Not a Bomb

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?

This week, Brad and Troy dive into the wild, weird world of one of cinema’s most unique action heroes — Steven Seagal — and his 1994 directorial debut, On Deadly Ground. What happens when you blend Road House bar‑brawling energy, sprinkle in a little Dances with Wolves spiritualism, and top it off with the explosive absurdity of Commando? You get Seagal as a Native American eco‑warrior battling a cartoonishly evil oil company that’s tearing up the Alaskan wilderness.

And if that’s not enough, Michael Caine shows up with the greasiest hair of his career, there’s a bar scene that might belong in the Action Movie Hall of Fame, and Seagal delivers environmental monologues with the confidence that only Steven Seagal can deliver.

Is it poorly written? Without question. Is Seagal a terrible director? Oh, absolutely. But does that stop On Deadly Ground from being a fascinating, ridiculous, and thoroughly entertaining action‑adventure? Not a chance.

Strap in — this one’s a blizzard of bad decisions, big explosions, and pure ’90s action madness.

On Deadly Ground is directed by Steven Seagal and stars Steven Seagal, Michael Cine, Joan, John C. McGinley, R. Lee Ermey, Shari Shattuck, Billy Bob Thornton, Richard Hamilton, Sven-Ole Thorsen, and Mike Starr.

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

It’s a magical day…..for Season 2 of Not A Bomb Presents: Breaking Brad. The premise is simple. Troy, Sammy from GGTMC, and Jose from Watch/Skip+ pick some of the worst films imaginable to see if they can break Brad.

To kick off the new season, the guys dive headfirst into their very first Neil Breen experience — Fateful Findings, a movie that boldly asks, “What if one man did everything… and maybe shouldn’t have?”

We tried to write a quick synopsis, but that’s scientifically impossible. This film doesn’t have a plot so much as it has… events. Many events. All happening. All at once. In ways no human mind can fully process.

Will writer/producer/director/star/caterer/sound editor/makeup artist/set decorator Neil Breen finally be the one to break Brad? Or will Brad ascend to a higher plane of Breen‑lightenment?

Only one way to know — Listen and join us on this mystical, laptop‑throwing journey.

Be sure to subscribe to the Gentlemen’s Guide to Midnite Cinema to hear more of Sammy. Also, check out Jose’s podcast - Watch/Skip+ • A podcast on Anchor. Both are highly recommended.

If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at [email protected] or Contact Us - here. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.

Cast: Brad, Troy, Jose, Sammy

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?

In the latest episode of Not A Bomb, Troy and Brad crack open one of Hollywood’s strangest sequels — The Two Jakes. Arriving sixteen years after Chinatown, this long‑delayed follow‑up limped into theaters weighed down by production troubles, an unfinished script, and the impossible shadow of one of the greatest neo‑noirs ever made.

Jack Nicholson pulls double duty this time, stepping behind the camera while reprising his role as private eye J.J. “Jake” Gittes. But despite the star power and the legacy attached, the film barely made a dent upon release, leaving audiences and critics wondering whether this sequel ever had a fighting chance.

Does The Two Jakes earn its place as a continuation of a classic, or is it proof that some stories are better left alone? Troy and Brad dig into the mystery.

The Two Jakes is directed by Jack Nicholson and stars Jack Nicolson, Harvey Keitel, Madeleine Stowe, Eli Wallach, Ruben Blades, Frederic Forrest, David Keith, and Richard Farnsworth

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

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?

In the latest episode of Not A Bomb Podcast, we boldly go where many fans wish the franchise hadn’t with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. William Shatner steps fully into the captain’s chair — pulling double (and triple) duty as director, co-writer, and star — and the results are… complicated. We break down Shatner’s ambitions behind the camera, the notoriously troubled production, studio interference, budget issues, and how a film built around big ideas about faith and God ultimately became one of the most debated — and often maligned — entries in the Star Trek film series.

Joining us for this journey beyond the galactic barrier is Sammy from The Gentlemen’s Guide to Midnight Cinema, who helps us ask the forbidden question: is Star Trek V really as bad as its reputation? While the film is frequently labeled one of the worst in the franchise, we dig into its themes, character moments, and oddball sincerity to see if there’s a misunderstood Trek hiding beneath the camp, chaos, and infamous missteps. Strap in, grab your favorite Tribble, and prepare for a spirited reassessment of one of Star Trek’s most controversial adventures.

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

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

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.

