10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

As someone who has spent countless hours watching films from various genres and cultures, I must say that these two movies, “One Missed Call” (2008) and “Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” (2002), have left me utterly disappointed.


Despite countless movies being released with poor quality every now and then, very few can compare to those that make it onto Rotten Tomatoes‘ list of worst films in history. These are the films that have garnered virtually no approval from critics, with ratings as low as 0-2%, and have also disappointed audiences, scoring equally poorly.

It seems, with films like these, they had to try hard to make the films as bad as possible, from cheesy lines, poor effects, illogical plots, to painfully bad comedy, these films encompass the very worst of cinema. However, the effort, good or bad, is commendable, and it would be unfair not to recognize some of the most infamous films of all time according to Rotten Tomatoes and the audience reviews found there. Even with the worst qualities, a lot of these films find themselves almost campy.

10 Jaws: The Revenge (1987)

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

Among all the films on the list, it’s only “Jaws: The Revenge” that managed to surpass 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. This is the fourth film in the Jaws series, helmed by director Joseph Sargent, who is also known for the critically-acclaimed movie “Something The Lord Made”. In “Jaws: The Revenge”, we follow Ellen Brody, a widow, as she suspects a Great White shark is stalking her in the Bahamas. Her suspicion arises after the death of her son, which she believes might have been caused by the same shark.

What Makes It Bad

In my humble opinion as a cinephile, “Jaws: The Revenge” sadly misses the mark when it comes to logic and coherence. To put it mildly, the CGI in this movie is a far cry from the pinnacle of its kind within the realm of cinematic history. It seems that the storyline has already had its day, with the fourth installment feeling overly prolonged and lacking the necessary punch to keep viewers engaged. Instead, it leans heavily on graphic scenes and cheap tricks to hold our attention.

Initially, I wasn’t too impressed with the earlier installments, but watching this new sequel has entirely changed my perspective. With a mere 2% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it seems to be one of the least favored films on their list. Moreover, its audience score of 15% implies that it’s almost unbearable for most viewers.

9 The Last Days of American Crime (2020)

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

Under the guidance of director Olivier Megaton, known for his work on the Taken sequels, The Last Days of American Crime unfolds a storyline where a heist is abruptly foiled by a national broadcast. This peculiar transmission mysteriously eradicates all criminal activity across America. The intriguing dystopian backdrop of the movie sets expectations high. Regrettably, however, The Last Days of American Crime seems to miss the mark in delivering an engaging thriller or action experience.

What Makes It Bad

The movie, “The Last Days of American Crime,” is criticized for its excessive use of tired dystopian tropes, both in visuals and dialogue. Critics have labeled it as uninteresting, despite the action scenes. In simpler terms, it’s a grisly effort at style, with underwhelming effects and performances that are strangely exaggerated.

8 Gold Diggers (2003)

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

In a comedic twist, “National Lampoon’s Gold Diggers” narrates the tale of two companions, Calvin and Leonard, who plan to swindle wealthy sisters out of their wealth. But instead, the women show mercy, causing the men to ponder marrying them for their financial security. Unbeknownst to them, these women are facing bankruptcy themselves and aim to live off the life insurance payouts by deceitfully killing the men.

What Makes It Bad

It has a pretty comedic and unexpected premise, but Gold Diggers fails to be remotely funny. The film is exceedingly gross, and this leads to drawn-out and eventually boring attempts at comedy. Though other National Lampoon comedies exceed in crude humor, Christmas Vacation, for instance, Gold Diggers is outright nasty.

7 Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

Under the guidance of renowned and versatile director Bob Clark, best known for A Christmas Story, comes the sequel to the critically-panned Superbabies: Genuines 2. Remarkably, both films share a similar fate with less than 2% approval on Rotten Tomatoes. The story unfolds as scientists discover that babies in this film are capable of communicating effectively. Utilizing their unique skills, these infants band together to thwart the villainous media tycoon, Bill Biscaine, who aims to decipher “Baby Talk.”

What Makes It Bad

The sequel to Superbabies, titled “Superbabies 2”, has been criticized as being excessively crude and unsettling. The storyline is incoherent, and the lack of effort put into the production is evident. The characters’ portrayals, particularly the babies and their voice-overs, seem sloppily executed. Critics have questioned the necessity of this film, a sentiment shared by many. Interestingly, Bob Clark was awarded the Razzie Award for Worst Director due to his work on this movie.

6 Pinocchio (2002)

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

Despite being critically panned with a zero rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Pinocchio marks an unfortunate departure from Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni’s illustrious body of work. Known for creating one of the greatest films ever made, Life is Beautiful, Benigni’s take on Pinocchio disappointingly falls short of his own high standards. The movie retells the timeless story of a wooden puppet who magically gains sentience.

