Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption.

For the month of January, Not A Bomb asks a very important cinematic question: what happens when actors decide that being in front of the camera just isn’t enough and take a shot at directing themselves? Troy and Brad are “kicking” things off with The Quest, the 1996 martial‑arts adventure film both directed by — and starring — the Muscles from Brussels himself, Jean‑Claude Van Damme.

Upon release, The Quest didn’t exactly spin‑kick its way into critics’ hearts. Reviews were mixed at best, with many calling it a reheated blend of better tournament movies and a vanity project that proved JCVD might be more comfortable throwing roundhouses than calling “action.” Financially, the film limped across the finish line, earning modest box office returns that fell far short of Van Damme’s earlier hits. In short: not a total disaster, but definitely not the triumphant directorial debut he probably envisioned.

One part Bloodsport, one part Street Fighter, one part Enter the Dragon, and all parts dumb, The Quest might be the perfect argument for actors to stay in their lanes. But hey — it does feature plenty of sweaty, oily dudes kicking each other in the face. Is that enough to win Troy and Brad over?

Only one way to find out — listen now!

The Quest is directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme and stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, Roger Moore, James Remar, Janet Gunn, Jack McGee, Aki Aleong, and Louis Mandylor.

Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!

We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at [email protected] or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

Cast: Brad, Troy