Special Report
100 Worst Movies of All Time
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“Sa-a-a-d movies always make me cry,” sang Sue Thompson back in 1961. Okay, but what do bad movies do? They make us cringe, nod off, guffaw (when we’re not supposed to), and sometimes just walk out of the theater.
Some bad movies, of course, attain a kind of iconic, ironic “so bad, it’s good” status. People will watch such critical bombs as “Showgirls,” “Anaconda,” “Sharknado,” and the celebrated “Plan 9 from Outer Space” just to laugh at them, or to bask in their mediocrity.
Most truly awful examples of the cinematic arts aren’t worth even that kind of attention, though. They’re just stinkers.
Click here to see the 100 worst movies of all time.
What makes movies bad? Weak story lines, incompetent direction, poor technical quality, and of course amateurish performances can all be factors. But many bad movies boast first-rate actors. In the list below, you’ll find revered old-school thespians like Michael Caine, Sean Connery, and Richard Burton, as well as such younger stars as Emma Stone, Renée Zellweger, and Ben Affleck. And big-name directors can be involved, too. For instance, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, and Sidney Furie are all represented here.
What critics seem to single out time and again in lambasting bad movies is their lack of originality — their derivative story lines, clichéd dialogue, and rote performances. It’s probably no accident that many of the bad movies listed here are inferior sequels to critically acclaimed and/or commercially successful predecessors — cynical or at least creatively bankrupt attempts to cash in on somebody else’s success. Somehow, these seem even worse than low-rent, non-sequel attempts that are merely inept.
To determine the worst movies of all time, 24/7 Wall St. created an index based on each film’s Rotten Tomatoes average critic rating, Rotten Tomatoes average audience rating, and Internet Movie Database average user rating. To be considered, each film needed to have at least 5,000 Rotten Tomatoes user ratings, 10 approved Tomatometer critic reviews, and 10,000 IMDb user ratings.
We averaged the user ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb and weighted by the number of votes for each. The combined user rating was then averaged with the Rotten Tomatoes critic rating.
100. The Pyramid (2014)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror
> Directed by: Grégory Levasseur
> Starring: Ashley Hinshaw, James Buckley, Denis O’Hare
“The Pyramid” tells the story of an archaeological team that gets more than it bargained for while exploring an Egyptian pyramid. Unlike the hugely successful “Paranormal Activity,” this found footage horror movie failed to excite critics or moviegoers, receiving abysmal reviews online.
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99. Fantastic Four (2015)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
> Directed by: Josh Trank
> Starring: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan
“Fantastic Four” was a rare commercial failure in an age of seemingly endless superhero blockbuster movies. Critics found the film to be dull and humorless.
98. Basic Instinct 2 (2006)
> Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
> Directed by: Michael Caton-Jones
> Starring: Sharon Stone, David Morrissey, David Thewlis
Sharon Stone returns as the conniving novelist Catherine Tramell, who has run afoul with the law. Scotland Yard sends a psychiatrist to evaluate her, and he is seduced by the manipulative Tramell. Critics weren’t persuaded by the plot, and only 7% of them gave the sequel a positive Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared with 53% rating for the original.
97. A Haunted House 2 (2014)
> Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
> Directed by: Michael Tiddes
> Starring: Marlon Wayans, Jaime Pressly, Cedric the Entertainer
“Haunted House” may have given critics a laugh, but the sequel did not. They dismissed the horror movie parody as sloppy, vulgar, moronic, and witless. It garnered just an 8% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, barely better than the 10% rating for the original.
96. The Wicker Man (2006)
> Genre: Mystery, Thriller
> Directed by: Neil LaBute
> Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Leelee Sobieski
“The Wicker Man,” a remake of the well-received 1973 cult horror classic, was chided by one critic as “comically inept,” despite a cast that included Nicolas Cage and Ellen Burstyn.
95. Problem Child (1990)
> Genre: Comedy, Family
> Directed by: Dennis Dugan
> Starring: Michael Oliver, John Ritter, Jack Warden
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes were unsparing in their criticism of this comedy, calling it “mean-spirited and hopelessly short on comic invention.” Just 4% gave it a Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences tolerated it a little more, with 40% saying they liked the movie.
94. The Last Airbender (2010)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Family
> Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
> Starring: Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone
Noted director M. Night Shyamalan wrote the screenplay about a boy who is humankind’s last hope to bring harmony to a world in chaos. The film, which cost $150 million, didn’t resonate with critics, who said the plot was “incomprehensible” and gave the movie a 5% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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93. Strange Wilderness (2008)
> Genre: Adventure, Comedy
> Directed by: Fred Wolf
> Starring: Steve Zahn, Allen Covert, Justin Long
When an unconventional nature television show faces cancellation, the program’s hosts go to the Andes Mountains to find Bigfoot. “Strange Wilderness” plumbed the depths of critical condemnation, getting just a 2% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was also one of the last movies Oscar-winning actor Ernest Borgnine ever made.
