‘Madame Web’ Wins Worst Picture of the Year Award

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Madame Web is the worst film of the year.

The Razzie Awards, known as the longest-running counterpart to the Oscars for bad movies, chose that film for their questionable award this year. Each year, members of the Razzies (open to anyone who wants to join and pay a fee) vote on their selections for the worst films produced in the previous year. This year, the consensus choice for the lowest point of cinematic quality went to the troubled Spider-Man spinoff featuring Dakota Johnson as a psychic EMT worker.

The movie’s screenplay received the Razzies’ Worst Screenplay award, while its lead actress, Johnson, was honored with the Worst Actress prize.

This year, some other films that won Razzies (though we’re using the term “winners” in a somewhat loose sense) were Jerry Seinfeld’s “Unfrosted,” which earned Seinfeld the title of Worst Actor and Amy Schumer as Worst Supporting Actress. Additionally, the infamous “Joker: Folie à Deux” garnered awards for Worst Sequel and for Worst Onscreen Couple featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga.

In most cases throughout history, the winners of the Razzies have tended to avoid the event and disregard the awards altogether. However, unlike many others, one of this year’s recipients chose to accept his award.

Francis Ford Coppola, who received a Worst Director Razzie award for his movie “Megalopolis,” is the one behind it. This sci-fi project, marked by high costs but also immense ambition, was a financial failure despite Coppola’s self-funding using millions of dollars from his personal wealth. He had tried for decades to get the film made through more conventional funding avenues.

Coppola expressed his delight on Instagram about receiving the Razzie award. In this world filled with chaos where art is often judged like a wrestling match, he decided not to conform to the cowardly rules set by an industry that’s so fearful of taking risks. Even with a wealth of talented young filmmakers at their disposal, they may fail to create films that will still matter 50 years from now. It’s an honor to be recognized alongside a brave and esteemed director like Jacques Tati, who sacrificed everything to make one of cinema’s most cherished flops, PLAYTIME.

Coppola noted that we should recall the fact that box-office success is merely about earning money, much like war, foolishness, and politics have no lasting relevance in our future.

Despite “Playtime” never receiving a Razzie award (the awards didn’t exist until 1981), I still appreciate Francis Ford Coppola’s determined spirit, similar to my admiration for that same spirit in “Megalopolis”, even though the film was sometimes confusing and often strange. Essentially, it wasn’t one of the worst films of 2024, but it wasn’t immune to criticism either. On the other hand, “Madame Web” was truly awful by all accounts.

Here’s the full list of winners from this year’s Razzies:

Worst Picture
Borderlands
Joker: Folie a Deux
Madame Web – WINNER
Megalopolis
Reagan

In this category, the contender who stands out is Jerry Seinfeld for his role in “Unfrosted.”

“For the worst actor award, it goes to Jerry Seinfeld, with his performance in ‘Unfrosted.’

In this category, the winner is Dakota Johnson for her role in “Madame Web”. Cate Blanchett was nominated for “Borderlands”, Lady Gaga contended with “Joker: Folie a Deux”, Bryce Dallas Howard was up for “Argylle”, and Jennifer Lopez competed in “Atlas”.

In this category, the winner is Jon Voight for his role in “Megalopolis”. Other nominees include Jack Black and Kevin Hart in “Borderlands”, Shia LaBeouf in “Megalopolis”, and Tahar Rahim in “Madame Web”.

In this category, the nominees for the Worst Supporting Actress are:

1. Ariana DeBose in Argylle and Kraven the Hunter
2. Leslie Anne Down in Reagan
3. Emma Roberts in Madame Web
4. Amy Schumer in Unfrosted – Winner of this category
5. FKA twigs in The Crow

These awards recognize performances that may not have been as successful or well-received by the audience.

In this scenario, we could rephrase the original text as follows to make it more natural and easy to read:

Least Appreciated Director: S.J. Clarkson, Madame Web

Most Controversial Director – WINNER: Francis Ford Coppola, Megalopolis

Todd Phillips, Joker: Folie a Deux

Eli Roth, Borderlands

Jerry Seinfeld, Unfrosted

This way, the original information remains intact but is presented in a more conversational and engaging manner.

