Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Different strokes for different folks. One man's trash is another man's treasure — the list of metaphors to explain the subjective is endless. In the world of film, it's hard to quantify exactly what makes a great movie. Sometimes, critics and fans are at odds!
Critics in Crisis
We all remember the recent controversy over Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones, don't we? The Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus: "Edgy, but empty, Sticks and Stones won't break any bones, but it won't elicit many laughs, either." The fans consensus? A 99% rating, everyone!
We present the results of the worst movies ranked on Rotten Tomatoes by critics review. Will you agree with these brutal 0% "expert" assessments? From the boring to the nonsensical, we've got you covered in this sad, sad hall of fame!
Grab your popcorn, the show's about to start...
The Silence of the Hams (1994) – Critics Consensus 0%
The Silence of the — Hams? Yes, everyone read that correctly. This 1994 Italian-American satire starred Italian comedian Ezio Greggio taking on a parody of American horror films. The cast had some pretty famous names attached to it, including Mel Brooks and Billy Zane.
What was so bad, in the end?
The film shows Billy Zane the detective tracking a serial killer responsible for 120 murders. Antics at a strange hotel filled with people in disguises take up much of the movie, which sounds like it could have been amusing.
Sadly, Rotten Tomato critics scored the entire thing at 0%, explaining it was "just painful beyond words."
Ouch, no redeeming elements at all! Did you agree?
Jaws: The Revenge (1987) – Critics Consensus 0%
The music will haunt us forever, but was the fourth installment of Jaws just as memorable? Only in the worst way, at best.
Jaws: The Revenge received a critics rating of 0% from reviewers who said it was "illogical". Entertainment Weekly called it "one of the worst movie sequels ever". Oh, the horror!
Despite a cast that included Michael Caine, the reality is that it took less than one year to develop and make. Michael even said that he never viewed the final product! After receiving a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor, he called the movie "terrible".
At least Hollywood has finally moved on to Sharknado, right?
Gotti (2018) – Critics Consensus 0%
Described as the “worst mob movie of all time,” Gotti had a fighting chance with lead John Travolta signed on to the biography project.
The Italian-American who became boss of the Gambino gangster family grew up in poverty in New York City. At an early age, he turned to a life of crime with his brothers. Sounds like a decent premise, so what went wrong?
Many critics said the film was boring and hard to follow, with bad edits all around. And other observers said he should have turned down this role completely! The only input we don't have so far is from John Gotti himself. Too late, he died in 2002!
Dark Crimes (2018) – Critics Consensus 0%
Jim Carrey is an exceedingly rare breed. Not many people can truly master the comedy and drama genres, but Jim has always delivered to our delight. Perhaps that is why it is so surprising that Dark Crimes got the lowest possible rating in the universe from Rotten Tomatoes experts!
But why?
Jim played an obsessed police detective in the true story of murderer Krystian Bala, a Polish writer and photographer. While the concept sounds like an interesting story, critics said it was dull overall despite a great performance from the star. Will Jim Carrey's career survive this dud? Silly question!
Surfer, Dude (2008) – Critics Consensus 0%
Matthew McConaughey is probably just the guy you would demand in a movie about chilling out, surfing, and looking good while pondering the meaning of life. A great casting choice! So what went wrong to wind up with a big, fat zero from critics?
One reviewer said it was full of clichés, and another described it as a “hapless, laughless movie”. Very painful, but Matthew has so many movies coming out that his ego is probably fine today. Why this was all the way back in 2008!
Clearly, he hasn't given up acting, looking good, or even surfing. Apparently, the movie got him hooked on the hobby in real life!
The Layover (2017) – Critics Consensus 0%
Any opportunity to stare at Kate Upton can never be called a complete waste of time. Or can it? Critics seemed to think just so in the case of The Layover in 2017. Must have been pretty bad if even Kate wasn't a redeeming factor!
At a whopping 0%, this romantic comedy got very few laughs from reviewers. One Los Angeles Times writer reflected on her film going experience: “Watching a lonely suitcase circle at a baggage claim conveyer belt is more diverting.”
Kate Upon fans might still be willing to sit through it, but the blind are forewarned!