92. Howard the Duck (1986)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
> Directed by: Willard Huyck
> Starring: Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins
A beer-swigging, cigar-chomping duck named Howard is accidentally beamed to Earth from another planet and prevents nasty punks from attacking a young woman. She, in turn, tries to keep Howard from falling into the hands of government agents who want to return him to his home planet. Among the critics who disliked this film was Paul Attanasio of the Washington Post, who said, “As you watch ‘Howard the Duck,’ you get the vivid sensation that you’re watching not a movie, but a pile of money being poured down the drain.”
91. Shark Night 3D (2011)
> Genre: Horror, Thriller
> Directed by: David R. Ellis
> Starring: Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Chris Carmack
Large sharks leap of out of the water and chomp on teens frolicking at a Louisiana lake cabin. The film was short on terror and savaged by critics who called it predictable and boring. For one critic, the worst part was during the final credits when the cast reassembles to perform in a cringe-worthy rap video.
90. Daddy Day Camp (2007)
> Genre: Comedy, Family
> Directed by: Fred Savage
> Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Lochlyn Munro, Richard Gant
Two men with little knowledge of the outdoors take over a deteriorating summer day camp in this sequel to “Daddy Day Care” that combines humor about bodily functions and mawkish sentimental scenes about parent-child bonding. The movie, directed by “Wonder Years” actor Fred Savage and starring Cuba Gooding, got a 1% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
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89. Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)
> Genre: Comedy, Crime
> Directed by: Jim Drake
> Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow
Tired jokes and a poor script earned the third sequel in the Police Academy canon a 0% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics consensus on the site said, “Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol” sends a once-innocuous franchise plummeting to agonizing new depths.”
88. Supergirl (1984)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
> Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
> Starring: Helen Slater, Faye Dunaway, Peter O’Toole
“Supergirl” may get kudos for portraying a female superhero, but critics slammed the writing and said the movie lacked enthusiasm. Despite the considerable star power of Faye Dunaway, Peter O’Toole, Mia Farrow, and Brenda Vaccaro, the film managed just a 10% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
87. Dragonball: Evolution (2009)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
> Directed by: James Wong
> Starring: Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Yun-Fat Chow
“Dragonball: Evolution” is weighed down by cliched scenes, bad dialogue, and ineffective CGI. Critics said the movie lacked the appeal of the books that the film was based on, giving it a 15% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Just 19% of audiences liked the movie.
86. Furry Vengeance (2010)
> Genre: Comedy, Family
> Directed by: Roger Kumble
> Starring: Brendan Fraser, Brooke Shields, Ricky Garcia
Brendan Fraser plays a developer supervising construction of a subdivision in Oregon who meets his match when woodland creatures rally to thwart the project. Critics gave this environmentally sympathetic flick a 7% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. For one critic, the lone saving grace of the film was that the animals don’t talk.
85. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)
> Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
> Directed by: Andy Fickman
> Starring: Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez, Eduardo Verástegui
Kevin James revives his role as New Jersey mall cop Paul Blart in this sequel that takes him and his daughter to Las Vegas for vacation. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 5% Freshness rating, though audiences were more receptive to the sequel, with 34% saying they liked it. The original had a 32% Freshness rating and 43% liked the movie.
84. The Gallows (2015)
> Genre: Horror, Thriller
> Directed by: Travis Cluff, Chris Lofing
> Starring: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos
A high school play descends into terror, though not terrifying enough for some critics.
Peter Sobczynski of RogerEbert.com called the film a “ridiculous fusion of ‘Paranormal Activity’ and ‘Glee’ that is so incredibly dumb that it is almost, but never quite, scary to behold.”
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83. Species II (1998)
> Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: Peter Medak
> Starring: Natasha Henstridge, Michael Madsen, Marg Helgenberger
Natasha Henstridge, Michael Madsen, and Marg Helgenberger return from the first “Species” film. “Species II” was panned as abysmal by one critic, and the movie was chided for its gratuitous nudity and poor acting. Critics gave it a 9% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audience reception was not much better, with 18% saying the liked it. The original registered a 44% Freshness rating and 31% liked the movie.
82. Nothing But Trouble (1991)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Dan Aykroyd
> Starring: Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy
“Nothing But Trouble” was Dan Aykroyd’s directorial debut. The comedy is about New Yorkers on their way to Atlantic City who are imprisoned for speeding in a weird New Jersey town. Critics hated the film for banal dialogue and tasteless humor and gave it a 5% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Owen Gleiberman of “Entertainment Weekly” tossed a figurative tomato of his own at the film, calling it “sheer hell.”
81. Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Tom Green
> Starring: Tom Green, Rip Torn, Marisa Coughlan
Comedian Tom Green directed and starred in this gross-out comedy about a twentysomething failed animator who battles his father as he is trying to kick him out of the house. Critics found the film offensive. The critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes said “a number of critics are calling Tom Green’s extreme gross-out comedy the worst movie they have ever seen.” Critics gave the film an 11% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences disagreed with critics, with 55% of them liking the film.
80. Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
> Directed by: Russell Mulcahy
> Starring: Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Virginia Madsen
Another sequel that misses the mark. The plot revolves around the control of a shield that protects Earth after the ozone layer is depleted. Critics found the plot incoherent and incomprehensible, mostly because it jumps back and forth in time. “Highlander II: The Quickening” received a 0% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 22% of audiences liked it. The original film posted a 68% Freshness rating and 79% liked the movie.
