Episode 315 - Battleship

<p>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, Troy and Brad set sail into the explosive, alien‑filled chaos of the 2012 blockbuster <em><strong>Battleship.</strong></em> And yes, the guys know this one wasn’t just an underperformer. It was one of the biggest cinematic wipeouts of the year. In fact, Battleship is part of a rare double‑feature of disaster courtesy of Taylor Kitsch, who somehow managed to star in two of 2012’s biggest bombs with this film and <em><strong>John Carter</strong></em>. A true achievement in box office misfortune.</p><p><em><strong>Battleship</strong></em> arrived with all the makings of a summer tentpole: massive effects, a stacked cast, and a marketing campaign that practically shouted from the rooftops. It also came with one of the strangest Hollywood pitches of the decade, since the entire movie is based on a board game. Yes, the same board game you played as a kid, the one where you yelled “You sunk my battleship!” while trying not to knock over the plastic grid. Hollywood looked at that and said, “What if aliens?”</p><p>Troy and Brad dig into the film’s wild production, its attempt to blend military spectacle with sci‑fi mayhem, and the curious creative decisions that turned a simple naval strategy game into a full‑blown alien invasion epic. They also explore how the film’s reputation has shifted over time, why some viewers have embraced its over‑the‑top charm, and whether <em><strong>Battleship</strong></em> deserves a second look or remains a cautionary tale about adapting literally anything into a blockbuster.</p><p>Grab your grid, call out a coordinate, and brace for impact. This is one cinematic bomb worth revisiting.</p><p>Want to help support the show? Head over to <a href="https://www.teepublic.com/user/not-a-bomb-podcast" target="_blank">the Not A Bomb Tee Public</a> store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to <a href="https://www.tedblair.com/" target="_blank">Ted Blair</a> for the amazing designs!</p><p>We&#39;re committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there&#39;s a cinematic flop you&#39;d like us to delve into, please reach out to us at <a href="mailto:NotABombPod@gmail.com">NotABombPod@gmail.com</a> or through our <a href="https://www.notabombpodcast.com/contact-us" target="_blank">contact page</a>. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-a-bomb/id1517413998" target="_blank">Apple Podcast </a>or Spotify.</p><p>Cast: <a href="https://www.notabombpodcast.com/hosts/brad-anderson">Brad</a>, <a href="https://www.notabombpodcast.com/hosts/troy-sauer">Troy</a></p><p></p>