Why Wasn't It Better?

Have you ever watched a movie you were excited for but felt disappointed in some way? Were you left wondering why it wasn't better? This is the podcast that has the answers! We review films that were highly anticipated, but were for a variety of reasons either disappointing, underachieving, or misunderstood, and ramble about why they weren't better. This is a podcast for film nerds and for anyone who enjoys some lighthearted, semi-serious, in-depth discussion.

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22 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 7 min
English

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S11 · E13
Wednesday · 1 hr 20 min
Tron: Ares (2025) | A Legacy Squandered
One year after its release, it's time to review Tron: Ares. Following the cult success of Tron: Legacy, fans spent over a decade waiting for a follow-up. Instead of continuing the story that film set up, Disney delivered a very different movie, one that divided audiences and flopped at the box office. What happened? Was Ares doomed by development hell and delay? Did Disney misunderstand what audiences wanted from a Tron sequel? Guest Tom Paradiso is here to sort it all out. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E12
September 16 · 1 hr 20 min
The Great Mouse Detective (1986) | Disney's Forgotten Savior
It's hard to believe now but at one point in the 1980s, Disney animation was in trouble. After The Black Cauldron bombed, the studio desperately needed a hit. What they got was The Great Mouse Detective, a charming Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery featuring one of Disney’s greatest villains, a memorable cast of characters, and some surprisingly ambitious animation. Guest Adam Hecht is back to proclaim his love. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E11
September 9 · 1 hr 22 min
Battle of Britain (1969) | Historical Spectacle
Despite featuring one of the greatest ensemble casts ever assembled, spectacular aerial photography, and an extraordinary commitment to historical authenticity, Battle of Britain was a box office failure. This week, we examine why. We discuss the film's incredible flying sequences, its documentary-style approach, the challenge of telling such a massive story without a central protagonist, and why audiences in 1969 may have been looking for something very different. Is Battle of Britain an overlooked masterpiece, or a technically brilliant film that never quite soars? Guest Paul Kind joins to discuss. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E10
September 4 · 1 hr 8 min
Ranking the Pierce Brosnan Bond Films
It's time for another ranking episode! Guest Kai Wang joins as we sort out the Pierce Brosnan James Bond films. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E9
September 2 · 1 hr 16 min
Deepwater Horizon (2016) | The Disaster Movie Everyone Forgot
Despite being a high-profile dramatic retelling of the biggest environmental disaster in American history, Deepwater Horizon was largely ignored by audiences in 2016. Director Peter Berg assembled a tension-filled, highly accurate portrayal that plays as one part docudrama, another part horror movie. Why didn’t this get more attention, and why has it still failed to leave much of a cultural impact nearly a decade later? ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E8
August 26 · 1 hr 20 min
Cliffhanger (1993) | Stallone Back on Top
With a new remake on the horizon, we're covering Cliffhanger, aka Die Hard On A Mountain. In need of a hit, Sylvester Stallone teamed up with director Renny Harlin for a high-altitude thriller packed with death-defying stunts, brutal violence, and one of the most memorable opening sequences of the decade. Add in a scenery-chewing performance from John Lithgow and you've got all the ingredients for a classic action movie. But does it still hold up? Guest Garret Ohringer is back to hang on. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
August 24 · 5 min
Tron: Ares (2025) | Bonus Episode Preview
Enjoy this sneak preview of our Tron: Ares episode. The full episode is available right now for our supporters over on Patreon. The full episode will not be available for another month. So if you want early access, head over to patreon.com/wwibofficial and become a Patreon! _________________ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E7
August 19 · 1 hr 26 min
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004) | Wes Anderson's Greatest Failure
A Patreon request! Few filmmakers are as instantly recognizable as Wes Anderson, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou may be the moment his style fully took over. Part ocean adventure, part midlife-crisis comedy, part tribute to Jacques Cousteau, the film follows the eccentric Steve Zissou as he sets out to hunt the mysterious shark that killed his best friend. The result was Anderson's biggest box office failure. It's since become a divisive cult classic. Guest Ben Hill is here to discuss. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E6
August 12 · 1 hr 12 min
Shark Tale (2004) | DreamWorks Tries Too Hard
Despite a massive voice cast featuring Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, and Jack Black, Shark Tale has aged into one of the strangest animated hits of the 2000s. Released at the height of the DreamWorks Animation vs. Pixar rivalry, the film throws everything at the wall: celebrity impressions, mafia movie references, pop culture jokes, bizarre worldbuilding, and fish with human lips. Here to discuss is returning guest Nathan Perry. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
