Great Robert Redford Movies Every Film Lover Should Watch

Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at the age of 89. He had a long and celebrated career, appearing in many of the most memorable films of the past half-century.

It’s common to revisit an artist’s work when they pass away, and with Robert Redford’s recent passing, many will want to do just that. This list offers five of my favorite, and perhaps less obvious, Redford performances and films he directed. I’ve left out his most famous works – *Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid*, *All the President’s Men*, and *Ordinary People* – assuming most fans have already seen those. These selections are a little deeper cuts, but are equally, if not more, rewarding.

Once you’ve seen these five films, you’ll find even more to enjoy. Robert Redford acted in a wide variety of movies throughout his career, including romantic comedies, historical dramas, sports films, and Westerns. He’s great in *Sneakers*, a fun and popular thriller from the 1990s, and delivers a memorable performance in *The Natural*, despite the movie taking liberties with the original story’s conclusion.

Robert Redford is captivating even in some of his more well-known, and sometimes controversial, films like *Indecent Proposal*, where he plays a wealthy man who offers a married woman a million dollars. He also delivers a strong performance in *Captain America: The Winter Soldier* as Alexander Pierce, a key figure opposing Captain America and Nick Fury. He truly was an actor’s actor, bringing depth and intensity to every role he took on.

Chances are, you’ve already seen *The Winter Soldier*. But if you haven’t watched any of the five movies listed below, you really should – do it soon!

Great Robert Redford Movies Everyone Needs to See

The Hot Rock (1972)

Heist movies always center around stealing something valuable, and how far people will go to get it. A fun take on this is the 1972 film *The Hot Rock*. It follows a team of thieves, led by John Dortmunder (Robert Redford), hired to steal a priceless African diamond from the Brooklyn Museum. Instead of one elaborate heist, *The Hot Rock* features several attempts, as the diamond is repeatedly stolen and then lost again in different locations. If you enjoy heist movies, you’ll likely enjoy this one, which offers five or six well-crafted schemes. And, well, that makes it significantly better than most other heist films, at least according to my calculations!

The Sting (1973)

Often considered even better than *Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid*, *The Sting* is a captivating and surprisingly sad film about two con artists – a young, eager crook played by Robert Redford and an experienced hustler played by Paul Newman – who team up to avenge the murder of Redford’s partner by a ruthless mobster (Robert Shaw). With fantastic performances from all three leads and a plot full of clever twists, *The Sting* is a classic Hollywood film of the 1970s and the winner of the 1973 Academy Award for Best Picture. It beautifully captures both the excitement of a con and the loneliness of life during the Depression era.

Three Days of the Condor (1975)

Robert Redford, with his classic good looks, projected an image of wholesome American charm. This made him a compelling and somewhat unexpected movie star during the 1970s, a decade known for dark, cynical films questioning authority and government. Films like *Three Days of the Condor* showcased Redford brilliantly, casting him as an innocent CIA analyst who returns to a shocking scene – his entire office staff murdered. The film follows his desperate attempt to survive and exposes him to the harsh realities of 1970s global politics. It’s considered one of Redford’s finest performances, and a standout film from his frequent director, Sydney Pollack. Unfortunately, the film’s themes still resonate powerfully today.

Quiz Show (1994)

Robert Redford’s direction is at its finest in this 1994 drama, which brilliantly explores the 1950s quiz show scandal. The film focuses on the popular show *Twenty-One*, where a less charismatic but knowledgeable contestant (John Turturro) is replaced by a more presentable, though less skilled, challenger (Ralph Fiennes). Through this story, Redford examines how television began to profoundly shape American culture and society.

All Is Lost (2013)

Robert Redford gave one of his finest performances in the 2013 film *All Is Lost*, which features him as the sole actor and with very little dialogue. The movie centers on a man battling for survival after his sailboat is severely damaged in the Indian Ocean. Though the story is simple, it explores deeper ideas – it’s not just about a man lost at sea, but can also be seen as a reflection on facing one’s own mortality. Redford, already in his 70s at the time, brought a wealth of life experience to the role, making *All Is Lost* a moving testament to the human spirit’s determination to persevere, even when facing the unavoidable.

