The Editors of Rotten Tomatoes, the movie review web site, published this compendium of reviews of “Rotten Movies” (movies with a 59% or less rating) to spark further analysis and debate. I haven’t seen all these movies (my best guess is I’ve see maybe 25%) but some of the ratings (in percentages) of the movies I have seen seem a bit low. For example, I liked Buffy the Vampire Slayer better than the critics. The same with Die Hard: With a Vengeance. These were not great movies, but I found them fun and entertaining. How many of these “Rotten Movies” have you seen? Do you think any of them should be rated higher? Rotten Movies We All Love is a browser’s delight! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Forward by Paul Feig — x
INTRODUCTION by Joel Meares, Editor-In-Chief, ROTTEN TOMATOES — xiii
People’s choice : box office slayers and household names — 1
Every Which Way But Loose (1978) 37% — 2
Problem Child (1990) 0% — 4
Book Club (2018) 54% — 5
Cocktail (1988) 5% — 6
Hocus Pocus (1993) 33% — 8
The Holiday (2006) 48% — 10
Bad Boys (1995) 42% — 12
Stepmom (1998) 45% — 13
Space Jam (1996) 43% –14
I, Robot (2004) 56% — 16
Hello, Dolly! (1969) 43% — 18
CRITIC ESSAY by Monica Castillo: Maleficent 92014) 54% — 21
The First Wives Club (1996) 49% — 24
The ‘Burbs (1989) 53% — 26
Teen Wolf (1985) 44% — 28
Twins (1988) 44% — 29
Young Guns (1988) 41% — 30
San Andreas (2015) 51% — 32
CRITIC ESSAY by Kristen Lopez: The Greatest Showman (2017) 55% — 35
So bad they’re good : incomparably weird sci-fi and fantasy — 39
Cherry 2000 (1987) 40% — 40
I Come in Peace (Dark Angel) (1990) 31% — 42
Zardoz (1974) 50% — 44
The Lord of the Rings (1978) 50% — 46
Robot Monster 36% — 47
Masters of the Universe (1987) 17% — 50
CRITIC ESSAY by Leonard Martin: Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952) 29% — 53
INFORGRAPHIC: 1994: The Rottenest Year Ever — 56
Not their best work (or so they said) : rare rottens from big-name fresh directors — 59
The Wiz (1978) 44% — 60
A Chorus Line 40% — 62
Hook (1991) 26% — 64
CRITIC ESSAY by Jessica Kiang: The Portrait of a Lady (1996) 45% — 67
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) (2004) 56% — 70
Willow (1988) 50% — 72
Marie Antoinette (2006) 56% — 74
Legend (1985) 36% — 75
CRITIC ESSAY by K. Austin Collins: Miami Vice (2006) 46% — 77
Cult leaders : hard to love for many, loved very hard by some — 81
Wet Hot American Summer (2001) 36% — 82
But I’m a Cheerleader (1999) 39% — 84
CRITIC ESSAY by Nathan Rabin: MacGruber (2010) 48% — 87
Valley of the Dolls (1967) 33% — 90
Death Becomes Her (1992) 52% — 92
Xanadu (1980) 24% — 93
CRITIC ESSAY by Eric Kohn: Gummo (1997) 35% — 95
The Last Dragon (1985) 59% — 98
Empire Records (1995) 29% –99
Burlesque (2010) 36% — 100
CRITIC ESSAY by Terri White: The Craft (1996) 57% — 103
Mars Attacks! (1996) 53% — 106
The Cell (2000) 45% — 108
Mommie Dearest (3981) 50% — 110
INFOGRAPHIC: ROTTEN HALL OF FAME — 112
Ahead of their time : oh, now we get it — 115
The Strangers (2008) 48% — 116
The Trip (1967) 36% — 118
CRITIC ESSAY by Bilge Eribi: Event Horizon (2007) 53% — 121
Jennifer’s Body (2009) 44% — 124
The Frisco Kid (1979) 50% — 125
The Cable Guy (1996) 53% — 126
Ishtar (1987) 38% –128
CRITIC ESSAY by David Stratton: Across the Universe (2007) 53% — 131
The Watcher in the Woods (1980) 48% — 134
In the Cut (2003) 33% — 136
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) 35% — 137
Harlem Nights (1989) 21% –138
CRITIC ESSAY by David Fear: The Way of the Gun (2000) 45% — 141
Practical Magic (1998) 21% — 144
