WHAT WENT WRONG

How do you satirize a self-serious sci-fi staple? Any way you can! This week, Chris & Lizzie drop in on Paul Verhoeven's widely misunderstood anti-fascist spectacle and try to figure out how the cast of 90210 was employed to battle some of Phil Tippett's best-looking creations on Klendathu.Come see us live! Oct. 8th and 9th at the Caveat Theater in Manhattan! Head to cheerfulearful.com/podlifeevents.com and click on our show dates for tickets! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Chris as he creeps and crawls through humanity's fear of some of its most helpful planetary cohabitants: bugs, and how they have evolved as on-screen foes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & Kill Bill: Vol 2 were never intended to be two separate movies - but Quentin Tarantino’s vision proved too expansive and the production too unruly. Join Chris and Lizzie as they explore how The Bride was born, why it took 10 years for her to make it to the screen, and how a reckless car accident on set temporarily destroyed Tarantino’s complicated relationship with Uma Thurman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hope is a powerful thing, and Frank Darabont hung his on Stephen King. This week, Chris and Lizzie chronicle the unlikely story of an episodic Stephen King novella, shaped by the hands of a set-dresser turned B-movie writer, and transformed into one of Hollywood's most popular films. Learn how Shawshank had to fail before it could succeed, and why most millennials saw it on TNT about nine hundred thousand times as they came of age.*CORRECTIONS: The IMDb logline reads, "A banker convicted of uxoricide forms a friendship over a quarter century with a hardened convict, while maintaining his innocence and trying to remain hopeful through simple compassion." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘All That Jazz’ is a movie about what a brilliant jerk Bob Fosse is… and it was written and directed by Bob Fosse. Chaos ensued as the legendary choreographer attempted to confront his demons onscreen and off. Chris and Lizzie are joined by Demi Adejuyigbe as they discover just how insane Bob Fosse really was, and why Roy Scheider was not the first ‘Jaws’ star chosen to play Joe Gideon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did a freshly minted horror maestro, one of Hollywood's most alternative leading men, and the squeaky clean Mouse House join forces to revive the water-logged pirate genre? Join Chris and Lizzie as they brave the fraught production of 2003's surprise summer smash, The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. From explosive studio meetings to actual sinking ships, learn how Disney bet it all on a live action adaptation of one of their oldest theme park attractions.*CORRECTIONS: Tombstone was produced under the Hollywood Pictures banner, which ran parallel to Touchstone at Disney from 1989 to 2001.The Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland opened three months after Walt Disney's death, not before. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Chris as he walks the plank and dives headfirst into the myth-filled world of pirates, from their state-sanctioned origins to their silver screen renditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mel Gibson shouts his way to a bigger budget, no one cares about historical accuracy, and somehow the most Scottish movie ever was filmed… in Ireland. Join Lizzie and Chris for a wild journey through Mad Mel’s sophomore directorial effort: 1995’s ‘Braveheart’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a dummy fired out of a cannon! This week, join Chris and Lizzie as they fly 'round the world to turn back time to witness Richard Donner's herculean efforts to bring the Man of Steel to the silver screen. From shady producers and flimsy financing to Marlon Brando's bagel-based bravado and a budget that flew higher than Christopher Reeve, this DC debut defied the odds in making it to theaters at all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1965’s The Sound of Music would eventually become known as “The Sound of Money” but initially no one wanted to be a part of the film - especially Christopher Plummer. Join Lizzie and Chris as they discover why everyone was embarrassed to be a part of this enduring classic, how a helicopter kept knocking Julie Andrews over, and why the boat scene turned dangerous for one of the children.Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Sailydata plans! Use code [wrong] at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/wrong  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did a scrappy production out of the UK with little more than a dozen DV camcorders revive a decidedly dead genre and spark a renaissance with the recently departed? Join Chris and Lizzie as they explore Danny Boyle's lo-fi technically-not-a-zombie-movie-zombie-movie and learn why 100 buckets is never enough, the terror of Kiwi test screenings and why Danny Boyle couldn't wait to get Cillian Murphy shirtless.