The 40 Worst Movies of the Last 40 Years (1985-2024)

40. Wild Wild West (1999)

To understand how Hollywood has changed for the worse over the past three decades, look no further than *Wild Wild West*. The movie took a largely forgotten story and transformed it into an overblown, effects-heavy blockbuster. It was such a failure that even Will Smith, its lead actor, admits it’s his worst film and something he regrets making.

39. North (1994)

The movie *North* is widely considered one of the worst films of the 1990s, and it famously earned a scathing review from critic Roger Ebert. He famously wrote he ‘hated’ the movie, repeatedly and emphatically. The film truly lives up to that criticism, particularly with bizarre scenes like Dan Aykroyd and Reba McEntire performing a song about their deceased son, followed immediately by jokes about a child’s rear end. The oddity continues with Kathy Bates portraying an Inuit woman who sends her father to his death. Ebert’s strong reaction was clearly justified.

38. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)

Fifteen years after the original *Street Fighter* movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, a new attempt was made. Despite being called *Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li*, the film lacks both legendary moments and much actual street fighting. What it *does* offer is a memorably bad performance from Chris Klein as Charlie Nash. He’s a far cry from the video game character, constantly showing off and posing for the camera – it’s something you have to see to believe.

37. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

Let’s be honest, the *Friday the 13th* movies weren’t known for making sense, but *Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday* really took things to another level. Forget the classic Jason Voorhees – this movie turns him into a kind of parasitic creature that takes over other people, turning them into killers. It adds a bunch of complicated backstory with magical daggers and relatives we’d never heard of before – basically explaining why no one could ever *permanently* kill Jason. And, honestly, if the movie is called *Jason Goes to Hell*, you’d expect to see him *in* hell, right? Instead, he mostly just hangs out in a house, a diner, a jail, and a morgue. The title really feels more like a review of the movie itself than an accurate description of what happens.

36. Ringmaster (1998)

When *The Jerry Springer Show* was incredibly popular, Jerry Springer starred in a movie called *Ringmaster*. In it, he played a confused host of a scandalous talk show-a character very similar to himself. While Springer always seemed comfortable with the unusual people on his show, he appeared genuinely uncomfortable with *Ringmaster*, which featured actors portraying the same kind of chaotic environment. Though some of the other actors handled the sensational material well, the movie ultimately feels like it’s about a man who doesn’t want to be involved.

35. The Happytime Murders (2018)

Brian Henson’s comedy, *The Happytime Murders*, relies heavily on crude humor geared towards adults who enjoy silly jokes. It feels like the filmmakers simply thought it would be funny to have puppets in a raunchy, sexually-charged comedy without much deeper purpose. It’s a movie notable for its shock value – if you’re ever asked about Melissa McCarthy biting a puppet’s genitals or Joel McHale staring at a puppet in a parody of *Basic Instinct*, this is the film. The only truly bright spot is Maya Rudolph, who manages to land a genuinely funny joke about rice pilaf – she’s the real star here.

34. Steel (1997)

Looking for a truly bad 90s movie? You can’t go wrong with anything starring Shaquille O’Neal. In *Steel*, he plays an armored superhero based on a DC Comics character who briefly took over for Superman. However, the movie drastically changes the character’s backstory, ignoring Superman’s absence. While O’Neal is physically imposing and seems to be enjoying himself, the movie is filled with awkward, self-aware jokes – like Shaq missing basketball shots and references to the film’s title – and the superhero costume is just plain bad. The result feels less like a real movie and more like a long, unfunny *Saturday Night Live* sketch.

33. Caddyshack II (1988)

Want to know how one of the most popular comedies of all time ended up with a famously awful sequel? A 2020 article in *Sports Illustrated* explains what happened with *Caddyshack II*. Basically, Warner Bros. needed a summer comedy in 1988 and paid a lot of money to bring back Rodney Dangerfield and Chevy Chase. Dangerfield talked *Caddyshack*’s co-writer and director, Harold Ramis, into writing the script, but Ramis wasn’t enthusiastic about it, and Dangerfield ended up disliking the script too. When Dangerfield quit at the last minute, Warner Bros. was so determined to have a hit that they moved forward anyway, replacing him with Jackie Mason. However, Mason didn’t have the same comedic style as Dangerfield, and his role ended up being filled with predictable jokes and slapstick. (Think laser-emitting golf clubs – because that’s not something you see every day!) Still not convinced it’s a terrible movie? Even the director, Allan Arkush, gave his own film a one-star review, admitting he shouldn’t have made it!

