In this high-stakes time-travel narrative, a cyborg assassin, the Terminator (portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger), conceals its true identity as it journeys from 2029 to 1984 with a mission to eliminate Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). But before you do anything, forget that the premise is silly because director James Cameron executed it all so well that this movie received a rare 100% on the Tomatometer.
“The Terminator” remains a lasting influence on sci-fi and action films, thanks to its remarkable action sequences, tightly controlled direction, and unrelenting pace that keeps audiences engaged throughout. The havoc makes for a genuine steel metal trap of a movie and perhaps no other villain of the 80s is as iconic as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator.
Batman & Robin
There was a time when nobody believed it was possible to actually pull off a great Batman film. This myth was completely shattered in 1989 when Michael Keaton took the role of Batman in Tim Burton's dark adaptation of the caped crusader. The movie was extremely successful, so studios were putting pressure on producers to make the film more "family-friendly."
This was in stark contrast to Tim Burton's dark and grime view of the character. The result was the horrendous "Batman & Robin." The film received an 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, largely due to the film being completely out of touch with who Batman is. The entire production felt completely out of place.
Silence of the Hams
Parody films that mocked famous movies were all the rage back in the '90s and early 2000s. One of the most popular films of the early '90s was the groundbreaking "Silence of the Lambs," featuring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in a tense and thrilling psychological thriller. So, of course, somebody tried to make a parody of it.
"The Silence of the Hams" attempted to capitalize on that success and also took the chance to mock popular figures. This parody film was considered one of the worst films of all time and received a 0% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was panned for being bereft of humor and creatively bankrupt.
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000
This movie is often referred to as the worst film of all time. While this point may be argued, it’s definitely Travolta’s worst film of his entire acting career. Travolta played an alien in the convoluted sci-fi film "Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000." The movie is based on the novel of the same name by L. Ron Hubbard, the creator, and leader of the Church of Scientology.
And it was an absolute mess of a film, receiving a 3% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the critical consensus called it: "Ugly, campy, and poorly acted, Battlefield Earth is a stunningly misguided, aggressively bad sci-fi folly." It’s a very bad movie, but not so bad that you’ll actually want to watch it.
House of the Dead
German film director, Uwe Boll, is known for single-handedly giving video game films a bad name by making some of the worst video game movie adaptations of all time. "The House of the Dead" was a popular zombie shooting video game so when fans heard that it was going to receive a film adaptation, they were ecstatic until they found out that the director was going to be Uwe Boll.
The film turned out just as expected; it was a critical mess, receiving just a 3% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was ranked the 41st worst film of the 2000s and was overwhelmingly hated by fans just as much as critics. This film received attention from both the video games it's based on and the media attention from just how bad it was.
Stratton
It's hard to believe that a film that came out in 2018 with a budget of just under $20 million can get a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This is exactly what happened with Simon West's British action thriller "Stratton." Our hero is a tough-boy British Special Boat Operative, who gets betrayed by a friend and suspects a mole, then goes out to save the world.
"Stratton" had one of the worst box office bombs in recent years, earning less than $100,000 worldwide against a budget of almost $20 million. It received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was equally hated by the few dozen people that bothered to watch and review it.
Homecoming
2009's independent horror-thriller film, "Homecoming," was based on a relatively simple premise. What happens when a crazy ex-girlfriend decides to take revenge on her ex's new girlfriend, and the two fight for survival? The film had a budget of about $1.5 million. It grossed about $8.5 million in theaters, making it a relative success for an independent studio.
Reviewers were not fond of the film, giving it a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was criticized for being a highly-predictable B-movie without the thrills to make it worth the watch. The obsessed ex-girlfriend trope has been used quite sparingly in recent decades, mostly due to being extremely boring and predictable in most cases.
Birdemic: Shock and Terror
Alfred Hitchcock's horror-thriller film was unlike any other, even by today's standards. The film is considered a monumental achievement and was the debut role of iconic actress Tippi Hedren, who went on to dominate the big screen. In 2010, an independent film based on Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece was released, called "Birdemic: Shock and Terror." The film had a budget of less than $10,000.
It has some of the worst effects ever seen and is often parodied for its horrible acting. The film has a 19% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a bit high when you consider just how bad it is. A sequel was actually released three years later, and it was reportedly even worse than its predecessor.
The Things With Two Heads
Some studios choose to go with subtle movie names that hint at the film's main premise, while other movies go an entirely different route. In this case, director Lee Frost decided to just ditch common sense and call his 1972 science fiction film "The Thing with Two Heads," which should tell you as much as you need to know about this movie.
The film was considered quite imaginative and creative at the time but was harshly criticized for being a weird blend of comedy and horror that nobody could really seem to figure out. The film has received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but has gained a cult following among fans of this '70s low-budget exploitation film.
Deadfall (1993)
This film starred Michael Biehn, Charlie Sheen, James Coburn, and Peter Fonda. Its true main star, though, is none other than Nicolas Cage. Cage appeared in a few highly successful films, such as "Leaving Las Vegas" and "Adaptation." Other than these and a few other honorable mentions, his career is mired with some of the worst, most unintentionally hilarious films of all time.
The film was one of the worst box-office failures of all time, making a measly $18,369 against a whopping $10 million budget. It holds a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was described by film critic Kevin Thomas as "a hopelessly callow, leaden-paced attempt at film noir." Warning - Nicolas Cage swears more in this film than in all his other roles combined.
National Lampoon's Gold Diggers
The premise behind Gary Preisler's 2003 dark comedy film, "National Lampoon's Gold Diggers," was quite a sound one. Two gold-digging friends marry two senior sisters to inherit their fortunes when they die. It's similar to many other comedies but unfortunately, the film was a mess both critically and commercially, causing it to get pulled off theaters after just one week of screening.
It received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 44 reviews, which means that all 44 film critics recommend viewers to avoid this film. It's considered one of the worst films of the last decade. Audiences almost hated the film as much as film critics, as over 6,500 people gave it a score of just 20% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol
Another case of a fourth sequel that almost ruined an entire franchise is "Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol." The movie featured the iconic Steve Guttenberg; while the two previous movies had both received quite low ratings, they were not nearly as bad as the fourth film in the franchise. This one got an abysmal 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite the horrible reaction from critics, these films are extremely low-budget when compared to their revenue, and the franchise had a total of seven films in its lineup. "Police Academy 4, 5, 6, and 7" all received 0% ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, which is quite something when you consider that they brought in a combined total of more than $150 million.
The Ridiculous 6
While many of Adam Sandler's fans swear by the actor and approve of just about everything he does, there's no doubt that "The Ridiculous 6" isn't one of his strongest films. It received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 33% user rating. The film was criticized for being offensive and lazy.
Critics accuse it of being a movie for Adam Sandler's fans that any other sane person should avoid. The New York Daily News reported that out of over 100 Native American actors, only four remained by the end of production because the rest were offended and left. Based solely on that, it would probably be best to skip this one.