National Lampoon’s Gold Diggers (2003) – Critics Consensus 0%
National Lampoon has certainly come out with hit after comedy hit, and many would have had high expectations for this installment in theaters. Sadly, critics did not take kindly to National Lampoon’s Gold Diggers. Why did one writer call it "stupefyingly hideous"?
The plot: Two young criminals try to marry elderly sisters to inherit a Beverly Hills mansion. Sounds good, but apparently their antics were less knee-slapping than production hoped. The film only brought in $400,000 on opening weekend, and Rotten Tomatoes critics still hate it to this day.
Can't get any lower than 0%!
Staying Alive (1983) – Critics Consensus 0%
John Travolta really had everyone excited from Saturday Night Fever, but many were surprised that the sequel was nothing to write home about. In fact, critics said it was one of the worst sequels of all time!
Sylvester Stallone was co-writer and director, with the film making $127 million at the box office on a $22 million budget. Despite these facts, Staying Alive still made it onto "the 100 most enjoyably bad movies ever made" list of The Official Razzie Movie Guide. At least it was enjoyably bad, right?
Homecoming (2009) – Critics Consensus 0%
Homecoming is all about that ex-girlfriend we never want to see again. In the movie, the main character plots to get the new woman out of the picture. And by any means necessary!
It sounds like a good premise for a thriller-horror flick, but something about this movie missed the mark with critics. One said it wasn't "thrilling enough or cheesy enough to make it worth the trip" and "everything, including the ending, plays out exactly as you’d expect."
Worth your time to find out what happens? 0% on Rotten Tomatoes says nay!
Pinocchio (2002) – Critics Consensus 0%
Roberto Benigni inspired a viral video equivalent before the internet was even a big part of our lives. His eccentric Oscar acceptance for Life is Beautiful in 1997 was so memorable that people remember it as a stand-alone event even today! With so much energy and personality, many assumed the best when he announced a live-action Pinocchio as a big follow-up movie.
Sadly, this modern take on a classic cartoon scored 0% on Rotten Tomatoes! This time, a Razzie was awarded instead of an Oscar. Ouch, Roberto!
Precious Cargo (2016) – Critics Consensus 0%
Bruce Willis is a name any director would love to attach to their project. He is almost a walking advertisement for a good film, but everyone has their ups and downs if you look closely enough. If you missed Precious Cargo in 2016, the critics Tomatometer think you haven't lost much!
Three thieves spend more than an hour double-crossing one another for greed and fun, but reviewers seem to have had very little fun watching it all go down on the big screen.
According to one critic: “You will be hard-pressed to remember anything about it even only a few minutes after watching it, which should come as a relief to everyone involved with its production.” Yikes, Bruce!
Dark Tide (2012) – Critics Consensus 0%
Does Halle Berry really make terrible movies? At least in Dark Tide, critics think she did just that.
When a marine biologist struggles to run her business after a fatal shark attack, she breaks her pledge to avoid the water when a millionaire asks for a dive. A good enough premise for a film, so what went wrong here?
At a whole 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, reviews were harsh. According to one critic: "No amount of breathtaking cinematography can save Dark Tide from its poor plot and dire dialogue." The Tomatometer hasn't moved in recent years on this one.
If you're looking for a shark thriller, there are plenty of other options out there!
A Thousand Words (2012) – Critics Consensus 0%
Rotten Tomato critics really hated this one. Eddie Murphy has seen plenty of acclaim since his old standup days, but this one seems to have really disappointed reviewers.
A Thousand Words tells the story of a literary agent who is only allowed 1,000 more words before he dies after a magical encounter. A little bit of drama, a sprinkle of comedy, what could go wrong?
Critics thought it was boring, and one demanded that Eddie “anything but star in another movie like this one.” With plenty of other projects in the works, that shouldn't be a problem!
Look Who’s Talking Now (1993) – Critics Consensus 0%
In 1989, Look Who’s Talking was a major movie hit. It grossed $297 million, way back then! It's really no surprise that the studio wanted to continue the franchise with John Travolta and Kirstie Alley with two more installments. More is more, right?
