The worst movies in the world: 9 films critics love to hate
Nine movies often named among the worst ever made, from Battlefield Earth, Gigli and Son of the Mask to Disaster Movie, Jack and Jill, Movie 43, Fantastic Four, The Emoji Movie and Morbius.
Some films earn a reputation as the worst of all. This list gathers nine movies that critics and audiences often name among the worst ever made, in release order, with posters and the directors.
For each film we explain what it was supposed to be, what went wrong and how audiences remember it today. Some became running jokes, others only curiosities, and a few gained a group of fans who watch them for laughs.
What makes a movie one of the worst ever
A bad film is not just a cheap one. Many of the most mocked movies had big budgets, famous stars and major studios behind them, which makes the failure more visible and the disappointment bigger.
Critics' scores, user ratings and the Golden Raspberry Awards, or Razzies, created in 1981 to mock the year's worst films, help build these reputations. A film that sweeps the Razzies or appears at the bottom of rating sites tends to be remembered for years.
There is also a difference between a boring bad film and one that is so bad it becomes fun. Some titles on this list are watched today precisely for their mistakes, while others are simply avoided.
How we chose
We chose films with some of the lowest critical scores and the most mockery, including award-style joke prizes. Taste is subjective, so this is not a numbered ranking, and it is no judgment on the people who made them.
We mixed science fiction, romantic comedy, parody, sketch comedy, superheroes and animation. Behind each of these films there are professionals who worked hard, and the point here is to understand the failure, not to mock the people.
Battlefield Earth (2000)
Directed by Roger Christian.
Why it is so infamous: Battlefield Earth adapts a novel by L. Ron Hubbard and is set in the year 3000, when Earth has been conquered by aliens called Psychlos. John Travolta plays Terl, the alien chief, and Barry Pepper plays the human who leads a rebellion.
Watch the camera tilted in almost every scene, a choice that became the most mocked feature of the film, and the costumes with giant dreadlocks. The plot asks humans who had been slaves for centuries to learn to fly fighter jets in a few days.
It won the Razzie for Worst Picture and was later named the worst film of the decade by the same awards. Ideal only for those who enjoy laughing at failed science fiction.
Gigli (2003)
Directed by Martin Brest.
Why it is so infamous: Gigli follows a low-level mobster, played by Ben Affleck, who is ordered to kidnap the brother of a prosecutor and watch over him with a woman sent by his boss, played by Jennifer Lopez.
The film came out when Affleck and Lopez were the most talked-about couple in the tabloids, and much of the curiosity came from that. The romance between the two characters is often cited as one of the most awkward ever filmed.
It was a huge box office failure and won the Razzie for Worst Picture, among others. Today it is remembered mostly as a symbol of celebrity excess in the early 2000s.
Son of the Mask (2005)
Directed by Lawrence Guterman.
Why it is so infamous: Son of the Mask is a sequel to The Mask, from 1994, without Jim Carrey. An aspiring cartoonist, played by Jamie Kennedy, finds the magic mask, and his baby is born with its powers, starting a war with the family dog.
Watch the computer-generated baby, whose cartoonish expressions many viewers find disturbing, and Alan Cumming as Loki, the Norse god looking for the mask. The film tries to imitate the original's energy without its star.
It was a flop and received several Razzie nominations. Ideal only for curious fans of the first film who want to see how a sequel can go wrong.
Disaster Movie (2008)
Directed by Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer.
Why it is so infamous: Disaster Movie, by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, follows a group of friends trying to survive a series of catastrophes, as an excuse to parody dozens of films and celebrities from 2007 and 2008.
The jokes depend on recognizing the references, and many of them were already outdated when the film came out. It is the same team behind Epic Movie and Meet the Spartans, and Kim Kardashian appears in one of her first film roles.
It is constantly among the lowest-rated films on user rating sites. Ideal only for those studying how parody can stop working.
Jack and Jill (2011)
Directed by Dennis Dugan.
Why it is so infamous: Jack and Jill, directed by Dennis Dugan, stars Adam Sandler in two roles: Jack, an advertising executive, and his twin sister Jill, who comes to visit for the holidays and does not want to leave.