Dream a Little Dream
Wacky comedy films have tried almost every ridiculous idea you can think of, from a father who accidentally shrinks his kids all the way to the many variations of people switching bodies. One fairly popular idea that we thought nobody was going to try was a film about two senior citizens who switch bodies with a couple of high school students.
Marc Rocco decided in 1989 to adapt this idea, leading to the creation of "Dream a Little Dream." The film had a terrible box-office opening, losing about 50% of its ticket sales by the week after opening. It also received terrible reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, scoring it a rare 0% based on nine critical reviews.
Manos: The Hands of Fate
One of the older films on our list is also one of the weirdest ones. Meet "Manos: The Hands of Fate." This limited-budget horror film was made by an inexperienced film crew. The film was relatively unknown until the early '90s when it was revived. It later gained a cult following and became known as one of the worst films to ever have been made.
The film had everything you could want from a spectacularly horrible film — it was technically deficient, had countless editing and continuity flaws and included many superfluous scenes. The movie holds a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, against a 20% rating by over 8,000 of the site's users. Critics were a lot less favorable towards the film.
American Anthem
You'd think that a sports drama film would at least get average reviews and ratings, but this was not the case with 1986's "American Anthem." The film starred Janet Jones, wife of the legendary Hall of Fame ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky as well as Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Mitchell Gaylord. The film was universally panned by critics, who called it the worst film of 1986.
"American Anthem" currently holds a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences have been far more favorable of this film and bestowed it with a 65% rating. Gaylord himself was named the seventh-best US gymnast of all time in 2007. It seems that he learned his lesson, as he never appeared in a Hollywood film again.
Madhouse
1990's comedy film "Madhouse" was Orion Pictures' attempt at making a film about a couple whose lives get turned upside down when they find unwanted guests in their new home. Unfortunately, it received a low box-office revenue to an abysmal 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was panned as being a below-average disaster comedy, and all of its critics unanimously suggested that you avoid it entirely.
There was some silver lining to the film, though, it starred Kirstie Alley and John Larroquette, two old-timer actors who were big in the '80s. The duo provided a bit of a nostalgic incentive for fans but regular viewers, though, have rated it at 45%, referring to it as a callback to early '90s humor.
Gotti
Some of the best and most iconic films of all time have been crime drama films that center around a mob family. You have movies like "The Godfather," "Goodfellas," and the recent "The Irishman." John Travolta also tried his luck in playing the notorious Italian-American criminal, John Gotti. "Gotti was a commercial failure and ended up losing a few million dollars."
It's one of the only films to ever get a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. There was a strong disparity initially between critic reviews and user reviews, with regular viewers giving the film an 80% rating. It's widely speculated that this was the doing of thousands of Scientologists, who are fans and fellow members of the Church of Scientology with John Travolta.
The Layover
Young and hormonal guys were extremely excited when they heard that the beautiful Alexandra Daddario and American model, Kate Upton, were joining forces to play in a 2017 comedy called "The Layover." The film was severely denigrated by critics and the movie received a measly 18% rating from 17 critics.
The film was mostly criticizing the film for being about two women fighting over a guy. Needless to say, feminists and film journalists did not like this movie at all. It seems that regular moviegoers also hated the film to a large extent, as they gave it a sad 22% rating based on almost 1,500 user reviews.
Atlas Shrugged III: Who Is John Galt
Ayn Rand was the author of one of the world’s most popular books, "Atlas Shrugged." The book allegedly sold as many copies as the bible and remains one of the most successful books of all time in the United States. A three-part film series was made based on the book, mostly by conservative actors who wanted to voice support and promote her ideology.
The first and second parts were relatively well-received but suffered from a constantly changing cast and varying levels of acting and editing. The third part, however, was an absolute disaster and was universally panned as one of the worst films of all time. It received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for several awards at the 35th Golden Raspberry Awards.
Dark Tide
Halle Berry has had mixed success over the years when it comes to her acting. However, some of her films ended up being hopelessly panned by critics and viewers alike. Despite her awful record, the actress usually manages to grab at least a moderate amount of commercial success in most of her projects.
2012's action thriller, "Dark Tide," was perhaps the first example of the actress's charm beginning to quickly run out. "Dark Tide" made a sad $432,000 during its run at the box office, and received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 critic reviews and was ironically summarized as a "shallow" film that's best skipped by audiences.
Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star
One of the truly most awful comedy films ever made is, without a doubt, "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star." The film was directed by Tom Brady, who is responsible for various films starring popular comedy actor Rob Schneider. The film received a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was viscerally hated by most critics and moviegoers.
The film has a 24% rating among the site's users, based on almost 13,000 user reviews. It's described by many critics as one of the most boring, awkward, and humorless comedy films ever made. The main actor defended the movie, claiming that he thinks journalists and film critics are just "negative morons" and attributed that as the reason the film received such low ratings.
A Thousand Words
Eddie Murphy's comedy film, "A Thousand Words" had quite an interesting premise, featuring an incredibly selfish literary agent who uses his ability to manipulate people to get what he wants in both his terrible career and relationship. The idea behind the film is that the protagonist gets cursed and is left with only 1,000 words to speak before he dies. The film received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film also lost about half its budget, making only slightly more than $20 million against a budget of $40 million. It was also nominated for three Golden Raspberry Awards but failed to win any one of them. It seems that even when it comes to being the best failure, this film ends up coming short.
Dark Crimes
Jim Carrey is best known for some of the funniest films of all time and has built himself a reputation as a fantastic comedian. But the actor also made a few attempts at more serious roles, like "Dark Crimes." In the film, he plays a detective investigating an author whose novel has turned into real-life crimes.
The film received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 35 reviews. Critics claimed it was a "rote, unpleasant thriller that fails to parlay its compelling true story and a committed Jim Carrey performance into even modest chills." Despite Carrey’s great performance, it seems his best work will forever stay in the comedy genre.
Mac and Me
It's extremely hard for a lighthearted science-fiction comedy film to receive a 0% rating. These types of genres attract many mediocre films, but getting an absolute zero should get the director an award onto itself. 1988's "Mac and Me" was just such a film, as it attempted to copy the success of 1982's masterpiece, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, by director Steven Spielberg.
"Mac and Me" turned out to be a box-office flop and reportedly lost a few million dollars after being released. It's considered one of the worst films to ever have been made and received a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film actually won a few awards, including Worst Director and Worst New Star.
The Room
Most of you don’t need an introduction to "The Room." It’s widely considered to be the worst film ever made, full of convoluted plotlines, incredibly bad editing, and some of the worst acting you’ve ever seen. While many believed it was a parody, it was actually just a bad movie. The film has gained a cult following since its release.
It’s so bad that there was a Hollywood film made about the backstory behind its making. If you're interested in the story behind the story, you should check out "The Disaster Artist," starring the Franco brothers and Seth Rogen. It's a hilarious, behind-the-scenes biographical comedy about the making of "The Room," and definitely worth a watch.