In the case of the third film, not so much. Look Who’s Talking Now showed the updated family with dog thoughts narrating the story. With the cast additions of Danny DeVito and Diane Keaton as doggies, many may be surprised to see that all the effort resulted in a 0% on the critics Tomatometer.
Stick with the original in this case, and everything will be fine!
Dream a Little Dream (1989) – Critics Consensus 0%
Dream a Little Dream looks like it might appeal to 80s' teen classic fans. But, looks can be deceiving! Despite a vintage all-star cast of Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, and Meredith Salenger, critics were not impressed!
The movie tells the story of an elderly couple stuck in the bodies of two high-schoolers, a project that made $2,500,000 in its opening week. The next week wasn't as lucky, and Dream a Little Dream saw no significant profits.
One critic said people were not sure "what the heck they just saw" with this one. The Tomatometer still hates it to this day!
Madhouse (1990) – Critics Consensus 0%
Madhouse had a pretty promising 90s' cast. Kirstie Alley and John Larroquette are definitely capable of making a movie worth your time. But did they, in this case?
The comedy showed viewers the story of a newly married couple with unwanted house guests. Their lives are turned upside down by all of these crazy, uninvited people! We've all had experiences like this to some degree, but did it do well as a movie?
LA Times reviewer Michael Wilmington described the film as "satire that misses the mark... grabs you by the lapels and tries to shake the laughs out of you." 0% on Rotten Tomatoes cannot lie!
Highlander II: The Quickening (1991) – Critics Consensus 0%
The original Highlander had some fans, for sure. But the sequel? Not so much!
With Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery signing on to the second script, things should have gone more smoothly. What happened to make this such a disaster, in the end?
Critics said Highlander II was "hilariously incomprehensible" but "almost awesome in its badness." Serially listed as one of the worst movies ever made, the box office actually did not agree. The sequel ended up grossing more than the original! Still, the 0% Tomatometer rating persists.
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) – Critics Consensus 0%
The Bad News Bears trilogy is unforgettable. Actually, the first two deserve that title. The third movie was awful, according to critics and cast!
Critics gave this one bad reviews, and the scenery change to Japan did not help push it through as watchable. One reviewer called it "horrendous." Even starring actor Jackie Earle Haley called it the "worst movie ever made". Looks like everyone agrees on this one!
Megaforce (1982) – Critics Consensus 0%
Megaforce is the story of the Sardun Army. Never heard of it? We don't blame you.
Decked out in space spandex, commander Ace Hunter commands an army with plenty of special effects and high-tech gadgets for viewers to ogle. As they maintain peace and order, moviegoers got a seat in front of action-packed sequences. Sounds super, what happened here?
Nothing in this film at all helped get it to rise over a 0% rating on the Tomatometer. One critic explained that it had "silly dialogue, poor matching shots, and oafish staging". Sounds bad than rad, all things considered here.
Deadfall (1993) – Critics Consensus 0%
Nicolas Cage acted in a film directed by his brother in this case. Bet you didn't know Christopher Coppola was his sibling!
Despite the family synergy you might expect, this was a big, big dud. And that's even with the help of Charlie Sheen, Michael Biehn, and Peter Fonda in the cast! What was the problem, according to critics?
0% on the good ole' Tomatometer might have occurred because they felt it was "unpersuasive and shallow" and "watchable only for camp value". And according to a Montreal Film Journal reviewer: "Oh man! This is so bad!" Maybe this one was "the ultimate con" out of our ticket money?
One Missed Call (2008) – Critics Consensus 0%
The horror movie genre really made a lot of money during the 2000s with new, advanced special effects available to the industry. One Missed Call is a title that probably does not stand out in your mind from this period, however.
With Ed Burns and Shannyn Sossamon acting it all out, what could have been so bad?
This one was based on a 2004 Japanese horror film. Sometimes foreign film remakes are great, like The Departed. But this one, not so much!
Apparently reviewers did not really enjoy their evening watching victims receive phone calls from the future with the exact time of their deaths. Scary perhaps, but something missed the mark in production with a solid 0% on the Tomatometer to this day. Stick with the Japanese version, we say!