As Not A Bomb waves goodbye to 2025 and kicks open the saloon doors of 2026, Troy and Brad saddle up for one last cinematic misfire from the year that was. This time, the guys take aim at Eddington, Ari Aster’s divisive neo‑western that split audiences harder than a frontier land dispute.

Despite Aster’s reputation as one of modern horror’s most daring auteurs, Eddington rode into theaters under a cloud of confusion and left with its saddle noticeably lighter. Critics were sharply divided — some praised its ambition and genre‑bending weirdness, while others felt the film wandered the desert without a map. Audiences weren’t much kinder, and the box office numbers reflected it, turning Aster’s bold experiment into one of 2025’s most talked‑about financial face‑plants.

Is Aster’s genre‑twisting odyssey a misunderstood masterpiece or a dusty dud best left on the prairie trail? Troy and Brad ride into the heart of the chaos to find out.

Giddy up and listen now!

Eddington is directed by Ari Aster and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Michael Ward, Austin Butler, and Emma Stone.

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

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.

Not A Bomb is seeing double this week! Troy and Brad continue their tour through 2025’s biggest cinematic misfires with Mickey 17, Bong Joon Ho’s sci‑fi black‑comedy follow‑up to his Academy Award–winning masterpiece Parasite. Armed with a massive budget and total creative freedom, Joon Ho delivered a true blank‑check passion project… that somehow managed to lose over $75 million.

The guys dig into the film’s stacked themes, its wonderfully weird performances, and the not‑so‑subtle political parallels that had everyone talking. Did one of modern cinema’s most celebrated directors craft another instant classic, or is Mickey 17 a clone you can safely skip?

Only one way to find out — listen now!

Mickey 17 is directed by Bong Joon Ho and stars Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo

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

This week, we’re doing something a little different—and a whole lot of fun. It’s time to reveal the Not A Bomb Community’s official list of the 25 greatest films of the last 25 years. That’s right… your picks, your favorites, and your cinematic darlings.

To help us break down this monster list, Troy and Brad are joined by longtime friend of the show Charlie, who brings his signature insight, enthusiasm, and love of history to the discussion. Together, the trio look back at a quarter century of unforgettable filmmaking—everything from the universally beloved to the “wait… really?” selections that only our community could deliver.

Does your favorite movie make the cut?
Only one way to find out—hit play and join the countdown.

Support the Show

Want to rep Not A Bomb out in the wild? Swing by our TeePublic store and check out the latest merch. Huge shout‑out to Ted Blair for crafting the killer designs that make us look far cooler than we actually are.

We Want to Hear From You

Got a cinematic misfire you’re dying for us to tackle? A forgotten flop that deserves redemption? Drop us a line at [email protected] or reach out through our contact page. Your feedback, reviews, and suggestions keep this whole thing rolling.

If you enjoy the show, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more than you know.

Cast: Brad, Troy, Charlie

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.

Not A Bomb! marches on with their discussion of some of the biggest bombs of 2025. Some movies stroll into the Not A Bomb clubhouse with a polite knock. Others kick the door down, track mud across the carpet, and immediately ask where you keep the bourbon. Caught Stealing (2025) is absolutely the second kind.

This week, we dive into the pulpy, bruised‑knuckle world of Paul Tremblay’s crime novel turned cinematic fever dream — a film that somehow blends noir grit, slapstick chaos, and the kind of escalating misfortune that makes you want to pat the protagonist on the shoulder and say, “Buddy… maybe just stay home next time.” The guys are so happy to have Jose from Watch Skip Plus to join in on the conversation.

Caught Stealing is directed by Darren Aronofsky and stars Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoe Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, Benito Martinez Ocasio, Griffin Daune, and Carol Kane

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, Jose

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.

Not A Bomb! continues with the bombs of 2025, this time examining the black comedy film - The Phoenician Scheme. Troy and Brad use this opportunity to reflect on the cinematic career of Wes Anderson. Everyone knows Wes has a unique visual, but has he grown as a filmmaker? Is he just doing the Wes Anderson thing?

The hosts find themselves battling with their initial thoughts and The Phoenician Scheme provided plenty for them to chew on. But hey, most importantly the guys are able to talk about Richard Ayoade AKA Dean Learner from Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace so maybe The Phoenician Scheme is the greatest film ever made for that simply fact.

The Phoenician Scheme is directed by Wes Anderson and stars Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Rix Ahmed, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amairic, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Rupert Friend

Additionally, Troy and Brad discuss Kill Bill: The Whole Affair as a bonus.

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