Staying Alive
"Staying Alive" was supposed to capitalize on the success of "Grease" and was directed, produced, and written by Sylvester Stallone. It was a box-office success, making over $120 million against a budget of just over $20 million. Despite that, it is one of the worst-reviewed dance musicals of all time, receiving a sad 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Staying Alive received various award nominations, including Worst Actor, Worst New Star and Worst Supporting Actress. It was considered by many critics as one of the worst sequels ever made and was mocked relentlessly by viewers and critics alike. This nonstop mockery might just be the reason why it made as much money as it did.
Pinocchio
Roberto Benigni became known for directing and starring in one of the most endearing and beloved films of all time, "Life Is Beautiful." In 2002, he attempted his own film version of the popular Pinocchio character, originally popularized in Disney's cartoon from the '30s. While reviews for the Italian version of the film were mixed, the English version of the film was a disaster.
The film received extremely critical reviews, with a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was ranked as one of the 100 worst-reviewed films of the 2000s and was considered an "unfunny, poorly-made, creepy vanity project." It was also nominated for six Golden Raspberry Awards, with Roberto Benigni winning the Worst Actor award.
Baby Geniuses and Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2
"Baby Geniuses" was a 1999 comedy film about a bunch of babies that are, you guessed it, extremely smart. While most people would agree that it's hard to ruin a film about cute babies, the studio behind this film managed to do just that. The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with a 2% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The success of the original movie prompted the studios to make a sequel, "Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2." Fortunately, this one was a box-office failure, which meant that the string of horrible films had come to an end. It was directed by American director Bob Clark, who unfortunately passed away just three years later.
Surfer, Dude
Matthew McConaughey is known as one of Hollywood's best actors. However, with the horrible premise and material he had to work with when acting in "Surfer, Dude," it seems that even McConaughey couldn't live up to the challenge. This film centers around a soul-searching surfer who experiences an existential crisis when there are no waves on the beach for over a month.
The film also stars Woody Harrelson, and the two joked about the film being one of their easiest jobs of all time. "Surfer, Dude" ended up making just over $50,000 against a budget of more than $6 million. It received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 26% audience rating according to over 7,000 user reviews.
Look Who's Talking Now
One of Travolta's most commercially successful films was called "Look Who's Talking." This film received mixed reviews but made an incredible amount of money at the box office. This caused studios to try and capitalize on the success of the film, as it received a sequel, "Look Who's Talking Too," which made less than 15% of what the original made.
The studio wanted to try one last time to make a sequel, with the third film being called "Look Who's Talking Now." The third movie was a box office disaster, losing more than $12 million due to low box office sales. It was also panned by critics and received a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Megaforce
Megaforce was a 1982 passion project film made by Hal Needham, an American stuntman who began acting back in the late '50s. Needham decided to try his luck as a director in the late '70s and directed a total of twelve films in his decade of directorial career. He pitched the idea of the film to audiences, claiming it was "like no other movie ever made before."
The director also made sure to include himself as one of the film's actors, but unfortunately, "Megaforce" had poor box-office performance and lost almost three-quarters of its budget due to low ticket sales. It also received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the director later admitting that he was completely wrong about what he believed the American movie audiences wanted at the time.
Bolero
Bo Derek's romantic drama film "Bolero" was her attempt at producing and starring in a film, but it was a self-centered, talentless waste of time and was treated by critics as such. Nobody at that time was interested in watching a 100-minute film. Having received some of the worst reviews of the year, the film barely brought back its budget, making about $9 million against a $7 million production budget.
"Bolero" was rated 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 17 different critics who all thought the film was trash. It won six Golden Raspberry Awards, which are basically awards for a film being the worst of the year. Its awards include "Worst Picture," "Worst Actress," "Worst Director," and "Worst Screenplay."
Jaws: The Revenge
Steven Spielberg’s shark-horror film "Jaws" became a cult classic and created a massive shark panic when it was first released in the mid-70s. The franchise has since been subverted and stretched beyond any imagination, with the fourth film, "Jaws: The Revenge," taking the cake when it comes to ridiculous money-grabbing sequels.
This is truly one of those films that should have never been made. It starred the legendary actor Michael Caine, who probably needed the extra money at the time to agree to participate in such a film. It's been criticized for being illogical, lacking any tension, and having some of the worst special effects you could find at the time.
Precious Cargo
Bruce Willis has been a darling of action flicks for more decades than some millennials have even been alive. When unknown Canadian director, Max Adams, approached the star to perform in his 2016 action film "Precious Cargo," Willis thought little about the matter and joined the production. The film was since been heavily berated on Rotten Tomatoes, receiving a 0% rating from 21 reviewers.
Critics called it a rip-off, a lazy and sloppy film, and even a contender for the dullest heist film of all time. One reviewer went as far as to call it “An absolute waste of time and an insult to action cinema.” Fortunately, Willis has managed to make a dazzling recovery.
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
Paramount Pictures' 1976 sports comedy film, "The Bad News Bears," was a moderately successful movie that went on to spawn two sequels and a short-lived CBS TV show. The original movie received a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the site's official critical consensus calling it rude, profane, and cynical while praising its honest humor. All hell broke loose when sequel number two, "The Bad News Bears Go to Japan," was released.
The film received a 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also failed to feature almost any of the original cast, which only infuriated fans of the original even more. The original film's 2005 remake received mixed reviews and even lost a bit of money, which caused the studios to promptly scrap the franchise for the foreseeable future.
The Slugger’s Wife
You'd think that a sweet rom-com about a basketball star who falls in love with a singer would turn out decently, right? A 1985 film tried out that exact premise, and it happened to fail miserably. "The Slugger's Wife" was directed by Hal Ashby, who received three Oscar nominations in the '70s. However, "The Slugger’s Wife" was a huge commercial and critical failure.
It received a 0% from Rotten Tomatoes and was absolutely berated by critics. Many of the negative reviews came from what they considered "horrible casting choices," as well as the film being extremely tame, predictable, and unfunny. The film's song, "Oh, Jimmy!" was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song.
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
As we've mentioned before, the Police Academy franchise is a great example of why profits sometimes beat common decency in Hollywood. The first film was brilliant and original, and the studio was excused from making a sequel to try and test the waters. Despite negative reviews, Warner Bros. decided to give the green light on yet another sequel, which resulted in a total of six abysmal sequels, each one considered worse than its predecessor.
"Police Academy 6: City Under Siege" was the second to last attempt at milking the Police Academy franchise. The film received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and performed poorly at the box office. The studios made the film only 84 minutes long, showing that they had an inkling that it would be best if this horrible excuse for a film ended as quickly as possible.
The Leisure Class
One of the more recent films that have received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is 2015's HBO comedy film, "The Leisure Class." The movie revolves around a con man who tries to marry into a rich family. The main actor in the movie is Ed Weeks, a relatively unknown English actor who played for five years on Fox's show "The Mindy Project."
While the idea behind "The Leisure Class" was sound, its execution is one of the worst of all time. This is especially bad in today’s decade, where films are expected to rise to a certain minimal standard. It looks like the film's director, James Mann, won't be offered to do any more films in the near future.
