WHAT WENT WRONG

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 Connect or PATREON for 'WWW' BONUS CONTENT! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

The Iron Giant

November 24, 2025 • 99 mins

We are who we choose to be, and if Brad Bird hadn't chosen to be a pain in the ass, we'd never have The Iron Giant. This week, Chris & Lizzie are joined by Alex Steed of the You Are Good podcast to explore the complex history of The Iron Giant. From children's stories to profound loss, The Iron Giant's journey to our homes was one of falling apart and coming back together again.

*Please note that today's episode includes men...

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The Curious Case of Grey Gardens (with Watch What Crappens)

November 21, 2025 • 83 mins

When the Maysles brothers showed up at Grey Gardens, they thought they were filming a quick piece on Jackie O’s quirky relatives. Instead, they uncovered Big and Little Edie Beale—an isolated mother-daughter duo living in shocking squalor, feeding raccoons in their attic, and completely frozen in time.

In the second episode of Out of Frame, Lizzie and Chris are joined by Watch What Crappens hosts Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam t...

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Toy Story

November 17, 2025 • 82 mins

There’s no 'Toy Story' without Pixar, and there’s no Pixar without… Steve Jobs. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first computer animated feature film ever, Chris and Lizzie dive into the story behind 1995’s absolutely miraculous 'Toy Story'. Find out why an early version of Woody made Disney almost pull the plug, how Tim Allen changed Buzz Lightyear, and why George Lucas let Pixar slip through his fingers for only $10M.

...

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[Bonus Preview] Frankenstein (2025) Review

November 14, 2025 • 18 mins

Lizzie and Chris discuss Guillermo Del Toro’s newest film, “Frankenstein” - Del Toro's approach to adapting his favorite book of all time, Jacob Elordi's last minute casting, and where it ranks in the Del Toro filmography.

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Heat

November 10, 2025 • 88 mins

What if you got a do-over on the score of a lifetime? Would you take your shot, or walk away? Join Chris & Lizzie as they infiltrate the incredible crew behind 'Heat' and learn how Michael Mann was finally able to pull off his sprawling LA crime drama yet still ended up getting robbed…

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The Last of the Mohicans

November 3, 2025 • 94 mins

Michael Mann meets his match in one of the most dedicated method actors of all time: Daniel Day-Lewis. Join Chris and Lizzie as they chronicle Mann’s obsessively detail-oriented 1992 historical epic ‘The Last of the Mohicans’. Find out how on-set strikes and last-minute firings caused turmoil behind the scenes, and why ‘Dances with Wolves’ inspired Russell Means (Chingachgook) to join the cast… but not for the reasons you might thi...

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[Bonus Preview] Deep Cuts: October 2025

October 31, 2025 • 17 mins

Chris, Lizzie, and David dive deep answering some of our audiences most piercing questions followed by a discussion about the relationship between creative control and financial interest in filmmaking.

For the full episode join the $5 tier subscription or above on Apple Podcasts or Patreon at Patreon.com/whatwentwrongpodcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Halloween

October 27, 2025 • 84 mins

Paint your leaves yellow and orange and scatter them across the yard, because it's springtime in Pasadena and Halloween is coming to town! Chris & Lizzie plumb the depths of the real Michael Myers, how John Carpenter's career was saved by UK audiences, and why you should never show anyone your movie without music.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood (with Daisy Eagan)

October 24, 2025 • 69 mins

When Natalie Wood drowned in 1981 she was only 43 years old. Thanks to films like ‘West Side Story’, ‘Rebel Without a Cause’, and ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ she was an icon, but she’d been out of the spotlight for almost a decade. Wood was in the midst of filming her comeback, ‘Brainstorm’, when she, her co-star Christopher Walken, and her husband Robert Wagner took their yacht out for Thanksgiving weekend. What happened that night d...

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The Blair Witch Project

October 20, 2025 • 79 mins

In 1999, a found footage documentary showed audiences the terrifying last days of 3 intrepid filmmakers before they disappeared forever. Thanks to the popularity of the film, their mothers received condolence calls and police offered to reopen their case - there was just one problem… they were actors and they were very much alive. ‘The Blair Witch Project’ shattered box office records thanks in no small part to its brilliant viral ...

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A Nightmare on Elm Street

October 13, 2025 • 94 mins

This week Chris and Lizzie dive into Wes Craven's nightmares, bask in Johnny Depp's nauseatingly green performance, and marvel at Freddy Krueger's culinary inspired makeup. Plus, how Bob Shaye's leap of faith on Elm Street gave us Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings", Wes Craven's failed attempts to make a nice movie, and the unexpected benefits of setting yourself on fire, literally and otherwise.