American Anthem (1986) – Critics Consensus 0%
American Anthem is a movie about gymnastics, and it even stars a real-life champion in the sport! It sounds like a great start for a film about the subject. With expert choreography, this could not be the source of total critical rejection.
Olympic gold medalist Mitchell Gaylord was not at fault! So what was, exactly?
This plot followed Steve, an ex-football star who also gives up gymnastics for work as a mechanic. After catching the eye of a girl at his gym, he goes back to his old hobby. Sound interesting? Apparently not, with a Razzie award and 0% on the Tomatometer!
Described as a "dimwitted" film, viewers will likely prefer Gaylord's gold medal routines instead. Can't go wrong with the real thing!
Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004) – Critics Consensus 0%
The original Baby Geniuses actually did poorly in 1999. Why would the studio green light a sequel? Sometimes life's great mysteries have no clear answers. This is such a case.
Baby Geniuses only had 2% on the Tomatometer in the first place. Did Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 pass that record? No, it went down to 0%. Who greenlighted this ill-fated project, anyway? What a bomb!
Bolero (1984) – Critics Consensus 0%
Bo Derek was a name big enough on her own to draw in crowds, regardless of the merits of any film back in the '80s. Bolero was actually written and produced by her now ex-husband, John Derek. It's a romance and a drama with a beautiful face to tell the story. So, what was the problem?
In a quest to find her first romance, Bo's character searched and searched. Did she find anything worth watching, though? Well, nine Razzie awards speak to that pretty clearly, including "Worst Picture of the Decade". Yikes, Bo!
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) – Critics Consensus 0%
The Police Academy movies are still a favorite among 80s' comedy fans. But does everyone really remember the fourth installment? Probably not, because it sucked! According to critics, that is.
In this episode, police graduates are asked to train a group of new recruits. Sounds like there could have been some wild and wacky antics to enjoy here, but critics felt it just didn't live up to its predecessors in comedic value.
One reviewer called it "utterly, completely, thoroughly and astonishingly unfunny." Hard pass, they advise.
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989) – Critics Consensus 0%
Yet again, Police Academy tops the list. With the poor critical reception of number four, why did the studio go for two more? This one is currently holding strong at 0% on the Tomatometer! In movie number six, the clumsy cadets try to take down the Wilson Heights Gang.
Did they do it with laughs along the way?
No, critics put it at 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. Sixth time's the charm did not really work out in this case. Not at all!
The Slugger’s Wife (1985) – Critics Consensus 0%
Michael O’Keefe and Rebecca De Mornay tried out a romantic comedy that went nowhere in 1985. The Slugger’s Wife tells the story of a baseball player who falls in love with a musician. Did the singer and the athlete lack chemistry in this one?
Although it was written by the man behind The Odd Couple, this one was not odd in a good way. Rotten Tomatoes has it at 0%, and a critic from TV Guide called it "one of the most disappointing, least credible films about baseball in recent memory." Not exactly a home-run, all in all.
Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991) – Critics Consensus 0%
The Blue Lagoon was a big hit in 1980. It would surprise no one that Hollywood tried Return to the Blue Lagoon in 1991, but this one seemed to have no financial connection to the original. It never made back its $11 million budget! But why not?
For diehard fans a young Milla Jovovich might be the only reason to tune in here. The movie tells the story of two youngsters trapped on an island who have to find a way to make it all alone. Sounds interesting, but it really didn't measure up in practice.
The film did not even make back its budget, and one critic called it "a textbook example of a disaster." Studios still gave Milla a chance after this one, thankfully. It wasn't her fault!
Mac and Me (1988) – Critics Consensus 0%
Perhaps writers wanted to extend the cultural moment of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in 1982 with this one. But Mac and Me did not become the biggest blockbuster of its era, very unlike the Spielberg-directed film. What was the idea here, exactly?
Constant product placement for Coca-Cola and McDonald’s plagued this doozy about the friendship between an alien and a boy in a wheelchair. MAC the alien couldn't get enough of McDonald’s, and Ronald MacDonald actually dances for five whole minutes during the movie.
Sound good? Rotten Tomatoes critics are going with 0%. MAC, phone home!