Why Wasn't It Better?

The 20th Bond film was supposed to be a celebration of the series. Die Another Day was an enormous financial success but ended up being Pierce Brosnan's final film. EON decided to reboot the series. But why? Did Brosnan deserve another shot? Why wasn't it better? Guest Kai Wang returns to the podcast for our Season Eleven premiere as we discuss Die Another Day.____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

In a first for the podcast, we're hitting the Kalshi prediction market. Our first predictions are for two films releasing very soon: The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. ____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

On this bonus episode, we're breaking down Hoppers, a weird, funny, and surprisingly unpredictable original that feels like a throwback to when Pixar wasn't afraid to experiment. It's not top-tier, but it's exactly the kind of risk-taking, offbeat storytelling we've been missing. Is this the direction Pixar should be heading in?____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Season Ten is all wrapped up. join us as we give our traditional recap and preview what's on deck for next season.____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

We conclude Season Ten with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth film in the series. By this point, the films were box office machines, but Half-Blood Prince is arguably the most disliked. Did it set things up for the finale? Or is it a poor adaptation of the book? Guest and Potterhead Jake Valkusky is back to discuss._____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Enjoy this sneak preview of our Spider-Man: Homecoming episode. The full episode is available right now for our supporters over on Patreon. The full episode will not be available for another month. So if you want early access, head over to patreon.com/wwibofficial and become a Patreon!____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

It's the 30th anniversary of a film that needs no introduction. Independence Day wasn't just one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. It became a huge piece of pop culture in the 1990s and remains one to this day. Does it hold up three decades later? We're going to try and sort that out. Here to celebrate America's birthday with us is guest Ivan Calixto._____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Under Capricorn is known as one of Alfred Hitchcock's least successful efforts. Starring the great Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten, it's a period costume drama set in Victorian Australia. Does that sound compelling? It didn't to us, but we wanted to check it out and see if it wasn't some diamond in the rough._____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Tower Heist had many ingredients that should have made it a standout comedy for its era. The involvement of Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, and a stellar supporting cast, involved in a caper? Sounds great on paper. The result was something that nobody hated, but nobody really loved either, and that's disappointing. Why wasn't it better?____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Toy Story 4 arrived nine years after a trilogy that already had one of the most emotionally definitive endings in modern animation. Rather than building on Andy's goodbye, the film pivots hard toward Woody's identity crisis, reframing him from loyal caretaker to wandering existential hero. It's beautifully animated, occasionally funny, and conceptually interesting — but it also feels like a movie arguing with its own reason for existing. The question isn't whether it's well made, but whether undoing Toy Story 3 was worth the cost. So… why wasn't it better?_____Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend

If you're of a certain age, chances are you watched Fantastic Voyage in grade school science class. While the film itself may have faded from many people's memories, it's actually a very influential work of science fiction and we're here to carry its torch, sixty years later. Guest Paul Kind returns to discuss._________________Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Believe it or not, Airport 1975 was one of the biggest sequels of its era. Released at the height of the disaster movie craze in the 1970s, it was critically panned but audiences ate it up. Today it's mostly remembered for the film that parodied it, Airplane! Nonetheless we think it deserves discussion and guest Cam Sully of The Jacked Up Review Podcast joins to discuss._________________Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Released at the absolute height of Pokémania, Pokémon the Movie 2000 aimed bigger, darker, and more mythic than the TV show ever dared. Lugia, the Legendary Birds, an ancient prophecy, and a world-ending imbalance give this film a surprising sense of scale for what's ostensibly a kids' anime movie. It's all about the Power of One. Producer and Pokémon super fan Eric Taylor fan joins to discuss._________________Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

A Patreon request! Brad Pitt behind the wheel, Joseph Kosinski in the director's chair, and real Formula One teams lending their names — F1 has all the makings of a high-octane sports movie classic. But does it actually cross the finish line, or stall out in the pits? From the groundbreaking in-race cinematography to the familiar sports clichés, we ask the question: with access to the real F1 world, why wasn't it better?_________________Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

At the absolute peak of his fame, Michael Jackson had the power to make something completely on his own terms, and that's exactly what Moonwalker is. Full of claymation, drug dealers, supercars, machine guns, gundam suits, and children, Moonwalker feels less like a film and more like a surreal artifact of pop culture excess. Guest Zion Parker is here to try and make sense of the madness.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Some James Bond fans will tell you that an actor always hits their stride with their third entry as the British secret agent. Did Pierce Brosnan achieve that with The World Is Not Enough? Many would tell you no, but we might tell you otherwise. Don't be confused. So are we. Guest Kai Wang returns to share his thoughts.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Enjoy this sneak preview of our Hoppers episode. The full episode is available right now for our supporters over on Patreon. The full episode will not be available for another TWO MONTHS. So if you want early access, head over to patreon.com/wwibofficial and become a Patreon!_________________Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Mission: Impossible III has a strange legacy. It kept the series going after the ill-received second entry. In some ways it served as a soft reboot. It set things up for the series to dominate in the next decade. Yet it is often overlooked. Why? Should Tom Cruise have done better, or is this now underrated? Guest Tom Paradiso has chosen to accept the mission of discussing it.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

