The Absolute Worst Movies in Film History
Some movies are so bad they become legends for all the wrong reasons. These films flop hard on story, acting, and basic filmmaking, earning spots on lists of cinematic disasters. They tried to tackle big ideas or just entertain but ended up as punchlines.
Take The Room from 2003, often called the worst movie ever made. Directed by Tommy Wiseau, it features awkward romance, terrible dialogue like “You’re tearing me apart, Lisa!”, and plot holes you could drive a truck through. Fans mock it at midnight screenings, but no one defends its quality[1].
Not Another Church Movie from 2024 ranks as a total disaster too. This spoof of Tyler Perry’s films stars Kevin Daniels as a homophobic parody of Perry and his Madea character. It feels cheap, overstuffed with bad jokes, and fails to land a single laugh, making Perry’s work look genius by comparison[1].
Plan 9 from Outer Space in 1959 holds a throne as one of the worst. Ed Wood’s sci-fi mess has flying saucers from cardboard, terrible editing, and Bela Lugosi dying mid-shoot so they glued his clips into new footage. Aliens invade Earth with zero logic or scares[3][4].
Stardust Memories from 1980 by Woody Allen aimed high but crashed. It rips off Fellini’s 8 1/2 with a bitter comedian hating fans and life. Pretty shots can’t save the ugly tone and mean-spirited rants[1].
Hollywood Ending in 2002 also bombed. Another Allen flop about a director going blind before a big shoot. It mixes comedy with whining about fame and ends up sexist and unfunny[1].
Don’t Look Up from 2021 tried to slam climate change and media but flopped. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence play scientists warning about a comet, but the satire feels preachy and misses the mark on real issues[2].
Downsizing from 2017 promised smart sci-fi on overpopulation. Matt Damon shrinks to tiny size for a better life, but the story wanders into dull romance and forgets its big idea[2].
Collateral Beauty in 2016 stars Will Smith grieving his daughter. It tackles loss with ghosts playing love, time, and death, but the twists are cheesy and the drama rings false[2].
Pauly Shore Is Dead from 2003 has Shore faking his death for fame. It mocks Hollywood but comes off desperate and crude, with no real laughs[1].
These picks come from critic lists and fan roasts, proving bad movies stick around for the cringe.
Sources
https://nathanrabin.substack.com/p/the-100-worst-movies-about-filmmaking
https://collider.com/worst-movies-tried-to-be-about-important-issues-ranked/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_films_considered_the_worst
https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_20_best_bad_movies_of_all_time/s1__30206336
