Missing The Mark
Even Hollywood heavyweights can trip over a bad role—and sometimes the script practically hands them the banana peel. Whether it was overacting, underacting, or just plain baffling choices, these performances remind us that not every scene deserves a standing ovation.
Sofia Coppola, The Godfather Part III (1990)
Most people can agree that the third installment of The Godfather series is not the best one. But perhaps one of the film's biggest downfalls was Sofia Coppola's performance as Mary Corleone.
Paramount, The Godfather Part III (1990)
Sofia Coppola, The Godfather Part III (1990)
Director Francis Ford Coppola had to think fast when the brilliant actress, Winona Ryder, left the project. He decided to cast his daughter, Sofia Coppola, instead. But in hindsight, this was a mistake.
Paramount, The Godfather Part III (1990)
Sofia Coppola, The Godfather Part III (1990)
Unfortunately, Sofia Coppola's acting chops just weren't up to snuff. After all, she wasn't a trained actress and was thrown into the part without proper preparation. Of course, when the movie came out, critics were quick to tear her apart (as well as some of the film's plot points)—and over the years, the role has been mercilessly mocked.
Paramount, The Godfather Part III (1990)
Halle Berry, Catwoman (2004)
To be fair, Halle Berry was done dirty by 2004's Catwoman. She certainly had the look of Catwoman, but the film's incohesive and bizarre plot was the project's Achilles heel.
Halle Berry, Catwoman (2004)
At the height of her fame, Halle Berry was Hollywood royalty—a freshly minted Oscar winner with the world at her feet. But when Catwoman clawed its way onto screens, her crown slipped. She did end up winning an award for it... just not the kind anyone clears space on the shelf for.
Halle Berry, Catwoman (2004)
Halle Berry won a Golden Raspberry for her role as Catwoman. In accepting the award, she jested, “In order to give a really bad performance like I did, you need a lot of bad actors around you.”
Naomi Watts, Diana (2013)
In recent years, there have been a slew of Princess Diana biopics. We've seen Kristen Stewart in Spencer and Emma Corrin in The Crown—both actresses applauded for their embodiment of the famous foyal.
But back in 2013, Naomi Watts gave the role her best shot in Diana. It did not end well.
Naomi Watts, Diana (2013)
Unfortunately, if you visit the website Rotten Tomatoes, you'll find that critics' reviews of Diana have added up to a 7% rating, which is pretty dismal.
Naomi Watts, Diana (2013)
Overall, Diana was a disappointing film, with many thinking that it just didn't do Princess Diana justice. Included in this critique was Naomi Watts' underwhelming performance, which didn't hit the mark at all.
Hayden Christensen, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
When Hayden Christensen took on the role of Anakin Skywalker, he looked every bit the future Darth Vader. The problem? His acting didn’t exactly reach lightsaber level—especially next to veterans like Ewan McGregor. Still, many fans wonder if it was really Christensen’s fault…or if the Force (and the script) just wasn’t with him.
Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Hayden Christensen, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Fans weren't so happy with the character of Anakin Skywalker. He came across as a petulant man-child. Some may argue that the poorly written script did Christensen no favors and that he had to work with what he was given.
Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Natalie Portman, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Christensen's delivery has been criticized for being unnatural, but the same can be said for said Natalie Portman, who played Padmé. Though Portman would one day win an Oscar, many consider her role in Attack of the Clones to be her worst.
Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Jennifer Lopez, Gigli (2003)
Thanks to a bad script, 2003's Gigli was doomed from the beginning. It's no surprise that many consider it one of the worst films of all time. Unfortunately, Jennifer Lopez's poor performance didn't help the movie's chances one bit.
Jennifer Lopez, Gigli (2003)
Perhaps Lopez struggled to deliver her lines, because the lines were just so bad. Famously, one seduction scene in Gigli includes the cringeworthy line, "It's turkey time... gobble, gobble."
The actress ended up bringing home a Razzie for Worst Actress.
Taylor Lautner, Abduction (2011)
After Twilight turned Taylor Lautner into a full-blown teen heartthrob, it seemed like he was destined for A-list glory. But once the vampire dust settled, his career seemed to vanish faster than a werewolf under the moonlight. Let’s just say there’s a reason his post-Twilight roles didn’t exactly sparkle.
Taylor Lautner, Abduction (2011)
In 2011, Lautner was cast as the lead in the action-thriller Abduction. However, viewers weren't convinced by Lautner's acting range. In one emotional scene where his character loses his parents, the actor's attempt at crying remains difficult to watch.
Nicolas Cage, The Wicker Man (2006)
Nicolas Cage has given some of the best and worst performances Hollywood has ever scene, and yet, this has only cemented his golden legacy. The actor has no problem poking fun at himself and his acting style, which makes him so beloved.
However, there is one film where is acting is arguably the worst it's ever been.
Warner Bros., The Wicker Man (2006)
Nicolas Cage, The Wicker Man (2006)
2006's Wicker Man was a remake of a rural horror story. Nicholas Cage's acting is so over-the-top, it almost turns the film into a downright comedy. The memes that have come out of this are priceless, and we wouldn't trade them for the world.
Warner Bros., The Wicker Man (2006)
Kristen Stewart, Twilight (2008)
Fans were pretty happy with the casting of Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan in Twilight. The franchise was extremely successful, ultimately grossing over $3 billion internationally.
