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54 years ago, nearly to the day, John Wojtowicz and two accomplices caught a matinee showing of The Godfather , then walked into a bank and inadvertently changed cinema history. Chris & Lizzie explore Sidney Lumet's adaptation of Wojtowicz's sensational and tragic failed heist, the major studios' reticence to touch the material, Al Pacino's struggles with the role, and what Hollywood owes the subjects who inspire the films they make. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WHAT WENT WRONG

by Sad Boom Media · English · Film & TV

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

More from WHAT WENT WRONG

  1. 2 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 10 min

    Dysfunctional Duos (with Couples Therapy Podcast)

    This week we have Andy Beckerman and Naomi Ekperigin from the Couples Therapy podcast to discuss some of the most chaotic creative partnerships and rivalries in Hollywood history. Join us as we lay out an array of feuds from Tom Cruise vs. Anne Rice, to Patrick Swayze vs. Jennifer Grey, and beyond. Grab yourself a bucket of Liz Taylor’s favorite chili and get ready to pick a side. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. 31 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 24 min

    Thelma & Louise

    ‘Thelma and Louise’ has one of the most iconic endings ever, but it almost didn’t make it to the screen. This week Chris and Lizzie explore Callie Khouri’s relentless dedication to her screenplay, Ridley Scott’s reluctance to direct it, and why neither Geena Davis nor Brad Pitt were even close to first choice for their roles. Find out which alternate ending earned boos from a test audience and how ‘Thelma and Louise’ beat the odds to become a financial success despite almost no marketing budget. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. 28 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 3 min

    Featurette: Drop Dead Gorgeous (with Ruined)

    ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ was supposed to be a big break for first time feature writer Lona Williams and first time feature director Michael Patrick Jann… except they couldn’t agree on anything. Difficulties with the film’s biggest star, Kirstie Alley, and a lawsuit from Dairy Queen didn’t help. In this bonus Featurette, Halle Kiefer from the Ruined podcast joins Chris and Lizzie to break down this 1999 box office bomb that somehow became a cult classic. Discover why Lona wasn’t allowed to play the role she’d written for herself, how Kirsten Dunst got cast, and why we have this movie to thank for…

  4. 17 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 26 min

    Three Kings

    When George Clooney read the script for 1999’s ‘Three Kings’, he knew it was the kind of project he wanted to be attached to. Even though Clooney was a bonafide TV star, he hadn’t found his footing as a leading man yet, so he practically begged director David O. Russell to cast him. Little did he know he had just signed up to work for his worst enemy. This week Lizzie and Chris dive into the madness of ‘Three Kings’, from a disastrous desert shoot, to the truth behind Clooney and Russell’s infamous knock-down drag-out fight. *CORRECTIONS: Lizzie mistakenly calls cinematographer Newton Thomas…

  5. 10 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 24 min

    Cutthroat Island

    It's the film that fin(n)ished Carolco! Or so we've been led to believe... This week, Chris & Lizzie seek to uncover who really scuttled Carolco Pictures - was it Geena Davis and Renny Harlin? Or was Cutthroat Island a mere scapegoat? Plus, Matthew Modine takes his lumps (on set and after), poop tanks infect the crew, and Michael Douglas dodges a trip to Davy Jones' locker. Go to surfshark.com/wrong or use code WRONG at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. 7 Aug 2026 · 49 min

    Raina Deerwater of GLAAD

    Join Chris & Lizzie for a conversation with Raina Deerwater, GLAAD’s Associate Director, Entertainment Research & Analysis covering GLAAD's recently published Where We Are in Film Study. They'll cover the findings of GLAAD's research, the future of film for the LGBTQ community, and how an increasingly consolidated Hollywood can benefit from a diverse ecosystem of stories and storytellers. To connect with GLAAD, please use this contact form: https://glaad.org/contact Go to surfshark.com/wrong or use code WRONG at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark Hosted on Acast. See…

  7. 8 Oct 2026 · 39 minNew

    ENCORE: James McAvoy on California Schemin'

    This week, we revisit our interview with the one and only James McAvoy as Chris and Lizzie break down what went wrong - and very right - on his directorial debut, California Schemin’. The film follows two young Scottish rappers who get laughed out of the music industry… until they start pretending to be American. It’s a true story of ambition, delusion, and the blurry line between reinvention and outright fraud. Find out what drew McAvoy to the script, how he assembled the perfect cast, and what surprised him most about stepping behind the camera for the first time. Plus, discover the tricks…

  8. 5 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 14 min

    Saw

    Just two guys and we're having a good time! This week, Chris and Lizzie chain themselves to James Wan and Leigh Whannell's breakout horror hit, SAW. What began as a simple exercise to try to escape their tiny home country of Australia led to a franchise beyond either of their expectations and, perhaps, desires. From work VISAs to unpaid profits and Cary Elwes' self-discovery of latent claustrophobia, this terrifyingly crunched production proves that just because you don't make the movie you wanted, doesn't mean you can't make the movie the audience did. *CORRECTIONS: Cary Elwes did reprise…

  9. 1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

    Out of Frame: Lana Turner & Johnny Stompanato (ft. Hollywood Crime Scene)

    Lana Turner made a name for herself as one of Hollywood’s most sought after femme fatales in films like ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’, but her personal life may have been more scandalous than anything she portrayed on screen. Turner was a true rags to riches story - complete with an iconic discovery at a soda shop counter - but her life was an extremely difficult one, full of married men, debauchery, and abuse. However it was her relationship with mobster Johnny Stompanato that would haunt her - and her daughter - for the rest of their lives. This week, Lizzie is joined by Desi and Rachel…

  10. 28 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 17 min

    Carrie (1976)

    It’s been 50 years since Brian De Palma turned prom into a blood bath, so let’s find out what went wrong on ‘Carrie’. Join Chris and Lizzie as they dive deep into Stephen King’s first on-screen adaptation. Find out why no one wanted to adapt the novel, why De Palma had to beg for the job, and why he was dead-set against casting Sissy Spacek. Plus, discover why that deadly prom sequence was just as scary in real life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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