Episode 282 - From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
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.
The “celebration” of 2025’s biggest cinematic misfires rolls on, and this week, Troy and Brad pirouette into the bullet-riddled ballet that is Ballerina. Set in the ever-expanding World of John Wick, this spin-off tries desperately to remind you that, yes, the John Wick franchise is still very cool, very successful, and very much alive—even if this particular entry feels like it’s limping to the finish line in high heels.
Ballerina stars Ana de Armas as Eve, a vengeance-fueled assassin with a tragic backstory and a penchant for pirouettes and pistol-whipping. The film’s marketing promised a sleek, stylish detour into Wick’s world, but what audiences got was a muddled mix of lore-dumping, recycled set pieces, and storytelling that felt like it was choreographed by committee.
Troy and Brad dive deep into the film’s long and winding production history, including the last-minute call to bring in franchise godfather Chad Stahelski to punch up the action. Is Ballerina a misunderstood gem or just a misstep in an otherwise bulletproof franchise? Tune in as they dissect the good, the bad, and the ballet of it all—and decide whether Ballerina deserves a second dance or a swift exit stage left.
From the world of John Wick: Ballerina is directed by Len Wiseman and stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.
To celebrate the last 25 years of film, the Not A Bomb podcast is compiling a Top 25 list from the Not A Bomb community. If you would like to submit your own list, please use this form to enter your 25 choices. For a film to be eligible, it must have been released between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2025. Those are the only rules. Hurry, this is the last week to submit your list! Thank you for being a part of the community! Stay tuned for a special episode revealing the results in December. Head over to Not A Bomb 25 in 25 to fill out the form!
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: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption.
The “celebration” of 2025’s biggest cinematic misfires rolls on, and this week, Troy and Brad pirouette into the bullet-riddled ballet that is Ballerina. Set in the ever-expanding World of John Wick, this spin-off tries desperately to remind you that, yes, the John Wick franchise is still very cool, very successful, and very much alive—even if this particular entry feels like it’s limping to the finish line in high heels.
Ballerina stars Ana de Armas as Eve, a vengeance-fueled assassin with a tragic backstory and a penchant for pirouettes and pistol-whipping. The film’s marketing promised a sleek, stylish detour into Wick’s world, but what audiences got was a muddled mix of lore-dumping, recycled set pieces, and storytelling that felt like it was choreographed by committee.
Troy and Brad dive deep into the film’s long and winding production history, including the last-minute call to bring in franchise godfather Chad Stahelski to punch up the action. Is Ballerina a misunderstood gem or just a misstep in an otherwise bulletproof franchise? Tune in as they dissect the good, the bad, and the ballet of it all—and decide whether Ballerina deserves a second dance or a swift exit stage left.
From the world of John Wick: Ballerina is directed by Len Wiseman and stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.
To celebrate the last 25 years of film, the Not A Bomb podcast is compiling a Top 25 list from the Not A Bomb community. If you would like to submit your own list, please use this form to enter your 25 choices. For a film to be eligible, it must have been released between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2025. Those are the only rules. Hurry, this is the last week to submit your list! Thank you for being a part of the community! Stay tuned for a special episode revealing the results in December. Head over to Not A Bomb 25 in 25 to fill out the form!
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.
Episode 43 - 47 Ronin
Hey Bomb Crew, welcome back to Not A Bomb and episode 43 - The Fall…wait no 47 Ronin. Due to The Fall’s lack of streaming presence, Not A Bomb called an audible on this episode and will be discussing 2013’s Samurai/Ronin Fantasy epic by first time director Carl Rinsch. Universal’s answer to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series, 47 Ronin is a fictional retelling of the real-life Ronin of the 18th century who avenged the death of the master by confronting his rival.
This film was greenlit with an initial production budget of $175 million and was a vehicle for first time director, Carl Rincsh. That’s right! Businessmen thought it was a good idea to hand a blank check to a director who had only completed four short films prior to directing this film. But hey, 47 Ronin gives Troy and Brad an excuse to talk about samurai, Keanu Reeves, Mortal Kombat, and Kurosawa.
47 Ronin is directed by Carl Rinsch, and stars Keanu Reeves. Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi, and Ko Shibasaki.
If you would like to sign-up for our upcoming newsletter, please sign-up here.
If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Hey Bomb Crew, welcome back to Not A Bomb and episode 43 - The Fall…wait no 47 Ronin. Due to The Fall’s lack of streaming presence, Not A Bomb called an audible on this episode and will be discussing 2013’s Samurai/Ronin Fantasy epic by first time director Carl Rinsch. Universal’s answer to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series, 47 Ronin is a fictional retelling of the real-life Ronin of the 18th century who avenged the death of the master by confronting his rival.
This film was greenlit with an initial production budget of $175 million and was a vehicle for first time director, Carl Rincsh. That’s right! Businessmen thought it was a good idea to hand a blank check to a director who had only completed four short films prior to directing this film. But hey, 47 Ronin gives Troy and Brad an excuse to talk about samurai, Keanu Reeves, Mortal Kombat, and Kurosawa.
47 Ronin is directed by Carl Rinsch, and stars Keanu Reeves. Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi, and Ko Shibasaki.
If you would like to sign-up for our upcoming newsletter, please sign-up here.
If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.