32. The Book of Henry (2017)

Okay, so after directing *Jurassic World*, Colin Trevorrow made this… well, it’s a weird one. *The Book of Henry* totally flopped, and it’s honestly hard to describe. It’s got this magical realism thing going on, but also deals with some really dark stuff, including child abuse. Seriously, it’s a *lot*. And get this – some people read it as a retelling of the Christ story, with this almost god-like kid sacrificing himself so his mom can, uh, get revenge and adopt her stepdaughter. It’s also trying to say something about not being apathetic, which it delivers through the kid *teaching* his mom how to be an assassin… from beyond the grave! I’m not kidding, all of that actually happens, and the movie plays it completely straight. It’s just…a lot to take in.

31. Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)

Warner Bros. did something unusual with *Space Jam: A New Legacy*: they portrayed themselves as a heartless company obsessed with their properties, which was a surprisingly honest and self-deprecating move. Unfortunately, the movie itself was a major disappointment – it was weak and not funny, making the original *Space Jam* seem like a masterpiece in comparison. LeBron James isn’t a bad actor; he performs about as well as Michael Jordan did in the first film. However, almost everything else in *A New Legacy* was simply embarrassing. It misses the point of what makes the Looney Tunes characters, especially Bugs Bunny, so appealing, turning him into a complaining character. Instead of watching this movie, I recommend revisiting some classic *Looney Tunes Cartoons* on Max. You’ll get far more laughs from any random short than you will from the entire two-hour film, and the animation is much better too.

30. Basic Instinct 2 (2006)

Sharon Stone is incredibly talented – she can make even cheesy lines sound seductive. However, even her skills couldn’t save *Basic Instinct 2*, which is a disappointing film overall. Stone delivers a powerful performance, completely overshadowing her co-star, David Morrissey, whose character never feels like a match for her. It’s hard to understand why she’d be attracted to him, almost as if she sees him as an easy conquest. Stone clearly enjoys playing her manipulative character, but Morrissey’s character is so bland that there’s no real suspense or excitement in her toying with him. The dynamic is completely one-sided – it’s like watching a professional basketball team play against amateurs. Her character is supposed to crave danger, but there’s no risk involved in a confrontation with such a weak opponent.

29. Dirty Grandpa (2016)

The comedy in *Dirty Grandpa* relies on a simple idea, much like *The Happytime Murders*: the shock value of something typically wholesome – like a grandpa – saying or doing something crude. If you find the thought of Robert De Niro uttering inappropriate words funny, you’ll probably enjoy this movie. If not, it’s likely to be a letdown. At least the title is honest about what you’re getting.

28. The Scarlet Letter (1995)

The 1995 film *The Scarlet Letter* essentially ended the run of adult erotic thrillers that were popular in the 80s and early 90s. After the success of movies like *Fatal Attraction*, Hollywood made a lot of steamy dramas for adults, but as the 90s continued, studios began focusing on family-friendly movies that could appeal to a wider audience and earn more money. *The Scarlet Letter* failed spectacularly – it made very little of its $45 million budget and received terrible reviews – and that helped bring the genre to a complete halt.

Despite claiming to be “freely adapted” from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, the movie feels more like a teenager’s imagined version of the story. The complex themes of guilt and sin that Hawthorne explored are missing, replaced with numerous softcore sex scenes and a surprisingly poor performance by Robert Duvall. The film feels less like a classic adaptation and more like a Puritan-themed remake of *The Red Shoe Diaries* – which probably explains the red shoes.

27. Marmaduke (2022)

I’ve rarely seen an animated movie as visually unappealing as *Marmaduke*, and I hope I never do. It feels like something made purely to fulfill a contractual obligation or, frankly, to hide money. It’s baffling considering the voice cast includes genuinely funny actors like J.K. Simmons, David Koechner, and Pete Davidson. Did they not see the script or the awful character designs? What could have possibly motivated their involvement? Simply put, *Marmaduke* is terrible. I wouldn’t even subject it to the kids who used to tease me – and their insults were more imaginative than anything in this movie.

