Why Wasn't It Better?

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 i...

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/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wh...

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/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter In...

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 h...

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 o...

Greetings, programs! The first part of our Tron double feature. The original 1982 film was a disappointment for Disney but has since become a cult classic. Its iconic imagery has inspired countless other works. Patrick and Anton go into the Grid to talk Tron. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Instagram:...

The Timothy Dalton chapter in the James Bond series concluded with Licence to Kill. Released in the summer of 1989, it underperformed but later found favor with Bond fans for its dark, gritty themes. Special guest Joseph Darlington of Being James Bond joins the podcast to discuss. A link to his channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Beingjamesbond ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.pa...

One of the most obscure films we've covered, Proof of Life should have been a success. Russell Crowe had just starred in Gladiator and was at his peak. Meg Ryan was still America's sweetheart. And yet it completely bombed at the box office. Almost nobody remembers it now. Except us. Guest Garret Ohringer returns to negotiate to bring this film back to popularity. ___ Please consider joining our Pa...

Let's get weird with our first listener request of the season. Summer horror can be some of the best horror. Headlined by Natalie Portman, Alex Garland's sophomore effort impressed critics and almost everyone that saw it, but curiously made no money upon release. Producer Eric Taylor and guest Kai Wang join to discuss Annihilation. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/w...

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. Jaws 2 is a film that realistically should have been worse than what it was. Often lumped together with the two sequels that followed, Jaws 2 seems to have been the first shameless "it happened again" sequel. But we have a lot of time for it. Patrick and Anton discuss summer horror. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patr...

The jury is still out on the legacy of this recent Pixar film. Elemental was minor hit for the studio but seems to divide fans. It's certainly ambitious, but could it have been better? Producer Eric Taylor wanted to join and share his thoughts. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Instagram: https://www.ins...

The Timothy Dalton chapter sadly only lasted for two films, but it began on a high note with The Living Daylights. Dalton's deadly serious approach to James Bond was something entirely different from his predecessors. Has it withstood the test of time? Guest Peter Baldeo is back to talk some Bond. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.yo...

It's the 30th anniversary of Batman Forever, which makes a perfect episode for our Season Eight premiere. Joel Schumacher's zany, neon-drenched take on the Caped Crusader was polarizing but proved very popular at the time. It's gotten a lot of hate over the years but we suspect it has its fans. Guest Ryan Moran returns to share his love for it. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www....

We conclude Season Seven with the film that many Potterheads consider to be the finest in the series. The third entry, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was directed by the auteur Alfonso Cuarón. It is possible that it's somehow overrated? Or is it worthy of all the praise? Guest Jake Valkusky is back to discuss. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial...

Did you know there was a sequel to Chinatown? Jack Nicholson starred in, directed it, and unofficially co-wrote it. And almost nobody knows it exists. You would think this would have been a bigger deal. Why wasn't The Two Jakes better? ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.co...

Funny People was supposed to be the crowning achievement of Judd Apatow's wildly successful 2000's run. With a great cast and an ambitious run time, audiences expected a masterpiece. What we got was an awkward blend of genuine comedy and surprising drama. Has it improved with age since its lukewarm reception? Guest Brian Anderson returns to share his thoughts. ___ Please consider joining our Patre...

With Tom Cruise at his absolute peak, and directed by action master John Woo, Mission: Impossible 2 was a massively successful sequel upon release in 2000. It's also universally derided as the weakest entry in the series. Since there's a new one coming out we decided to cover it. Why is Mi 2 such an outlier? Guest Tom Paradiso joins to discuss. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www....

Here's something a little different. Join us for a very special episode as we rank the Roger Moore James Bond films. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official Twitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Subscribe! Rate!...

Ant-Man was not an A-list Marvel superhero. Paul Rudd was an unconventional choice to headline a blockbuster. And yet Ant-Man found favor with audiences. The Edgar Wright what if left others wondering if it couldn't have been better. Patrick and Anton talk about shrinkage. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72nZWQLXO...

Our very first Jackie Chan movie is the second entry in his most beloved Hong Kong action series. Police Story 2 is often described as the least of the original trilogy. Is that actually true? Guest Kai Wang joins to discuss. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_off...

The Star Wars movie that you didn't even realize was a movie. Yes, the Star Wars movie you forgot existed. To inaugurate the new animated TV series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars was indeed given a theater release in 2008. It was immediately forgotten. Does it deserve more love? ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbe...

Has James Bond finally met his match? We're not so sure. It's the 40th anniversary of A View to a Kill, Moore's seventh and final entry as James Bond. And it shows. At least Christopher Walken was there to play the villain. Guest Tom Paradiso returns to dance into the fire. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72nZWQLX...

Twenty years ago, Steven Spielberg directing Tom Cruise seemed like a match made in blockbuster movie heaven. War of the Worlds was certainly successful but didn't quite become the classic that it should have been. Why wasn't it better? Patrick and Anton try to find out. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter...

Our very first Beatles movie! United Artists was keen to capitalize on Beatlemania. Help! was released less than a year after A Hard's Day Night. None of the Beatles were really fond of their experience making it. Why not? Should it have been better? Guest Paul Kind joins to discuss. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@why...

Unsuccessful at the time of release, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron has lived on as a cult favorite among animation fans. It has enjoyed a sequel as well as a spinoff streaming series. Guests Eric Taylor and Peter Baldeo join to talk about it. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Instagram: https://www.in...