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79. One Missed Call (2008)
> Genre: Horror, Mystery
> Directed by: Eric Valette
> Starring: Edward Burns, Shannyn Sossamon, Ana Claudia Talancón
French director Eric Valette remade a Japanese movie about people who receive phone calls from the future in which they hear themselves murdered. There was no Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who said the movie was uninspired and lacked terror. Twenty-nine percent of audiences liked the movie.
78. Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
> Directed by: Jan de Bont
> Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, Willem Dafoe
Keanu Reeves declined to appear in this sequel to “Speed,” and maybe he knew something. “Speed 2: Cruise Control” was chided by critics on Rotten Tomatoes for its “familiar plot devices and action sequences that fail to generate any excitement.” Despite starring Sandra Bullock and Willem Dafoe, the film was a flop at the box office, grossing less than half of its $110 million budget domestically. The film received a 4% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 16% of audiences liked it, a far cry from the original, which got a 93% Freshness rating, and 76% liked the movie.
77. Corky Romano (2001)
> Genre: Comedy, Crime
> Directed by: Rob Pritts
> Starring: Chris Kattan, Peter Falk, Vinessa Shaw
“Saturday Night Live” cast member Chris Kattan appears in this mob-themed comedy that also starred Peter Falk as Kattan’s father. Critics said the movie was unimaginative and depressing and the jokes “tired and unfunny.” It received a 6% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but it did better among audiences, 38% of whom said they liked it.
76. On Deadly Ground (1994)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
> Directed by: Steven Seagal
> Starring: Steven Seagal, Michael Caine, Joan Chen
Action star Steven Seagal makes his directorial debut with this film. Seagal plays a government environmental worker who goes to the Alaskan wilderness to protect land sacred to the indigenous people that is targeted for development by greedy developers. Critics lambasted the film as preachy and a Seagal “vanity project.” It flopped with critics — 10% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes — and at the box office, where it failed to cover its $50 million budget.
75. The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) (2011)
> Genre: Drama, Horror
> Directed by: Tom Six
> Starring: Laurence R. Harvey, Ashlynn Yennie, Maddi Black
A sequel to the original cult classic, critics disliked “The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence)” for gratuitous and exploitative violence, and what one critic called “torture porn.” It received a 29% Freshness rating among critics, but only 22% of audiences liked it. The film grossed just under $142,000.
74. RoboCop 3 (1993)
> Genre: Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: Fred Dekker
> Starring: Robert John Burke, Nancy Allen, Mario Machado
In the third installment of the RoboCop series, the mechanical humanoid battles his creators, who are trying to kick out the poor residents of Detroit and seize the real estate. “RoboCop 3” managed just a 3% Freshness rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and only 14% of audiences liked the movie. It was a far cry from the Paul Verhoeven-directed original, which was hailed as a smart sci-fi flick.
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73. Body of Evidence (1993)
> Genre: Drama, Thriller
> Directed by: Uli Edel
> Starring: Madonna, Willem Dafoe, Joe Mantegna
The movie tried to capitalize on the star power of Madonna and is remembered for its kinky sex scenes. But it was a critical and box office disaster. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a Freshness rating of 8%, and the movie grossed less than half of its $30 million budget, much of which went to the lineup of stars in the film — Willem Dafoe, Joe Mantegna, Anne Archer, Julianne Moore, Jurgen Prochnow, and Frank Langella.
72. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)
> Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
> Directed by: Andrzej Bartkowiak
> Starring: Kristin Kreuk, Neal McDonough, Michael Clarke Duncan
“Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-LI” is feature movie adaptation of the video-game franchise. Chun-Li is played by Kristin Kreuk, who starred in the television series “Smallville.” Critics thought the plot was lacking and the characters miscast. The film got a Freshness rating of 6% on Rotten Tomatoes and just 14% of audiences liked the movie. It was a box-office disappointment, grossing less than $9 million domestically, and it cost $50 million to make.
71. Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)
> Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror
> Directed by: Joe Berlinger
> Starring: Jeffrey Donovan, Stephen Barker Turner, Erica Leerhsen
Critics described this pale follow-up to the original “Blair Witch Project” as “just another dreadful teen horror flick” and “hardly bewitching.”
70. Scary Movie 5 (2013)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee, David Zucker
> Starring: Simon Rex, Ashley Tisdale, Charlie Sheen
The Scary Movie franchise, developed by the Wayans brothers, has grossed more than $800 million by parodying the horror genre. It features dozens of cameo appearances by stars. But the comedy formula was exhausted by the film’s fifth installment, garnering a 4% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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69. The Fog (2005)
> Genre: Horror
> Directed by: Rupert Wainwright
> Starring: Tom Welling, Maggie Grace, Selma Blair
While 75% of critics enjoyed the original, John Carpenter-helmed “The Fog” from 1980, a mere 4% approved of this 2005 remake, according to Rotten Tomatoes. According to consensus critics on the movie website, the updated “The Fog,” lacks “scares, suspense or originality,” three of the most important traits for a horror film.