26. Madame Web (2024)

“Madame Web” feels like an older, less polished Marvel movie, reminiscent of films made before the Marvel Cinematic Universe became dominant. These earlier movies often seemed hesitant to fully embrace their comic book origins, and this film shares that quality. Even Dakota Johnson, who plays the lead, isn’t actually called “Madame Web” throughout the movie – she’s Cassie Webb. She rarely dresses like a superhero, too. It’s as if everyone involved is a little uncomfortable with the material. It’s silly, strange, and sometimes hard to follow, making even the somewhat flawed “The Amazing Spider-Man” look great by comparison. It makes you wonder what someone like Kevin Feige, the mastermind behind the MCU, would think while watching it – that would be an interesting experience.

25. Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997)

Even though the *Mighty Morphin Power Rangers* movie wasn’t great, it at least had a bigger budget than a typical *Power Rangers* episode. *Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie*, however, looks just as cheap as the TV show-or even cheaper. It’s clear that all the dialogue was re-recorded after filming, almost as if it were dubbed from another language, or the sound wasn’t captured properly during the shoot. The action scenes are also worse than what you’d see on the show. It’s surprising that such a poorly made movie was actually released in theaters. Perhaps the title refers to how quickly it was made to take advantage of the *Power Rangers* popularity before it disappeared?

24. Meet the Spartans (2008)

For a long time, a really disappointing trend in movies was the rise of poorly made parody films, which started after the success of the *Scary Movie* series. Many of these comedies were created by the same people behind *Scary Movie*, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Their humor usually involved re-creating scenes from popular movies – *300* was a frequent target in *Meet the Spartans*, though they also threw in random jokes from films like *Shrek*, *Spider-Man 3*, and *Happy Feet* – and relying on slapstick like people getting hit in the groin. These movies weren’t funny to begin with, and now they feel incredibly dated, filled with references to early 2000s celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton. Trust me, you really don’t need to watch *Meet the Spartans*.

23. The Jerky Boys: The Movie (1995)

I grew up listening to The Jerky Boys tapes and, honestly, I found them pretty funny – I was 13, after all. But even as a fan, I really disliked *The Jerky Boys: The Movie*. It basically showed Johnny Brennan and Kamal Ahmed playing themselves and getting involved in a crime after prank calling a mobster. The movie just didn’t work because the best thing about The Jerky Boys was that their calls felt real and spontaneous. Seeing them interact with scripted characters in a made-up story ruined the fun. It’s similar to trying to turn *Whose Line Is It Anyway?* into a full-length movie – it loses what made it good.

22. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Okay, let’s be real, the title itself should have been a warning sign. This movie tries to be an X-Men film, a Wolverine solo outing, *and* an origin story all rolled into one – and it completely fails. Honestly, if the director had just picked one direction, it might have been decent. But it felt like they crammed about six different storylines in there, and it was doomed from the start. There’s a line where Hugh Jackman’s Logan tells Liev Schreiber’s Victor, “We didn’t sign up for this,” and it’s just… painfully accurate. It’s basically the movie commenting on its own messiness! There are a few other gems like “We’ve done enough!” and “You look like a man fixing to do a bad thing,” but my personal favorite is just, “Wake me when it’s over.” Because honestly, that’s how I felt watching it.

21. Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992)

Sylvester Stallone starred in some truly terrible movies during the 1990s – I could list *Daylight*, *Judge Dredd*, and *The Specialist* off the top of my head, but there are plenty more. However, *Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot* stands out as possibly the worst of the lot, even worse than the early, softcore film he made before *Rocky* launched his career. The movie isn’t funny in any way, not even ironically or as a ‘so bad it’s good’ experience. The idea of an overbearing mother actually has potential for a comedy, but this movie doesn’t deliver. A big problem is Estelle Getty’s character; she’s wildly inconsistent, going from clueless to a skilled law enforcement officer with no explanation. She can escape handcuffs, but somehow doesn’t realize buying a machine gun from a van is illegal. It’s just bizarre and not funny.