Watch Al Pacino playing himself, falling in love with Jill and singing about a coffee drink in a commercial, the most remembered scene of the film. Many viewers saw the movie as a long advertisement for brands.
It was the first film to win all ten Razzie categories in a single year. Ideal only for Sandler fans who want to see his most criticized film.
Movie 43 (2013)
Directed by Peter Farrelly, Brett Ratner et al.
Why it is so infamous: Movie 43 is a collection of comedy sketches made by more than ten directors, including Peter Farrelly, Brett Ratner and Elizabeth Banks, with a cast of stars such as Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Emma Stone, Halle Berry and Richard Gere.
The sketches rely on crude and shocking humor, and the contrast between the famous cast and the vulgar material surprised critics. Watch how some sketches are much better than others, which shows the uneven production.
It won the Razzies for Worst Picture, Worst Director and Worst Screenplay. Only for adults who enjoy very crude humor.
Fantastic Four (2015)
Directed by Josh Trank.
Why it is so infamous: Fantastic Four, directed by Josh Trank, restarts the Marvel team with Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell as young scientists who gain powers after a trip to another dimension.
The production was troubled, with reshoots by the studio and reports of conflict on set, and the night before the release Trank posted, and then deleted, that his version would have been much better received. Watch how the tone changes abruptly in the last act.
It shared the Razzie for Worst Picture with Fifty Shades of Grey. Ideal for those curious about troubled productions and superhero films that went wrong.
The Emoji Movie (2017)
Directed by Tony Leondis.
Why it is so infamous: The Emoji Movie follows Gene, an emoji who should have only one expression but can make many, in a city inside a teenager's phone. With two friends, he travels through apps to be fixed.
The film was criticized for looking like an advertisement for real apps that appear in the story. Watch Patrick Stewart voicing the poop emoji, one of the most mocked casting choices of its year.
It was the first animated film to win the Razzie for Worst Picture. Children may find it fun, but for adults it is mostly a curiosity.
Morbius (2022)
Directed by Daniel Espinosa.
Why it is so infamous: Morbius, directed by Daniel Espinosa, follows the scientist Michael Morbius, played by Jared Leto, who tries to cure his rare blood disease and turns into a living vampire. The film is part of Sony's universe of Spider-Man characters.
After the release, the film became a huge internet meme, and some fans ironically asked for its return to theaters. Sony re-released it, and it flopped again. Watch the post-credit scenes, which confused audiences.
It received several Razzie nominations. Ideal only for those who want to understand the meme or see a superhero film that disappointed even fans.
Where to start
If you really want to try one, pick by your goal:
- To laugh at the mistakes: Battlefield Earth or Gigli.
- For superhero fans: Fantastic Four or Morbius.
- For a family curiosity: The Emoji Movie or Son of the Mask.
- Only for adults with patience: Movie 43, Disaster Movie or Jack and Jill.
Bad films work best watched with friends, commenting on each scene. Battlefield Earth is the classic choice for this, because its ambition makes the mistakes even more visible.
If you want quality, skip this list and look for well-reviewed films of the same genres. And if you watch one of these, rate it on Rankiew: your opinion can be different from the critics'.
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst movies ever made?
Frequently named are Battlefield Earth, Gigli, Disaster Movie, Jack and Jill, Movie 43 and The Emoji Movie, though opinions differ.
What are the Razzie Awards?
The Golden Raspberry Awards are a parody prize that mocks the year's worst films, and several movies on this list were honored there.
Are bad movies worth watching?
Some people enjoy laughing at them, but if you want quality, choose a well-reviewed film instead.
Which movie won the most Razzies in a single year?
Jack and Jill, which won all ten categories in 2012.
What is the difference between a bad movie and a movie that is so bad it is good?
A so bad it's good film fails in a way that becomes fun to watch, usually because it takes itself very seriously. Many bad films are just boring and are never rewatched.
Rate these movies
Which one is your favorite? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews and build your own lists.
Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
