Why Wasn't It Better?

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!

“You're the man now, dawg!” Finding Forrester gave us Sean Connery's penultimate role — and one of the most quoted (and memed) lines of the early 2000s. We revisit this feel-good mentor drama about a reclusive writer and a gifted teen, and ask: is there a great movie buried beneath the clichés? From its Good Will Hunting echoes to Connery's quiet gravitas, we dig into why this film connected with audience, and why it still feels a little forgotten.___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, here's another ranking episode! Guest and Marvel superfan Garret Ohringer joins to help us rank the Phase One films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.___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 annual Christmas episode! Jim Carrey as Scrooge, animated in mo-cap 3D sounds like a holiday classic, right? Robert Zemeckis' version of A Christmas Carol promised a visually stunning, motion-capture reimagining of the timeless Dickens tale — but did it capture the magic of the original, or just get lost in the tech? ___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 Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe promised magic, epic battles, and a talking lion. And it delivered, mostly. The 2005 big screen adaptation brought C.S. Lewis' beloved book series to life, but still couldn't quite escape the shadows of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Guest Nathan Perry joins 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!

Before Sherlock Holmes was a genius detective, he was an adventurous schoolboy in Young Sherlock Holmes. This forgotten 1985 gem combines teen detective charm, Indiana Jones-style action, and some seriously bizarre mystical shenanigans. Patrick and Anton dive into the film that tried to make a teen Sherlock a thing, but ended up more cult classic than franchise starter. Was it ahead of its time, or just a confusing mess of 80s adventure tropes?___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 special emergency episode as we honor the passing of one of our favorite actors, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa.___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 sweeping, it's romantic, it's nearly three and a half hours long. Doctor Zhivago was a box office smash and an Oscar darling, but does it actually work? David Lean gave us snow-covered melodrama, endless longing glances, and Omar Sharif's eternally furrowed brow to ask: is this epic a masterpiece or just a beautifully shot soap opera? Guest Paul Kind returns to sort it out for the 60th anniversary of Doctor Zhivago.___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!

Don Bluth's Anastasia brought lush animation, catchy songs, and a not-so-historically-accurate fairy tale to the late 90s — and for many, it was the non-Disney princess movie. Producer Eric Taylor and his wife Catelyn join the pod to explore this fan favorite to explore its strange blend of royal tragedy, undead villains, and Broadway ambition. Was it a worthy competitor to Disney, or a beautifully animated mess with an identity crisis? Together, we journey once upon a December to find 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!

It's peace in our time… or is it? The original Enterprise crew faces their final frontier with political intrigue, Shakespeare-quoting villains, and a surprisingly topical Cold War allegory. Guest and casual Trek fan Ben Hill returns to the podcast to talk about Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.___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 morphin' time! This week we dive into the mid-90s explosion of spandex, sparks, and nostalgia with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. From Angel Grove to the planet Phaedos, the Rangers face their biggest threat yet in the wise-cracking villain Ivan Ooze. Guest Ivan Calixto joins to talk about the film's place in the Power Rangers phenomenon, how it stacks up against the hit TV show, and why it felt both bigger and cheesier on the big screen. ___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!

Presumed Innocent had all the makings of a gripping legal thriller: a best-selling novel, Harrison Ford at his dramatic peak, and a twisty murder mystery. This 1990 courtroom drama was a major box office hit but somehow left a surprisingly faint cultural footprint. Was it too slow, too serious, or just overshadowed by slicker thrillers that followed? We dig into the performances, the plotting, and why this prestige drama feels more forgotten than it should. Patrick and Anton are joined by special guest Jay Skipworth, one of the hosts of The Film Strip Podcast!___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 House of Dynamite turns seventeen minutes of nuclear uncertainty into a Netflix thriller. Kathryn Bigelow delivers a fractured, overlapping narrative where a single anonymous missile forces the American government into a race against time—and against its own instincts. This episode digs into the film's structure, its unsettling realism, and why it may or may not be a pointless pyramid scheme.___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!

Peter Jackson's follow up to his Lord of the Rings triumph was his most personal project, a remake of his favorite film. King Kong was an enormously expensive, massively hyped monster movie that performed well but has a mixed legacy twenty years later. Should it have been better? Guest Peter Baldeo returns to talk Kong.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Pixar's latest entry has unfortunately turned out to be its biggest loser at the box office. Whether it was the delay in production, controversy around its content, or a lack of marketing, audiences flatly ignored Elio when it was released a few months ago. It's doing better on Disney+ but how does it stack up in the totality of Pixar's filmography?___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!

He's baaaaack! After the poorly-received bizarre third film, the studio decided to bring back Michael Myers. The fact that he died in the second film didn't matter. In what is now a yearly tradition for this podcast, guest Sean O'Connor returns to discuss Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers.___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!