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Interview with the Vampire

October 6, 2025 • 103 mins

Tom Cruise was thrilled to be cast in 1994’s ‘Interview with the Vampire’ - he'd been a fan of the books since his teens. Imagine his surprise when he found out that author Anne Rice absolutely hated him. Join Chris and Lizzie as they break down this bloodsucking behind the scenes battle of the wills! Find out why this movie took almost 20 years to make, what made Brad Pitt utterly miserable on set, and which part Cher almost playe...

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Vampires! A Primer

October 3, 2025 • 18 mins

As we crawl into spooky season, Lizzie pries open the caskets of vampires past. Join us for a plunge into the dark history and shimmering evolution of the vampires we all know and eternally love, from their origins in Eastern Europe to the Anne Rice renaissance and beyond.

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Catwoman (with Ryan Bailey)

September 29, 2025 • 100 mins

Who has nine lives, one Oscar, a Razzie and a check for $12-14 million? Halle Berry, and we love her for it. This week, Chris, Lizzie and Ryan Bailey (of the 'So Bad It's Good' podcast) explore a cinematic furball solidly centered in the pantheon of so bad its good greatness. They dive deep on Catwoman's origins, then throw them away just like Warner Bros. did in an effort to make a movie for... cat lovers?

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The African Queen (1951)

September 22, 2025 • 78 mins

Elephants, dysentery, and cannibalism, oh my! Join Chris and Lizzie as they venture down the river in 1951’s ‘The African Queen’. Find out why Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and John Huston ventured to Africa to escape HUAC, how they were terrorized by bugs, and why John may have accidentally… eaten a person.

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Back To The Future

September 15, 2025 • 105 mins

How did two Bobs, fresh off back-to-back flops, the studio's second choice sitcom star, and a script that changed more than Marty's future, er, present, become one of the most beloved movies of all time? Plus, Sid Sheinberg's terrible title ideas, the origins of "nuking the fridge," and how Crispin Glover girded SAG for the AI battle of the 2020s.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

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This Is Spinal Tap

September 8, 2025 • 72 mins

What if Rob Reiner hadn’t directed ‘This Is Spinal Tap’? What if the classic 1984 rockumentary had never even existed? This week Chris and Lizzie go to eleven with a behind the scenes look at why no one wanted to finance Spinal Tap, how Tom Petty served as inspiration, and why it took 36 years and a $400M lawsuit for its creators to finally get paid. In honor of ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’, join us on this journey behind the...

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Fitzcarraldo

September 1, 2025 • 104 mins

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!

They say one man's dream is another man's nightmare, but what if your nightmare is the leading man of your dream? Join Chris and special guests Casey O'Brien and Mille De Chirico of "Dear Movies, I Love You" as they head down river with Werner Herzog's "Fitzcarraldo", a Sisyphea...

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Bohemian Rhapsody

August 25, 2025 • 81 mins

Between overly involved band members, a completely absent director, and a huge legacy for lead actor Rami Malek to live up to, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ had more than its fair share of problems. This week Lizzie and Chris dive into one of the messiest biopic productions in movie history and discover why it took so long to FINALLY fire director Bryan Singer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

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Below The Line - Creature Design & Practical FX (Starship Troopers)

August 22, 2025 • 57 mins

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who’s contributed to more of your nightmares than Alec Gillis. He’s behind creature designs for monsters from Predators to Xenomorphs, Graboids, to brain bugs and everything in between. Join Chris and Lizzie as they discuss his career, creatures, and his favorite James Cameron memory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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WHAT WENT WRONG

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}The Iron Giant

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}The Curious Case of Grey Gardens (with Watch What Crappens)

Toy Story

[Bonus Preview] Frankenstein (2025) Review

Heat

The Last of the Mohicans

[Bonus Preview] Deep Cuts: October 2025

Halloween

The Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood (with Daisy Eagan)

The Blair Witch Project

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Interview with the Vampire

Vampires! A Primer

Catwoman (with Ryan Bailey)

The African Queen (1951)

Back To The Future

This Is Spinal Tap

Fitzcarraldo

Bohemian Rhapsody

Below The Line - Creature Design & Practical FX (Starship Troopers)

Popular Podcasts

The Iron Giant

The Curious Case of Grey Gardens (with Watch What Crappens)