Movies That Hit The Wrong Note
They sing well, yes, but acting? Not so much, and these movies prove it. Watching them try is like hearing a high note go flat. It's a vibe, just not the right one.
Glitter: Mariah Carey
Released just days after the September 11 attacks, Glitter never stood a chance commercially. Mariah Carey's performance was widely panned for lacking emotional depth and conviction. Rotten Tomatoes reflects the disappointment with a 6% rating. Years later, Carey called the film rushed and misaligned.
Mariah Carey - Glitter full movie (2001) by Angela Love
Cool As Ice: Vanilla Ice
Clunky dialogue and a forced "bad boy" persona set the tone for Vanilla Ice's first significant acting role. Despite riding high on his music fame, the film faltered at every turn. It made just $1.2 million from a $6 million budget and holds a 3% rating.
Vanilla Ice - The People's Choice - Cool As Ice (Official Music Video) by Vanilla Ice
Rhinestone: Dolly Parton
What happens when a country legend teams up with an action hero in a musical comedy? The answer: a film that aimed for laughs but landed off-key. Stallone's script and singing fell flat, and not even Parton's charm could save it from Razzie nods and audience apathy.
Rhinestone.1984. by daniela maria
Crossroads: Britney Spears
Britney Spears distanced herself after winning two Razzie Awards, including Worst Actress. Although it earned over $60 million at the box office, Crossroads was widely panned by critics. The script, described as both predictable and uneven, didn't offer much support to Spears, who played a small-town girl chasing her dreams.
Crossroads (2002) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
From Justin To Kelly: Kelly Clarkson
Clarkson later called the film a contractual obligation she regretted. Its homage to 1960s beach party musicals didn't resonate with audiences or critics. Although designed as a cheerful debut after American Idol, it stumbled to an 8% Rotten Tomatoes score and widespread disinterest shortly after its release.
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: Bee Gees
This Beatles-inspired film featured the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton, but struggled from the start. Lacking the original band's vocals, the soundtrack felt hollow. The story lost direction and baffled fans. The movie was a box office flop, earning modestly below its production budget.
Sgt Peppers lonely hearts club Band : Bee Gees & Peter Frampton songs by JUANCA RAVELO (ROCK & ART)
Who's That Girl: Madonna
Madonna played a fast-talking ex-con trying to outrun bad luck in this 1987 screwball comedy. Critics found her comedic delivery stiff and her timing offbeat. The movie earned only $7.3 million on a $17 million budget. And her performance drew a Razzie nomination shortly after its release.
Madonna - Who's that girl (subtitulado) by MHtv4
The Wash: Dr Dre
Promoted as a hip-hop buddy comedy, The Wash brought Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg together in leading roles. The result? Reviewers slammed the movie for being plotless by saying it felt like a stitched-together series of skits. It holds an 8% score on Rotten Tomatoes and leans on brand plugs.
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg - The Wash (Dirty/Explicit Music Video) Remastered 1080p by DJ Fletch
Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park: KISS
KISS took center stage in a 1978 TV movie that pitted them against a villain in an amusement park. The band played superhero versions of themselves, but the special effects were clunky and the dialogue flat. Years later, the group admitted it just didn't work.
KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park by CheeseMagnetTV
Da Hip Hop Witch: Eminem
This low-budget spoof of The Blair Witch Project included Eminem and others in loosely improvised scenes shot on handheld cameras. It was bad that even Rotten Tomatoes users gave it an under 26% approval rating. Its chaotic format left audiences cold, and Eminem eventually tried to have his scenes removed.
Eminem - Da Hip-Hop Witch (2000) by D1X1Eone
Get Rich Or Die Tryin': 50 Cent
Director Jim Sheridan expressed regret over this project. Although it grossed $46 million on a $40 million budget, critics (and some viewers) were unimpressed. They said the story felt too familiar, and the acting lacked impact. Even 50 Cent's presence couldn't lift the biopic above a lukewarm reception.
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005) Official Trailer # 1 - 50 Cent HD by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Shanghai Surprise: Madonna
Despite the stars's real-life marriage, critics found the film lifeless, citing a noticeable lack of on-screen chemistry. Backed by George Harrison’s Handmade Films, the production was plagued by delays in both Macau and London. Sean Penn later admitted the experience caused tension behind the scenes.
