How would you grade the last movie that you saw in theaters? Well, CinemaScore has wanted to know for almost 40 years. They randomly select moviegoers from different cities and ask them to grade the movie they just saw on the big screen.
Just like when you were in school, the grades range from the dreaded F, all the way up to that ever elusive A+. Many of the movies that they grade end up in the A and B range, but that's because people who go see a new movie on opening night and far more likely to be a bigger fan of some aspect of the movie. They also speak to the movie's target audience. This explains how a cinematic "masterpiece" like Alvin and the Chipmunks scored an A, because of course kids loved it, they're singing chipmunks.
There have only ever been 19 movies to get the big red F stamped on them by their audiences, and here are ten of the worst of them.
1. Mother
With a cast of Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Dardem, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Ed Harris, you wouldn't think this movie would have scored itself an F. Audiences just didn't seem to enjoy this movie and they let the critics know. Although, Rotten Tomatoes has given the movie a 67% Fresh rating.
2. The Wicker Man
This 2006 remake of the 70's cult-classic by the same name, is terrible. I have a soft spot for Nicholas Cage and I still thought this movie was one the biggest wastes of time I have ever put myself through. It received an F rating and for good reason. Don't even bother giving this flick a chance, terrible.
3. The Box
I remember seeing previews for this movie and thinking to myself "that actually looks like it would be worth seeing in theaters." Wrong, and the rest of theater audiences agreed with me. Starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden, the story tried to make something out of nothing.
4. Feardotcom
Horror movies of the early 2000s were meant to be as gory as possible because people just didn't seem to scare as easily anymore. Feardotcom centered on a serial killer that runs a website that allows viewers to watch gruesome torture and murder. Critics and audiences happened to agree on this particular movie.
What other movies are universally hated?
5. I Know Who Killed Me
Lindsay Lohan plays two roles in this movie; a pianist and a stripper. Turns out that one of these people might just be an imaginary figure created by the other... The movie not only got an F from CinemaScore, it also won 8 Razzie Awards including Worst Picture.
6. Disaster Movie
I am not a fan of "spoof" comedy, but some people really do enjoy it. In this case they had the same opinion as me. The writers and director tried to throw everything at the audience in an attempt to be funny, unfortunately they missed the mark completely. And realistically, any movie that has a cameo from Kim Kardashian isn't worth watching.
7. Wolf Creek
An attempt to create an Australian version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the movie sends three college kids into the Australian Outback where they run into a redneck who likes to torture and kill random strangers. It was supposed to be based on "true events", but I am going to go with LOOSELY based on true events.
8. Killing Them Softly
This movie did relatively well with critics, but general audiences absolutely hated it. Some low-level criminals end up robbing a "mob-enforced" card game and Brad Pitt as the outfits hitter is sent to settle the score. It was generic in every sense of the term.
9. Alone in the Dark
This attempt at adapting a video game story to the big screen failed miserably. Christian Slater plays a detective that deals with cases deemed "paranormal" in nature. In this particular movie he is attempting to stop inter-dimensional demons from taking over the planet. Oh yeah, Tara Reid is in this one as well and her performance is as bad as the story line itself.
10. Lucky Numbers
John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow are a couple working at a news station who attempt to rig the state lottery. Travolta is a weatherman and Kudrow plays the woman who draws the winning numbers. The characters are so stupid that any attempt at comedy is lost on the audience at large.
If you're looking to have a marathon of bad movies, this would be a great place to start.
