If you’re looking for the most entertaining popcorn-munchers during the hottest months, look somewhere else. These 30 films are the worst of the worst. Not even the coldest AC could save them.
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
At one point,Eddie Murphywas the biggest superstar in Hollywood. His wild successes in stand up and onSaturday Night Livetranslated to films likeBeverly Hills CopandThe Nutty Professoreffortlessly. But in 2002, Murphy flew too close to the sun. Or, should we say, to Pluto.
The Adventures of Pluto Nashis a big-budget sci-fi action comedy, with supporting turns from other comedy stars likeJay MohrandJohn Cleese. And audiences fully rejected its manic energy and miserable special effects, losing the studio millions of dollars.
Wild Wild West
First, a positive:Will Smith’s signature closing credits rap toWild Wild Westis a banger, even though its hook samples liberally fromStevie Wonder. Now, unfortunately, a bunch of negatives:Wild Wild Westis a wild, wild failure of epic proportions.
It’s not that the cast isn’t up for it: Smith,Kevin Kline,Kenneth Branagh, andSalma Hayekare all game. It’s a relentless, punishing pace and confusing plot developments that sinkWild Wild West. Fun fact: Smithturned down the role of NeoinThe Matrixto make this flop.
Batman & Robin
Which big-screenBatmando you prefer?Michael Keaton’sTim Burton-guided performance?Christian Bale’s full-throated roar, fromChristopher Nolan? OrBen AffleckandZack Snyder’s bruising take? No matter your answer, you will find nothing to like inJoel Schumacher’sBatman & Robin.
George Clooney’s Batman is a total slimeball. Every other line is a cringe-inducing pun (looking at you,Schwarzenegger). And its focus on kids buying official toys (the studio told Schumacher to make it “toyetic”) is downright reprehensible. This is not the Batman movie we need or deserve.
Dark Phoenix
Many blockbuster films go through reshoots, where the cast and crew meet up after the original shoot to film additional scenes they realize they need. Often, it doesn’t mean anything. InDark Phoenix’s case, anX-Menfilm that reshot huge chunks of material, it was one of many fatal flaws.
The movie is objectively confusing. It’s dark and murky – not in tone, mind you, it’s literally hard to see. The cast, including stars likeJennifer LawrenceandJessica Chastain, seems clearly bored. Hopefully, theX-Menfilm franchise can rise from the ashes like a… don’t make us say it.
The Last Airbender
M. Night Shyamalanwas known for making quiet horror films about faith and redemption, likeThe Sixth SenseandSigns. His being given the keys to adapt acclaimed anime seriesAvatar: The Last Airbenderwas a surprising choice. And, unfortunately, it was the wrong choice.
You won’t understand the plot of The Last Airbender, because it was choppily edited and cut down. Dramatic events happen out of nowhere, explained away by wonky voiceover. And its action sequences are quite confusing. Shyamalan himself owned up to the failure, telling an NYU class, “It just didn’t work.”
Halle BerryplayingCatwomanfeels like a slam dunk, right? But 2004’sCatwomanis more like hiring an amateur frisbee golf enthusiast to play againstLeBron James, and then pelting him with thousands of basketballs when he tries to do anything. It’s not good, is what we’re saying.
One fun result ofCatwomanbeing a pile of kitty litter: Berry showed up to collect her Golden Raspberry for Worst Actress.In her speech, she sarcastically thanked the studio, sayingCatwoman“was just what my career needed.” During the speech, she held her Oscar forMonster’s Ball. Meow.
The Avengers (1998)
No, not the one about a bunch of superheroes teaming up. 1998’sThe Avengers, based on the popular British 1960s TV show, starsRalph FiennesandUma Thurmanas dapper secret agents trying to foilSean Connery’s evil plan. But not evenJames Bondcould defuse this box office bomb.
Apparently, Warner Bros. knew they had something nasty on their hands, and hastily cut the movie down from an original 115 minutes to 89. As a result, not much of it makes a lick of sense, and what remains is a convoluted plot about, uh, clones and hot air balloons?
Fantastic Four (2015)
Hot off the heels ofChronicle, his teen angst take on superhero drama, directorJosh Trankwas handed a newFantastic Fourfilm, after two previous clunkers. It seemed like a match made in heaven, and his young cast (Miles Teller,Kate Mara,Michael B. Jordan,Jamie Bell) was intriguing.
But wow, did everything go fantastically wrong. The movie’s production was full of strife, and the studio took control from Trank, ordering tons of reshoots and damage control. The final product is weirdly paced, grimly shot, painfully unfunny, and hard to follow. Can the Fantastic Four join the MCU already?
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
InSuperman,Christopher Reevedonned a red cape and flew into our hearts. It proved comic book cinema can be great and make money. InSuperman IV: The Quest for Peace, Reeve participated in what he called “a catastrophe from start to finish.” What happened to the Man of Steel?
You’d think a big superhero movie needs a big budget. ButThe Quest for Peacewas produced by Cannon Films, a studio known for low-budget shlock. And they weren’t planning on beefing up their production values for a little old character like Superman. The result is a laughably cheap blockbuster.
The Mummy (2017)
You can’t force a cinematic universe into happening without a good first movie. Someone should have toldTom Cruisethat when he madeThe Mummy, a 2017 reboot that replaces any charm or thrills of previous versions with lots of annoying attempts to kick off the “Dark Universe.”
But the Dark Universe died on impact after this movie failed with audiences and critics. It’s headache-inducing stuff, crafted with little care and stealing shamelessly from other, better films. Looks like the mission of a good newMummymovie was a bit too impossible.