One Missed Call
"One Missed Call" was a 2008 supernatural horror film that became the worst-reviewed film of 2008 and received the rare 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was a remake of the 2003 Japanese horror film of the same name, which received mixed reviews from critics. Usually, remakes are based on that movie being a top performer. In this case, it seems that the decision was arbitrary.
"One Missed Call" managed to make around $25 million over its budget, despite having horrible reviews. It was criticized for having bland performances and predictable jump scares and was considered the second-worst film of the last decade. 2008's "One Missed Call" went on to win a Mouldy Tomato Award, making it officially one of the worst films ever made.
Max Payne
Another film that proves why fans are so disappointed with film adaptations of popular video games is "Max Payne." This 2008 film is based on a highly successful shooting game franchise of the same name. By the time the movie was released and reviews were in, it was clear to everyone that this wasn't going to be a fun ride.
The movie was panned by critics for having an illogical plot and terrible acting, while the fans hated it because there were almost no similarities between the film and the video games that it was supposedly based on. Even the game's maker, Scott Miller, was a huge critic of the film, citing that the film's story makes him shake his head in bewilderment.
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
One of the earliest examples of just how bad films that are video-game adaptations can be is the sequel to 1995's fantasy martial arts film "Mortal Kombat." The movie was the number one best-selling film for its first three weeks and earned $122 million worldwide. This prompted the studio to make a sequel called "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation."
"Mortal Kombat: Annihilation" was very different than its predecessor and was overwhelmingly hated for having some of the worst acting and dialogue of all time. The film was much less profitable than the first movie, which led the studio to cancel a third sequel. It received a 2% approval rating from 41 critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Highlander II: The Quickening
The original 1986 "Highlander" was an iconic fantasy action-adventure film that helped turn Christophe Lambert into a worldwide star. The film was initially panned by critics and received moderate financial success but has since garnered a dedicated cult following. It also spawned several sequels, with the first, "Highlander II: The Quickening," being considered one of the worst.
The sequel contained gaping plot holes and was panned by both fans and critics of the franchise. In fact, the film was so bad that it had multiple different versions of it released just to try and make up for the original release’s horrible editing. "Highlander II: The Quickening" received a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many calling it a joke and urging fans to avoid it.
The Emoji Movie
Sure, emojis are part of daily life, so much so that Hollywood actually thought, "Why not make a movie about it? Let’s use ALL the CGI! Let’s make a blockbuster!" Unfortunately, it was a flop. Despite calling on the star power and credentials of James Corden, Patrick Stewart, Anna Faris, Maya Rudolph, and the fabulous Christina Aguilera, it was still a failure.
Making $217.8 million at the box office, but we’ve got a feeling the next time someone suggests a film about emojis, it’s going straight into the trash. Helen O’Hara from Empire gave a review that is cutting but most probably deserved – “it’s tempting, to sum up in thumbs down emoji.”
Fantastic Four
With a review from Rolling Stone as searing as “'Fantastic Four' is a pile of something, too. You fill in the blank,” really, there isn’t much more to say, is there? After the initial reboot in 2004, starring the likes of Jessica Alba and Chris Evans, the studio decided that “ah, ten years have passed, people have forgotten, let’s make another one!”
Some films, no matter how many reboots, just aren’t going to do well. Anyway, it seems that even Captain America was shaking his head at his role as the “Human Torch” – regardless, if he hadn’t signed on to the film, perhaps he wouldn’t now have been recognized as Captain America.
Movie 43
So when we went to do our research to back up "Movie 43" being awarded the Golden Raspberry for 2014, it was Catherine Shoard’s headline that caught our eye: “Movie 43: why did so many Hollywood stars sign up for the humiliation?” We read no further on Google’s results – this article summed it up quite nicely.
With stars such as Halle Berry, Kate Winslet, and Aussie heartthrob Hugh Jackman, Hollywood was almost certain they’d hit a home run. Think again. With fourteen different storylines running in this film, they were certainly going for an Orson Welles-type approach, however, it backfired, and that’s why the Greats stay great!
Jack And Jill
Sadly, gone are the good ole days of "Billy Madison" and "Happy Gilmore," among a host of other notoriously funny films masterminded by Adam Sandler. Despite his successful run, "Jack and Jill" is considered “one of the worst films ever made.” Sandler took a leaf out of Eddie Murphy’s book, playing both the male and female twins.
You’d think that serious actors like Al Pacino would swat away a proposal to appear in such a film, but hey, there are things we will never understand. While a little of Pacino’s star power might have drawn in a few weary cinema-goers, this movie was nothing short of catastrophic. Of twelve nominated Razzie awards, it won ten!
The Last Airbender
Despite a cult following and a lot of hype leading up to its release, there were just a few small problems. For example, the fact that directors were trying to hire white actors to play characters written to be East Asian and even Inuit. Talk about controversial. The fans definitely didn’t like that.
Following these glaring issues and the ensuing fan revolt, it’s unsurprising that this film was awarded the Golden Raspberry for 2010. With a sadly low 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert, an esteemed critic, salutes the film with the comment: “It was an agonizing experience in every category I can think of.”
I Know Who Killed Me
Lindsay Lohan has starred in some of the most well successful and well-known films in the last two decades or so. Apparently, she has some flops under her belt too. This was after her career peak in the 90s and early 2000s — the film focuses on a student who is abducted and brutally tortured. After her ordeal, she assumes another identity.
The film won Worst Picture, with Lohan herself picking up a few Razzies, among them Worst Actress and Worst Screen Couple. Sometimes with child/teen stars, it’s better they take their money while they're young, invest, and enjoy the funds because they’re set for life without needing more money or further embarrassment.
Basic Instinct 2
Now, "Basic Instinct" is just one of those films you don’t mess with. It’s iconic, sexy, and thrilling for a reason, and this is most likely due to the decade it was released in. Sure, they might have brought Sharon Stone back for the sequel, but more than 20 years later, were producers truly that desperate to make some coin?
You know it’s Golden Raspberry-worthy when the director of the original film scoffed at the new script, and flat-out refused to direct a film that was going to be somewhat sacrilegious. With reviews like “ludicrous” and “predictable,” it should’ve been instinctual to know not to resurrect a film from another time.
Dirty Love
Written by Jenny McCarthy, this sadly won’t be the last time Hollywood produces a film about women and their quest to find Mr. Right. Beating films like "The Dukes of Hazzard" and "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" in the 2005 Razzies, this film really deserved the bottom spot that year along with the low ratings.
With a 7% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, lying somewhere between a rock and the comedy graveyard, this is a film you’ll want to miss. Stephen Holden from The New York Times gave a brutally honest review: “Even by the standards of its bottom-feeding genre, "Dirty Love" clings to the gutter like a rat in the garbage” Ouch!
Gigli
Queen of rom-coms herself, everyone bows down for the "Maid in Manhattan," Jennifer Lopez. It seems that often, love is blind. When reviews of her performance alongside her then-boyfriend make the comment that they “lack chemistry,” you know something’s up. Mixing a mob story and a romantic comedy is the unconventional love story that Hollywood really shouldn’t have dabbled in.