20. Shanghai Surprise (1986)

I’ve always felt some movies get a bad rap, and *John Carter* is a prime example – it’s actually a pretty engaging film despite what the box office numbers and critics say. But then there’s *Shanghai Surprise*, and honestly, it’s terrible – it *deserves* all the bad press it gets. It stars Sean Penn and Madonna as a really strange pair – he’s a salesman of glowing ties, and she’s a missionary – and they’re involved in an opium robbery. There’s really nothing good about it, except maybe a glimpse into Sean and Madonna’s relationship when they were married. Sadly, their marriage lasted longer than the film’s reputation as one of the most boring movies of the 80s!

19. Inspector Gadget (1999)

The popular 1980s animated series *Inspector Gadget* didn’t translate well to the big screen in the 1990s. A major issue is the casting: while Matthew Broderick is usually charming, his quiet personality doesn’t fit the loud, clumsy nature of Inspector Gadget. Rupert Everett feels equally miscast as the villain, Dr. Claw. The movie’s special effects are overly cartoonish, and the final version, which seems heavily edited, is surprisingly short – barely 70 minutes long. Yet, even at that length, it still feels too drawn out.

18. Daddy Day Camp (2007)

It felt like nobody involved with the original *Daddy Day Care* wanted to make a sequel. The original stars – Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, and Regina King – were all replaced with a new cast including Cuba Gooding Jr. and Tamala Jones. (The director of the first movie, Steve Carr, wasn’t involved either.) The first film focused on Murphy and Garlin learning the ropes of running a day care. The sequel shifts the setting to a summer camp, which, considering their experience, should have been an easy win. But, as often happens with sequels, everything goes wrong – and the movie suffers as a result.

17. Elektra (2005)

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took off, things were tough for Marvel fans. After the initial success of movies like *X-Men* and *Spider-Man*, studios started rushing out Marvel adaptations that just didn’t measure up in terms of quality. A particularly bad example was the movie *Elektra*, starring Jennifer Garner. The film portrayed Elektra as an assassin who was obsessively careful about covering her tracks-she’d even scrub her floors to remove all DNA-yet somehow incredibly reckless, befriending nosy neighbors *while* on a mission and failing to realize they were her targets.

To make matters stranger, *Elektra* was brought back to life after her death in *Daredevil* and suddenly gained the power to see the future and even rewind time, essentially becoming an immortal being. Naturally, she used these god-like abilities to…stab ninjas. Who wouldn’t, if they could travel through time?

16. Norbit (2007)

Eddie Murphy is known for winning over audiences when he plays several characters in one movie, often with the help of impressive makeup. Even though critics didn’t like it, his 2007 film *Norbit* made nearly $160 million worldwide on a $60 million budget – though that doesn’t make it a good movie. In *Norbit*, Murphy’s ability to transform himself (along with Rick Baker’s fantastic makeup) is used to tell a frustrating story about a meek man who marries a controlling and abusive woman – both roles played by Murphy. His portrayal of the vengeful and aggressive Rasputia is technically skilled, but relies on cruel stereotypes and endless jokes about her weight. He also plays Mr. Wong, a blunt Chinese character with a heavy, stereotypical accent. Overall, the film is simply disheartening.

15. The Emoji Movie (2017)

A good movie about smartphones and emojis could definitely be made, but it would need a much sharper and funnier script than *The Emoji Movie* offers. Beyond a simple message about accepting others, the film feels exactly like what you’d expect from a tech company that relies on selling phones – basically, a long ad suggesting your phone is the key to popularity and romance. It’s just not very good.

14. Chairman of the Board (1997)

I really didn’t have high hopes going into *Chairman of the Board*, knowing it starred Carrot Top, and honestly, the movie didn’t even meet those low expectations. It’s about an unlucky inventor who unexpectedly inherits a company from a rich friend. It’s supposed to be funny, but it just doesn’t land. But you know what? The best part of this whole experience wasn’t the movie itself! It was Norm Macdonald’s hilarious takedown of the film on Conan O’Brien. He kept interrupting an interview with Courtney Thorne-Smith, and his suggestion for a Carrot Top movie title – *Box Office Poison* – was pure genius! That clip is way more memorable than the movie ever was.

