Buzz
While discussions about the greatest films and performances are common, the opposite end of the spectrum is often overlooked. Libby Coleman from Ozy utilized the well-known review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to determine that Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002) might hold the dubious honor of being the worst film ever, based on critical consensus. All 116 critics who reviewed this sci-fi action movie rated it poorly, resulting in a perfect 0 on the "Tomatometer" (audiences were slightly kinder, giving it a 17 percent score).
Joining what Ozy refers to as the “zero-percent club” are films like Orgy of the Dead (1965), Staying Alive (1983), Jaws the Revenge (1987), Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991), National Lampoon’s Gold Diggers (2004), A Thousand Words (2012), the 2016 reboot of Cabin Fever, and more than 280 other titles, some of which received so few reviews that their inclusion is debatable.
Critics of Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever unanimously agree that the movie is nothing more than “a relentless onslaught of gunfire and explosions” with no meaningful plot to support it. Jocelyn Noveck from the Associated Press remarked that “many viewers might find themselves wondering not about the fate of Ecks and Sever or their conflict, but why they are even watching this film.” In The Boston Globe, Wesley Morris described director Wych Kaosayananda as “astonishingly incompetent, failing even to properly illuminate a fight scene.” Ouch.
Although that movie has been universally criticized and holds the title of the worst on Rotten Tomatoes, other rankings suggest it has rivals. According to the Razzies, Adam Sandler's cross-dressing "comedy" Jack and Jill (2011) takes the crown as the worst film ever. Empire’s 50 Worst Movies Ever list, based on thousands of reader votes, awarded the dubious honor to Joel Schumacher’s Batman and Robin (1997). Meanwhile, Screen Rant’s "Worst 25" list names United Passions (2014) as the worst, WatchMojo points to Gigli (2003), and Flavorwire highlights Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010). Vice claims that The Room (2003) is “so entertainingly bad that it transcends typical criticism,” which almost sounds like praise.
Movies like Battlefield Earth (2000) and Troll 2 (1990) frequently appear on lists of the worst films but have just missed claiming the top (or bottom?) spot. While the Internet may not have a clear consensus on the worst movie, it’s evident that people relish debating the contenders.
