Buzz
…and that’s a wrap! Amazing work, everyone – you’ve successfully altered the filmmaking landscape in a detrimental way.
The term 'influential films' is widely recognized: movies that introduced groundbreaking techniques and inspired others to push the medium forward. However, sometimes a trend can spiral downward, leaving even the most creative or iconic films accountable for contributing to the decline of cinema.
Listed in chronological sequence, here are ten films – some of which are masterpieces – that have had a detrimental effect on the art of filmmaking.
10. Jaws (1975)
We’re gonna need a bigger boa…uh, budget.
The term 'blockbuster' originated in 1942 when Time Magazine described an Allied bombing in fascist Italy with explosives powerful enough to obliterate entire city blocks. A year later, Time referred to the film adaptation of Mission to Moscow as 'audacious in the extreme' and 'as explosive as a blockbuster,' shifting the term to describe a movie's commercial success rather than its artistic merit.
In 1975, one film cemented the term's modern definition. Steven Spielberg's breakthrough hit, Jaws, is widely considered Hollywood's first true blockbuster. Audiences lined up around the block for tickets, and it became the first film to gross $100 million. It also established the tradition of releasing such films during the summer, now known as blockbuster season.
Why does a movie that won three Oscars and earned a Best Picture nomination belong on this list? On its own, it doesn’t. After all, the original summer blockbuster was a critically acclaimed masterpiece.
However, in Hollywood, the problem lies in imitation – and most imitators lack Spielberg's talent. Today, mass-appeal blockbusters dominate, pushing out mid-budget films while offering little artistic value. Are some good? Absolutely. But for every Independence Day, there’s a Wild Wild West, a Pearl Harbor, and, heaven forbid, an Independence Day Resurgence, which made many cheer for the aliens.
9. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
The term 'toyetic' describes a movie's potential to generate merchandise like toys, games, and novelties. It was first used by Kenner Toys executive Bernard Loomis, who initially dismissed the idea while discussing 1977’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. However, Loomis saw great promise in another sci-fi film released that same year – and his foresight would soon be validated.
Surprisingly, 'Star Wars' faced challenges in securing a studio. To get the project approved, George Lucas agreed to give up his $500,000 director’s fee in exchange for the licensing and merchandising rights.
That decision paid off. When Star Wars debuted in May 1977, Kenner Toys was unprepared for its massive success and the overwhelming demand for merchandise. They quickly sold out and couldn’t meet demand by Christmas, leading to the creation of the 'Early Bird Certificate Package.' Children received empty boxes with promises of action figures arriving later. By late 1978, FORTY MILLION units had been sold.
Those empty boxes opened a Pandora’s Box. Like other films on this list, a groundbreaking movie set the stage for less impressive imitations that prioritized merchandise over quality. Star Wars itself later paired mediocre films with questionable merch, including a Darth Vader yoga mat, a Yoda Magic 8-Ball, and even Star Wars-themed adult diapers for the incontinent Jedi among us.
8. Superman (1978)
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… a solid film that laid the groundwork for one of cinema’s most formulaic genres.
Although superhero films existed before its 1978 debut, Superman: The Movie was the first high-budget superhero blockbuster. With a budget of $55 million, it became the most expensive film ever made at the time.
The filmmakers worked hard to elevate Superman beyond its comic book origins. They cast iconic actors Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman in supporting roles, adding prestige despite the relatively unknown lead, Christopher Reeve, who only landed the role after stars like Robert Redford and Burt Reynolds turned it down.
After considering the in-demand Steven Spielberg, the studio chose Richard Donner, known for 'The Omen,' to direct. He transformed a campy script into a darker, more dramatic narrative. The effort paid off: Superman grossed $300 million, earned a four-star review from critic Roger Ebert, and boasts a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Its success had a detrimental impact on the film industry. Over the past four decades, countless shallow, formulaic, and plot-deficient comic book adaptations have dominated the box office, catering to less discerning audiences and reducing the number of innovative, daring films that studios are willing to produce.
While a few stand out, the majority fall short. For every Black Panther, there are countless Ant-Mans, Suicide Squads, and Green Lanterns, contributing to a genre that has stifled creativity in filmmaking like no other.
