When Films Are Ahead or Behind Their Time

John and Craig revisit a favorite episode focused on a single topic: bad movies and how they happen. Using first-hand experience, they look at how bad ideas make it to the screen, how good ideas go wrong, and the range of patterns that end in terrible movies.

We also make a list of our then-dream guests for the podcast (many of whom have now been on the show). And fast-forwarding to 2026, we announce an exciting new feature for Highland Pro.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Drew ditch the texts and emails and to pick up the phone and make a call.

Links:

• Highland Fling has arrived! See it in action here
• CW Picks Up 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' As Hourlong Series by Nellie Andreeva for Deadline
• Scriptnotes, Ep 179: The Conflict Episode
• John's Screencasts on Entering a scene, Writing better action, and Writing better scene description
• First Follower: Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy
• Rob Schneider Is A Carrot
• Copyright, Exceptions, and Fair Use: Crash Course Intellectual Property
• Fallout 4
• Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube
• Get your copy of the Scriptnotes book!
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
• Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription
• Scriptnotes on Instagram and TikTok
• John August on Bluesky and Instagram
• Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!)
• This episode was originally produced by Stuart Friedel. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

The transcript of this episode can be found here.