The best scene in Shanghai Surprise - Madonna, Sean Penn (1986) by Greg Fowler
Spice World: Spice Girls
Fueled by “Spicemania”—a global craze sparked by the Spice Girls’s meteoric rise—this 1997 film leaned hard on style and spectacle. Though box office returns were strong, reviewers likened it to a feature-length commercial. With sparse storytelling, Spice World sits at a 35% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life (Spice World) by Victor Costa Productions
Black And White: Wu-Tang Clan Members
This ensemble drama brought together Wu-Tang Clan members and a lineup of celebrities in a bold, chaotic swirl of storylines. It reached for something intricate, but the plot often wandered. Even moments of brilliance couldn’t rescue the music stars, who got lost in the noise of an overloaded script.
Raekwon - It's Not A Game / Black & White Ending by TheCorpseForum
Body Of Evidence: Madonna
It seems Madonna wasn’t giving up easily, huh. Yet again, her film, Body of Evidence, struggled commercially and garnered multiple Razzie nominations. The awards included Worst Picture and Worst Actress. Here, Madonna took on the role of a wealthy woman accused of killing her lover during intimacy.
Body of Evidence - Madonna feat Willem Dafoe by e p
Under The Cherry Moon: Prince
Audiences expected another Purple Rain—this wasn't it. Prince stepped behind and in front of the camera for this 1986 black-and-white romantic drama. Despite its visual flair, critics found the story hollow and unfocused. The film went on to win five Razzies, including the award for Worst Picture.
Wrecka Stow Scene Under The Cherry Moon - Prince by Escalpelo Literario
Street Fighter: Kylie Minogue
As a pop icon stepping into a military role, Kylie Minogue's casting in Street Fighter raised eyebrows from the start. Her screen time was brief and largely forgettable. The film's over-the-top tone didn't help either, and its legacy today rests mostly on nostalgia and camp appeal.
Kylie Minogue - Street Fighter (1994) ALL SCENES by Kylie Minogue Peru 🇵🇪
The Wiz: Diana Ross
Universal’s ambitious remake of The Wizard of Oz cast Diana Ross as Dorothy, but the reimagining struggled to find its footing. While it leaned into disco-era spectacle, the film failed to resonate at the box office. Still, over time, its bold productions have earned appreciation from film historians.
The Wiz (8/8) Movie CLIP - Home (1978) HD by Movieclips
Moonwalker: Michael Jackson
The visual creativity and pop spectacle of Moonwalker continue to attract Jackson's most loyal fans. Released alongside the “Bad” album, the film combined claymation and surreal action. Despite a fragmented storyline, it carved out a niche as a lasting piece of MJ's pop mythology.
Michael Jackson - Moonwalker - 1988 by The Music Life Of Michael Jackson
Carmen: A Hip Hopera: Beyonce
MTV reimagined Carmen with a hip-hop twist and cast Beyonce in her acting debut. While visually bold, the dialogue felt awkward, and the musical flow was uneven. Critics were mixed on her performance, and IMDb users currently rank it low among modern adaptations.
BEYONCE IN CARMEN clip by lenoko
Biker Boyz: Kid Rock
With its flashy bikes and underground racing theme, this film aimed for high-octane thrills but couldn't find its rhythm. Kid Rock appeared in a minor role that lacked purpose. Though it tried to channel the Fast and Furious formula, Biker Boyz missed the mark and fizzled fast.
Biker Boyz (6/10) Movie CLIP - It's On (2003) HD by Movieclips
Caveman: Ringo Starr
In this 1981 comedy, Ringo Starr traded his drumsticks for a loincloth, playing a caveman who woos through gibberish and slapstick. The issue was that the concept leaned too hard on a single joke, and the execution didn’t do it any favors. Despite Starr’s charm, Caveman disappeared quickly from theaters.
Caveman (1981) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Black Nativity: Mary J Blige
Based on Langston Hughes's work, Black Nativity was packed with music and stars like Mary J Blige. Yet the emotional stakes fell flat, and Blige's role lacked depth. Despite standout musical scenes, it received a 48% score on Metacritic and faded from public attention.
Idlewild: Outkast (Andre 3000, Big Boi)
Audiences praised the music and costumes, although they struggled to follow the narrative's rhythm. Visually, the film reached for grandeur by blending Prohibition-era jazz with hip-hop. Even so, Idlewild ultimately gained more recognition for its soundtrack. Its scattered direction and narrative? Those were a fail.
Idlewild | Movin' Cool (The After Party) - Outkast ft. Paula Patton by Universal Pictures
Hearts Of Fire: Bob Dylan
This 1987 drama barely made a blip in US theaters before fading from view. Bob Dylan’s performance as a reclusive rock star dragged back into the limelight lacked energy, and the plot stumbled throughout. The film’s structure felt disjointed and cold.
HEARTS OF FIRE (1987) • starring Bob Dylan, Rupert Everett, Fiona Flanagan by Tomasz Cichawa