What Makes It Bad

Most people consider Roberto Benigni’s version of Pinocchio as an unusually grim and unsettling retelling of the classic tale. From the start, where an older man portrays a young boy, the movie sets an uncomfortable tone, despite its attempts to be humorous and engaging. Some viewers find it unwatchable, while others see it in a strangely sentimental light. Nevertheless, the peculiar nature of Pinocchio makes this film one of the most criticized adaptations in cinema history.

5 Gotti (2018)

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

Under the guidance of director Kevin Connolly, best known for his role in Entourage, the film Gotti offers a dramatized account of the life of a real-life mob figure climbing the ranks to become Capo. However, his wife is adamantly against him and their family’s association with the mafia. In this movie, John Travolta portrays John Gotti, as he struggles to balance his involvement in the Gambino crime family and his brother, who has recently been appointed as the new capo. The film makes a weak effort at creating a gripping gangster epic.

What Makes It Bad

Gotti consists of intricate yet feeble storylines, and John Travolta maintains a recognizable presence throughout his role as John Gotti. The dialogue veers between clichéd or incoherent, contributing to a biopic that lacks depth in portraying the gangster’s life. Critics also argue that this film perpetuates the glamorization of mobsters by presenting Gotti as another morally ambiguous “anti-hero” figure.

4 A Thousand Words (2012)

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

In “A Thousand Words,” we find Eddie Murphy portraying Jack, a character known for his charming yet manipulative nature. A mysterious tree sprouts in his backyard, bearing a thousand leaves. Each word Jack speaks causes a leaf to drop. Once all the leaves are gone, Jack is destined to perish. Brian Robbins, Nickelodeon’s CEO and director of films like “Norbit” and “A Thousand Words,” helms this production. While the concept initially seems promising for a comedy, the film ultimately ranks among the worst ever made.

What Makes It Bad

In “A Thousand Words,” outdated humor and jokes that fall flat are criticized by some reviewers. Despite being somewhat more entertaining than other films on the list, it unfortunately doesn’t live up to its comedic potential. The decision to limit Eddie Murphy’s dialogue may not have been the best choice for a movie that greatly benefits from his talent.

3 Left Behind (2014)

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

The film “Left Behind” is quite underwhelming given the talented ensemble it boasts, led by Nicolas Cage. Interestingly, this production is helmed by Vic Armstrong, a renowned stuntman and coordinator, known for his work as a stunt double for Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and for doubling Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The movie presents the biblical concept of the rapture as a disaster scenario, leaving millions stranded in a devastated world.

What Makes It Bad

Most of the storyline in “Left Behind” unfolds on an airplane, but it fails to delve into the religious themes it initially promised. Additionally, the film is poorly written, with its flaws amplified by unconvincing effects. Given that the plot occurs post-Rapture, there’s little room for development or improvement. Critics have agreed that this movie left both believers and nonbelievers underwhelmed due to its disorganized and dull presentation.

2 One Missed Call (2008)

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

Under the guidance of director Éric Valette, the 2008 film One Missed Call serves as a reimagining of the 2003 Japanese Horror movie titled similarly and directed by Takashi Miike. The remake features Shannyn Sossaman portraying Beth Raymond. In this movie, we delve into the mysterious deaths of two of Beth’s friends, who received premonitions of their demise via a chilling phone call before they actually died. Despite an intriguing concept, the 2008 remake falls short in comparison to its original and standard filmmaking expectations.

What Makes It Bad

Based on feedback from viewers, it appears that “One Missed Call” is widely considered incredibly dull. The movie seems to have squandered its potential with uninteresting scares and awkward dialogue. Many also comment that it attempts to modernize Japanese horror films in a campy manner, which unfortunately strips away any depth the original film possessed.

1 Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002)

10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes10 Worst Movies Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes

Under the guidance of Wych Kaosayananda, a well-respected action movie director from Southeast Asia, Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever marked his first foray into American cinema. Unfortunately, it was heavily criticized by film reviewers, leading to its reputation as one of the worst films ever made according to Rotten Tomatoes and other critics.

This movie focuses on characters played by Antonio Banderas as Ecks and Lucy Liu as Sever, who work together to pursue a former Defense Intelligence Agency operative. Their mission is to locate this individual so they can save the abducted child of the leader of a clandestine global security group.

What Makes It Bad

Despite having an intriguing concept, the movie “Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” is generally considered a rather forced spy film. It’s filled with senseless and unjustified explosions that lack explanation, even with talented actors like Anton Yelchin and Lucy Liu on board, along with a competent writer in Alan McElroy. These unexplained car blasts only serve to complicate a web of subplots that fail to advance the main storyline. Some critics are still uncertain about who exactly was battling whom in “Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever”.

Despite a substantial budget, essential elements of movie-making such as proper lighting and editing seem to have been overlooked, contributing to an overall lack of originality in the final product.

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2024-09-02 01:02