Least Enjoyable Screen Duo:

Characters that Grate on Nerves (Especially Jack Black), Borderlands
Actors who Fail to Provoke Laughter, Unfrosted
The Entire Cast of Megalopolis
Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, Joker: Two Sides of Madness – WINNER
Dennis Quaid and Penelope Ann Miller, Reagan

Choosing the Most Disappointing Prequel, Remake, Copycat, or Sequel:
The Crow
Joker 2 – The Madness Duet – WINNER
Kraven the Hunter
Simba’s Return: The Lion King
Rebel Moon 2 — The Scargiver Continuation

Worst Screenplay
Joker: Folie a Deux
Kraven the Hunter
Madame Web – WINNER
Megalopolis
Reagan

Good Movies That Won Razzie Awards

1. The Addams Family (1991)

1991 saw MC Hammer’s popularity reaching an unprecedented level, possibly explaining his win for the Worst Original Song at that year’s Razzies for “Addams Groove.” While it may not be a musical tour de force, I fondly remember this rap about the charming Addams family from my childhood. Revisiting it after three decades, I find myself still appreciating its charm! It’s a shame that Barry Sonnenfeld’s enchanting and eccentric “Addams Family” movie is linked to the Razzie Awards in this manner. (Interestingly, the sequel, “Addams Family Values,” also received the same award for “Addams Family (Whoomp!)”, which, admittedly, might have been a tad justified.)

2. Beverly Hills Cop II

Razzie Awards: Worst Original Song Win

The Razzies, an awards ceremony that often singles out films or performances for repeated nominations, regardless of their actual quality, has had its fair share of repeat winners. One such example is Eddie Murphy, who has won five Razzies throughout his career and been nominated many more times. These are just the awards for him individually; the number increases significantly when counting his film projects and collaborators.

One notable instance was the “Worst Original Song” Razzie that went to Beverly Hills Cop II for the song “I Want Your Sex,” which is a well-known tune by George Michael. Despite the Razzies’ negative opinion, the soundtrack of the film was still successful and another song from the movie, Bob Seger’s “Shakedown,” was even nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. It seems possible that some disgruntled individual may have played a prank on Razzie voters by placing a banana in their car exhaust pipes, causing them to react emotionally when they heard the song’s title.

3. The Blair Witch Project

Did you know that one of the most revolutionary horror films ever made, which also happens to be among the most influential in its genre, was nominated for two Razzies, including Worst Picture? Incredibly, it even won a Razzie for Worst Actress! Yes, that’s correct!

To set the record straight, “The Blair Witch Project” was quite divisive when it first came out, and Heather Donahue, the film’s star, became the tearful embodiment of this cultural phenomenon due to her emotional apology scene to her friends’ parents on camera. (Imagine if they had selfies back in 1999; “The Blair Witch Project”‘s most iconic shot might never have happened.)

However, even if you didn’t care for “The Blair Witch Project,” it would be hard to argue that Donahue gave a bad performance, let alone the worst of the entire year. Her competition in 1999 included heavyweights like Melanie Griffith, Milla Jovovich, Sharon Stone, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. In fact, some viewers were convinced that “The Blair Witch Project” was an actual documentary because the actors’ performances were so convincing!

4. Freddy Got Fingered

Titled “Razzie Awards Won: Worse Film, Director, Screenplay, Actor, and Screen Couple,” this passage narrates the story of the infamous film “Freddy Got Fingered” directed by eccentric Canadian comedian Tom Green. The movie was met with widespread disdain, even earning a record number of Razzie nominations and wins, including the top prize for Worst Picture. Critic Roger Ebert famously panned it, remarking that “Freddy” doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with barrels – a comment often cited as one of his most scathing reviews. Despite its poor reception as a conventional Hollywood comedy, some argue that “Freddy Got Fingered” serves as an intentional provocation of audiences and Hollywood, making it a hidden masterpiece in its own right.

5. Heaven’s Gate

As a cinephile who appreciates the highs and lows of cinema, I can’t help but reflect on the intriguing journey of Michael Cimino. Fresh off his Oscar win for the poignant Vietnam War film “The Deer Hunter,” he embarked on an even more grandiose endeavor – a sweeping Western based on the historic Johnson County War.

Cimino’s pursuit of perfection has become the stuff of legends; when a street set fell short of his expectations, he reportedly ordered it to be completely demolished and rebuilt, despite the fact that minor adjustments could have sufficed or, in a pinch, he could have simply made do.

The production of “Heaven’s Gate” was already notorious for its extravagance when it graced the silver screen, where opening-night critics mercilessly panned Cimino’s director’s cut. After a disastrous first week, United Artists decided to withdraw the film and make some edits. By the time the Razzies rolled around for their annual vote, “Heaven’s Gate” was a notorious flop – an easy target. It garnered five nominations, including Worst Picture, and Cimino took home the award for Worst Director. This is simply absurd! Least Fiscally Responsible Director? Perhaps. Worst Director? Absolutely not.