Our favorite review is the one by Newsweek, “after the schadenfreudian thrill of watching beautiful people humiliate themselves wears off, it has the same annihilating effect on your will to live.” Ladies and gentlemen, the 2003 Golden Raspberry hath been served. The critic's consensus was that "Gigli" was bizarre and clumsily plotted.
Swept Away
2002’s Golden Raspberry goes to Guy Ritchie's film, "Swept Away." Starring musical legend Madonna, the film is a remake of the classic 1974 romantic Italian film. A fan of the original, critic Roger Ebert was unimpressed with Ritchie’s attempt, noting that Madonna didn’t do her role justice: “Striking a pose is not the same as embodying a person,” said Ebert.
He went on to say, “A role like this one requires the surrender of emotional control, something Madonna seems constitutionally unable to achieve.” Having the dishonor of being the Worst Picture of 2002, it really was swept away quickly from box office billboards, grossing under $600,000 in the U.S., despite a $10 million budget!
The Postman
“I’m no one’s messenger boy, I’m a delivery boy” – look, with a title like "The Postman," how could we not make that reference? This film was set in the future and was probably released a few years too soon. Now that we’re in 2020, you’d realize that the “near future” 2013 that "The Postman" was set in was certainly nothing like the reality of that year.
With a budget that reminded us it was a Hollywood production, its box office takings paled in comparison, drawing in less than a quarter of its budget, at $17 million US worldwide. Poor Kevin Costner didn't fare too well. Maybe they should’ve left "Waterworld" and the whole America-as-a-wasteland theme alone.
Ghosts Can't Do It
We thought "Bolero" was bad, but it seems that John Derek just can’t stay away from producing bad films. Again, another raunchy film from an equally perturbed place. Elderly Scott takes his own life after suffering a heart attack. He then comes back as a ghost and haunts his hot young, loving wife to pick and kill someone as a new vessel for his soul.
One critic said, "This movie somehow manages to top even the worst of schlock movies, such as "Fantasies" and "Tarzan the Ape Man" for sheer artistic ineptitude." If that isn’t enough to turn your stomach, then you’re on your own! Do we have to continue? This film is cringing enough.
Cocktail
Ah, a young Tom Cruise. Nowadays, he’s a hot-shot action movie star, but the actor was riding the celebrity train in the 80s. "Cocktail" was one of the many films the young actor released during that period. The film focuses on the life of a college student who works as a bartender to pay for his education. He works and works and then – oh wait, that’s it.
Lola Borg of Empire remarks, “Cruise oozes as much charm as in "Top Gun" and "The Color of Money," but the mix of bar acrobatics and Caribbean love isn't anywhere near strong enough to get you drunk.” Cruise himself admitted a few years later it wasn’t exactly the highlight of his career. 5% on Rotten Tomatoes. Next.
Leonard Part 6
Parody films only really work if they’re done well. As for "Leonard Part 6"? Well, the verdict was not so good. Awarded the Golden Raspberry in 1987, the American spy parody film starred and was produced by the now-infamous Bill Cosby. Funnily enough, Cosby himself denounced the film; just weeks before its release, he came out and basically said he wasn’t proud of it.
Apparently, the way he spoke about the film had certainly garnered some low expectations, so much so that audiences and critics alike knew that it was going to be terrible and it didn't do well at the Box Office. Winning three Razzies, including Worst Picture, it’s considered one of the worst films ever made.
The Lonely Lady
Winning the Golden Raspberry in 1983, this is a disastrous film about the unraveling of a screenwriter’s career, revealing the truth of how she reached the peak of her fame during an awards ceremony. Some have gone as far as to say that it is the “worst film of all time.”
There are so many things wrong with that situation that we don’t even know where to begin. The main character, Pia Zadora, cozies up to toxic men to get to the top. We’re with Ebert on this one: “If The Lonely Lady had even a shred of style and humor, it could qualify as the worst movie of the year. Unfortunately, it’s not that good.”
Inchon
Sure, the idea seemed swell. The cast seemed even better. With the cinematic presence of Laurence Olivier and the beautiful Jacqueline Bissett, all set in a wartime drama, what could possibly go wrong? Based on the amphibious invasion of Inchon during the Korean War in 1950, the only thing that was bombed was the film.
Much of the film's budget seems to have been spent on the big battle scenes, which have been elaborately staged and with scarcely any dramatic effect. With an estimated budget of $46 million, it was appallingly received, bringing in less than $2 million. As per Rotten Tomatoes, “Inchon couldn't save itself from certain death.” The 0% rating says it all.
Can't Stop The Music
Loosely based on the banding together of the "Village People," it seems that this film was rather far from the truth of how the fabulous troupe came to be. Released as a musical comedy, unfortunately, there were more laughs had at the expense of this film rather than with the film.
It’s not surprising that Wilson also found this movie to be disturbing enough to his theatrical sensibilities that it earned a Razzie. With one critic saying "Please DO stop the music!" Did you know that Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Mr. Bruce Jenner, also an Olympic athlete, made a brief appearance in the film?
Catwoman
No matter how good stretch leather looks on the gorgeous Halle Berry, it just wasn’t enough to distract audiences from how bad this film was. No plot? No dollars. No dollars? No film studio. What does that mean? Don't make another film, Hollywood, unless you're actually a director who knows what they're doing.
While Halle Berry did her character justice, the writers just didn’t seem to make it work for the comic-book hero. The “lone bright spot” had a tough time carrying the film, and for that reason, it won 2004’s Golden Raspberry for Worst Picture. However, there was one good thing that came out of it: (bedroom) wall posters of Halle Berry in leather!
The Nutcracker in 3D
Not only did the “tomatometer” register a 0 for "The Nutcracker in 3D," they wrote that the production was just horrible and that the movie is astonishing “cinematic wrong-headedness.” Some said that the movie is “too dark” for children. They also complained that it hardly represents Tchaikovsky’s famous “Nutcracker” ballet and “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” story.
It was either too scary, too boring, or too weird for American critics. "The Nutcracker in 3D" had a budget of $90 million and it lost $92 million, adjusted for inflation. At the box office, it took in $16.2 million. The film crashed, burned, and bombed during its 2010 Christmas release. There’s always Christmas season DVD sales for time out of mind… Right?
Supernova
"Supernova" started out as a sci-fi B-movie way back in 1990. Ten years later, MGM’s financial albatross was produced by United Artists and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and Jack Sholder. But now, it seems no one really wants their name associated with this movie. "Supernova" hit the big screen in the year 2000 and bombed bombastically.
When the crew in this movie receive a distress call from a galaxy far far away, they race off to respond to the medical emergency. Of course, on the way there they find their ship getting sucked into an enormous dying star, aka a supernova. So now they must save themselves from certain annihilation. In the meantime poor acting and dirty humor dominate. Don’t take the kids.