*CORRECTIONS: The most violent news footage shown in the film's opening (executions, violence, etc.) was staged by Boyle and co., however, some early news footage of civil unrest is archival.Naomie Harris was nominated for an Academy Award (Best Supporting Actress) for for her performance in "Moonlight", but she did not win.The pilot at the end of the film is speaking Finnish, not American, and (faintly) says "Lähetätkö helikopterin?" which translates to "Will you send a helicopter?". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Chris as he explores the evolution of zombies, from their birth in the Caribbean amidst the horrors of the Atlantic slave trade to their high-speed, globalized, modern incarnations. Endlessly adaptable and mutable to represent our evolving societal fears, zombies continue to be the monster that never dies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A very real fear of nuclear war drove Stanley Kubrick to create one of the greatest satirical films ever made - but it wasn’t always a comedy. Find out where the idea for 1964’s ‘Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’ came from, how a rival film almost ruined its chances of success, and which major role Peter Sellers had to drop out of mid-production.  *CORRECTIONS: Merkins were originally worn by prostitutes to hide the effects of lice, disease, or to conceal shaved genitalia.Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code [wrong] at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/wrong Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, join Chris and Lizzie as they learn how the two Midwestern mavens of the Matrix (facing diminishing box office returns), an unassuming Aussie assistant director, and mogul of mayhem Joel Silver spin Alan Moore’s decidedly English anarchist manifesto (starring a bomb-happy, building-blasting, Guy Fawkes fanatic) into a post-9/11 American studio spectacle. Plus, Natalie Portman's shaved head, practical dominoes, and James Purefoy's desperate desire for eyes.*CORRECTIONS: Natalie Portman was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, not Best Actress, for her role in "Closer". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Terrible timing, lack of creative direction, and straight up sabotage plagued Mariah Carey’s infamous big time flopper: 2001’s ‘Glitter’. Find out why the movie was doomed from the start, how Max Beesley’s sexy marimba playing still couldn’t save it, and why Jennifer Lopez may be partially to blame!Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code [wrong] at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/wrong Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did a studio on the brink, a Jewish director, and a second-rate star turn a pulpy, near-blasphemous mass market Christian book into a blockbuster for the ages? Join Chris and Lizzie as they travel back in time to a tinsel town in painful transition to learn why MGM bet it all on a remake of the costliest film of the silent era, examine Gore Vidal's controversial contributions to the script, and test Mussolini's assertion that film is the ultimate weapon.*CORRECTIONS: Chris mispronounces both Cinecitta Studios (should be "chin-eh-cheetah") and Quo Vadis ("Vah-dis"). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cinematographer Steven Poster and camera operator, Dave Chameides join the conversation to put us on the set of Richard Kelly's iconic film, Donnie Darko. Learn about the collaborative efforts required to understand Kelly's vision, and the technical gymnastics necessary to bring it to life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wonder Woman took 75 years to make it to the big screen. Her journey was full of rewrites, reboots, and lots and lots of men. Find out how director Patty Jenkins got the job, why Superman helped Gal Gadot get the part, and who Zack Snyder turned to for help when nothing was working. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was the fall of the Iron Curtain Bond's curtain call? Tasked with saving the super spy were a pair of nepo babies, a television actor and a Kiwi director fresh off a flop. Join Chris and Lizzie as they dive headfirst off an alpine dam into the Herculean effort to bring Bond into the 90s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Chris as he explores 007's origins, birthed from the mind of a 44 year old dilettante debut writer, the result of a bet with his nay-saying brother, at a vacation home in Jamaica affectionately named… GoldenEye. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A decade of development hell, enough writers to take down a gorilla (maybe even a Hulk), and a director dealing with daddy issues. This week, Chris and Lizzie smash into the origins of Ang Lee's Hulk, a brooding mid-aughts Marvel misfire that's just a bit misunderstood. They'll discover the Hulks that almost were (animatronic!), the Hulks that we deserved (Steve Buscemi!) and the Hulks that came to be (Ang Lee gettin' that rage out).*CORRECTIONS:Hulk #1 was released in March of 1962 (not May, as stated), but carried a cover date of May.In the comics, Bruce Banner was helping the military develop a Gamma Bomb, not Gamma Rays.The 1994 production of "Fantastic Four" (Roger Corman), which Chris references, was created solely to prevent the rights of the characters from being reverted to Marvel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A plane crash puts a premature end to a precocious protagonist… on screen and off. This week Chris and David explore Richard Kelly’s cult classic debut film, Donnie Darko. Learn how a fateful meeting with Francis Ford Coppola, the undying support of Drew Barrymore, and a high school band’s cover of a Tears for Fears track secured Darko a place in cult-film history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer Grey knew the part of Frances “Baby” Houseman was perfect for her. There was just one problem: Patrick Swayze. The stars of 1987’s ‘Dirty Dancing’ had history, and it wasn’t good. In this episode Chris and Lizzie dive into the low budget film that became a smash success despite production woes, a brand new studio backing it, and two stars who just couldn’t see eye to eye. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would audiences walk out? Would the animation make them sick? Was Walt Disney a madman? Such were the real musings of industry experts when Walt bet it all on Snow White, Disney’s first feature animated film. Join Chris and guest hosts Elena Crevello and Chelsea Davison (of Podstruck) as they explore how Disney redefined cinema forever with a four-quadrant hit for the ages.*NOTE:The German animated feature film that Chris references was 1926's "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" by Lotte Reiniger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this atypical episode, Chris takes you down the Walt Disney rabbit hole, setting the table for our episode on "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Join us for an exploration of the childhood and early career of the man who created the House of Mouse, up until he decided to create his first animated feature-length film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Chris and special guest (and film critic) Dan Murrell get to the choppa! with a deep dive of 1987's Predator. They'll be braving snakes (venomous and Hollywood), fire ants, scorpions and traveler's diarrhea as they explore this unlikely sci-fi action classic's arduous production. Learn how Arnold hooked the crew on cigars, bested Jesse Ventura's biceps, and why Shane Black was killed first. Plus, why you may not want to attempt heat vision in 100-degree weather... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Lizzie speak with the incredible, Emmy-winning Casting Director, Wendy O'Brien (Abbott Elementary, Dave, It's Always Sunny, Wyrm). Enjoy a conversation about how this role is different from what you might think, how it has changed in a post-Covid world, what it's like to work with Chris, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marilyn Monroe can’t remember her lines, Jack Lemmon can’t walk in heels, and Billy Wilder is slipping sleeping pills up his tuchus. ‘Some Like It Hot’ is a groundbreaking comedy that nearly broke writer/director Billy Wilder. Join Chris and Lizzie as they break down Billy Wilder’s struggles with Marilyn, and Marilyn’s relationships with her overbearing husband and acting coach, and find out why Tony Curtis allegedly called her Hitler. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three decades of development hell, a dozen drafts and one very embattled director. This week, Chris and Lizzie explore the tumultuous journey of Malcolm X, Spike Lee’s unusual path to the directing chair, and how the public battle over the civil rights leader’s story nearly eclipsed the story itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week it’s Francis Ford Coppola vs Bob Evans vs everyone. Join Chris and Lizzie for part 2 as they break down the truly insane rivalries behind 1972’s The Godfather. Find out why Coppola’s team briefly turned against him, how James Caan might have beaten up a costar on screen, and why this movie has one of the most dangerous stunts we’ve ever covered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a movie about the mafia… but they couldn’t say the word mafia… because the actual mafia threatened the entire production if they didn’t remove it. This week