Over time, a new generation of critics has rediscovered a breathtaking Western filled with captivating visuals and powerful performances from Kris Kristofferson and Christopher Walken. The story of Michael Cimino is one that reminds us all about the passion and vision that can drive filmmakers to greatness, even when faced with the challenges of perfectionism and financial constraints.

6. Ishtar

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but reflect on one of the most infamous cinematic flops from the ’80s, other than the notorious “Heaven’s Gate.” This modest spoof of Crosby-Hope Road pictures, burdened by unattainable expectations, was a product of a problematic and expensive production. Director Elaine May, producer/star Warren Beatty, and lead actor Dustin Hoffman found themselves in perpetual conflict throughout the process.

Given these circumstances, it was almost destined for the film to receive a barrage of Razzies. In fact, it might have garnered even more awards had it not been released in the same year as the truly wretched “Leonard Part 6,” starring Bill Cosby. Despite this stiff competition, Elaine May still managed to win the Razzie for Worst Director. Such an outcome seems almost too absurd to be believable – it’s a situation that could easily serve as the plot for one of Elaine May’s masterful films.

7. The Lone Ranger

Razzies Awarded: Worst Adaptation, Rehash, or Follow-up
Strictly speaking, Disney’s The Lone Ranger wasn’t a remake, rehash, or follow-up (it was a film based on an enduring radio and TV character). However, this technicality seems insignificant when one can easily criticize another notorious flop at the box office. Disney invested over $200 million in a movie adaptation of a largely forgotten Western, with Johnny Depp portraying a Native American mystic.
Before the Razzies, discussions on the excessive budget became so prevalent that they overshadowed the fact that director Gore Verbinski had crafted a summer blockbuster as a warning about unchecked capitalism; the colossal train serving as the film’s main plot device also symbolizes how big business and technology ruthlessly crush anything in their path. The movie was nominated for Worst Picture, Worst Director, and Worst Performance by Johnny Depp, but only won in the category it barely qualified for. As expected.

8. Mamma Mia!

Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor – Pierce Brosnan in “Mamma Mia!”

Initially, it might seem surprising that the Razzies, an award for cinematic failures, would honor Pierce Brosnan for his role in “Mamma Mia!”, a hit musical based on the beloved Broadway production and the iconic music of ABBA. This film was successful enough to inspire a sequel with many of the original cast members. However, the Razzies chose to recognize Brosnan’s performance as Worst Supporting Actor.

The reasoning behind this choice is clear: Brosnan is not known for his vocal prowess, and the role required singing abilities. During the Razzie Awards ceremony, the hosts joked that Brosnan was an actor who “could not sing, should not sing, and arguably did not sing, in a role he should not have accepted.” Personally, I find Brosnan’s vocal efforts endearing and his passion for the project contagious. Nevertheless, at the Razzies, as in ABBA’s music, the winner takes it all, and Brosnan was the victor on this occasion.

9. Rocky IV

The Razzies’ Enduring Affinity for Sylvester Stallone in the 1980s

The Razzie Awards, known for consistently nominating their favorite recurring targets regardless of the quality of their latest work, have always shown a particular fondness for Sylvester Stallone’s nominations across various categories during the mid-1980s.

While it is true that there were instances where Stallone and his work deserved the Razzie treatment (such as the film “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot,” which won three well-deserved Golden Raspberry Awards), I’m not entirely convinced about Sly’s worthiness in the year he directed, wrote, and starred in both “Rambo: First Blood Part II” and “Rocky IV.” These films may not be his greatest cinematic accomplishments, but they are both well-received crowd-pleasers that have left an indelible mark on 1980s culture. The Razzies’ disdain for Stallone was so strong that “Rocky IV” received five Razzie Awards. Furthermore, it lost two other prizes to “Rambo: First Blood Part II,” namely the Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay categories – which means that James Cameron now holds a Razzie Award.

In summary, the Razzies held a deep-seated animosity towards Stallone during the 1980s, as evidenced by their frequent nominations of him for various awards despite the merits of his work in films like “Rambo: First Blood Part II” and “Rocky IV.

10. Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith

In a turn of events, Hayden Christensen was awarded the Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor in the film “Attack of the Clones,” despite my belief that his performance in “Revenge of the Sith” was significantly better. However, it’s important to note that “Sith” is generally considered a superior film compared to “Clones,” and many fans regard it as the best among the three “Star Wars” prequels. Despite this, the poor reception of the prequels made Hayden Christensen a frequent target for criticism, and the Razzies capitalized on this, awarding him his second Razzie in this category. He had previously won one for his role in “Episode II.

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2025-02-28 23:55