68. The Darkness (2016)
> Genre: Horror, Thriller
> Directed by: Greg McLean
> Starring: Kevin Bacon, Radha Mitchell, David Mazouz
An “odd fusion of psychodrama and supernatural hokum,” according to Variety, this low-rent “Poltergeist” was widely panned for being derivative and low on the scares.
67. A Sound of Thunder (2005)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror
> Directed by: Peter Hyams
> Starring: Edward Burns, Ben Kingsley, Catherine McCormack
“A Sound of Thunder” is a time travel movie about hunters who return to prehistoric times to prey on dinosaurs, with catastrophic results. Critics questioned the logic of the film and gave it a 6% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while just 18% of audiences liked it.
66. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)
> Genre: Comedy, Horror, Thriller
> Directed by: Kim Henkel
> Starring: Renée Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, Robert Jacks
Twenty years after the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was released, Kim Henkel, who produced the first version of the film, unleashed this reboot of the slaughterfest. Owen Gleiberman of “Entertainment Weekly” called this version “luridly abysmal.” Critics gave the film a 15% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while only 17% of audiences liked it. The original, credited with launching the slasher genre, received a Freshness rating of 88% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 82% of audiences liked the movie.
65. Jaws 3-D (1983)
> Genre: Adventure, Horror, Thriller
> Directed by: Joe Alves
> Starring: Dennis Quaid, Bess Armstrong, Simon MacCorkindale
The third installment in the Jaws franchise, “Jaws 3-D” was a financial success, grossing over $45 million in the U.S. The 3-D gimmick could not save this film from a critical thrashing, however. The movie went on to be nominated for five Razzie Awards â a mock award for the worst films of the year.
64. Cannonball Run II (1984)
> Genre: Action, Comedy
> Directed by: Hal Needham
> Starring: Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin
A constellation of star cameos – including appearances by Jackie Chan, Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, and Sammy Davis Jr., among many others – couldn’t save this follow-up to the original from being “one of the laziest insults to the intelligence of moviegoers that I can remember,” as Roger Ebert put it.
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63. My Boss’s Daughter (2003)
> Genre: Comedy, Romance
> Directed by: David Zucker
> Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Tara Reid, Andy Richter
David Zucker – director of comedy classics such as “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” – delivered less than his best with the 2003 Ashton Kutcher vehicle “My Boss’s Daughter.” Film critic Nick Schager summed it up by saying, “Few films are as consistently pathetic.”
62. Problem Child 2 (1991)
> Genre: Comedy, Family
> Directed by: Brian Levant
> Starring: John Ritter, Michael Oliver, Jack Warden
Despite the poor reception to the first “Problem Child” film, director Brian Levant forged ahead with a sequel, with problem child Michael Oliver paired with an equally bratty girl. Critics still weren’t won over — the consensus on Rotten Tomatoes said it was “the cynical nadir in family-marketed entertainment” — and the sequel garnered just a 7% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
61. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
> Genre: Horror
> Directed by: John Boorman
> Starring: Richard Burton, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher
With a cast starring acclaimed actors Richard Burton and Louise Fletcher, and helmed by “Deliverance” director John Boorman, how bad could “Exorcist II: The Heretic” be? Apparently bad enough. Critics lambasted the film for bad special effects, a lousy plot, and poor acting. Critics gave the movie a 17% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while only 12% of audiences liked it. The sequel paled in comparison to the groundbreaking original, which received an 86% Freshness score from critics, and 87% of audiences liked it.
60. Look Who’s Talking Now (1993)
> Genre: Comedy, Family, Romance
> Directed by: Tom Ropelewski
> Starring: John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, David Gallagher
“Look Who’s Talking Now” is the third film in the Look Who’s Talking trilogy. The film differs from its preceding chapters in that it gives voices to the protagonist couple’s pet dogs. This development wasn’t enough to win over critics, not a single one of whom has been recorded by Rotten Tomatoes as giving the film a positive review.
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59. Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)
> Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: Mic Rodgers
> Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bill Goldberg, Heidi Schanz
Action star Jean-Claude Van Damme reprises his role as cyber-warrior Luc Deveraux in this low-rated sequel to the 1992 original. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 5% rating for failures ranging from “its generic story to its second rate action and subpar performances.” This was still better than the original, released in 1992, which got a 25% rating from critics.
58. Piranha 3DD (2012)
> Genre: Comedy, Horror
> Directed by: John Gulager
> Starring: Danielle Panabaker, Ving Rhames, David Hasselhoff
“Piranha 3DD” increases the gore and self-parody of the earlier “Piranha 3D” to disappointing effect. The result is a horror-comedy that few find either scary or funny.
57. Street Fighter (1994)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
> Directed by: Steven E. de Souza
> Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, Ming-Na Wen
Based on the video game series of the same name, “Street Fighter” the film is too campy for its own good. Sadly, the film was the last feature film appearance of accomplished actor Raul Julia before he died of a stroke.
56. Weekend at Bernie’s II (1993)
> Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
> Directed by: Robert Klane
> Starring: Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman, Terry Kiser
Bernie (who is dead, as anyone who saw the original “Weekend at Bernie’s” will remember) dances, hang-glides, and attracts the ladies in this belabored sequel, variously described by critics as “mindless and repetitive” and “relentlessly labored and pointless.”