American Dreams (2006) 38% — 145
Blade (1998) 54% — 146
Sequels worth a second look : follow-ups that recaptured the magic–or made strange magic of their own — 149
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) 32% — 150
Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) 35% — 152
CRITIC ESSAY by Amy Nicholson: Rocky IV (1985) 40% — 155
Dracula’s Daughter (1936) 55% — 158
Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) 52% — 159
Grease 2 (1982) 38% — 160
Scream 3 (2000) 39% — 161
Return to Oz (1985) 52% — 162
CRITIC ESSAY by Candice Frederick: Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) 29% — 165
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) 38% — 168
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) 38% — 170
Jurassic Park III (2001) 49% — 172
INFOGRAPHIC: SPLAT STATS — 174
Basic instincts : just because they make us laugh, scream, and pump our fists — 177
Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) 40% — 178
Faster (2010) 42% — 180
Bloodsport (1988) 39% — 181
CRITIC ESSAY by Joshua Rothkopf: Step Brothers (2008) 55% — 183
See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) 28% — 186
Hot Rod (2007) 39% –187
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017) 31% — 188
Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964) 43% — 189
Orca–The Killer Whale (1977) 7% — 190
Tango & Cash (1989) 31% — 191
CRITIC ESSAY by April Wolfe: Dr. Giggles (1992) 17% — 193
The Amityville Horror (1979) 29% — 196
Police Academy (1984) 54% — 198
Three Amigos! (1986) 46% — 199
Reign of Fire (2002) 42% — 200
Clash of the Titans (2010) 27% — 201
CRITIC ESSAY by Jen Yamato: Road House (1989) 38% — 203
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) 42% — 206
Zombi 2 (1980) 42% — 206
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) 42% — 209
Over the Top (1987) 27% — 210
Billy Madison (1995) 40% — 212
Clifford (1994) 10% — 213
GLOSSARY — 214
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS — 215
INDEX — 216
ABOUT ROTTEN TOMATOES — 224
CONTRIBUTORS — 224
Unless I screwed up the count, which is entirely possible, I’ve seen about 20 of these and remember little or nothing about most of them. I’m a fan of horror movies and tend to grade them on the curve, so I was perfectly OK with “Scream 3” and “The Strangers”. The one that stands out for me is “Ishtar”, which I really disliked when I originally saw it but I saw it again a few years ago and thought it was pretty good.
Michael, one of the goals of ROTTEN MOVIES WE ALL LOVE is to get people to re-watch these movies. The Editors found that many people changed their minds about a film they had initially dismissed as “Rotten.” I never watched THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY with Nichole Kidman, but the review in this book enticed me to order a copy.
I’ve seen—and liked—a few of these; I’ve seen—and loathed—a few more. Imho, when it comes to bad movies, the greatest book is still 1993’s hilarious yet affectionate BAD MOVIES WE LOVE by Edward Margulies and Stephen Rebello. The book’s subtitle is “Big Stars! Big Budgets! Big Hair! Big Mistakes!”—which tells you everything you need to know about the content.
Deb, I’ll have to track down a copy of BAD MOVIES WE LOVE. Thanks for the heads up!
Deb, as awful as he became later, Michael Medved’s GOLDEN TURKEY and other “bad movie” books he did with his brother were fun too. Also things like CULT CLASSICS.
Jeff, I’ll have to track those Michael Medved books down. But, didn’t he eventually go to the Dark Side?