7. Halloween II & Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
The second entries in these slasher franchises weren’t the first major sequels, but they stood in stark contrast to well-received follow-ups like Jaws 2, Rocky 2, and The Godfather Part 2. Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees were rightly criticized for being hastily assembled sequels that lacked the charm and originality of their predecessors.
The original Halloween, released in 1978, was shot in just 20 days. With a modest $300,000 budget, even by horror standards, the team relied on thrift store finds and handmade props. Despite these constraints, the film earned nearly $70 million by focusing on a straightforward yet gripping story of a deranged killer. It boasts an impressive 96% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The sequel, despite a larger $2.5 million budget, failed to live up to expectations. Roger Ebert noted its 'fall from greatness,' criticizing its inability to honor the original. Its Rotten Tomatoes score plummeted to 32%, a stark 64% drop from the first film.
Friday the 13th followed a similar path. While the original was praised by critics and earned $60 million from a $550,000 budget, the sequel, despite introducing the now-iconic Jason Voorhees, received a dismal 28% on Rotten Tomatoes (though some argue critics’ ratings are unreliable, the point stands).
Despite their flaws, both franchises drew enough audiences to establish a blueprint for low-budget, low-effort horror sequels that prioritize body counts over substance.
6. Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story, while a groundbreaking film, inadvertently sparked a trend that harmed traditional animation. The 1995 PIXAR masterpiece promised to take audiences 'to infinity and beyond,' but its success marked the beginning of the end for conventional animated features.
Let’s be clear: Toy Story is an exceptional film. With stellar casting (even Tim Allen was bearable!) and a heartwarming premise – toys vying for their owner’s affection – it became one of the rare children’s movies that resonated with adults. This led to $375 million in box office revenue.
Equally significant, Toy Story achieved a rare 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising it as 'entertaining, innovative, and a game-changer for animation, marking Pixar’s rise as a dominant force in family-friendly entertainment.'
However, this success came with a downside. Toy Story’s groundbreaking use of 3D computer graphics initiated the decline of traditional hand-drawn animation (outside of Japan). Films like Shrek, Ice Age, and The Incredibles further accelerated the shift from hand-drawn art to digital animation.
While traditional animation hasn’t vanished completely, modern films that appear to be classic cartoons often incorporate computer graphics. Frozen is a prime example of this blended style. The animation landscape has transformed dramatically since 1992’s Aladdin.
5. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Ouch – another one for Tom Hanks.
But let’s be clear: it’s not his fault. In fact, it’s no one’s fault. Saving Private Ryan stands as one of the greatest war films ever made. It received 10 Academy Award nominations and won five, including Best Director for Steven Spielberg.
Spielberg’s genius was most evident in the film’s opening sequence, a harrowing 20-minute portrayal of the D-Day invasion of Normandy Beach. This scene initially revolutionized filmmaking for the better, but its influence soon took a turn for the worse.
To capture the chaos of battle, Spielberg used a technique often seen in low-budget horror films: a shaky camera. The effect was so impactful that less skilled directors began overusing it in far less deserving movies.
While some films, like the next entry on this list, used the technique effectively, most shaky camera work serves one of two purposes: a) to artificially heighten the drama of fight scenes while confusing viewers (the Bourne series is a notable example); or b) to lend a false sense of importance to mediocre action or sci-fi films (SEE: Godzilla 2014, Terrible).
4. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
'Josh? JOOOOOOSH?!? Oh my God. Where are you? Josh?! You’re freaking everyone out…'
Even worse, you’re inspiring every film student to believe they can create a box office hit with nothing but a handheld camera.
Released in 1999, The Blair Witch Project was an experimental horror mockumentary. The film, presented as amateur footage, follows three student filmmakers – Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, and Joshua Leonard – as they venture into Maryland’s woods to investigate the legend of the Blair Witch.
The movie’s marketing genius claimed the cast was 'missing' or 'deceased' before its release. Ads suggested the film was compiled from footage discovered on their abandoned camera. While easily disproven, this tactic convinced millions they were watching the real final moments of three vanished individuals.
Both the marketing campaign and the film itself were wildly successful. The disorienting camera work, the sound of rustling leaves, and the frantic breathing felt incredibly real as the characters ventured further into the unsettling, all-consuming forest.