Seventh Son
Hop back in the time shuttle and bolt five centuries back to the supernatural realm where knights battle dragons and beasts. Sir John Gregory, (Jeff Bridges) protects the country from Wiccan atrocity. And Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore) is one wretched witch who must be vanquished. Based on "The Spook’s Apprentice" series by English author Joseph Delaney, the fantasy adventure film version takes place in the 1600s.
The cinematic action unfolds in overcooked sword-and-sorcery fantasy, with very little imagination. You have to admire a movie which takes a gold-star cast that still managed to create such a flop. Directed by Sergei Bodrov, and released by Universal Pictures, "Seventh Son" did poorly in the US. It lost out to the latest Spongebob movie…
R.I.P.D.
Let’s clear up the frustrated ignorance right away. It stands for Rest in Peace Department, and it comes from the comic book series of the same acronym. The cast includes Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, and Kevin Bacon, and still, it failed commercially and critically. Jeff Bridges and others of the cast were commended for more than decent portrayals of already dead characters, but little other grace was found.
One critic from Time magazine wondered if it was “Too Awful to Review.” The massive production budget cost Universal $130 - $154 million, leaving box office cumulative sales infinitesimally dwarfed at $78.3 million. And, finally, the total loss was also massive: $96 - $121 million. Whatever you do, please don't see it.
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
As it turns out, sci-fi comedy "Pluto Nash" is an infamous wipeout, crashing and burning at epic proportions. It made Time magazine’s list of the “10 biggest money-losers of all time,” placing 3rd. It’s so bad, Eddie Murphy says watching it makes him break down and cry. The story takes place in the 2080s, on the moon, where all Earth exiles are sent.
Pluto Nash (Murphy) is assaulted by lunar gangsta thugs, forcing him to defend his nightclub and the rights of all of moonkind. Nothing in the world can save this epic flop from its notoriety. It grossed merely $7.1 million at the “flop” office and it cost Warner Bros $100 million to make. That leaves the endeavor at a 95% net loss!
Problem Child
This black comedy is the first work of producer Robert Simonds, and it's honestly surprising he kept producing other films after making this horrible one. But he did, and he may have improved a little bit as his experience grew. "Problem Child" features Michael Oliver, John Ritter, Gilbert Gottfried, and more actors who would probably love to forget they have ever sign on to this cinematic flop.
Rotten Tomatoes calls the film an "unpleasant comedy." Sounds cringy and not at all inviting. It tells the story of a seven-year-old misbehaving orphan boy who gets adopted by a loving couple. They suffer the wrath of the boy for a while until he gets kidnapped and they go to rescue him. Sounds bad? That's because it is.
Folks!
Tom Selleck stars in this film as Jon Aldrich, a stockbroker who has it all. His life is perfect until his parents move in with him. Sounds like the start of a nice family comedy, but this is hardly the case here. Critics say that this film gives the elderly some really bad rep and that it tries to be both vicious and tender at the same time.
Nobody's perfect. Not even Tom Selleck. How else would you explain him starring in the worst movie in his career? While he is known to mostly play lovable characters which win over the viewers, this time was different. This time his performance even got him a golden raspberry nomination for Worst Actor.
A Low Down Dirty Shame
Action comedies are usually a pretty successful genre. People will normally be happy with a movie as long as it makes them laugh and has a scene or two of car chases or gunfights. While the lead actor, Keenen Ivory Wayans can be funny, he's certainly no action hero. Apparently, those weren't enough to save "A Low Down Dirty Shame."
The story here is that of Andre Shame, a retired cop who turned into a private investigator and trying to solve a narcotics-related mystery. There is, of course, a romantic subplot, featuring Jada Pinkett, but even that wasn't enough to save the movie from itself and the controversial blaxploitation it displays.
Wagons East
"Wagons East" is a western comedy directed by Peter Markle. It tells the story of a few pioneers trying to make their way back home after giving up on the frontier life. Their journey is riddled with adventures courtesy of the crazy wagonmaster. The film stars the late Richard Lewis and John Candy, and the latter might be the only reason why anyone has ever bothered to watch it.
You see, Candy died from a heart attack on one of the last days of filming. The movie was released five months following his death, which made the critics very sorry to have watched it as Candy's last work.Ultimately, "Wagons East" became a candidate for one of the worst movies.
Shadow Conspiracy
White House drama is nothing new. We get a movie with that kind of plot at least once every couple of years it has to have some serious novelty in order to have an impact on anyone, so most of those films aren't the greatest cinematic masterpieces ever made. Still, "Shadow Conspiracy" might be the worst of them yet.
In this film, Jacob Conrad (portrayed by Donald Sutherland) is a member of the White House staff who makes plans to assassinate the President. His plan is then revealed by Bobby Bishop (Charlie Sheen), another staff member. Turns out, the film's lack of touch with reality is what turned it into the flop it is with only $2 million in the box office in the States.
Simon Sez
Dennis Rodman as an Interpol agent. Those should be all the words you need to understand what was so messed up about this movie. Bascially, it's total indefensible trash. Rodman plays an Interpol Agent named Simon, who goes on a mission to stop an arms dealer who kidnapped the daughter of a close friend.
This action-comedy shouldn't take itself too seriously, but somehow it still does! It falls into chewed-up spy movie cliches and fails to give its viewers their money's worth. This is probably why it failed so miserably. How miserably? It made a total of $292,152 at the box office. That's how.
12 Angry Men
Now that we've sorted through the worst movies according to Rotten Tomatoes, let's look at the best. More than 50 critics have pulled together to give this film a perfect 100% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. They aren’t the only ones who love this 1957 courtroom drama, either. Roger Ebert gives it a 4/4, and 94% of Google users have rated it positively, as well.
The film was written by Reginald Rose and directed by Sidney Lumet. Shot in a single location, it’s known for its minimalistic filmmaking. The year after its release, it won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written Drama, and several decades later, in 1997, it was added to the PGA Hall of Fame.
The Irishman
Directed by Martin Scorsese, he revisits familiar themes in this epic gangster drama that really makes it so captivating. Many viewers have said it's worth the hype, so much so that it's worth the three-and-a-half hours of viewing time. "The Irishman" is a modern-day mobster masterpiece from one of the best directors of our time.
Set in the 1950s, the film follows truck driver Frank Sheeran who somehow gets entangled with Russell Bufalino and his Pennsylvania crime family. As Sheeran tries his best to climb the ranks to become a top hitman, he also goes to work for Jimmy Hoffa - a powerful Teamster tied to organized crime.
Sunset Boulevard
Undoubtedly, one of the most exceptional films capturing the essence of Hollywood during the Golden Age is Billy Wilder's masterpiece, "Sunset Boulevard." This cinematic gem weaves together elements of noir and black comedy, providing some serious entertainment. With a 98% score on Tomatometer, we'd say this classic film for 1950 is certainly worth a watch.
Critics had nothing but good things to say, with a 4/4 from Roger Ebert and Scott Mignola from Common Sense Media writing, “The performances do justice to the ruthlessly witty script.” "Sunset Boulevard" brought home four Golden Globes in 1951 – including the award for Best Picture. That same year, it scored three Academy Awards as well.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
This installment of "Star Wars" is dark and sinister but ultimately more character-centric and emotionally involved than its predecessor. Considering the fact that it was filmed in 1980, the special effects are great, and the writing is poignant and funny. Basically, it's everything you could want in a movie.
