WHAT WENT WRONG
Sad Boom Media
What Went Wrong covers Hollywood’s most notoriously disastrous movie productions, digging into the behind-the-scenes insanity of everything from massive flops to record-breaking blockbusters. In each episode, hosts Lizzie Bassett and Chris Winterbauer dive into a new film to explore the mind-blowing (and sometimes numbing) reasons why making a movie is nearly impossible (especially a good one). Produced by David Boman.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Patreon for monthly bonus episodes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 23, 2026 • 1h 17min
American History X
A deep dive into the volatile making of a provocative 1990s film. They unpack on-set clashes, a bitter editing war, and a director's dramatic public protest. Conversation touches casting battles, surprising performances, festival politics, and the film's lasting cultural punch.
Mar 20, 2026 • 47min
'WWW' on 'No Such Thing': Why Are There so Many Twin Films?
Lizzie Bassett, film industry analyst, gives context on Hollywood development. Chris Winterbauer, industry commentator, explains production patterns. They explore why similar-concept films cluster in time. Short takes compare bug movies, disaster films, rom-com twins, and how studio timing, tech limits, and industry chatter create these pairings.
Mar 16, 2026 • 1h 22min
Seven Samurai
A deep dive into the making of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, from brutal rainy battle shoots to mud-soaked rehearsal methods. They unpack casting twists, a salvaged score, and clashes with studios and censors. The tale covers production mishaps, exhaustive schedules, and how one actor reshaped the film's tone.
20 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 1h 24min
Forrest Gump
A behind-the-scenes look at how a risky adaptation finally came together after multiple rewrites and studio doubts. They unpack groundbreaking visual effects that placed the lead into archival footage and created believable amputees. Production hurdles include budget fights, pay deferrals, tricky Vietnam shoots, and the surprising origin of the lead’s accent.
13 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 1h 32min
Casablanca
A brisk deep dive into how Casablanca was rushed from an unproduced play to a wartime classic. Stories of casting swaps, studio politics, and a director infamous for his on-set intensity. Tales of script chaos, Hays Code fights, and who really shaped the famous airport finale.
10 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 1h 21min
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
A chaotic film production undone by floods, budget cuts, and escalating on-set clashes. Behind-the-scenes rights battles and rewrites reshape a beloved comic into an unsteady screenplay. Practical effects and miniatures shine amid mounting creative and legal turmoil. Careers were derailed and a planned franchise collapsed under a mix of ego, bad luck, and studio pressure.
Feb 16, 2026 • 1h 30min
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
They dig into the creative clash between Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry and how their styles collided. The conversation covers casting choices from Jim Carrey to Kate Winslet and on-set tensions that shaped performances. Practical effects, risky stunts, editing choices, and Jon Brion's score get spotlighted. Production shuffles, test screenings, and the drafts that almost changed the film are explored.
Feb 9, 2026 • 1h 37min
The Cotton Club
They unpack a chaotic production where a comeback turned into financial ruin and organized crime entanglement. The story covers shady financing, bizarre creative choices that reshaped characters, and on-set improvisation that both hurt and helped performers. The hosts trace the film’s edits that sidelined Black talent and the later recut that tried to set things right.
Feb 6, 2026 • 53min
Out of Frame: The Cotton Club Murder
A true crime thread connecting a floundering Hollywood musical to a brutal murder. The tangled ties between a small-time producer, a cocaine dealer with movie ambitions, and an influential producer under suspicion. Wiretaps, shady financiers, fake identities, and a contract-style killing that unraveled a glittering industry dream.
17 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 1h 20min
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
A deep dive into how studio chaos and leaked emails reshaped a modern superhero film. They trace the creative journey from Miles Morales creation to bold casting and animation choices. Discussion includes the political maneuvers, innovative visual techniques, and the human cost behind the movie’s triumphs.