The film that holds the notorious distinction of being the only film in the franchise to fail at the box office, Solo: A Star Wars Story was supposed to work. An origin story about one of cinema's most beloved heroes, directed by the steady hand of Ron Howard? Turns out Disney severely miscalculated. But nearly a decade on, is it really as bad as its box office numbers? Or does it deserve some love? Guest Adam Hecht is back for some Star Wars therapy._________________Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Episode four of our Stephen King mini-season and also a Patreon request! Edgar Wright's reboot of The Running Man fell completely flat at the box office last year, despite the name of Stephen King and the involvement of Glenn Powell. Why did it fail so badly? Is it destined for cult classic status? Guest Daniel Ake returns to the podcast to help figure it out.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Episode three of our Stephen King mini-season! Doctor Sleep is an ambitious sequel that tries to thread an impossible needle: honoring Stanley Kubrick's The Shining while faithfully adapting Stephen King's very different novel. Director Mike Flanagan delivers moments of genuine emotional power and some solid horror, but the film was largely ignored upon release in 2019. Why wasn't it better?___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Episode two of our Stephen King mini-season! This is one that only the King fans remember. Hearts in Atlantis is based on a short story with another name from the beloved author. Even the star power of Anthony Hopkins and then-newcomer Anton Yelchin couldn't prevent this from box office doom. A quarter-century later it's been completely forgotten. Does it deserve more attention?___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

A preview of our Solo: A Star Wars Story episode. The full episode is available right now for our supporters over on Patreon. This will become available to you in the next 2-3 weeks. So if you want early access, extra episodes, and to help keep the show going, head over to patreon.com/wwibofficial and become a Patreon!_________________Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Episode one of our Stephen King mini-season! Often maligned, Children of the Corn is a sleeper classic. It has its fans, enough so that it (somehow) spawned a franchise with eight sequels. It doesn't make sense to us either. Join us as we try to make some sense of this funny little horror movie.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

The Robe is a product of a bygone genre of films, the Biblical epic. Starring a young Richard Burton and adapted from a best-selling novel, it was very popular during its day but has faded from most memories. Perhaps best known in the world of Christianity, we're covering it for Holy Week. Guest Nathan Perry is back to weigh in.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

In celebration of our YouTube channel hitting 2k subscribers, I agreed to cover this. There's no other reason. Enjoy this bonus episode._________________Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

You could call this a Worst Best Picture winner. You shouldn't, but some actually do. The Coen Brothers' adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men became an instant classic upon release in 2007, winning four Academy Awards and all the critical praise. We wanted to cover it because we love it so much. Guest Peter Baldeo is here to talk about it.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Hercules was Disney's aggressively stylized, gospel-infused, pop-myth remix of the Greek legend. It also under-performed in the eyes of the studio and is often seen as one of the lesser entries in the Renaissance. Like any Disney movie, it has its fans, but why isn't it better remembered? Guest Adam Hecht returns to weigh in.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

The first Guardians was a surprise hit for Marvel. Funny, fresh, and full of heart. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a cosmic sequel where the jokes are louder, the colors are brighter, and the daddy issues are turned up to eleven. Guests Ivan Calixto and Garret Ohringer join the pod to discuss this space adventure.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Join us for a bonus episode as we ramble about the famed awards show and give our half-baked predictions for the upcoming 98th Academy Awards.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

A preview of our coverage of No Country for Old Men. The full episode is available right now for our supporters over on Patreon. This will become available to you in the next 2-3 weeks. So if you want early access, extra episodes, and to help keep the show going, head over to patreon.com/wwibofficial and become a Patreon!___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Star Trek Generations was supposed to bridge the gap between the original crew and the Next Generation. The result was something that's nobody's favorite Trek film. How does it stack up all these years later? Guest and co-host of The Film Strip Podcast Jay Skipworth is back to burn in the fire of time with Patrick and Anton.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

By popular demand, we're back with another ranking episode. This time we try to sort out the original six films in the Star Trek galaxy with guest Paul Kind.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is still the gold standard for Batman storytelling — and it's not even live-action. Released theatrically at the height of Batman: The Animated Series, this noir-infused tragedy explores Bruce Wayne's one real chance at happiness, and the moment he chooses the cowl instead. More romantic, more adult, and more emotionally devastating than most superhero films that followed, does it hold up after all these years, or is it overrated? Guest Ivan Calixto is back to discuss.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