"The Empire Strikes Back" defies viewer expectations and takes the series to heightened emotional levels. The adventure continues with all our favorites characters, with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and of course, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) as they face attack by the Imperial forces on the ice planet Hoth.
Titanic
James Cameron's epic romance had...titanic...success when it was released in 1997 and still stands today as one of the most beloved films of all time. Not to mention the fact that it instantly shot Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet into the Hollywood royalty realm - and the two have never looked back.
The film's record-breaking success didn't mean it was free from controversy behind the scenes. Not only was it six months behind schedule, but it also reportedly went $100 million over budget. Yes, you read that correctly. $100 million! Of course, James Cameron also splashed a lot of money on the "Avatar" franchise too.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
Many of Studio Ghibli's animated films bow down to see the world from a child's eyes and capture a moment of fresh-faced adulthood. "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" does so beautifully; in fact, it's one of the few movies with a 100% score. The film is based on Japan's oldest surviving narrative about a tiny nymph found by a bamboo cutter inside a bamboo stalk.
This tiny fairy then grows into a gorgeous young woman. But there's so much more to this movie than the story; the technically perfect animation with hand-drawn, watercolor images explodes with tender, comical details. As one critic wrote, "The film holds a timeless, magical quality while also looking absolutely marvelous."
The Dark Knight
Directed by Christopher Nolan, "The Dark Knight" is hands-down one of the best films in the Batman franchise. Christian Bale plays the superhero trying to save the city from the maniacal Joker. The iconic villain was played by the late Heath Ledger in his final role in the film, which won him the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
The film holds a 94% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4/4 from Roger Ebert. But critics weren’t the only ones who ate it up. Audiences loved the film, too, with one member saying it was the “sequel we deserved to the Batman we wanted,” and went on to add, “Heath Ledger is a legend!” Yes, yes, he is.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Of course, we’d include this 1975 classic drama on our list. The film stars Jack Nicholson as a psychiatric patient who leads an uprising in a mental hospital. The film was based on the 1962 novel of the same name, written by Ken Kesey, and is often referred to as one of the best films of all time, both by critics and audience members.
Along with having a high score on rotten tomatoes, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" won several prestigious awards, including the big five Oscars; Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress. It also won six Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture (Drama) and Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama.)
The Shawshank Redemption
This film is arguably one of the best prison drama films ever made and potentially one of the best dramas period. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins star as two inmates serving life sentences in a rough prison. Unfortunately, one of the men (Robbins) didn’t actually commit the murders he was accused of, which makes his life particularly tough.
What's quite interesting about this film is that it proved unmarketable upon box office release; as a result, it tanked and seemed destined for obscurity. It was only after the video release that "The Shawshank Redemption" reaped the praise it so richly deserved. Could you say it's one of the best films ever made? Without a doubt, yes.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
This 1948 American adventure movie has a perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on nearly 50 different reviews. It follows two rough-and-tumble wanderers, Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) and Curtin (Tim Holt), who meet up with a veteran prospector, Howard (Walter Huston), in Mexico and head into the Sierra Madre mountains in search of gold.
Their journey through the perilous Mexican wilderness brings them face-to-face with ruthless bandits, but equally dangerous are their own internal struggles, which constantly loom. "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" won three Academy Awards, including Best Director for John Huston, along with three Golden Globes; Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, and another Best Director Award.
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino's second film turned out to be a delirious post-modern mix of neo-noir thrills, pitch-black humor and mixes everything into one perfect package. We certainly don’t have to tell you that "Pulp Fiction" was one of the most influential films of the 1990s, but we will tell you that it scored 92% on the Tomatometer.
The dialogue really dazzles in this film and somehow, it humanizes villainous characters by showing them chatting about the most humdrum things imaginable. Needless to say, the performances from John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson are immaculate, and the twists are continually surprising. There’s much about the film that stands the test of time.
The Last Picture Show
You know a film is good when it has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes out of over 55 votes. Roger Ebert also gave the film a 4/4 in his review, saying that the movie “felt new and old at the same time.” "The Last Picture Show" was first released in 1971 and somehow perfectly managed to capture the feeling of a small town in Texas.
Along with remarkable performances by Jeff Bridges and Timothy Bottoms, Peter Bogdanovich's coming-of-age story skillfully utilizes its period and setting, resulting in a poignant yet powerful classic. "The Last Picture Show" won two Academy Awards and two BAFTA Awards in 1972 for both Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role.
Toy Story
When putting together a list such as this, there can be some temptation to defy popular expectations; however, as an animated film, "Toy Story" is so staggeringly impressive that it couldn’t be ignored. It was released back in 1995; from Pixar's beginnings as a testing platform for new computer animation techniques, the animation studio has always preferred technical innovation over simpler methods.
Still, the amazing computer effects on "Toy Story" were overshadowed by the intelligent and thoughtful script that had adult themes that both parents and their kids could relate to. With an odd couple in the form of Woody and Buzz Lightyear, the movie is a stellar comedy that harmonizes well with touching childhood themes.
Singing in the Rain
Everyone in the Western world is at the very least familiar with the famous theme (title) song from "Singin’ in the Rain." “What a glorious feeling, I’m happy again!” But the film that the song was pulled from was just as successful. "Singin' in the Rain" is undeniably one of the most enjoyable experiences, offering a rollicking reimagination of the shift from silent to sound movies.
While it may not adhere strictly to historical accuracy, the movie more than compensates with its delightful fusion of singing, tap dancing, romance, boundless energy, and a vibrant display of colors. If anything, this movie makes you feel transported to classical Hollywood in the 1920s. Plus, it's one of the funniest films ever made!
The Terminator
In this high-stakes time-travel narrative, a cyborg assassin, the Terminator (portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger), conceals its true identity as it journeys from 2029 to 1984 with a mission to eliminate Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). But before you do anything, forget that the premise is silly because director James Cameron executed it all so well that this movie received a rare 100% on the Tomatometer.
"The Terminator" remains a lasting influence on sci-fi and action films, thanks to its remarkable action sequences, tightly controlled direction, and unrelenting pace that keeps audiences engaged throughout. The havoc makes for a genuine steel metal trap of a movie and perhaps no other villain of the 80s is as iconic as Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator.
Cool Hand Luke
With a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "Cool Hand Luke" is an absolute classic from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The film stars Paul Newman as the title character, Luke, a man who’s sentenced to a rough prison camp. Newman ended up being nominated for an Oscar for his part.
And even those who’ve never even seen the classic film are probably still aware of its most famous line, “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate,” which has become a popular saying since the movie’s release in '67. "Cool Hand Luke" is one of Paul Newman's most memorable performances.
The Godfather
There was no way we could have our list without this crime drama classic from the early 1970s. The film is directed by Francis Ford Coppola and stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan as members of an infamous Italian American crime family - The Corleones.