55. In the Army Now (1994)
> Genre: Comedy, War
> Directed by: Daniel Petrie Jr.
> Starring: Pauly Shore, Lori Petty, Andy Dick
Pauly Shore was highly prolific during the 1990s, starring in popular movies like “Encino Man” and “Son in Law.” Not all of his material was of equal quality, however, as evidenced by the wartime comedy “In the Army Now.” The movie currently has a mere 6% fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
54. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Family
> Directed by: Sidney J. Furie
> Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder
Original “Superman” cast members Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder are present here, too, but according to consensus critic review on Rotten Tomatoes, “The Superman series bottoms out here,” and “the action is boring, the special effects look cheaper, and none of the actors appear interested in where the plot is going.”
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53. Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Troy Miller
> Starring: Derek Richardson, Eric Christian Olsen, Eugene Levy
The filmmakers behind “Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd” may have taken its title a little too seriously. Critics found the film â a prequel to 1994’s “Dumb and Dumber” â exceedingly inane, even for an intended sophomoric comedy.
52. The Room (2003)
> Genre: Drama
> Directed by: Tommy Wiseau
> Starring: Tommy Wiseau, Juliette Danielle, Greg Sestero
With a mere 26% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “The Room” can undoubtedly be considered a bad movie. However, it does have its supporters. The drama, originally released in 2003, continues to have screenings across the country and has developed a cult following.
51. The Legend of Hercules (2014)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
> Directed by: Renny Harlin
> Starring: Kellan Lutz, Gaia Weiss, Scott Adkins
There are gods and gladiators aplenty in this “epic origin story,” but it’s still “Cheap-looking, poorly acted, and dull,” and works as neither drama or action movie, according to critics on Rotten Tomatoes – which accorded it a 3% Freshness score.
50. In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
> Directed by: Uwe Boll
> Starring: Jason Statham, Ron Perlman, Ray Liotta
Directed by controversial filmmaker Uwe Boll, “In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale” is inspired by the Dungeon Siege video game series and stars popular actors Jason Statham, Ron Perlman, and Ray Liotta. Unfortunately, the onscreen talent was not enough to save this film from being wholly condemned by critics.
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49. Dungeons & Dragons (2000)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
> Directed by: Courtney Solomon
> Starring: Justin Whalin, Jeremy Irons, Zoe McLellan
The first in a series of movies based on the venerable role-playing game of the same name, this “painfully derivative clunker,” as the Hollywood Reporter put it, is possibly “the clumsiest, most inept cinematic exploitation of an item with kid appeal that we have yet seen,” as a Detroit News critic said.
48. Catwoman (2004)
> Genre: Action, Crime, Fantasy
> Directed by: Pitof
> Starring: Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Benjamin Bratt
The 2004 film “Catwoman” shows just how bad a superhero movie can be. Dragged down by over-editing and miserable CGI, the film won a handful of Razzie Awards, including worst picture, worst director, worst screenplay, and worst actress for lead Halle Berry.
47. Wing Commander (1999)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: Chris Roberts
> Starring: Freddie Prinze Jr., Matthew Lillard, Saffron Burrows
Based on a series of popular video games focused on a galactic fighter squadron, this sci-fi would-be thriller is “Excruciatingly earnest yet convictionless,” according to the Chicago Reader, and “formulaic, humdrum and sometimes unintentionally laughable,” per Variety.
46. Barb Wire (1996)
> Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: David Hogan
> Starring: Pamela Anderson, Amir AboulEla, Adriana Alexander
Based on a comic book, “Barb Wire” is actually thought higher of by critics than by audiences, with 28% of the former liking it versus 14% of the latter. The movie was nominated for six Razzie Awards, and star Pamela Anderson won one for worst new star.
45. Jack and Jill (2011)
> Genre: Comedy, Family
> Directed by: Dennis Dugan
> Starring: Adam Sandler, Katie Holmes, Al Pacino
This Adam Sandler vehicle features the prolific comedian playing dual roles as siblings Jack and Jill Sadelstein. The movie currently has a 3% positive critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and set a record of being the first film to win every single award at that year’s Razzies.
44. Echelon Conspiracy (2009)
> Genre: Action, Crime, Mystery
> Directed by: Greg Marcks
> Starring: Shane West, Edward Burns, Ving Rhames
A mysterious cell phone sets off the action in what critics described as this “stupid,” “routine” movie. “The only elements that could be called professional,” wrote Jules Brenner of Cinema Signals, “are the photography and the poster art.”
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43. Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
> Directed by: John R. Leonetti
> Starring: Robin Shou, Talisa Soto, James Remar
“Mortal Kombat: Annihilation” is yet another low-quality film based on a video game. According to film critic Lisa Alspector of Chicago Reader, “the most stimulating, satisfying aspect of [the] action fantasy is the theme music.”
42. The Devil Inside (2012)
> Genre: Horror
> Directed by: William Brent Bell
> Starring: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Evan Helmuth
“The Devil Inside” combines two of the horror genre’s most popular trends at the time of its release â found footage and a plot involving an exorcism. The results disappointed critics, however, who found it “a cheap, choppy unscary mess” with “one of the worst endings in recent memory,” according to Rotten Tomatoes.