The English Patient won nine Academy Awards and became one of the most debated Best Picture winners of all time. Often dismissed as slow or overpraised, the film is revisited here as a formally ambitious, emotionally precise adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel that rewards patience and attention. Its nonlinear structure, performances, and restraint reveal a work more interested in memory and consequence than easy romance. The question isn't why it won in 1996 — it's whether time has unfairly turned a masterpiece into a punchline.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

A film few people have seen or even heard of, The Exception is adapted from The Kaiser's Last Kiss and stars Christopher Plummer as the exiled former German emperor living out his final days as World War II begins. Set far from the front lines, it's a historical drama more interested in power, irrelevance, and moral compromise than battlefield spectacle. Sometimes we go obscure — and sometimes that's where the most interesting stories are hiding. This is a film that deserves far more attention than it's ever received.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Tomorrow Never Dies was Pierce Brosnan's second outing as British secret agent James Bond. While not quite as warmly received as GoldenEye, it's been more recently hailed as ahead of its time. Is it somehow underrated or does it end up being a sophomore slump? Guest Peter Baldeo joins as we try to delivery tomorrow's news today. ___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Like him or not, John Wayne is an American icon. It's high time we covered one of his films and Rio Bravo seemed like a great place to start. Dismissed as just another Howard Hawks Western upon release, over the decades it's become a beloved classic. First time guest and podcast extraordinaire Cam Sully joins for some Duke talk.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Our (second) centennial celebration. We are now three years and two hundred episodes in! No official format here, just us and our producer rambling about various things. We touch on the state of the podcast and what's in store for the future. Thanks again to all of our listeners!___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Few films have experienced reputational turnaronds like John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China. Now a beloved classic, it was equally ignored by critics and audiences upon its release in 1986. Why did it bomb so badly? Could it be remade now? An absurdly fun movie was the right choice for our Season Ten premiere!___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

A preview of our Ranking of the Original Stark Trek Films. The full episode is available right now for our supporters over on Patreon. This will become available to you in the next 2-3 weeks. So if you want early access, extra episodes, and to help keep the show going, head over to patreon.com/wwibofficial and become a Patreon!___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Now that Season Nine is in the wraps, join us as we give our traditional recap and preview what's on deck for next season.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

The darkest chapter in the Harry Potter saga brings political intrigue, teenage angst, and the rise of Voldemort out into the open. But despite its importance, Order of the Phoenix often feels rushed and uneven. With a new director at the helm and the longest book trimmed into the shortest film, it's a turning point that doesn't always hit the emotional highs it aims for. It's the Season Nine finale.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

A preview of our coverage of The English Patient. The full episode is available right now for our supporters over on Patreon. This will become available to you in the next 2-3 weeks. So if you want early access, extra episodes, and to help keep the show going, head over to patreon.com/wwibofficial and become a Patreon!___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

The latest in our "Worst Best Picture Winners series. Chicago is credited with briefly reviving interest in Hollywood musicals. It's a slick, fun musical with memorable songs and performances, but should it have won Best Picture in 2002?___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

It wasn't supposed to be this movie and somehow, that's what makes it work. The Emperor's New Groove began as an epic Disney musical and ended up a chaotic buddy comedy with a llama, a talking squirrel, and more one-liners than heart. First time guest Adam Hecht joins to dig into the bizarre production history, David Spade's deadpan dynasty, and why this misfit movie has become a cult classic, even if it barely feels like a Disney film at all.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Alfred Hitchcock directing superstar talents Paul Newman and Julie Andrews in a spy thriller? Torn Curtain should've been a Cold War classic — so what went wrong? With mismatched stars and flat tension, we ask: is Torn Curtain a misunderstood experiment, or just a rare misfire from the Master of Suspense?___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Sometimes called Avengers 2.5, Captain America: Civil War had a lot riding on it. Tensions exploded as heroes took sides over government oversight, fracturing the team like never before. Friendships were tested, alliances shattered, and the fate of the Avengers—and the world—hung in the balance. Marvel superfan guests Garret Ohringer and Ivan Calixto are back on the pod to take their own sides.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Will Smith is the last man on Earth, sort of. We revisit the post-apocalyptic blockbuster that launched a thousand memes, a few tears, and arguments about alternate endings. I Am Legend had all the right ingredients and still managed to feel like a missed opportunity. Guest Dennis Berscak joins to share his thoughts.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

The third Benoit Blanc mystery came out a couple weeks ago, to the usual acclaim. How does it stack up against the first two? Guest Peter Baldeo returns to talk Wake Up Dead Man.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

In 2005, Steven Spielberg released one of his most ambitious and polarizing films. Despite critical acclaim and multiple Oscar nominations, Munich never quite found a wide audience. How could one of the world's most celebrated directors make a film this bold and yet this overlooked?___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!