"The Godfather" constantly makes all kinds of “best films of all time” lists and currently holds a nearly perfect (98%) score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also won a number of prestigious awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Golden Globe for Best Director. And it also spawned two memorable sequels, with many claiming the second installment to be even better.
The Grapes of Wrath
Film legend Henry Fonda stars in this 1940 film, which is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by John Steinbeck. It can be risky business to adapt a novel into a screenplay, as you risk irritating fans. But "The Grapes of Wrath" film was well-received by audiences and critics who adored the novel.
Movies have since improved and broadened since this was made; but in any event, this picture is the most mature picture story that has ever been made, in feeling and in purpose. And even by today's standards, "The Grapes of Wrath" easily remains one of the best films ever made.
Before Sunrise
Thought-provoking and beautifully filmed, "Before Sunrise" beautifully captures the vibrant essence of the mid-90s, offering an authentic and profound exploration of the romantic bond shared by two individuals, perfectly performed by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. As their connection evolves and transforms over time, it leaves a lasting impact on their future paths.
"Before Sunrise" is an intelligent, unabashedly romantic look at modern love. A film like "Before Sunrise" shows us that some of our most meaningful moments can be brief and fleeting: a look, a touch, a feeling, a few short hours. It's arguably one of the most alluring films ever made.
Spotlight
Based on a true story, "Spotlight" is not just that it is a profound story but one that is executed to perfection that draws out such emotion. The film adeptly navigates through the sensational aspects leading to a compelling drama that respects the real-life individuals it portrays without glorifying its protagonists.
If you like documentaries, then "Spotlight" might be the perfect flick for you. The film stars Mark Ruffalo as a reporter at the Boston Globe who’s tasked with interviewing victims and digging up proof of the church’s involvement in burying evidence of the crimes (which they do, by the way.) It garnered nearly $99 million at the box office against a budget of $20 million.
Shadow of a Doubt
It shouldn’t come as a surprise there are a few Alfred Hitchcock films popping up on this list. "Shadow of a Doubt" is a psychological thriller full of murder and mystery, but unlike the majority of Hitchcock films, is somewhat of a slow burn. The director has apparently said this film is his favorite.
Joseph Cotten stars as Uncle Charlie, visiting his relatives and leaving everyone charmed by his magnetic personality. However, as time goes on, his niece begins to suspect that he might be wanted for murder. To her dismay, Uncle Charlie becomes aware of her growing suspicions. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Story and won the Satellite Award for Best Classic DVD.
Aliens
Look back into the cinematic world of the 1980s and we land on one of the most popular sci-fi thrillers of all time: "Aliens." This 1980 film starring Sigourney Weaver is still referenced as one of the best of its kind. Even four decades later, this sci-fi horror masterpiece retains its deadly contemporary impact.
The film seamlessly weaves together science fiction, horror, and a sense of desolation into a captivating whole. "Alien" was directed by Ridley Scott and went on to win two Academy Awards in 1987; Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Editing. Plus, it gave us one of the creepiest scenes in film history.
Strangers on a Train
This Alfred Hitchcock film, "Strangers on a Train," has a near-perfect rating on every major review platform, with a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. It first came out in 1951 and follows two ambitious men who meet on a train and hatch a deadly plan to murder someone in each of their lives.
Aside from the suspense that Hitchcock is famous for, the film is also full of his unique camera angles. The film’s cinematographer, Robert Burks, was nominated for the Oscar for Best Cinematography, while Hitchcock was nominated for an award from the Directors Guild of America and the National Board of Review.
Schindler’s List
"Schindler’s List" is a historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and released in the early 90s. It’s hard to find many “best films” lists that don’t include this movie, which stars Liam Neeson as Schindler himself. It earned a $300 million profit, scoring $322 million at the box office against a $22 million budget.
The film was nominated for twelve Academy Awards, the most nominations of any film on our list, and won seven, including Best Director and Best Picture. In 2004, the Library of Congress preserved it in the National Film Registry. And a few years later, in 2007, the AFI ranked it number eight on their list of the 100 best American films.
All the President’s Men
This 1976 film starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford delves into the story of the infamous Watergate scandal that occurred during the presidency of Richard Nixon. Based on a 1974 novel by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, the movie was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress in 2010.
A tightly woven and superbly performed tribute to the importance of a free press and the perils of unbridled authority, this film gains even more potency due to its basis in real-life events. "All the President’s Men" has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for several awards upon its release, including multiple Golden Globes and Oscars.
L.A. Confidential
This 1997 crime thriller was based on James Ellroy’s novel, which was published seven years before the film hit theaters. Along with a juicy script, it stars Kim Basinger, Kevin Spacey, and Danny Devito, as well as Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe, whose careers both skyrocketed after taking part in this production.
"L.A. Confidential" tells the tale of police corruption in Los Angeles during Hollywood’s Golden Age. The film's incredible script and star-studded cast performed so well that it was nominated for nine Academy Awards. Of the nine, it won two, including Best Supporting Actress (for Kim Basinger) and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
While many of the films on our list are a bit older, we’re in a different area of film history now. "The Lord of the Rings" is one of the most popular film franchises. The second film, "The Two Towers," proved to be the most well-received by critics when it was released in 2002 release.
The film made $951.2 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing film of the year, and the fourth-highest of all time, at least at that point. Often hailed as being one of the best fantasy films, the movie was nominated for six awards during the 75th Academy Awards show and wound up winning two.
Unforgiven
Clint Eastwood is not only the star of this 1992 film, but he also produced and directed it. He ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Director and being nominated for Best Actor. Aside from Eastwood, the cast was full of big names, including Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman.
Clint Eastwood sheds the layers of Hollywood glamor that have accumulated over the years and presents a stark and unfiltered perspective on violence. The film earned four Academy Award wins in total, including Best Picture and Best Film Editing. It was the third Western to ever win the Oscar for Best Picture and spent three weeks as the Number One film in North America upon its release.
The Philadelphia Story
We’re headed back in time to 1940 when this romantic comedy directed by George Cukor first hit the scene. Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn star as a young married couple on the verge of divorce. Critics seem to agree that the storyline is one of the best of its time, with one calling it a “beautifully spun tale.”
In this romantic comedy, the spotlight is on Katharine Hepburn, and amidst the confusion of her emotions, she must make a heartfelt decision about whom she genuinely loves. The film won the Academy Award for Best Writing in an Adapted Screenplay and brought in $3.3 million – which was a lot of money in 1940.
Lawrence of Arabia
Another epic war adventure film, "Lawrence of Arabia" with incredible cinematography. This film is directed by David Lean and is based on the life of British archaeologist and army officer, T.E. Lawrence. It follows and documents the officer’s experiences throughout the Ottoman Empire, such as his attacks on Damascus and Aqaba.
At the 35th Academy Awards show in 1963, the film was nominated for a total of ten Oscars – and won seven of them. Among the wins include the award for Best Director and Best Picture. If that wasn't reason enough to watch it, this film also scores 94% on the Tomatometer.