August 7 · 5 min
Ranking the Pierce Brosnan Bond Films | Bonus Episode Preview
Enjoy this sneak preview of our Ranking thee Pierce Brosnan Bond Films episode. The full episode is available right now for our supporters over on Patreon. The full episode will not be available for another month. So if you want early access, head over to patreon.com/wwibofficial and become a Patreon! ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E5
August 5 · 1 hr 30 min
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) | Disney Channel Spider-Man
After making his MCU debut in Civil War, Tom Holland was given his own full-length cinematic debut with Spider-Man: Homecoming the following year. It was a big success for Marvel and well-liked, but what purpose does it serve beyond wedging everyone's favorite neighborhood superhero into the overall MCU? Guest and industry insider Ivan Calixto joins the pod to talk about his experience working on the trailer for this film. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E4
July 31 · 54 min
Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) | Forgettable John Wayne
Cahill U.S. Marshal is one of the lesser-known late-career John Wayne westerns, and for good reason. Released during a period when the Western genre was rapidly evolving, Cahill feels caught between old-school Wayne heroics and the grittier, morally complex revisionist Westerns audiences were beginning to prefer. Why didn’t it leave more of an impact? Why has it largely faded into obscurity among Wayne’s filmography? ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E3
July 29 · 1 hr 28 min
Eraser (1996) | Arnold's Last Great Action Movie
In 1996, Arnold Schwarzenegger teamed up with director Chuck Russell for Eraser, a gloriously over-the-top 90s action movie filled with railguns, alligators, witness protection conspiracies, and Arnold one-liners. And yet… despite being a box office success, Eraser rarely comes up when people discuss Arnold’s best movies. It arrived right at the tail end of his run as the king of action cinema, just before audience tastes — and Arnold’s career — started to shift. Guest Adam Hecht is here to discuss. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E2
July 22 · 1 hr 31 min
Miami Vice (2006) | Pure Michael Mann Vibes
Miami Vice should have been a slam dunk. Michael Mann adapting his own iconic television series with Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx in the lead roles sounds like a guaranteed hit. Instead, audiences got a moody, digitally-shot crime film that cared far more about atmosphere, professionalism, and vibe than plot or nostalgia. But over the years, the movie has developed a passionate following. Mojito fiend and Certified Mann Fan Garret Ohringer is here to proclaim his love for Miami Vice. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S11 · E1
July 15 · 1 hr 33 min
Die Another Day (2002) | The End of the Brosnan Era
The 20th Bond film was supposed to be a celebration of the series. Die Another Day was an enormous financial success but ended up being Pierce Brosnan's final film. EON decided to reboot the series. But why? Did Brosnan deserve another shot? Why wasn't it better? Guest Kai Wang returns to the podcast for our Season Eleven premiere as we discuss Die Another Day. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
July 12 · 44 min
Kalshi Predictions | The Odyssey & Spider-Man: Brand New Day
In a first for the podcast, we're hitting the Kalshi prediction market. Our first predictions are for two films releasing very soon: The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
July 11 · 1 hr 10 min
Hoppers (2026) | Pixar Gets Weird
On this bonus episode, we’re breaking down Hoppers, a weird, funny, and surprisingly unpredictable original that feels like a throwback to when Pixar wasn’t afraid to experiment. It’s not top-tier, but it’s exactly the kind of risk-taking, offbeat storytelling we’ve been missing. Is this the direction Pixar should be heading in? ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S10 · E31
July 10 · 1 hr 15 min
Season 10 Recap
Season 10 is all wrapped up. join us as we give our traditional recap and preview what's on deck for next season. ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
S10 · E30
July 8 · 1 hr 22 min
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | Style Over Substance
We conclude Season Ten with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth film in the series. By this point, the films were box office machines, but Half-Blood Prince is arguably the most disliked. Did it set things up for the finale? Or is it a poor adaptation of the book? Guest and Potterhead Jake Valkusky is back to discuss. _____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!
July 3 · 7 min
Spider-Man: Homecoming | Bonus Episode Preview
Enjoy this sneak preview of our Spider-Man: Homecoming episode. The full episode is available right now for our supporters over on Patreon. The full episode will not be available for another month. So if you want early access, head over to patreon.com/wwibofficial and become a Patreon! ____ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official X: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes