The2020s have somehow not been at all kindto the film industry. The decade so far has been marked by pandemics, strikes, and uncertainty. This divisive and troubled period is duly represented by the first year of the decade, which had some incredibly terrible films that would set a precedent for what audiences could expect when they weren’t getting astounding projects likeEverything Everywhere All at Once.
While every year is bound to have rough movies, with the ones released in 2020 turning five in 2025, it’s natural that viewers will find themselves looking back on them. But just what were the worst projects of the year? It’s hard to put them up against each other, but some are truly far worse than any others published at the time.These are the worst movies turning five in 2025, from misguided comedies to cringe-worthy erotic dramas and everything in between.
10’Like a Boss' (January 10th)
Directed by Miguel Arteta
What’s unfortunate aboutLike a Bossis that the intended message is actually splendid and, if executed a bit better, could have allowed it to be a phenomenal film. Sadly, the filmcan’t seem to decide exactly which way it wants to take the message about how women can be in business together. With a cast including genuine talent likeRose Byrne,Billy Porter, andSalma Hayek, it’s surprising that it didn’t do better.
Like a Bosswas doomed to fade into obscurity from the moment it was released, beingforgettable and without anything uniqueto really keep it in viewers' heads. The script feels like it’s a few rewrites away from something really great, and that makes its failure to deliver even more of a letdown.
Like a Boss
9’The Tax Collector' (August 7th)
Directed by David Ayer
David Ayercan’t seem to catch a break when it comes to his film releases.The Tax Collectorwas a very cliché and predictable film that was not compelling to many audiences. Unfortunately,the supporting players are actually interestingand left viewers wishing the rest of the cast had been written like that.
This is surprising, asShia LaBeoufhas had a really solid streakin the late 2019s and early 2020s—for example, he also starred in the Oscar-nominatedPieces of a Womanin 2020. Some audiences seemed to enjoy the film, but overall,The Tax Collectorreally fell flat, especially with critics. Like other Ayer movies, this one thinks too highly of itself to realize its true nature. It’s tiresome and needlessly convoluted, especially considering the overly simplistic execution.
The Tax Collector
8’Inheritance' (May 22nd)
Directed by Vaughn Stein
Inheritanceis a mystery/thriller film starring a tragically miscastLily Collinsandthe usually reliableSimon Pegg. Many were actually surprised and pleased to see Pegg playing against type. The famous actor typically takes comedic roles, so to see him in a more dramatic one really enticed viewers to see this film.
However, many were disappointed by the final product. The biggest letdown inInheritanceis the characters.Their motivations don’t make any sense, and they feel like cardboard cut-outsof people who should be well-written and compelling.Inheritancehas interesting ideas but doesn’t know what to do with them; it squanders all its potential by delivering a sub-par product that isn’t silly enough to be entertaining or weird enough to be compelling.
Inheritance
7’Artemis Fowl' (July 8th)
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Based on the critically acclaimed, world-renowned book series,Artemis Fowlwas negatively received almost immediately,as it’s filled with many problems. Because of how much audiences enjoyed the eight-novel saga, the poor quality disappointed everyone, from loyal fans of the series to casuals just wanting to see a good fantasy movie. The performances are bland, the story is indeterminate, and the lack of creativity in the visuals makes it feel more like a film made for television.
Unlike many bad movies, which go on to live in infamy,this misfire faded into obscurity incredibly fast.Artemis Fowlhad the potential to be the nextHarry Potter, or so many believed. It’s even more disappointing given that directorKenneth Branaghhas helmed some really great films over the years, and this kind of quality is quite unlike what everyone knows he can produce.
Artemis Fowl
6’Jiu Jitsu' (November 20th)
Directed by Dimitri Logothetis
Jiu Jitsuis an interesting case when it comes to the worst films of 2020. Some audiences actually liked it, but critics ripped it apart.With a crushing 27% on Rotten Tomatoesand a 64% from audiences,theNicolas Cagemovieis critically known as one of the worst movies of 2020. Whether audiences agree or not, the numbers can’t be denied.
