the team, as well as the townspeople of Veldt is much greater with the added context. If you choose to watch one version, then Curse of Forgiveness is the way to go. Now, sit back, annihilate your tastebuds with a Suckerpunch Dill Pickle Sour from Destihl, find her, and fight! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are laying the smack down to the Motherworld's forces with an antler in each hand! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – There are no heroes, only rebels! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Having seen both Director's Cuts, which one did we enjoy more? (26:32) The "For the Slain King" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (55:13) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off a month-long series dedicated to torturing poor Bling Blake with Terrifier 2! (1:11:31) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Rebel Moon – Part One Director's Cut: Chalice of Blood is the far superior version of the saga's first installment. Sadly, very few people tuned into the director's preferred vision of the film when it dropped on Netflix eight months after the PG-13 cut. Chalice of Blood fixes many of the issues from the trimmed down one, providing much needed connective tissue and time for the viewer to breathe. It also enriches the depth of each out heroes—character beats and moments sorely lacking in A Child of Fire. Hyper violent, full of eccentric alien creations, and starring a host of excellent actors, Chalice of Blood deserved a better fate than to be lost in the massive catalogue of its streaming service. Even if you disliked the PG-13 cut, the fully realized R version truly warrants a watch. Now, sit back, prepare for battle with a Vortices Double Hazy IPA from Dark Sky Brewing, and never trust a smuggler! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are assembling a team of the most badass folks in the galaxy for a showdown with the Motherworld! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – There are no heroes, only rebels! (0:00) Lingering Questions – In Zack Snyder's space opera, what were our favorite scenes/creations? (28:37) The "King's Gaze" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:09:39) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We do the second of two special episodes covering Zack Snyder's space opera, Rebel Moon – Part Two Director's Cut: The Curse of Forgiveness! (1:21:21) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Before Bill Cosby was a serial sex offender (well, concurrently really), he was just an unfunny comedian. And Leonard Part Six is his magnum opus of unfunny. Leonard Parker is a secret agent, like a moronic James Bond of sorts. This is technically his sixth adventure. The other five are classified! That latter bit you should be happy about. Why? Because number six is as dumb as humanly possible. It centers on Leonard's battle with the evil Medusa Johnson. Johnson uses animals to enact her nefarious plots, as well as a team of half-naked vegans. Yes, all of this comes into play in a myriad of idiotic scenarios.  It's all dumb. None of it is charming, witty, or remotely hilarious. And, by the end, you will try to drown yourself in a vat of Jell-O pudding to escape the madness. Now, sit back, cure your rabbit bites with a Bell's Hazy Hearted, and prepare to ride an ostrich! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are smiting murderous veggie-loving terrorists with thawed magic meat! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – America's best-dressed super spy! (0:00) Lingering Questions – In a film starving for comedic moments, were any of the gags funny? (29:50) The "Ipso Facto" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (46:54) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We do the first of two special episodes covering Zack Snyder's space opera, Rebel Moon – Part One Director's Cut: Chalice of Blood! (57:51) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Dana Carvey is an immensely talented and funny comedian. Sadly, Master of Disguise fails in almost every conceivable way to showcase that. It is loaded with one-note jokes and costumes that range from idiotic to absurdly racist. Thus, despite being a mild success financially, it failed to launch his career to the next level. Worse, Master of Disguise was despised by critics, narrowly avoiding a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes by the slimmest of margins—it's a 1%. Audiences were also not in on the gags. And who can blame them? Most of the jokes far extend their welcome, and most of the absurd disguises do too. You'll barely laugh, you may cry, and you'll certainly never think of turtles the same. Now, sit back, blend in with an Oktoberfest from Reformation Brewery, and prepare to steal the Liberty Bell! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are open-hand slapping evil doers and screaming, "Who's your Daddy?"! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – 1,000 Faces... And Not A Single Clue! (0:00) Lingering Questions – For a movie centered around elaborate costumes, most of them are stupid. But which is the worst? (37:22) The "Turtle Club" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (52:05) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude Notorious Flops with an all-time stinker Leonard Part Six! (1:03:57) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Highlander II: The Quickening takes everything you loved about the original and throws it in the dumpster. A sequel in title only, the film is an utter travesty from start to finish. Why? Well, instead of the general premise of them simply being immortals, they are now beings from a different planet. They were sent to Earth as punishment for treason, but also inexplicably granted immortality. It only gets worse from there. Sean Connery returns as Ramirez. Yes, he died in the first one. That doesn't matter here. And, as viewers, it's best not to ask questions. He's charming and famous damnit! Plus, one can't simply expect Highlander II to just coast on bizarre alley sex scenes with Christopher Lambert! But, I digress, Highlander was a cool genre flick with an interesting premise. Sadly, when forced to flesh out their lore, the writers penned some of the dumbest shit to ever grace the screen. It flopped hard, and it deserved to. It also has the distinction of holding a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. There couldn't even be one reviewer that liked it. Now, sit back, drink to your immortal health with a Kilt Lifter from Four Peaks Brewing, and tear down the Shield! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are plotting a coup on our home planet, Zeist! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – In all their centuries on Earth, nothing could prepare them for...! (0:00) Lingering Questions – In a movie full of stupid scenes, which was the dumbest? (34:26) The "Quickening" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (58:12) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Notorious Flops with Master of Disguise! (1:11:22) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Saturn 3 is, quite frankly, just a bizarre film. It focuses on essentially three characters—played by just Kirk Douglas, Farah Fawcett, and Harvey Keitel—as well as a corny looking robot named Hector. Douglas and Fawcett, as Major Adam and his assistant Alex, work on one of the moon's of Saturn, striving to find solutions to Earth's hunger problem. Keitel, as the menacing Benson, shows up to bring chaos and terror to their lives. Well, really he's just weird, but his robot companion—fueled by his worst traits—becomes a murderous psychopath. That is essentially the movie. It has odd sex scenes, a dearth of tension, some supremely bad ADR over Keitel's voice, and some of the worst practical effects this side of Uranus. Hence why it is hailed as one of the worst movies of all-time, crashing and burning with critics and at the box office. Now, sit back, question your life choices with a tumbler of tequila, and monitor our hydroponics! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are feeding our worst impulses into Hector's collection of baby brains! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Trapped between unnatural love and inhuman desire! (0:00) Lingering Questions – How dumb is Hector's design? (34:13) The "Blue Dreamers" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (51:02) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Notorious Flops with Highlander II: The Quickening! (1:00:14) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Deadpool & Wolverine is a comic nerd's dream. It's a love letter to the superhero cinema that paved the path to this current generation, while also celebrating the iconic performances of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. It's bloody, vulgar, and just a really f$%^ing great time. It also helps to reset the course for a fledgling MCU. Unlike many of the Phase 4/5 films and shows before it, you will leave Deadpool & Wolverine excited for the potential of the future. Will Jackman return for the next two Avengers movies? What the hell was that tease with Thor and Deadpool? Those answers will obviously come, but what made the MCU so brilliant throughout its decades+ reign as box office kings was its ability to hold the viewers interest. That stranglehold has more than just slackened in recent years. But, rest assured, Deadpool & Wolverine reaffirms that grasp with pair of Hulk hands. At $900 million and counting, it is a runaway success; and that success is well deserved. You'll laugh; you'll cry; you'll scream, "Holy shit!"; and you'll definitely have the time of your life (or at least summer) Now, sit back, peer into the clouded future of the MCU with a Stone Delicious Hazy IPA, and don't desecrate any graves! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK) and Chumpzilla are eating our feelings and driving through the void in a sweet Honda Odyssey! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Everyone deserves a happy ending! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Is Hugh Jackman the GOAT of comic book actors? (40:36) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off Notorious Flops with Saturn 3! (1:06:43) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Forgive the brevity, as we're at comic con, butBoy Kills World is a bloody good time, and you should watch it! Now, sit back, prepare to fight with an Atomic Slam Hazy Double IPA from Paperback Brewing, and don't be a f$%# puppet! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are laying the smackdown to sugary cereal mascots at the Culling! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Gear up for an action fever dream! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Who did dystopian death TV better this or The Running Man? (23:27) The "Frosty Puffs" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (43:31) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off Notorious Flops with Saturn 3! (53:15) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Equilibrium centers on post-World War III society, Libria, where emotions have been outlawed. Daily, citizens must take scheduled injections of Prozium II to ensure they don't begin to feel. Violators are handled with prejudice. If that sounds familiar, it should. Equilibrium, despite a few nifty action scenes, is highly derivative of better dystopian fiction. One of its few innovations—enforcement agents trained in the art of gun kata known as the Grammaton Clerics—are just wannabe Neo clones. Oh, and as you'll hear on the pod, gun kata is really goddamn stupid. A backyard creation of Equilibrium's director, Kurt Wimmer, gun kata is the equivalent of the old Star Wars kid YouTube video. As in, it may have looked cool in his head, but he probably should've thought better than to film people doing it. Now, sit back, curb your emotions with a Third Eye PA from Third Eye Brewing, and don't forget your morning dose! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are ridding the world of contraband, one Da Vinci painting at a time! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – In a future where freedom is outlawed, outlaws will become heroes! (0:00) Lingering Questions – On a graded scale—F to A—how would we assess the final action scene? (51:28) The "Prozium II" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:09:19) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude Dystopian Flops with one of 2024's biggest bombs, Boy Kills World! (1:23:24) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

The Running Man, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, resembles the Richard Bachman (Stephen King) novel it was based on in name only. Naturally, since its lead is the "Austrian Oak," it is a testosterone-fueled action movie with a light sprinkling of dystopian allegories. That said, it crushes both of those elements. Certainly, The Running Man's dire warnings may feel satirical, but viewed through a contemporary lens, they are wildly prescient. Deep fake technology, live executions being fed to the masses in the form of a game show, and an America run by corporate greed are not just plausible, we're living through most of it. In the 1980s, when the country was high on Reaganomics, The Running Man's themes sadly failed to resonate with audiences. On a budget of nearly $30 million, it grossed just north of $38 million. That, unlike Cadre Cola, does not hit the spot. Now, sit back, get energized with a Hazing Arizona from Walter Station Brewery, and let's start running! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla love this saw. It's a part of us, and now we're gonna make it a part of you! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The year is 2019. The finest men in America don't run for President. They run for their lives! (0:00) Lingering Questions – We need one kill. Which Stalker do we pick for the job? (35:03) The "Captain Freedom's Workout" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (55:18) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Dystopian Flops with some B-grade Gun-Fu in Equilibrium! (1:05:24) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

When it was released in 1982, few could've predicted Blade Runner would become the cultural landmark that it did. Sure, it was well reviewed at the time and remains so, but it was generally slept on by audiences. Time has only seen the appreciation for it grow. Its cult status is well deserved. Blade Runner is a masterpiece of the genre—a truly seminal science fiction film. Buoyed by Rutger Hauer's masterful performance as replicant Roy Batty, it is a film that engrosses you in its post-apocalyptic world. And, like all essential science fiction, it poses important questions about what makes us human. If you haven't seen it, there is no better time than the present. Now, sit back, dull your guilt with a Tsingtao, and don't question the impending end of your existence! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are "retiring"replicants who dare question their masters! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Man has made his match. Now, it's his problem! (0:00) Lingering Questions – From flop to cult classic. How do we feel about the legacy of Blade Runner? (41:05) The "Tyrell Corporation" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:09:29) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Dystopian Flops with Arnold's other 1987 sci-fi classic, The Running Man! (1:22:13) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Jury Duty was one of the last gasps in the fading stardom of Pauly Shore. Son of the legendary Mitzi Shore, Pauly was briefly—and inexplicably—a Hollywood thing in the 90s. With his dopey, laissez-faire  chic, he headlined a string of movies, most of which weren't very good. Jury Duty falls into the unfortunate section of his filmography. A riff on 12 Angry Men, the movie centers on one dipshit juror, who refuses to render a verdict because the $5 they're making per day is too sweet a deal. As one could imagine, flat jokes, racist impressions, a romantic subplot, and our moronic lead actually doing the right thing all follow. It's obnoxious, unfunny, off putting, and seems far longer than 87 minutes. Hence why critics and audiences found Jury Duty guilty on all charges, sentencing it to 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and purchasing far less tickets than the movie cost to make. Now, sit back drown out the annoyance of Pauly Shore's voice with a Harpoon IPA, and never bet against Peanut's Jeopardy skills! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are sharing a burrito with Judge Ito! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – For truth. For justice. For five bucks a day! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Why was Pauly Shore a thing? (32:52) The "The Fast Food Killer" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (52:00) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off Dystopian Flops with a sci-fi masterpiece, Blade Runner! (1:03:18) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Nothing But Trouble is so bizarre that it's hard to believe it exists. The brain child of Dan Aykroyd, it is a menagerie of his wildest ideas and characters. And, since he wrote, directed, and produced it, there was nobody on set with enough clout to have him rein it in a little. Ghostbusters this is not. Despite that, Aykroyd should be commended for going all in on his ideas. When your film involves a prosthetic nose shaped like the tip of a penis and two ghastly looking grown men covered in crud and oil and wearing diapers, it's clear you've committed to the bit. Nothing But Trouble is a singular vision. Whether you think it works or not—more than likely not—is up to you. Critics, for their part, hated it, sentencing it to 15% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were apparently also baffled by it. Nothing But Trouble is one of the largest box office flops of all time. It grossed less than $9 million on a budget of $45 million. Hey, hey, ha! Ho ha! Heh heh heh heh! Hoola, Hoola, Hoola! The Boola Boola Boola! Look who's got the front seats to the Mexican hat dance now! Now, sit back, tour Judge Alvin "JP" Valkenheiser's house of horrors with a King Crispy Pilsner from Deschutes Brewing, and get yourself up a couple of dogs! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are riding the harrowing rails of Mr. Bone Stripper! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – All they wanted was a little getaway. All they got was nothing but trouble! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Is this the oddest movie we've ever done? (35:14) The "Mr. Bone Stripper" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (43:32) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We finish Objection! Flops with the worst gift the 90s ever gave us Pauly Shore in Jury Duty! (50:36) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

In Find Me Guilty, Vin Diesel stars as "Fat" Jackie DiNorscio, one of several defendants in a federal racketeering trial. That trial was the longest Mafia trial in American history. That conceit is interesting in and of itself, but the fact that DiNorscio served as his own attorney really puts it over the top. Using original court transcripts throughout, DiNorscio makes for a compelling movie character. And Diesel's portrayal of him is some of his finest work on film. DiNorscio is charming and funny. His counterpart, Sean Kierney (in reality, Samuel Alito) played by  Linus Roache is the opposite. He's a brash, cocky prick that you really want DiNorscio to stick it to. Yes, the mobsters are the bad guys, but they are not bad guys. The penultimate film of the great Sidney Lumet, it's a shame that Find Me Guilty didn't find a wider audience at the time of its release. Buy, hey, it's free to stream now, so what are you waiting for? So, sit back, overrule any objections you have with a Tropical High Hazy IPA from Sweetwater Brewing, and don't rat! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla aren't gangsters. We're gagsters! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Sometimes the best defense. . . is a wiseguy! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Should Vin Diesel have taken on more serious roles like this one? (27:25) The "I Love Yous Guys" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (59:58) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Objection! Flops with the Dan Aykroyd-helmed disaster Nothing But Trouble! (1:12:33) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Gotti is the dramatic retelling of the rise and fall of one time New York Mafia kingpin John J. Gotti. Historically, mob stories have been excellent cinematic fodder. That is not the case here. Produced by Junior Gotti, the son of the late head of the Gambino Crime Family, this film lacks a compelling narrative. And since it is told non-linearly, most of the proceedings are a jumbled mess. Thus, for those unfamiliar with Gotti's journey to power and subsequent arrests, it is quite hard to follow. Gotti is severely lacking in context, a fact driven home by its series of random conversations between the titular ne'er do well and his various associates. Those involved surely knew they had a stinker on their hands, making their decision to premiere it at the Cannes Film Festival all the more baffling. Now, sit back, swear your allegiance to the pod by spilling a Breaking Bud IPA from Knee Deep Brewing Co., and search for those wiretaps! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are tampering with juries and earning our stripes in the streets! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – He showed the world who's boss! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Is Gotti truly worth of its 0% rating? (30:58) The "The Boss is the Boss..." Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (48:10) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off Objection! Flops with another mob movie Find Me Guilty! (1:01:16) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Land of the Lost is the second reboot of a niche TV show from the 70s. With a far bigger budget and a cast of comedy all-stars—including Will Ferrell and Danny McBride—one would think the big screen version would elevate the odd source material. Alas, it could not. Land of the Lost is an unfunny slog through a pseudo prehistoric parallel dimension. It is one filled with a vengeful T-Rex, horny lizard-like aliens, and a deluge of assorted, rifted junk. Sandwiched in between all of that is a string of forced jokes, and Will Ferrell lazily attempting to play the hits and hallmarks of his career. It's no wonder that critics lambasted it. Land of the Lost sits at 26% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences also chose to leave it stranded somewhere in time. It earned just $68.8 million worldwide. For lack of a better word, its box office fortunes were extinct. Now, sit back, mask your scent with a Monarch Juicy IPA from High Grain Brewing Co., and find the tachyon amplifier! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are locating a portal between worlds in the Devil's Canyon Mystery Cave! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Experience a new dimension in adventure! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Did we find any of this ridiculous enterprise funny? (33:00) The "Beware the Sleestak" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (52:56) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off Objection! Flops with the movie that showed the world who's boss, Gotti! (1:09:19) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Waterworld was Kevin Costner's massive swing at post-apocalyptic adventure. As the film's gruff lead, the Mariner, Costner is essentially just a seafaring Mad Max, wandering the oceanic wasteland trying to survive. If that sounds cool, then you'll probably love it. And for the most part, it is pretty damn awesome. What made Waterworld such an easy target for critics and the public was its massive budget and oft rumored issues during production. The budget did balloon and was indeed sizable. The rumors of on-set discord are more than likely true, but they shouldn't detract from the film itself. Waterworld took an impossible premise and somehow made most of its ideas float. Thus, despite earning just $264.2 million worldwide on an all-in budget of $235 million, it was hardly the catastrophe most made it out to be. Plus, you get Dennis Hopper with an eye-patch, mutant sharks, a rad trimaran, jet ski fights, and a fish-man mutant as the hero! What's not to love? Now, sit back, purify your urine with a Big Wave from Kona, and remember: It's never to early to start smoking! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are scouring the bottom of the ocean for fresh dirt to trade! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Beyond the horizon lies the secret to a new beginning! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Does Waterworld deserve its reputation as one of cinema's great disasters? (49:45) The "Dry Land is a Myth" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:08:59) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude Adventurous Flops with one of the more misguided big screen reboots, Land of the Lost! (1:19:41) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins is based on The Destroyer series of pulp novels. Clearly inspired by James Bond, the character takes an American spin on the cloak and dagger antics of black ops. Unlike Agent 007, though, Remo Williams—at least in his big screen incarnation—is not the most compelling character. And by modern sensibilities, it doesn't help that his trainer—an elderly Korean marital arts master named Chiun—is an assemblage of racist tropes. Oh, lest I forget, he's played by a white actor in bad makeup. Cue the wide eyes emoji. Thus, despite being helmed by 60s/70s Bond staple Guy Hamilton, Remo Williams fails to capture the charm of those cinematic escapades. And on a budget of $40 million—which was quite high for 1985—it grossed just $14.4 million. Cinematic universes are not born with those type of receipts. Now, sit back, toast to your new identity with a Backyard Explorer IPA from Pizza Port Brewing Co., and remember to breathe! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are enforcing the 11th Commandment, "Thou shalt not get away with it"! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – It's going to take a dead man to save the country...from a death merchant's dream of destruction! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Would Remo Williams work as either a movie or show today? (27:14) The "Blue Collar James Bond" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (39:25) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continued Adventurous Flops with one of the wettest and most notorious flops, Waterworld! (49:04) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Sahara was meant to be the next big adventure franchise—an Indiana Jones for a new era. Its main character—Dirk Pitt played by Matthew McConaughey—was the lead in a series of novels by Clive Cussler. The material was there to be mined, but the audience was not. Despite its inspiration, Sahara could not match the popularity of the novels. Grossing just $119 million worldwide, it took quite the hit at the box office, especially since the cost of the film ballooned during production. The reasons for why those costs went off the rails are plentiful and detailed extensively in an old LA Times piece. Its failure aside, there is some fun to be had. With exciting set pieces and that classic McConaughey charm, this should not have been the flop it was. Now, sit back, quench your thirst for adventure with a Shiner Bock from the Spoetzl Brewery, and don't drink that well water! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are pulling a Panama to evade the fuzz! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Adventure has a new name ... Dirk Pitt! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Outside of die hard Clive Cussler fans (Bling Blake), who would want a sequel to this movie? (29:48) The "USS Texas" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (49:20) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff Adventurous Flops with the world's most handsome treasure seeker in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins! (1:02:19) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Speed Racer, based on a popular Japanese Manga and cartoon from the 1960s, is a CGI explosion of high speed hijinks. Directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski, it embodies much of what made the series so beloved. That works to its benefit and detriment. For those unfamiliar with Speed Racer's inspiration, there is a barrier to entry. Essentially, this is an eccentric film based on an eccentric property. And the sheer amount of colors and whizzing computer effects don't make Speed Racer any easier to digest. It is a live action cartoon, where almost everything thrown at you looks flat. It comes as no surprise then that this failed to recoup its $120 million budget, earning just $93.9 million. Critics also largely dismissed it. Speed Racer sits at 42% on Rotten Tomatoes with 218 reviews. All that aside, though, this is a movie fans of the property seem to love, and, undeniably, there is a certain charm to the movie. Now, sit back, put the pedal to the metal with a Busch Light, and watch out for that Chim Chim cake! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are high-stakes rally racing to take down corporate ne'er-do-wells! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Speed has no limits. In the world's fastest race, nothing can slow you down! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Is Speed Racer truly a cult classic? (27:15) The "Get that Weak Shit Off My Track" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (50:11) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff Adventurous Flops with the world's most handsome treasure seeker in Sahara! (1:02:37) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Alita: Battle Angel, based on a popular Manga series, is a cyberpunk action film from Robert Rodriguez. Full of CGI and over the top fisticuffs, Alita: Battle Angel is quite often visually dazzling. It truly feels like an anime come to life. Where it fails is its storytelling. The titular Alita is not a particularly compelling character, and her romance with Hugo is even less interesting. Such a shortcoming generally doesn't matter all that much in an effects heavy movie, but Alita: Battle Angel leans into their budding romance. No amount of script doctoring could salvage their lack of chemistry. That aside, this film garnered a legion of online hardcore fans. Though it may not be as awesome as they think, it is still worth watching for those unfamiliar with its inspiration, especially if you enjoy science fiction and rollerblading. Now, sit back, celebrate your hunter warrior license with a Divot Lemonade and Iced Tea Ale from Sonder Brewing Co., and get ready to Motor Ball! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are stripping cyborgs for premium parts! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – A Warrior Rises. Discover a Bold New World and a Brave New Hero! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Should it finally happen, would we be down for a sequel? (48:56) The "Champion's League" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (1:05:19) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We finish off Live Action Flops with a movie that didn't deserve the initial hate, Speed Racer! (1:20:57) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra is a somewhat successful live-action adaptation of the beloved GI Joe cartoon and toy line. It's a big, loud, dumb, and, at times, very fun action film. Most of the adjectives above will come as no surprise for fans of Stephen Sommers–he of The Mummy and The Mummy Returns fame. The DNA of what made those films such enjoyable adventure romps is here. Unfortunately, so is his penchant to go too far over the top. *Cough* Van Helsing. What Sommers gets wrong in this, he basically butchers. Eschewing common series lore in favor Hollywood tropes, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra loses some of the magic from the property, turning off longtime fans and general audiences in the process. Despite there being internet murmurs that this movie, and Sommers' career prospects, deserved better, this one underperformed at the time of its release. It grossed just $302.5 million on a budget of $175. Critics also sent it the Slaughter House. It sits at 33% on Rotten Tomatoes with 169 reviews. But, hey, there is a good time to be had here, as long as you don't think too hard about it. So, sit back, get your nano-mites buzzing with a Weird Science Pale Ale from Paperback Brewing Co., and call us Commander! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are training in the Pit to take down Cobra's goons! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – When all else fails, they don't! (00:00) Lingering Questions – What GI Joe character would we like to see most in a future film? (36:27) The "Vow of Silence" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (48:30) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Live Action Flops with the internet's darling, Alita: Battle Angel! (55:35) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