41. The Avengers (1998)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik
> Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman, Sean Connery
Before Marvel’s successful Avengers franchise there was this spy movie, based on a British television show with the same name. Due to extensive studio meddling, the movie flopped, grossing less than $49 million worldwide on a reported production budget of $60 million.
40. Bio-Dome (1996)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Jason Bloom
> Starring: Pauly Shore, Stephen Baldwin, William Atherton
An eco-comedy full of flatulence and beer-guzzling, “Bio-Dome” was called “Inept in almost every respect” by The New York Times. Star Pauly Shore was variously described as possibly “the most annoying comic alive” and a “one-man toxic spill.”
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39. Swept Away (2002)
> Genre: Comedy, Romance
> Directed by: Guy Ritchie
> Starring: Madonna, Adriano Giannini, Bruce Greenwood
This ill-advised remake of the 1975 Lina Wertmüller original, directed by star Madonna’s then-husband, “offers further proof that Madonna can’t act,” according to critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes. The Associated Press found it to be “Every bit the cinematic shipwreck you’d imagine it to be.”
38. BloodRayne (2005)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
> Directed by: Uwe Boll
> Starring: Kristanna Loken, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Rodriguez
This video game adaptation by Uwe Boll was a box office bomb, grossing $2.4 million after costing a reported $25 million to make. Actor Michael Madsen, who stars in the film, called it “an abomination” and “a horrifying and preposterous movie.”
37. Feardotcom (2002)
> Genre: Crime, Horror, Thriller
> Directed by: William Malone
> Starring: Stephen Dorff, Natascha McElhone, Stephen Rea
British film magazine Empire called “Feardotcom” the “most pathetic horror of the decade.” Audiences must have agreed, as the film grossed less than $19 million worldwide against a reported budget of $40 million.
36. Vampires Suck (2010)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer
> Starring: Jenn Proske, Matt Lanter, Diedrich Bader
Critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes called this would-be comedy “Witlessly broad and utterly devoid of laughs.” Peter Travers in Rolling Stone cracked, “This movie sucks more.”
35. The Apparition (2012)
> Genre: Horror, Thriller
> Directed by: Todd Lincoln
> Starring: Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan, Tom Felton
“More likely to put you to sleep than thrill you,” according to critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes. This scary-house movie – not to be confused with last year’s well-received French drama of the same name – was described by Movie City News as “Dull, dreary, pointless and bad…”
34. Mr. Magoo (1997)
> Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
> Directed by: Stanley Tong
> Starring: Leslie Nielsen, Kelly Lynch, Matt Keeslar
This live-action spinoff of the classic UPA animated series about a nearsighted old man (a concept that in itself isn’t nearly as funny now as it must have seemed decades ago when it first appeared) was described by Roger Ebert as “transcendentally bad.” USA Today went further, calling it “an insult to the intelligence of the entire human race.”
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33. Movie 43 (2013)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr
> Starring: Emma Stone, Stephen Merchant, Richard Gere
A “star-studded turkey,” according to critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes â the stars include Josh Duhamel, Kristen Bell, Emma Stone, Richard Gere, Kate Winslet, Terrence Howard, Liev Schreiber, and Halle Berry, among many others â this raunchy comedy “is utterly disgusting throughout,” according to Entertainment Weekly. Elizabeth Weitzman of the New York Daily News described it as probably the worst movie she’d seen in 15 years.
32. Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992)
> Genre: Action, Comedy, Family
> Directed by: Roger Spottiswoode
> Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Estelle Getty, JoBeth Williams
Generally known for his work in action and drama franchises like Rambo and Rocky, Sylvester Stallone tried his hand at comedy in 1992’s “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.” Unfortunately, the movie failed to show Stallone’s comedic chops. The actor would later express regret at ever having made the movie.
31. The Emoji Movie (2017)
> Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
> Directed by: Tony Leondis
> Starring: T.J. Miller, James Corden, Anna Faris
In effect, an animated ad for apps – it takes place inside a smartphone – this “vile animated faux-comedy,” according to Time Out, was dubbed by the Village Voice both “boldly bad” and “boldly boring.”
30. Fair Game (1995)
> Genre: Action, Crime, Romance
> Directed by: Andrew Sipes
> Starring: William Baldwin, Cindy Crawford, Steven Berkoff
KGB assassins, a maverick Miami cop, and supermodel Cindy Crawford in her feature debut couldn’t bring life to this “howlingly bad” (ReelViews) would-be thriller.
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29. Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002)
> Genre: Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: Wych Kaosayananda
> Starring: Antonio Banderas, Lucy Liu, Talisa Soto
“Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” is an action film starring Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu. The inept film – as it is referred to by critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes – was a box office bomb and currently has a 0% critics rating on the site.
28. I Know Who Killed Me (2007)
> Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
> Directed by: Chris Sivertson
> Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Julia Ormond, Neal McDonough
“Gruesomely tawdry and inept” (Entertainment Weekly), “Incoherent and semi-vile” (the Chicago Tribune), “Pretentious and inane” (The New York Times) â this stinker represents what critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes calls “a career nadir for all involved.”