Chris and Lizzie dive into Francis Ford Coppola’s groundbreaking 1972 film, The Godfather. Find out why Coppola and Al Pacino both almost got fired, how Robert DeNiro almost made it into part 1, and why Paramount didn’t even want to make the movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when Tom Cruise’s unstoppable force meets Stanley Kubrick’s immovable object? Tune in as Lizzie & Chris uncover the secrets of the reclusive auteur’s thirteenth and final film, a production so difficult it (likely) ended a marriage, dispatched its director and may have sent not one, but two Kubrick collaborators deeper into the embrace of a truly secretive society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Storyboard artist Warren Drummond (Shaft, A Beautiful Mind, Nightcrawler, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) has worked with some of the greatest filmmakers of our time, from John Singleton to Denzel Washington and Ron Howard. In this Below the Line interview, Warren illuminates the world of storyboarding, his journey into film, the transition from analog to digital, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did a tennis pro, a theater nerd, and a TV actor redefine the action genre? Because they had nothing left to lose. This week, Chris and Lizzie dive deep into 1988’s quintessential Christmas film: from Bruce’s receding hairline and an unfinished script to Rickman’s inability to hold a gun and Joel Silver’s desire to just blow shit up, this production had more problems than a McClane marriage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More Gremlins, more problems! But that didn’t stop Joe Dante and Steven Spielberg from adding an endless stream of critters to the deranged 1984 Christmas classic. Busted puppets caused massive delays and pushed creature master Chris Walas to his limits, but it could’ve been worse - they could’ve used… live monkeys?! Find out why parents were furious about the film, how it helped change the MPAA rating system forever, and why Tom Hanks isn’t in it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blue screens! Tennis balls! Directions from George Lucas! What are three things that make an actor’s job harder? Chris and Lizzie conclude their Menace coverage with a crunch at ILM, the public shaming of Jar Jar Binks and why George may have lost a lot more than $50 million in his divorce. Plus, how no one saw it coming… except for Weird Al. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jedi! Lightsabers! Taxes? This week, Chris tests Lizzie’s midi-chlorians (and patience) with George Lucas’ polarizing return to Star Wars. Was Lucas a victim of his own success, or were we all victims of his divorce? Plus, how Michael Jackson and Denzel Washington were nearly canon, and more!CORRECTIONS:*Doctor Dolittle was release in 1967, not 1976, as Chris mistakenly stated. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did the 4th (or maybe 5th) version of ‘A Star is Born’ take almost 20 years to make… and why did it almost star Russell Crowe and Beyoncé?! This week Lizzie and Chris break down Bradley Cooper’s 2018 directorial debut, and discover why Lady Gaga was initially a tough sell. Find out how everyone from Jamie Foxx to Metallica had a hand in this Oscar nominated film’s journey to the screen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The only thing worse than being a character in a Sam Raimi movie? Acting in one. This week, Chris and Lizzie unearth the grueling, injury-laden production of The Evil Dead. Discover the importance of such amenities as running water, toilets, and electricity; and the pain of removing fake blood with hot coffee. Plus, how Raimi couldn’t have done it without a veritable village, including a couple of Coens, a King of horror, and a septuagenarian sales agent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Rudd was almost murdered, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were wasted, and El Niño threatened to rain out production - that’s just the beginning of what went wrong on Clueless (1995). Find out how Alicia Silverstone and Brittany Murphy got cast, and why one studio almost changed it to be more about… the guys? As if! It took writer/director Amy Heckerling years to get her vision to the screen, but it was like, totally worth it.CORRECTIONS: Chris mistakenly refers to having watched the Criterion Blu-Ray release of "Clueless" - there is no Criterion release! He actually watched the 25th Anniversary Blu-Ray which had been gifted to his wife in a flawlessly photoshopped Criterion package. He apologizes for the confusion but can confirm the transfer looks great.This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/CINEPHILE and get on your way to being your best self.Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh dot com slash freewentwrong. Applied across 7 boxes, new subscribers only, varies by plan. That’s 10 free HelloFresh meals, just by going to HelloFresh dot com slash freewentwrongLumen - for 15% off your purchase go to lumen.me/WRONG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tombstone' shot first and 'Wyatt Earp' died. In Part 2 of our coverage, Chris & Lizzie endure the explosive arrival of replacement director George P. Cosmatos, revisit Kurt Russell's last-minute rewrites, and try to answer the impossible question: does a better version of this movie exist? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saddle up and skin that smokewagon, because Kevin Costner's about to shut your movie down. In Part 1 of our coverage on 'Tombstone', Chris & Lizzie dissect the film's Hollywood duel with rival 'Wyatt Earp', Kurt Russell's hardball, and how writer/director Kevin Jarre assembled one of the greatest cast and crews of all time, only to listen to none of them.Manscaped - head to manscaped.com and get 20% off + free shipping with the code WRONG*CORRECTIONS: George P. Cosmatos's last name is pronounced Cos-MAH-tos, Chris botched that pretty badly.Brian De Palma directed "The Untouchables", not Oliver Stone as Chris (incorrectly!) stated. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did Shakespeare in Love beat one of the greatest war movies of all time for Best Picture at the 1999 Oscars? It’s simple: Harvey Weinstein. But Saving Private Ryan was just one of many massive snubs in this comedy of errors. Learn how producer and original director Ed Zwick's dreams were dashed, why Julia Roberts dropped out last minute, and why Gwyneth Paltrow didn't want to star across(ed) her lover.HelloFresh - For FREE breakfast for life go to HelloFresh.com/freewentwrongLumen - for 15% off your purchase go to lumen.me/WRONGManscaped - head to manscaped.com and get 20% off + free shipping with the code WRONG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lydia dies in a fire at the hands of a winged homicidal maniac?! ‘Beetlejuice’ (1988) started off as a gruesome, offbeat horror film, but it became the quirky classic we know and love thanks to Tim Burton, script doctor Warren Skaaren, an incredible production team, and the Beetle-Guy himself: Michael Keaton. Find out why missing her audition got Catherine O’Hara her part, how Harry Belafonte’s music made it into the final cut, why Michael Keaton almost didn’t take the job and so much more. HelloFresh - For FREE breakfast for life go to HelloFresh.com/freewrong Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Patrick Bateman? Directed by Oliver Stone?! There are so many versions of ‘American Psycho’ (2000) that we never saw, but thanks to Christian Bale and director Mary Harron, we eventually got something pretty close to perfect. Find out how Gloria Steinem accidentally saved Christian Bale’s job and why a real life serial killer made this film almost impossible to shoot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oscars! Cannes! Smash Mouth? In Part 2 of our Shrek coverage, Chris & Lizzie get to the bottom of Mike Myers' Scottish brogue, why 'All Star' became an anthem for the ages, and Katzenberg's all-out blitz against the Mouse House. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katzenberg's quest for revenge! The death of a beloved giant! A magical kingdom under siege! In Part 1 of our Shrek coverage, Chris & Lizzie explore the revolutionary film's humble origins as DreamWorks' inaugural "B movie" and try to determine what, exactly, the film would have been with its original star, Chris Farley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did Ryan Reynolds go from fans’ biggest disappointment to the Deadpool of their dreams? In this episode Chris and Lizzie explore the long road ‘Deadpool’ (2016) took to get to the screen, why a first time feature director was the best man for the job, and how a mysterious leak actually saved the film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Chris and Lizzie go 100% pure adrenaline on Kathryn Bigelow’s “Point Break”, a film that birthed one of our most unexpected action stars, one of Hollywood’s most powerful (and short lived) power couples, and cemented Patrick Swayze as a daredevil for the ages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did an Academy Award nominated director helm what’s widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever made? 2003’s “Gigli” gave us Bennifer 1.0 and torpedoed writer/director Martin Brest’s career. Find out how NOT to reverse engineer a romcom - especially when your main characters are a straight man and a lesbian. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez do their best, but thanks to one of the craziest post-productions we’ve ever covered, “Gigli” does its worst.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.