The first book was Michael & Harry Medved’s THE FIFTY WORST MOVIES OF ALL TIME (AND HOW THEY GOT TO BE THAT WAY). It focused on fairly obscure and low-budget movies—and opened the world’s eyes to auteurs such as Ed Wood, Ray Dennis Steckler, Ted V. Mikels, and Cash Flagg. There were a bunch of sequels. Later Michael Medved became a right-wing nut job and said that Harry actually wrote the lion’s share of their books. You do have to give them credit for finding so many bad movies in those pre-VCR, pre-Internet, pre-enjoying-everything-ironically days.
Medved was always a rightwinger and verging on nutjob. See his commentary in WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO THE CLASS OF ’65? and be aware it was his success with that book that probably allowed him to get the contracts for the collaborations, however lopsided, with his younger brother.
Todd, Medved went off the rails. But his early work is worth a look.
The late Bill and (especially) Judy Crider liked ISHTAR.
Dr. Giggles starred Larry Drake, then in the middle of his Emmy-winning portrayal of “developmentally disabled’ Benny Stulwicz on L.A. LAW. To say this is a very different role is an understatement of massive proportions, The title was the best thing about it. Also, I don’t see 59% as a reasonable place to make the cut (so to speak). 17% like DR. GIGGLES got is a fairer number for “avoid at all costs” warning.
38% for GREASE 2 (Michelle Pheiffer! Adrian Zmed!) was overly generous IMHO. 17% would be closer to the truth.
I liked THE FRISCO KID with Harrison Ford and Gene Wilder. Also, any movie at 50% or higher should not be in this book. THE TRIP was fun, hardly in the same class (36%) as GREASE 2. MOMMIE DEAREST was terrible but in a fun way (50%). Now MARS ATTACKS! (53%) was a movie we really looked forward to, so it was even more of a disappointment. It’s rating is too high. XANADU is about right at 24%. I’m sure if Bill Crider were still here, he would back me up (he watched it at my insistence) that as far as disaster (tornado/earthquake/hurricane) movies go, SAN ANDREAS was a modern classic (51%). And Bill was an aficionado of the classic Patrick Swayze gem, ROAD HOUSE (38%? Come on!). And where is HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP? I still remember a room party at an early Bouchercon, discussing the virtues of this classic with Bill and Joe Lansdale.
Personally? I have always been a fan of the cheesy movies Bill loved so much – GATOR BAIT (“Yee-ha!) with the late, great Playboy Playmate of the Year Claudia Jennings. BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN GORILLA (sort of a ripoff of an Abbott & Costello plot, with Jerry Lewis imitator Sammy Patrillo (and Duke Mitchell doing Dean Martin) (29%).
Is HOME ALONE 2 the one with Donald Trump playing himself? Yuck.
So, overall, I’ve seen about 40 or so from start to finish, but pieces of a bunch more I turned off because I couldn’t take any more. Believe me, if this was the 1980s when VCRs were new, I would probably have watched them all, as back then I was watching almost anything I could tape or borrow, including terrible Japanese monster movies, terrible Italian and Spanish horror flicks, you name it.
I see ROBOT MONSTER, but what about the oeuvre of Ed Wood, Jr. A list like this without PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE or GLEN OR GLENDA is no list.
There are definitely too many 40 and 50% movies for my taste. The cutoff should be 35% or lower, probably. I see OVER THE TOP but where is Stallone’s equally appalling STOP OR MY MOM WILL SHOOT? Or RHINESTONE?
Jeff, clearly there’s enough “Rotten” movies to publish ROTTEN MOVIES WE ALL LOVE, VOLUME 2. In the Introduction, the Editors of ROTTEN TOMATOES note that the ratings will “fluctuate” over time as more critics review these movies. Like you, I’ve found many of the ratings in this book to be dubious. But, that’s part of the marketing strategy I think: getting people to debate how bad (or good) these movies really are.
I’ve seen about 45 of these. And most of them were pretty bad. Although I do have a fondness for The Burbs.
Steve, I confess that I’ve not see THE BURBS. I’ll have to give it a try.
I’ve see 12, but any list that doesn’t include MCKENNA’S GOLD is meaningless anyway.
Dan, MCKENNA’S GOLD is another movie I’ll have to track down and watch.