The payoff was enormous. Made on a budget of under $500,000, the surprise hit earned nearly $250 million at the box office – a 500-fold return that remains one of the most profitable in film history.
Sadly, by proving that low-budget films could generate massive profits, The Blair Witch Project revived the 'found footage' genre just as affordable equipment became widely available. This gave amateur filmmakers misplaced confidence to produce increasingly unbearable movies. Thanks for nothing, Josh.
3. Ghostbusters (the reboot) (2016)
One of Hollywood’s latest damaging trends is prioritizing political correctness and inclusivity over creating quality films. The most obvious example is the push for female-led movies, where studios aim to prove women can do anything men can by remaking classic films with all-female casts (often poorly). This trend is now expanding to include replacing white characters with diverse casts, often as a form of virtue signaling rather than genuine storytelling.
This trend cannot be discussed without addressing the forced and cringe-worthy 'Force is Female' campaign that preceded the 2015 release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Fans were eager to welcome a female lead… just not the bland, overpowered-without-effort character Disney delivered (a trope controversially referred to as a 'Mary Sue').
The most glaring example of this all-female misstep was the 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters, which swapped the iconic Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson for Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon.
While the cast is undeniably talented, the issue wasn’t the actors but the lackluster plot. As J.R. Kinnard of PopMatters aptly noted, the film 'feels like a bland, uninspired dish made with premium ingredients.' It essentially traded male characters for mediocrity, undermining its own message of empowerment. Similarly, the all-female Ocean’s 8 failed to impress two years later.
Fighting sexism (real or perceived) by producing subpar films doesn’t seem like the best route to achieving 'equality.' Just saying.
2. Transformers (2007)
Michael Bay’s career began with promise. From 1995 onward, he delivered a trio of successful films: Bad Boys (1995), The Rock (1996), and Armageddon (1998). While not cinematic masterpieces, they were enjoyable action movies that no one saw as a threat to the art of filmmaking. Even after the critical failure of 2001’s Pearl Harbor, many expected Bay to bounce back with another entertaining…
…wait, is that Optimus Prime?
The 2007 release of Transformers marked a turning point in the wrong direction: it set a new low for prioritizing special effects over coherent storytelling. Michael Bay mastered the art of distracting audiences from glaring plot holes and underdeveloped characters by filling the screen with explosions and visual spectacle.
Even worse, Transformers was rewarded for its lack of narrative depth. The film grossed over $700 million and, astonishingly, earned three Academy Award nominations: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects (none of which relate to the film’s actual quality). As Rotten Tomatoes’ critics noted, 'While believable characters are scarce, the effects are jaw-dropping, and the action is thrilling.'
The takeaway was clear: flashy effects could overshadow storytelling. With four dreadful Transformers sequels and countless other visually-driven but hollow action films, the genre has become a shadow of its former self.
1. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
'Ruin Star Wars we must.'
And ruin filmmaking as well, Master Yoda. As online critic Mr. Plinkett famously said, 'Star Wars Episode II is the worst thing humans have ever created, aside from bagpipes.'
First, it permanently damaged the franchise. While its predecessor, 1999’s Episode I: The Phantom Menace, was a disaster in its own right, the second prequel focuses on Anakin’s coming of age, setting the stage for his dark transformation. The dialogue – including the infamous sand monologue – was cringe-worthy, the acting stiff, and Yoda – once known for his wisdom – was reduced to a green, back-flipping puppet who struggles to defeat a lesser foe because, you guessed it, his arms were too short. Did we really need to see THIS (clip above), Mr. Lucas?
The broader harm caused by Episode II was its overreliance on computer-generated imagery (CGI). Nearly every element in the film feels artificial – and it’s painfully obvious. For instance, actors filmed in front of green screens are awkwardly placed into vast settings like fields, palaces, and the sprawling Jedi Temple, making the scenes feel hollow and disconnected.
The entire film feels artificial, serving as a prime example of how over-reliance on technology can undermine a movie’s authenticity. Despite this, its box office success (after all, it was a Star Wars film) encouraged filmmakers to abandon costly real-world sets in favor of cheaper green-screen productions.