Many claimed that the action sequences, which one would believe should be the best part of a movie namedJiu Jitsu, were bland and uninspired. Cage was the highlight, as he usually is, especially in B-movies like this one. However, he’s pretty much all Jiu Jitsu has going on for it;everything feels tacky and hard to enjoy, like a cheap movie that airs on network television on that obscure channel no one ever sees.
5’Brahms: The Boy II' (February 20th)
Directed by William Brent Bell
After the moderate reception of 2016’sThe Boy, the studio decided they would bring the series back for a sequel withBrahms: The Boy II. However, the next movie received a lot of hate because of the fact it completely contradicted the plot, point, and twist of the first film.
The Boy’s whole premise was that it tried to convince the audience that the doll, Brahms, was possessed when, in fact, the culprit was a human presence all along. However, whenBrahms: The Boy IIcame around, it then tried to tell the audience that, actually, the doll is possessed. This silly approach was frustrating for fans of the first film, as it kind ofruins the great twist in the climax of the original.
Brahms: The Boy II
4’Dolittle' (January 17th)
Directed by Stephen Gaghan
There was actually a lot of excitement behindDolittle, given the fact that it was the first movie inRobert Downey Jr.’s resumeafter his (apparent) Marvel Cinematic Universe departure inAvengers: Endgame. Everyone was looking forward to seeing where he would go after that successful role and was wildly unhappy when this misguided fantasy movie came out.
Downey Jr.’s role and performance inDolittlewas a far cry from his days as Tony Stark. Many expected him to do something more interesting and challenging, away from the MCU’s constraints and with enough money to never again need to do a blockbuster. WhileDoctor Dolittleis a well-known franchise,Dolittlewas not a worthy addition. Downey Jr. is basically sleepwalking through it all, doing a lesser version of his Sherlock Holmes while delivering one of the worst attempts at a Welsh accent in cinematic history.Dolittleisone of the most surface-level films of the last few yearsand a waste of everyone’s time and talents.
3’Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island' (February 14th)
Directed by Jeff Wadlow
By the end, the only thing thatBlumhouse’s Fantasy Islandleft audiences thinking about was why the film was made in the first place. There doesn’t seem to be an audience for it, as the direction is nowhere to be found. The plotline is bland, boring and an amalgamation of things everyone has seen before without changing a bit to feel unique or even interesting.
Fantasy Island’s weak attemptto be anything special only opens a plethora of plot holes. For a movie calledFantasy Island,the only thing that’s fantastic about it is its set design. There are no jump scares or thrills, the characters are barely defined, and the twists fail to elicit even a whimper from audiences. People truly ripped this movie apart upon release, which makes sense since it barely qualifies as a horror flick.
Fantasy Island
2’The Last Days of American Crime' (June 5th)
Directed by Oliver Megaton
It’s not every day thata film gets 0% on Rotten Tomatoesfrom 42 reviews. That dubious honor will tell someone all they need to know aboutThe Last Days of American Crimein ways that cannot be put into words. There are borderline no good things to say about this movie, and it hardly makes for a good turn-your-brain-off flick because the action’s quality suffers, as well.
The movie is supposed to be a thriller but provides nothing thrilling whatsoever. The performances are flatter than paper, the camerawork is uninspired, and it genuinely just feels like not much effort was put into making the movie.The Last Days of American Crime’s premise has potential, but has all the frosting on top of its bland cake completely wiped off.
The Last Days of American Crime
1'365 Days' (June 7th)
Directed by Barbara Bialowas
The365 Daysfranchise is one of the most notorious in quite some time and for a very good reason.The Netflix original film is absurdly problematic, with plot points and themes that are honestly disgusting. With scenes and dialogues that cannot be mentioned due to the various triggering elements, the entire series is troubling.
It all started with the first movie,365 Days. Victims and survivors of certain acts found the movie deeply disturbing, as it fetishizes actions and mindsets that should absolutely not be. Somehow,365 Daysspawned more, which continued to create controversy. Everyone has their tastes, and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying some trash every now and then. Alas, if there’sa film that genuinely should not have been made in 2020, it’s365 Days.