13. Artemis Fowl (2020)

When the Covid pandemic began, Disney postponed most of its big 2020 movies – except for *Artemis Fowl*. They released it directly on Disney+, and looking back, that should have been a warning sign. The movie tries to fit the plot of ten books into just 90 minutes, making it confusing and difficult to watch. (I still can’t explain how Josh Gad’s character went from breaking into Artemis Fowl’s house to working *with* him, without saying a single word to each other!) It’s rare for a streaming movie you didn’t even pay extra for to feel like a waste of time, but *Artemis Fowl* managed to do just that.

12. Son of the Mask (2005)

Few movies are as disappointing as a sequel to *The Mask* without Jim Carrey. The original film was special because the mask allowed Carrey to be completely uninhibited, showcasing his incredible talent for impressions and physical comedy. But in *Son of the Mask*, Jamie Kennedy barely wears the mask – his dog actually wears it more! – and when he does, his performance feels forced and unnatural, even though his character is a cartoonist meant to justify similar antics. It even sounds like they tried to digitally alter his voice to make him sound more like Carrey.

The second half of the movie is bizarrely focused on the dog being jealous of the new baby, and deliberately using the mask to try and harm him! It features a truly strange subplot about a jealous dog. Luckily, the baby is born with powers of his own. Be warned: nothing can prepare you for the sight of a horribly rendered CGI baby causing chaos and…well, you get the picture. This movie should have been scrapped entirely, just like the mask is discarded at the end of the first film.

11. She’s Out of Control (1989)

This truly awful comedy centers on a father (Tony Danza) who completely loses it when his 15-year-old daughter starts showing interest in boys. It’s not a dramatic situation – she simply gets contact lenses, a new haircut, and goes on a few dates. The father then seeks help from a therapist (Wallace Shawn!) who bizarrely believes fathers should strictly control their daughters’ virginity, and the movie actually *supports* the father’s increasingly unhinged behavior, even when the daughter is assaulted on a date by her prom date (Matthew Perry!). This movie is harmful and should not be watched by anyone.

10. The Avengers (1998)

Okay, before you get confused, let me clarify – I’m talking about *The Avengers* from 1998, which is based on the old British TV show. It actually came out *before* the Marvel comics with the same name! And honestly, these ‘Avengers’ – Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman – don’t really *do* any avenging in the movie, which is kind of ironic. Actually, a lot of the movie doesn’t make much sense, so the title feels… fitting, in a weird way. It’s barely 90 minutes long, and it feels seriously incomplete. Scenes just jump around with no explanation – you’ll be watching something, then suddenly they’re somewhere else with no idea how they got there! All the big action set pieces are there, but everything *between* those moments is missing. There’s no character development, no clear motivations, and honestly, very little humanity. It just feels… artificial. It’s like someone gave you the plot summary instead of the actual movie – the CliffsNotes version of *The Avengers*, if you will.

9. Mac and Me (1988)

Let me tell you, after *E.T.* blew up, everyone jumped on the friendly alien bandwagon, and that included McDonald’s! They backed this…well, let’s just call it a less-than-stellar *E.T.* imitation, complete with an adorable alien and a kid buddy. The title itself is a not-so-subtle nod to their logo. And honestly, the movie just *stops* for a ridiculously elaborate dance number inside a McDonald’s – it’s truly a bizarre moment. But, there’s a silver lining: this film is how Paul Rudd started his legendary prank war with Conan O’Brien, so it’s not *all* bad!

8. Alone in the Dark (2005)

I remember when Uwe Boll became notorious for making a ton of video game movies. He exploited a German tax thing that basically guaranteed he’d make money, and it felt like something out of *The Producers*, but with video games. One of his worst, *Alone in the Dark*, starred Tara Reid as an archaeologist and Christian Slater as a detective dealing with the supernatural. Honestly, I can’t even explain the plot because it makes absolutely no sense. The opening credits alone were almost a minute and a half long, and they somehow made the movie *more* confusing! And that’s saying something, because *Alone in the Dark* was already at the bottom of pretty much every ‘worst video game movies’ list ever made.

7. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)

This low-budget horror film is a very loose adaptation of the classic Winnie-the-Pooh stories, which are now in the public domain-allowing for creations like this one. Unfortunately, it fails as both a slasher movie and a parody of children’s literature. Ironically, it only succeeds in making a strange case *against* the idea of public domain. It suggests that maybe copyright protection isn’t so bad if it prevents films this bad from being made. Simply put, *Blood and Honey* is terrible.

6. Dolittle (2020)

Remember the scene in Tim Burton’s *Batman* where the doctor messes up Jack Napier’s face, accidentally creating the Joker? The movie *Dolittle* feels a lot like that – a disjointed, unpleasant experience that seems cobbled together from unused footage and reshoots. What likely began as a more grounded film turned into a chaotic mix of silly jokes – about poop, farts, and itchy bottoms – talking animals, poor special effects, and Robert Downey Jr. performing with such over-the-top energy that it makes Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow seem reserved.

5. Going Overboard (1989)

Adam Sandler’s early career included a particularly bad comedy called *Going Overboard*. The film, set on a cruise ship with beauty pageant contestants, was famously rushed into production. According to IMDb, the entire movie – from writing the script to finishing filming – took just twelve days. And honestly, considering how quickly it was made, it’s even worse than you’d expect.

4. Mad Dog Time (1996)

Let me tell you, I’ve seen some truly terrible movies, but *Mad Dog Time* might just take the cake as the *weirdest*. Seriously, the cast is incredible – Jeff Goldblum, Gabriel Byrne, Ellen Barkin, Richard Dreyfuss…the list goes on and on – yet they’re stuck in this utterly baffling gangster film. The opening narration sets the stage: we’re not on Earth, but in a ‘parallel universe…on the other side of the cosmos!’ This place, ‘Vic’s World,’ is populated entirely by gangster movie clichés, and the plot? Tough guys having pistol duels behind antique desks in dimly lit basements. It sounds crazy, and believe me, it *is*. It doesn’t make a lick of sense even *within* its own logic. Honestly, it feels like it genuinely originated in another dimension, where people have a taste for the unbearably awful.

3. Leonard Part 6 (1987)

During his peak in Hollywood, Bill Cosby starred in *Leonard Part 6*, a truly terrible spy comedy. The film centers on a retired CIA agent who’s brought back to stop a villain who uses brainwashed animals to commit murders. The title is a failed attempt at suggesting it’s the sixth film in a series – much like the movie’s other jokes. Ironically, despite producing the film and coming up with the idea, Cosby publicly criticized it before it even came out. It’s easy to see why; the movie can’t decide if it wants to be a James Bond parody or a silly kids’ film, and it’s packed with blatant product placement. Calling it one of the worst movies of the 80s is actually being generous.

2. Frozen Assets (1992)

Even the worst comedies are better than *Frozen Assets*, which feels like it was intentionally made to be the least funny movie ever. Corbin Bernsen plays a bank executive sent to fix a failing branch in Oregon-a sperm bank, to be exact. The film’s only joke is… well, that it *is* a sperm bank. Bernsen’s character only cares about profits, which clashes with the bank’s scientist, Shelley Long, and he treats her terribly-leading to a predictably illogical romance. Larry Miller shows up as an escaped mental patient who becomes an employee. Honestly, describing it doesn’t even capture how bad it is. Do yourself a favor and avoid *Frozen Assets* completely. I’d genuinely pay money to never see it again.

1. Disaster Movie (2008)

The title *Disaster Movie* is a misnomer on both counts. The film spoofs recent blockbusters like *10,000 B.C.*, *Hancock*, *Jumper*, *Enchanted*, *Alvin and the Chipmunks*, *Beowulf*, and *The Love Guru*, but barely qualifies as a movie itself. It features a minimal plot and only a couple of recognizable characters, held together by a relentless stream of awful celebrity impersonations – so bad, even the characters *in* the movie point them out.

Honestly, it’s one of the worst films I’ve ever seen. By the time a fight broke out with someone in a poorly-made *Kung Fu Panda* costume, I felt sorry for everyone involved – both the actors and, especially, anyone who actually paid to watch it.

2025-09-16 18:37