The Flop House

It's a rare "Flop House in the Aisles," as we took to the theater to see the tepidly-received (though still wildly successful) latest Star Wars thing, THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU. It's got a li'l green guy in it! How bad could it be? And for a very special episode, we needed a special guest -- the talented actor and improvisor Will Hines, returning to the show after a seventeen year absence! See you in another 17 Will! (JK, why would we do that?) Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Wikipedia page for The Mandalorian and Grogu Recommended in this episode: Dan: The Sheep Detectives (2026) Stu: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) Elliott: The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians (1981) Will Hines: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2025) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinflop

It's established lore that, growing up, Dan mostly got to see movies in the theater on his birthday, as a special treat. But what were those movies? And if you had limited birthday bucks (TM) to spend, were those movies BIRTHDAY-WORTHY? Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! It’s the best way to keep up on all things Flop House! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinflop

Back in 2009 a movie trailer set the internet aflame. Not because it was for some long-awaited adaptation or giant blockbuster, but because it was so odd people assumed it had to be a prank. Now in 2026, we welcome the wonderful J.D. Amato to discuss this oddball (?)thriller(?) AFTER LAST SEASON! In addition to be a respected TV showrunner/comedy writer, J.D. has written a new graphic novel for young readers, THE ENDLESS GAME, about a game of capture the flag that's been going on for 80 years. Consider picking one up for the young reader or comics enthusiast in your life! Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Paste https://feeds.simplecast.com/EOAFriME into iTunes (or your favorite podcatching software) to have new episodes of The Flop House delivered to you directly, as they’re released. Wikipedia page for After Last Season Recommended in this episode: Dan: Thief (1981) Stu: Faces of Death (2026) Elliott: Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet (1979) J.D. Amato

Stuart helps us winnow down the 80+ movies where Stephen King gets a writing credit, to discover the ten best, and which film is the true "king of King's." Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! It’s the best way to keep up on all things Flop House! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinflop

In 2003, legendary director Lawrence Kasdan teamed with legendary screenwriter William Goldman, for a big-budget adaptation of a novel by legendary horror novelist Stephen King. And the result was... also legendary. But for different reasons than they might have hoped. On this episode, legendary (at least to us!) comics artist and writer Evan Dorkin joins us to discuss one of the most inexplicable flops of the 2000's -- DREAMCATCHER! If you've never checked out Evan's work, he's just released an omnibus of his humor comix under the name NERD INFERNO, a FH-endorsed way to spend your nerd bucks! Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Wikipedia page for Dreamcatcher Recommended in this episode: Dan: The Movie Orgy (1968) Stu: Song Sung Blue (2025) Elliott: Apocalypse Pooh (1987), November (1917) Evan Dorkin: One Cut of the Dead (2017) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinflop

Max Fun Drive 2026 is over, and normally we'd be back to our "one full ep one mini" schedule, but we had too many good guests lined up, so you're getting another maxi this week AND next. That's why they call us Peaches. (Editor's note: there's no particularly good reason we're called The Peaches.) First up, our pal/amazing movie director/special effects wizard Steven Kostanski joins us to discuss a movie he kinda liked: RETURN TO SILENT HILL. Will the rest of us agree? Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Wikipedia page for Return to Silent Hill Recommended in this episode: Dan: Body Double (1984) Stu: Cure (1997) Elliott: House of the Devil (2009) Steve Kostanski: The Last Detail (1973) Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinflop

We close out Max Fun Drive 2026 with some true pain. Stuart's proclaimed "least favorite movie," 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS, a supposed "sexy romcom" that's actually a melange of unfunny shenanigans, poisonous attitudes, nothing that resembles actual human behavior, and (trigger warning) some unacknowledged sexual assault. It's... a lot. But at least it led to a funny episode -- like a flower, blooming from a pile of shit. One last time for 2026 -- the Max Fun Drive is literally what keeps this show going. If you love listening and want to support creators, please consider becoming a member (or upgrading/boosting) at maximumfun.org/join! Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Wikipedia page for 40 Days and 40 Nights Recommended in this episode: Dan: Strange Brew (1983) Stu: Primate (2025) Elliott: Losing Ground (1982) Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.

We're in the swing of Max Fun Drive 2026, and for "Dan's pick" of our 3 special MFD episodes, he's taking us back to 2002 when the internet felt new and we were all logging on to FEARDOTCOM, or -- more accurately -- feardotcom.com (just listen to the episode). Join us as we surf the fear-web! MAX FUN DRIVE literally keeps this show going. If you love listening and think it's worth supporting creators, please consider becoming a sustaining member (or upgrading/boosting) at maximumfun.org/join! Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Wikipedia page for Feardotcom Recommended in this episode: Dan: Gumby: the Movie (1995) Stu: Mother Mary (2026) Elliott: The Ghost Goes West (1935) Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinflop

https://maximumfun.org/join/ Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinflop

It's MaxFunDrive. And here, for the first time, we give you an exclusive look (well, listen) at the craft of podcasting: presenting Casters on Casters. Stuart Wellington and Dan McCoy are joined by their pals Jesse Thorn and John Hodgman of the Judge John Hodgman show, for a very fun, and funny, conversation about podcasting. In this very important podcasting event, ALL the tricks of the trade will be revealed. Plus, can podcasting make you...a better person? Yes. Yes it can. How? Listen to find out! If this glamorous, in-depth journey into what makes your favorite hosts tick inspires you, support them by joining as a member at maximumfun.org/join. Edited by Marissa Flaxbart and Produced by Jennifer Marmor for Maximum Fun. Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinflop

For Max Fun Drive 2026 (starting this Monday 4/20)the Peaches issued a fiendish challenge to one another -- we each get ONE pick to bedevil the others with, and Stuart starts us off with a doozy: 1994's EXIT TO EDEN. It started out as an erotic BDSM novel by Anne Rice, so clearly the best person to bring the heat was Garry Marshall, known for such previous Flop House faves as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. So climb on board the sex boat and take a ride with us to sex island as we dissect this wild misfire. MAX FUN DRIVE is how the Flop House keeps going. If you've enjoyed these shows and think creator-owned media is a good thing to support, then please consider becoming a sustaining member at maximumfun.org/join (or, for folks who only listen to The Flop House, use a streamlined checkout at maximumfun.org/joinflop)! Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Wikipedia page for Exit to Eden Recommended in this episode: Dan: Pajama Party (1964) Stu: Swordf

AI is bad, except maybe it's not, maybe AI will help you solve the murder of your wife before it executes you for the murder of its wife... wtf is Mercy saying, anyway? Maybe it's saying if you put your hero in a chair for 100 minutes your movie will feel inert. Especially if Chris Pratt is that hero? Hard to say, but we do our best to untangle one of the silliest flops of the year. Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Wikipedia page for Mercy Recommended in this episode: Dan: Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (2026) Stu: Saw X (2023) Elliott: Lemonade Joe (1964)

He missed March by four days, but hey, there's nothing in the rulebook that says Elliott can't lead us in a March Madness showdown to determine which cinematic fantasy land would be best to live in! Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! It’s the best way to keep up on all things Flop House!

"What's the Bratz of the 2020's?" we asked ourselves, chasing that ultimate Bratz high. "Could it be Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie?" While perhaps not reaching those lofty heights, this was nearly as bonkos as reviews suggested it would be -- a psychedelic fantasia filtered through a combination Hello Kitty/candy store. The movie was not meant for us, but we had a fun time talking about it. Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Wikipedia page for Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie Recommended in this episode: Dan: Time Bandits (1981) Stu: Hank's Saloon (2026) Elliott: The Small Back Room (1949)

Stuart leads a discussion of stand-up comedy in the movies, with the help of our special guest: acclaimed comic and longtime pal, Matt Koff. Matt Koff’s comedy special, CAT MAN, is now available for purchase at Veeps.events/mattkoff Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! It’s the best way to keep up on all things Flop House!

On this episode, we discuss ELLA MCCAY, which -- based on its poster -- is a movie about a woman having trouble with her shoe. Hmn. That can't be right. Well, whatever it's about, it's made by the legendary James L. Brooks, so we can be sure it'll have a clear plot, strong themes, and a comprehensible emotional throughline! Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Paste https://feeds.simplecast.com/EOAFriME into iTunes (or your favorite podcatching software) to have new episodes of The Flop House delivered to you directly, as they’re released. Wikipedia page for Ella McCay Recommended in this episode: Dan: Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) Stu: American Cyborg: Steel Warrior (1993) Elliott: The Cotton Club: Encore (2019 new edit)

The world is, how do you say, "un feu de poubelle." So Dan took this mini as a chance to do a little check-in with his pals. How's everyone doing? Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! It’s the best way to keep up on all things Flop House!

You probably thought we forgot the hedgehog beat! We were just biding our time. Sometimes slow and steady wins the race, SONIC. We welcome our returning Senior Hedgehog Correspondent, Jamelle Bouie, who absolutely does not have anything more important to do than extend this bit, to discuss Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Why does a movie about a fast hedgehog have this much plot, and why is it all so boilerplate? We get into it. Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! Paste https://feeds.simplecast.com/EOAFriME into iTunes (or your favorite podcatching software) to have new episodes of The Flop House delivered to you directly, as they’re released. Wikipedia page for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Recommended in this episode: Dan: The Color of Money (1986) Stu: Pillion (2025) Elliott: Heat Lightning (1934) Jamelle Bouie: Wuthering Heights (1939)

Elliott takes us on a tour of Best Picture Academy Award winners, filtered into his highly-scientific categories, and then asks us, "But which Best is BEST?" Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets! It’s the best way to keep up on all things Flop House!

Yes, we never heard of it either. But trust us when we say that High Rollers (sequel to the equally nonexistent movie Cash Out) makes for a helluva S-tier Flop House episode, especially when it features longtime friend of the show Jordan Morris as our guest. Is Travolta the new Nic Cage? Well, if you're watching Face/Off, yes, definitely. But in terms of FH movie greatness? Yeah, maybe!Stay updated on all things Flop House, plus a little extra, with our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets!Download the MP3 directly, HEREPaste https://feeds.simplecast.com/EOAFriME into iTunes (or your favorite podcatching software) to have new episodes of The Flop House delivered to you directly, as they’re released.Wikipedia page for High RollersRecommended in this episode:Dan: Send Help (2026)Stu: Reflection in a Dead Diamond (2025)Elliott: The Saragossa Manuscript (1965)Jordan Morris: 28 Years Later: Bone Temple (2026)