The Last Airbender—the 2010 version written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan—is an affront to cinema. Yes, it is that bad; and no, it is not worth wasting more brain power writing about. Now, sit back, douse the Fire Nation's flames with a Tropic Force IPA from Voodoo Ranger, and practice that water bending! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are riding our magical sky bison like it's a banana boat! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Four nations, one destiny! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Does The Last Airbender dethrone Rollerball as the Shit Movie Champion? (23:29) The "Turd-Bender" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (43:54) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Live Action Flops with an adaptation that lacks bite, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra! (54:55) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the abandoned child of a now-defunct cinematic universe. Pushed multiple times and released far after James Gunn's announcement of his new DCU, the writing was on the wall, or in the sand, for the King of Atlantis' fate. And, yet, the studio still felt they needed to tinker with it to death. The fingerprints of studio meddling are all over Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The editing is slap dash, and their blatant desire to rid the film of Amber Heard's Mera is painfully obvious. Jason Mamoa, for all his charm, goes full Aquabro in an attempt to distract viewers from all the warts lining the film's oceanic underbelly. But, as we all know, one should never go full Aquabro. Despite his over the top schtick wearing thin far before the final credits roll, though, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is still a fairly decent time at the movies. The Orm/Arthur dynamic is fun throughout, the action beats mostly hit, and the return of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta is a welcome one. Sadly, audiences knew that this was the dead end of all dead ends; and, as a result, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom couldn't even muster half of its predecessor's $1.1 billion+ box office. Still, considering the current superhero cinema landscape, $434.4 million isn't too shabby. Now, sit back and refine that Orichalcum because it's a lovely day for a Guinness! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are just chum butter in the ocean of life! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – One king will lead us all. The tide is turning! (00:00) Lingering Questions – With the old DCU dead, who would we cast the old actors as in the new DCU? (29:46) The "Aqua-Trivia" Challenge – Capt. Cash challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (40:17) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff Live Action Flops with a movie sure to induce anime fans' PTSD, 2010's Avatar: The Last Airbender! (50:27) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Madame Web is Sony's latest vapid entry in their ever burgeoning catalogue of films centering around the villains of Spider-Man. And, yes, like Morbius, that hero is nowhere to be seen. In fact, since the film largely takes place in 2003, he hasn't even been born yet. Our heroine here is Cassandra Webb, an EMT born with powers she has yet to realize she's been given. The how and the why of that truly need to be seen to be believed. Webb (the eventual Madame Web) can see glimpses of the future. In doing so, she makes it her business to save three young girls who will most certainly die without her help. Anyway, the central antagonist, Ezekiel Sims, goes on this quest for vengeance for reasons; Webb's most effective form of combatting Sims—outside of clairvoyance, of course—is attempted vehicular homicide; and you will leave the theater wondering what circle of hell Sony has propelled you into. Madame Web is as bad as advertised. It is a film that need not exist. An origin of an origin, the three future Spider-Women don't even wear their costumes in the actual timeline of the film. Those appear solely in glimpses of a future we'll never see. I'd say the 12% is justified, but even that was probably too kind. Now, sit back, drown your sorrows with a Depth Perception Imperial IPA from Terrapin Beer Co., and watch out for that Pepsi sign! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are table dancing to Toxic at a roadside diner! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Her web connects them all! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Why does Sony continue to foist these turds upon us? (33:40) The "Great Power Will Come" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (56:45) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Super-Heroic Flops with a sequel that couldn't match its predecessor's success, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom! (1:06:44) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!