27. Epic Movie (2007)
> Genre: Adventure, Comedy
> Directed by: Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer
> Starring: Kal Penn, Jennifer Coolidge, Fred Willard
“Epic Movie” is yet another spoof film that failed to connect with critics, earning a mere 2% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The directors’ other films include “Disaster Movie” and “Vampires Suck,” both of which also appear on the list of worst movies.
26. Fifty Shades of Black (2016)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Michael Tiddes
> Starring: Marlon Wayans, Kali Hawk, Fred Willard
“Fifty Shades of Black” is a spoof film from director Michael Tiddes and star Marlon Wayans that plays on “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Despite Wayans’ long filmography of this kind of parody films, he does not seem to be improving upon his craft, with critics finding this film less funny than the movie it’s parodying.
25. Caddyshack II (1988)
> Genre: Comedy, Sport
> Directed by: Allan Arkush
> Starring: Jackie Mason, Robert Stack, Dyan Cannon
A “lazy, laughless script and uninspired direction,” according to the Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus, torpedo this lame follow-up to the popular Chevy Chase/Rodney Dangerfield original.
24. The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)
> Genre: Comedy, Action, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: Ron Underwood
> Starring: Eddie Murphy, Jay Mohr, Randy Quaid
This notorious box-office bomb stars Eddie Murphy “on autopilot” as a nightclub owner on the moon. “A paralyzingly dopey mess,” said the Philadelphia Inquirer. Stephen Hunter in the Washington Post called it “pure blankness,” adding, “It’s not forgettable…because there’s nothing to forget.”
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23. Stan Helsing (2009)
> Genre: Comedy, Horror
> Directed by: Bo Zenga
> Starring: Steve Howey, Diora Baird, Kenan Thompson
Abraham Van Helsing was the fictional vampire hunter in the classic horror novel “Dracula.” Stan, his supposed descendent, is a video-store clerk who ends up fighting a host of famous movie monsters in what The New York Times called a “shockingly bad movie.”
22. The Master of Disguise (2002)
> Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
> Directed by: Perry Andelin Blake
> Starring: Dana Carvey, Jennifer Esposito, Harold Gould
“The Master of Disguise” is a comedy film starring Dana Carvey as a secret agent named Pistachio Disguisey. The film only has one positive review out of the 104 collected by Rotten Tomatoes.
21. Baby Geniuses (1999)
> Genre: Comedy, Crime, Family
> Directed by: Bob Clark
> Starring: Kathleen Turner, Christopher Lloyd, Kim Cattrall
Criticized for its “hokey dialogue and witless physical gags,” this laugh-poor comedy was described by Canada’s Globe and Mail as “about as endearing as unanesthetized gum surgery.” Remarkably, it actually spawned four sequels.
20. Left Behind (2014)
> Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy
> Directed by: Vic Armstrong
> Starring: Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Cassi Thomson
The fourth movie based on the multi-author religious fantasy “Left Behind” novels, which imagine the effects of the biblical Rapture, earned a 1% Rotten Tomatoes rating and inspired critic James Berardinelli to denounce it as “an amateurish travesty combining fundamentalist Christian eschatology with disaster movie b.s.”
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19. Rollerball (2002)
> Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Sport
> Directed by: John McTiernan
> Starring: Chris Klein, Jean Reno, LL Cool J
This remake of the 1975 “Rollerball” ramps up the action and turns down the social commentary of the original. Paul Malcolm, one of many critics to trash the movie, wrote in L.A. Weekly that the movie “pushes the Hollywood action movie to stratospheric new levels of incoherence.” The film grossed less than $26 million worldwide on a reported budget of $70 million.
18. Glitter (2001)
> Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
> Directed by: Vondie Curtis-Hall
> Starring: Mariah Carey, Eric Benét, Max Beesley
While star Mariah Carey blamed the financial failings of her film “Glitter” on the proximity of its release to the Sept. 11 terror attacks, critics were more concerned with the movie’s bad acting and trite writing.
17. Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
> Genre: Adventure, Horror, Thriller
> Directed by: Joseph Sargent
> Starring: Lorraine Gary, Lance Guest, Mario Van Peebles
“Dumb beyond belief, hollow, bloody and nonsensical,” said critic Sheila Benson of this third sequel to Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed “Jaws” original. The Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus was that it was “illogical, tension-free, and filled with cut-rate special effects.”
16. From Justin to Kelly (2003)
> Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance
> Directed by: Robert Iscove
> Starring: Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Katherine Bailess
“From Justin to Kelly” is a musical rom-com starring American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini. Clarkson has since been vocal with the press in declaring her severe dislike for the movie.
15. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
> Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
> Directed by: Nicholas Webster
> Starring: John Call, Leonard Hicks, Vincent Beck
B-movie “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” shows what happens when Martians kidnap Santa Claus so that there’s someone to deliver presents to the Martian children. While this bizarre premise may show promise, critics found the film incompetent and cold.
