We’ve all seen movies that failed to live up to expectations. However, some are so disastrously bad they don’t just flop; instead, they set a whole new standard for failure. With that said, these movies do deserve some recognition, if for no other reason than to serve as an example to future filmmakers on what not to do.
In today’s discussion, we’ll look at 10 movies that are so catastrophically bad they redefined what it means to be a “flop.” These movies went beyond just bad box office returns; they became infamous for their outlandish storylines, wooden performances, poor marketing, and cringe-worthy special effects.
Whether it was a bloated budget that couldn’t be recouped or a script that was so incoherent it’s hard to believe anyone thought it could work, here are 10 films so bad they redefine what a flop is.
Catwoman
Halle Berry’s Catwoman is probably among the best-known flops in the industry, especially since it was widely panned by critics upon release. The movie grossed a total of $82.4 million against a production budget of $100 million, and its narrative made it one of the worst movies ever made. Additionally, Catwoman received seven Golden Raspberry Award (aka Razzie) nominations, winning four of them — including Worst Picture and Worst Actress. You can read more about that in our analysis.
Pluto Nash
Dubbed a legendary fiasco, The Adventures of Pluto Nash was a box office bomb that only managed to earn some $7.1 million at the worldwide box office against an estimated production budget of $100 million. Even Eddie Murphy believed that the movie was bad, refusing to be involved in any publicity for the film.
The Love Guru
This 2008 romantic comedy follows the self-proclaimed second-best guru in the world trying to help the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team win the Stanley Cup. Besides the legendary Mike Myers, the movie also starred Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake, but it was panned by both audiences and critics. It not only failed to recuperate its production budget, but The Love Guru won three Razzie Awards, which derailed Myers’ career.
Glitter
This 2001 romantic comedy starring Mariah Carey and Terrence Howard follows an aspiring singer trying to make her dreams come true and become a true star. The film was widely panned by pretty much everyone, with one consensus being deep disappointment in the movie and in Carey’s performance. Not only did it fail to recuperate its modest production budget, it also earned Carey a Golden Raspberry for Worst Actress.
Gigli
Intended as a romantic crime comedy starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, Gigli became a pop culture punchline almost instantly. The film’s awkward mix of gangster tropes, forced romance, and cringeworthy dialogue earned it a 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and seven Razzie Awards. Despite its $75 million budget, it pulled in less than $7 million worldwide, cementing its place among Hollywood’s most infamous disasters.
Movie 43
Billed as a star-studded comedy anthology, Movie 43 featured A-list actors like Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, and Halle Berry in a series of shock-humor skits. What should have been a quirky experiment turned into a critical nightmare, earning a 4% Rotten Tomatoes score. Its $6 million budget wasn’t huge, but its reputation as one of the most unpleasant viewing experiences ever arguably cost more than its modest box office return.
Supernova
2020’s Supernova is a British romantic drama movie starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as a gay couple who undertake a road trip in a campervan across England. It’s one of the standouts on this list as both critics and audiences loved the movie, but it only made around $680 thousand at the box office, making it a box office failure.
Who’s Your Caddy?
2007’s Who’s Your Caddy? is a comedy movie that tried to put a hip-hop spin on 1980s Caddyshack, but it ended up being a mashup of golf stereotypes and early 2000s rap swagger. It followed C-Note, portrayed by Big Boi from OutKast, as he tries to join an exclusive, ultra-preppy country club in the South. The movie was released to universally bad reviews and was a box office bomb, but it has gained a cult following since its release.
Battlefield Earth
Battlefield Earth is a 2000 sci-fi movie based on a novel by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. It’s set in the year 3000 and follows the main protagonist as he tries to take the Earth back from an alien species that had conquered it. The critics absolutely eviscerated the movie, and audiences were no less kind. It ended up winning nine Razzie Awards, including Worst Picture of the Decade.
Proud Mary
The 2018 film Proud Mary had plenty of potential but ultimately fell short of becoming an action classic. It follows Taraji P. Henson as a hitwoman who takes in the child of one of her victims, blending high-stakes violence with a story of unexpected maternal instinct. But sluggish pacing and a script that didn’t fully tap into Henson’s strengths left audiences underwhelmed, and the movie struggled at the box office.
Honorable Mention: The Shawshank Redemption
Believe it or not, The Shawshank Redemption, now hailed as one of the best movies ever made, was actually a massive box office flop. While it received critical acclaim for the story and performances of both Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, the movie barely made $16 million during its initial theatrical run, against a production budget of $73 million.
However, it received several award nominations, which, paired with word of mouth and a VHS push, made The Shawshank Redemption one of the top video rentals of 1995, eventually becoming one of the best-loved movies by audiences. It’s now preserved in the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
Final Thoughts
While some of these movies had promising ideas, big budgets, and star-studded casts, they ultimately serve as cautionary tales about the unpredictable nature of filmmaking. With that said, they created their own strange legacy, serving as an example that even failure can be unforgettable.