Summit Entertainment, Twilight (2008)
Kristen Stewart, Twilight (2008)
Kristen Stewart even snagged MTV’s Best Female Performance Award for Twilight, which makes all the criticism a bit puzzling—at first glance, anyway. But a quick look at the countless parodies tells the story: her take on Bella Swan was so stiff and awkward it practically became a meme. Turns out, “moody teen in love with a vampire” doesn’t always translate to cinematic magic.
Summit Entertainment, Twilight (2008)
Kristen Stewart, Twilight (2008)
Thanks to Stewart, the character of Bella Swan was constantly blinking and biting her lip—her gaze wandering every which way all the time. It's no wonder Stewart received some Razzie nominations for the role.
Summit Entertainment, Twilight (2008)
Russell Crowe, The Mummy (2017)
2017's The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise, was a major flop, so you may have forgotten the details of Russell Crowe's supporting role as Dr. Jekyll.
Russell Crowe, The Mummy (2017)
In one unforgettable scene, Crowe's character Dr. Jekyll morphs into Mr. Hyde. Not only is it an over-acted scene, but the questionable CGI is the cherry on top.
Russell Crowe, The Mummy (2017)
Warner Bros had initially planned to create "The Dark Universe" in the hopes of reaching heights similar to that of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The studio ultimately scrapped this idea, but if it had happened, Crowe probably would have starred in his own standalone film.
Madonna, Swept Away (2002)
Madonna might have struck gold with Evita, but her overall film career has been a bit more... Raspberry-flavored. Despite her pop icon status, the Material Girl has racked up an eye-popping 16 Golden Raspberry nominations for her acting—proving that even legends can have their off-key moments on screen.
Screen Gems, Swept Away (2002)
Madonna, Swept Away (2002)
Swept Away might just be the worst Madonna performance of all. She won the Razzies for Worst Screen Couple and Worst Actress. Arguably, Swept Away had big shoes to fill. It was a remake of a popular film, and Madonna's character was extremely to difficult to root for.
Screen Gems, Swept Away (2002)
Madonna, Swept Away (2002)
On the Rotten Tomatoes website, the critics consensus reads: "Muddled and lacking the political context of the original, Swept Away offers further proof that Madonna can't act."
Screen Gems, Swept Away (2002)
Tom Hanks, Cloud Atlas (2012)
It's hard to believe that Tom Hanks could ever be bad in anything, but we have to admit that he dropped the ball in 2012's Cloud Atlas.
Tom Hanks, Cloud Atlas (2012)
Now, in Cloud Atlas, Hanks had to take on quite a lot; he played six different characters over multiple time periods. To his credit, he is not bad in every role, but his attempt at playing the gangster/novelist Dermot Hoggins just didn't strike the right note.
His muddled accent—part Irish, part cockney—was much to blame.
Robert De Niro, Dirty Grandpa (2016)
Robert De Niro may be a cinematic legend, but even the greats occasionally take a detour into questionable territory. Sure, he delivered brilliance in The Irishman—but then there’s Dirty Grandpa, a film that left fans wondering if he’d lost a bet. It’s proof that even icons can mix art-house gold with pure popcorn chaos.
Lionsgate, Dirty Grandpa (2016)
Robert De Niro, Dirty Grandpa (2016)
Some De Niro fans questioned why the esteemed actor would ever choose to make a film like Dirty Grandpa, where he plays a vulgar grandfather who tricks his grandson into going on a trip with him for spring break.
Lionsgate, Dirty Grandpa (2016)
Robert De Niro, Dirty Grandpa (2016)
On the website Rotten Tomatoes, the critics consensus reads: "Like a Werther's Original dropped down a sewer drain, Dirty Grandpa represents the careless fumbling of a classic talent that once brought pleasure to millions."
Lionsgate, Dirty Grandpa (2016)
Adam Sandler, The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
Adam Sandler is best known for his comedies, but on occasion he has been known to pull some stellar dramatic performances out of his back pocket. Think: Punch-Drunk Love and Uncut Gems. However, in 2015, he may have made his worst film yet: The Ridiculous 6.
Netflix, The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
Adam Sandler, The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
To begin with, the premise of the film wasn't promising. Sandler plays an orphan raised by Native Americans. But though some audiences agreed that the film gave them some genuine laughs, the critics heartily disagreed.
On the Rotten Tomatoes website, the overall score given to The Ridiculous 6 by critics stand 0%.
Netflix, The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
Dakota Johnson And Jamie Dornan, Fifty Shades Trilogy (2015-2018)
There’s no denying the Fifty Shades trilogy made a fortune—but money can’t buy chemistry. Despite the films’ steamy reputation, Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan’s on-screen spark felt more like a flicker. Critics tore into their performances, proving that sometimes even the hottest movies can leave audiences cold.
Focus Features, Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
Dakota Johnson And Jamie Dornan, Fifty Shades Trilogy (2015-2018)
The chemistry between Johnson and Dornan never seemed to sizzle enough for audiences. That said, the actors had a very lacklustre script to work with, which was adapted from novels originally written as Twilight fan fiction. Yikes.
Unsurprisingly, both Johnson and Dornan took home Razzies for their roles.
Focus Features, Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
The Love Guru (2008)
Everyone loved Mike Myers as Austin Powers—but his role of Pitka in The Love Guru? Not so much. There are many reasons why this comedy may have fallen flat.
Paramount, The Love Guru (2008)
The Love Guru (2008)
For one, the film relied on many stereotypes of Hinduism that could have turned audiences off, not to mention the many little person jokes revolving around actor Verne Troyer's character.
One things's for sure: Myers hasn't landed many leading roles since then.
Paramount, The Love Guru (2008)