Edgar Wright's stylish dive into psychological horror had fans buzzing — but Last Night in Soho left audiences split. Was it a bold genre experiment or a beautiful mess? Patrick and Anton unpack the film's aesthetic highs, narrative lows, and whether it actually delivers on the scares. Guest Zion Parker returns to discuss Giallo vibes, ghost girls, and one very confused third act.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

It's gothic, it's moody, and it's kind of a mess. We sink our teeth into Neil Jordan's adaptation of Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire. Tom Cruise goes full glam rock as Lestat, Brad Pitt pouts for two hours, and Kirsten Dunst steals the whole movie. We talk tonal whiplash, tragic wigs, and why this movie is equal parts fascinating and frustrating with return guest Jake Valkusky.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Perhaps John Carpenter's finest work, The Thing may be beloved now but was completely ignored by audiences upon its release in 1982. It's a perfect choice to talk about as we get into spooky season. Guest Sean O'Connor returns to the podcast to discuss.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

They're heeeere! Does this count as a Steven Spielberg film? We like to think it does. Is Poltergeist really the horror classic that many claim, or is it somehow overrated by its fans? Guest Paul Kind is here to figure it out in the first of our 2025 spooky mini-season episodes.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

It's been thirty years since Pierce Brosnan first suited up as 007 — and GoldenEye still hits like a tank-driving, bungee-jumping, post-Cold War reset button. After a six-year hiatus, James Bond was back with a new face, a new attitude, and a whole lot of mid-'90s tech action. Guest Kai Wang joins the podcast to revisit the film that made Bond relevant again and ask: was this the last great reinvention before things got a little too shaken and stirred?___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

In honor of the recently-deceased screen legend Robert Redford, we discuss one of his most iconic films, The Natural. Join us for a special 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!

That's it for Season Eight! 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/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

We conclude Season Eight with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where the series took a darker turn. The stakes were higher and the hair was longer, but should this fourth entry in the series have been better? Guest Taylor Schuurmans is back to talk about the return of Lord Voldemort.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

This animated reboot fell flat at the box office despite stellar reviews. Despite being part of such a recognizable franchise, why did Transformers One fail to make an impact with audiences? Does it deserve more love? Guest and Transformers fan Kai Wang returns to defend this film's honor.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

One of the most unique comic adaptations ever, Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy is fascinating to watch. The cast is stacked. The visuals are eye-popping. But could it have been better? Disney was hoping it would be. Noted guest and Marvel consigliere Garret Ohringer joins to talk about Warren Beatty's conquests.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

According to some, The Color Purple was Steven Spielberg's first "serious" drama. It made Whoopi Goldberg into an overnight star. Spielberg got the awards attention but not in the way he wanted. How does this acclaimed but controversial adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel hold up after forty years? Guest Zion Parker joins to give his thoughts.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Continuing our tradition of covering 1970s disaster movies, The Hindenburg is an (un)interesting one. Despite being based on the famous historical event and being released during the height of the disaster movie craze, it was hardly a success for Universal. Should it have done better or did it deserve its fiery fate?___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Doctor Strange was never the first name that came to mind when you thought of Marvel heroes yet somehow, this mind-bending, trippy addition to the MCU became a smash hit. First-time guest and patron Daniel Ake joins the podcast to break down the film that turned a B-list sorcerer into a fan-favorite, and why the visuals, cast, and unexpected blend of mysticism and sci-fi hit so hard.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

The Black Cauldron was released during the darkest period in Disney's history. It flopped so badly that it nearly killed the studio's animation department. Just thinking about that alone is wild enough. Yet some fans defend this as a misunderstood classic. One thing is for sure. It should have been better.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Zabba zabba zabba. The second and almost certainly the last Steven Seagal movie we're covering. Under Siege 2: Dark Territory is the sequel to what most fans agree is Seagal's best work. Is this sequel somehow underrated? Does it work as a guilty pleasure 90's action cheesefest? Guest Sean O'Connor returns to weigh in for the 30th anniversary of Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

The Man of Steel has recently soared back to the big screen in a reboot that promises hope, heroism, and a fresh start for DC? The studio has entrusted James Gunn with reviving their iconic hero, but does the new Superman deliver? Industry insider and comic book fan Ivan Calixto returns to the podcast to share his thoughts.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

What would God need with a starship? William Shatner's first directorial effort turned out to be his last. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier is the black sheep of the original film series, and it's not hard to see why. Does it deserve its bad rap? Trekkie and guest Paul Kind returns to vent his feelings. ___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Our first Hitchcock film! It's been a long time coming. Dial M for Murder is well-regarded but somehow sits just outside the top tier of Alfred Hitchcock's legendary catalog. It's often overlooked by some of Hitchcock's other works. This was also his first collaboration with Grace Kelly, a pairing that would define much of his work in the '50s. Does this early thriller deserve more attention, or is it overshadowed by its more famous suspenseful siblings?___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72nZWQLXOJsxbkgpiqOffuApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-wasnt-it-better/id1716624431Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Nothing beats a summer murder mystery. The second of Rian Johnson's Knives Out series, Glass Onion once again features Daniel Craig headlining an all star cast. Not as well-received as its predecessor, we thought this would be fun to cover since the third one releases later this year. ___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

This season's worst Best Picture winner. Chariots of Fire is probably best remembered for the main theme to its score, and yet this tale of the 1924 English track Olympians somehow won Best Picture in 1981. Guest Nathan Perry is back to talk some Olympic sports drama.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

It's the 30th anniversary of Waterworld! One of the most infamous blockbusters of all time, as well as one of the most requested films we've gotten. Kevin Costner's absurdly expensive, water-logged misadventure that all but ended his status as one of Hollywood's A-list stars. Waterworld has quite the reputation. It is undeserved? Or should it have been better? Guest Ivan Calixto returns to share his thoughts.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Back by Patreon request, and the second part of our Tron double feature. Tron: Legacy was released nearly thirty years after the original cult classic. Like the first one, it was successful but not nearly as much as Disney had hoped for. Since the third one is being released this October, we thought this was perfect to revisit. Guest Tom Paradiso joins us on the Grid.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialTwitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!