Episode 311 - Mallrats (6 Year Anniversary)
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb? This week is extra special as Troy and Brad celebrate six years of cinematic redemption, deep dives, financial flops, and the occasional chocolate-covered pretzel.
To mark the anniversary, the guys are heading back to the mid‑’90s to revisit Kevin Smith’s sophomore effort — Mallrats. Released in 1995, this follow‑up to Clerks was supposed to launch Smith into the mainstream. Instead, it belly‑flopped harder than Brodie Bruce off an escalator. Critics weren’t impressed, audiences stayed home, and Universal watched its teen‑comedy gamble turn into a full‑blown financial wipeout. Of course, like many Not A Bomb favorites, Mallrats eventually found a second life on home video, becoming a cult staple for slackers, comic‑book nerds, and anyone who has ever loitered in a food court.
But how does Mallrats hold up nearly three decades later? Is it an unfairly maligned comedy that deserved better, or a chaotic, juvenile relic that only works if you lived through the era of Magic Eye posters? Troy and Brad dig into the film’s legacy, its infamous production woes, and the early signs of the View Askewniverse taking shape.
Snootchie bootchies — and listen now!
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 NotABombPod@gmail.com 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.
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb? This week is extra special as Troy and Brad celebrate six years of cinematic redemption, deep dives, financial flops, and the occasional chocolate-covered pretzel.
To mark the anniversary, the guys are heading back to the mid‑’90s to revisit Kevin Smith’s sophomore effort — Mallrats. Released in 1995, this follow‑up to Clerks was supposed to launch Smith into the mainstream. Instead, it belly‑flopped harder than Brodie Bruce off an escalator. Critics weren’t impressed, audiences stayed home, and Universal watched its teen‑comedy gamble turn into a full‑blown financial wipeout. Of course, like many Not A Bomb favorites, Mallrats eventually found a second life on home video, becoming a cult staple for slackers, comic‑book nerds, and anyone who has ever loitered in a food court.
But how does Mallrats hold up nearly three decades later? Is it an unfairly maligned comedy that deserved better, or a chaotic, juvenile relic that only works if you lived through the era of Magic Eye posters? Troy and Brad dig into the film’s legacy, its infamous production woes, and the early signs of the View Askewniverse taking shape.
Snootchie bootchies — and listen now!
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 NotABombPod@gmail.com 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.