14. Kazaam (1996)
> Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
> Directed by: Paul Michael Glaser
> Starring: Shaquille O’Neal, Francis Capra, Ally Walker
This ill-considered Shaq Attack — the basketball legend plays a genie released from a boombox — is, according to critic Gene Siskel, “marketing, not moviemaking.” One Rotten Tomatoes super reviewer summed it up as “a stupid, pointless, poorly constructed piece of garbage.”
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13. Troll 2 (1990)
> Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
> Directed by: Claudio Fragasso
> Starring: Michael Paul Stephenson, George Hardy, Margo Prey
Although only 6% of critics gave “Troll 2” a positive review on Rotten Tomatoes, the film – which many enjoy in a “so bad it’s good” way – has gained a cult following in recent years. A feature-length documentary on the making of the film, “Best Worst Movie,” was even released in 2009.
12. Meet the Spartans (2008)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer
> Starring: Sean Maguire, Kevin Sorbo, Carmen Electra
This sword-and-sandal parody from the creators of “Scary Movie” and “Date Movie” – the latter of which also appears on this list – alternates “between unfunny gay jokes and violent pratfalls,” wrote Steven Hyden of AV Club. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus verdict? “A tired, unfunny, offensive waste of time.”
11. Son of the Mask (2005)
> Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
> Directed by: Lawrence Guterman
> Starring: Jamie Kennedy, Traylor Howard, Alan Cumming
At the time of its release, film critic Richard Roeper wrote that his experience of watching “Son of the Mask” was the closest he’s “ever come to walking out halfway through the film” and that he wished he had. The comedy was a major flop at the box office, grossing less than $60 million worldwide against a reported budget of $100 million.
10. Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Tom Brady
> Starring: Nick Swardson, Don Johnson, Christina Ricci
“Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star” was released by Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions the same year as his similarly bad comedy “Jack and Jill,” which also ranks on this list. Not a single critic gave the movie a positive review among those reported on Rotten Tomatoes.
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9. Gigli (2003)
> Genre: Comedy, Crime, Romance
> Directed by: Martin Brest
> Starring: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bartha
Onetime high-profile Hollywood couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez star in this widely panned comedy/romance/drama. Cameos by Al Pacino and Christopher Walken can’t salvage what critics called “stupefying” and “unwatchable.”
8. The Hottie & the Nottie (2008)
> Genre: Comedy, Romance
> Directed by: Tom Putnam
> Starring: Paris Hilton, Joel David Moore, Christine Lakin
The cringe-inducing title — and the fact that the film stars Paris Hilton — should be warning enough. Time Out called this “an execrable Z-grade eugenics parable,” while critic Richard Roeper said simply, “It is excruciatingly, painfully, horribly, terribly awful.”
7. Disaster Movie (2008)
> Genre: Comedy
> Directed by: Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer
> Starring: Carmen Electra, Vanessa Lachey, Nicole Parker
“Disaster Movie” is one more crude parody movie from the filmmaking team of Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. In addition to being panned by critics and audiences alike, the movie garnered six Razzie nominations for its incompetence.
6. Battlefield Earth (2000)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: Roger Christian
> Starring: John Travolta, Forest Whitaker, Barry Pepper
This John Travolta sci-fi shoot-’em-up is based on part of a novel by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology (of which the actor is a prominent member). The Orlando Sentinel called it “a third-string Planet of the Apes meets Star Trek…with a Swiss-cheese plot.”
5. Alone in the Dark (2005)
> Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: Uwe Boll
> Starring: Christian Slater, Tara Reid, Stephen Dorff
The presence of Christian Slater and Stephen Dorff can’t save this adaptation of a once-popular Atari video game. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the critical consensus on this movie is that it “may not work as a thriller, but it’s good for some head-slapping, incredulous laughter.”
4. House of the Dead (2003)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror
> Directed by: Uwe Boll
> Starring: Jonathan Cherry, Tyron Leitso, Clint Howard
The fourth and final Uwe Boll movie on our list, “House of the Dead” is another ridiculous video game adaptation. One positive aspect of the film for viewers, according to Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus, is that it’s “loaded with unintentional laughs.”
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3. Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)
> Genre: Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi
> Directed by: Bob Clark
> Starring: Jon Voight, Scott Baio, Vanessa Angel
“Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2” was the final feature film directed by Bob Clark – the filmmaker behind “A Christmas Story” and “Porky’s” – before his death in 2007. The movie was a critical failure and box office bomb, grossing worldwide less than half of its reported budget of $20 million.
2. Saving Christmas (2014)
> Genre: Comedy, Family
> Directed by: Darren Doane
> Starring: Kirk Cameron, Darren Doane, Bridgette Cameron
This smug, preachy vehicle by former “Growing Pains” star Kirk Cameron (who plays himself) seems to be dedicated to the proposition that Christians ought to be ashamed of themselves for liking Santa Claus. Critics called it “shoddy” and “the worst holiday movie ever made.”
1. Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
> Genre: Horror
> Directed by: Harold P. Warren
> Starring: Tom Neyman, John Reynolds, Diane Adelson
While traveling through the desert on vacation, a family meets members of a cult who use severed human hands as offerings to their deity. Critics didn’t give this forgettable flick a hand, as the film, released by Sinister Cinema, only got a 7% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
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