I liked MCKENNA”S GOLD, at least for the big treasure reveal, which had the flavor of a Scrooge McDuck adventure. Th earthquake which followed I’ll admit was pretty cheesy, about par with the “clashing rocks” in Jason & the Argonauts. But where are the Gamera flicks, Invasion of the Neptune Men and similar Japanese fare?
Art, I agree with you. ROTTEN MOVIES WE ALL LOVE needs a sequel!
Since I don’t watch movies I don’t think I’ll like, I’ve only seen a couple of these.
Jeff, with the coronavirus forcing people to stay at home, the amount of TV watching will soar. I’m guessing Netflix, HULU, HBO, Showtime, and AMAZON PRIME Video will gain plenty of viewers until this outbreak passes. Of course, some of us will get much more reading done.
I’ve seen 8 of them.
OK, here are a few more considered among the Worst of All Time, all movies I have seen:
Eegah – starred Richard Kiel, who went on to fame as “Jaws” in a couple of James Bond movies, and Mr. Eddie in SO FINE (another of Bill Crider’s favorites)
The Horror of Party Beach – I’m sure Deb has seen this one on MST3K
The Creeping Terror – basically a carpet with college students under it, sucking in unsuspecting victims
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians – with the help of the inimitable Pia Zadora, then aged 10 and as talented as she would ever be
At Long Last Love – Peter Bogdanovich’s Cole Porter musical (I kid you not, unfortunately) featuring the song stylings of Cybill Shepherd & Burt Reynolds
The Lonely Lady – Harold Robbins adaptation stars the lovely Ms. Zadora as an aspiring screenwriter who sleeps her way to the Oscars. 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. This was another Bill Crider favorite.
Actually, Eegah (with its epic out-of-nowhere “Watch out for snakes!” which became an MST3K tag line), The Horror of Party Beach, and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians we’re all given the MST3K treatment. The twins have even incorporated SCCTM (MST3K version, of course) into our regular Christmas viewing rotation.
Jeff, next to Paris Hilton, Bill Crider loved anything with Pia Zadora in it!
I don’t remember having watched any of these movies. A possible reason might be:
It took some time for them to be translated into German and then the bad ratings from the USA already were available.
Anyway I’ve never been a big fan of big movies …
PS:
Never liked movie series – even if the first was good, the following usually got worse.
Wolf, there are a few exceptions to the First Good Movie, Second Bad Movie template. I think GODFATHER 2 is better than GODFATHER.
There are a number of sequels better than the first film (DOCTOR PHIBES RISES AGAIN!; THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN), and a larger number of sequels at least as good or reasonably close to being as good (CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE; THE ORGANIZATION, the third Poitier as Virgil Tibbs film).
Todd, I have to confess I’ve never seen the third Poitier as Virgil Tibbs film. I’ll have to rectify that.
And it’s snowing again. We awoke to white blanketing everything, and when the temp got up to 34 it started to melt, but now back to 31 and more falling. This is the FIRST SNOW OF THIS WINTER, which is why I mention it, since all the midwesterners and easterners will poo-poo this little bit of white.
Rick, no snow in Western New York. We’ve been in the 40s and 50s this week. No Arctic Blast in sight!
Rick, my brother just emailed me the same thing – first snow of the winter in Portland. He’s been offered the opportunity to work part of the week at home starting next week (nothing to do with the snow), so we’ll see.
At 4:45 it’s pretty much melted away. Nice while it lasted, though.
I’ve for sure seen 55 of these and probably 10 more. I really liked some of them. First wives club is one I can watch over and over.
I was surprised they didn’t put in Strawberry Statement. I would have loved the movie except for Kim Darby’s performance. It’s one of the few movies I think that was ruined by one actor. Another one I saw which should definitely be on the list was Slave of The Cannibal God.
Maggie, I’m astounded by all the movies you’ve seen! Impressive!
RT has a remarkably “generous” threshold for what constitutes a “professional” critic…and most of them are not terribly perceptive.
Todd, the “professional critic” aspect of ROTTEN TOMATOES is also its greatest weakness.