Despite the fact thatRotten Tomatoeshas become the modern internet’s most trusted source for critical and audience film ratings, there have always been some films that slip through the cracks of their scoring system. Some fall down to the site’s most disparaging depths — under the 25% mark — thanks to plots that lack story and production value that skirts the edge of passability.
Let us, then, dive into some of the film world’s most tacky-but-enjoyable efforts, with basement-dwelling RT critical scores, despite being uber-watchable (thanks to outlandish plots and deeply ironic watching experiences).Some of these films were B-Movies, never intended to compete well beyond their home video or streaming platforms, while others had substantial budgets and casts that may have offended critics' sensibilities even more than their decidedly-dietcounterparts. The following are 20 movies with a sub-25% Rotten Tomatoes score that still warrant a watch.
20The Jackal (1997) - 24%
An adaptation of the 1973 political thriller,The Day of the Jackal,The Jackalcast three stars a bit past their prime, with Richard Gere and Sidney Poitier playing buddy cops opposite a villainous turn by Bruce Willis. Still, this film was lessManchurian Candidatethan a corny ’90s action-thriller, with some inexplicable casting, like Jack Black, who gets his arm blown off (far too comedically) early in the film.
24% isextremelylow for a film starring Gere and Poitier, two of Hollywood’s most-historic actors. While Bruce Willis' mustache and character just simply didn’t work, it’s still nostalgic to see the action star during his epic run of ’90s blockbusters.Thanks to plenty of talent in the cast,The Jackalcertainly passes muster for a re-watch, especially for ’90s action buffs.RentThe Jackalon Apple TV.
19The Mighty Ducks - 23%
The Mighty Ducks
Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) and his ragtag ice hockey crew,The Mighty Ducks, were so influential in ’90s popular culture as to inspire the NHL expansion franchise, the Anaheim Ducks, when Disney wanted to add a sporting crown jewel to their large, Orange County, California footprint. The film itself was an unexpected box office success — though certainly derided by critics both then and now.
Why Critics Missed the Point
Despite the inspirational tone ofThe Mighty Ducks, and its young target audience, critics were nonplussed.Roger Ebert remarked that the filmwas “sweet and innocent, and that at a certain level it might appeal to younger kids. I doubt if its ambitions reach much beyond that.” After a rash of early ‘90’s sports films crafted around kids, it was an uphill climb forDucksto impress within the critical sphere, but the film wasn’t made to impress them as much as to inspire kids to work on their slapshots.StreamThe Mighty Duckson Disney+.
18Bio-Dome (1996) - 4%
“Free Mahi-Mahi!” We’ll defer to Wikipedia’s description ofBio-Domeas having “themes of environmentalism, combined with drug use, sexual innuendo, and toilet humor.” In other words — everything you want from a nostalgic ’90s re-watch! Film has seldom reached higher heights than when Doyle (Stephen Baldwin) takes deep whiffs of Bud’s (Pauly Shore) flatulence to triumphantly guess what he has eaten. Yes, this was a deeply intellectual film.
Why Bio-Dome Remains Perennially Re-watchable
Thanks to its legendary quotability and stupendous stupidity,Bio-Domeremains another nostalgic journey into the world of ’90s comedy (are we seeing a trend here?) with a hastily-conceivedcomedy duo made to capitalizeon franchises likeBill and Ted’s Excellent AdventureandBeavis and Butt-Head. Somehow, the film is still hilarious — albeit generally hated in the critical sphere.StreamBio-Domeon Prime Video.
17The Golden Child (1986) - 21%
At the height of Eddie Murphy’s enormous ’80s popularity as an actor, he made a few critical stinkers.The Golden Childwas one of his films that critics hated the most, but the movie still earned an astonishing $149.4 million ($420.5 million adjusted for inflation) in 1986. To be frank, there’s no such thing as a “bad"movie that features Murphy at his comedic apexin the ’80s, andThe Golden Childwas a fun adventure that overcame some backwards racial politics (yes, this was the ’80s) and bad visual effects to remain a great watch — even to this day.
Charles Dance Helps the Film as an Excellent Villain
Long before he was the tyrannical Tywin Lannister onGame of Thrones, Charles Dance had a string of villain roles in Hollywood blockbusters likeThe Golden ChildandLast Action Hero. Of his experience acting opposite Murphy, as Sardo Numspa, Dance said “I thought I’d quite like to do a film with Eddie Murphy because he makes me laugh. The character was villainous, but he was a comic villain as far as I was concerned, and I hadn’t done a film like that before.” Bravo!StreamThe Golden Childon Max.
Related:Beverly Hills Cop 4 New Footage Revealed by Netflix, Sequel Set to Debut in Summer 2024
16Judge Dredd (1995) - 22%
Judge Dredd
“I am the law.” Granted, the quote sounded kinda funny coming out of the side of Sylvester Stallone’s mouth inJudge Dredd. But man, if Stallone didn’t look awesome in that form-fitting Judge’s armor! The film allowed Stallone to be judge, jury and executioner all at once — adapting the popular2000 ADcomic series for the screen. Some seriously dubious choices (see: casting Rob Schneider as the film’s comic relief) led to the movie’s understandably-rotten score — but the film can be enjoyed by those who love nothing more than an ironically-humorous ’90s action movie watching experience.
Nobody Has Adequately Adapted Dredd for the Screen… Yet.
Decades after this adapted film, another surprisingly good film was made from the comic,Dredd —which lacked star power but had innovative CGI. If the two films could somehow be combined, and reconstitutedlike a highly-funded Marvel movie, perhaps the comic books could finally be done…justice. Get it?RentJudge Dreddon Apple TV.
15The Nun (2018) - 24%
We doubt producers James Wan and Peter Safran mindedThe Nun’s atrocious RT rating very much, after the horror film’s massive $366 million box office haul. Sure, the film took some major liberties with the story’s believability — and wascertainly very derivative from horror stapleslikeThe Exorcist. Still, we don’t generally go see horror movies for their scripts as much as for their scares.The Nunhad plenty!
Demián Bichir Paced the Film With a Memorable Performance
DespiteThe Nun’s shortcomings, story wise, it caught Demián Bichir at his apex, wedged between an Oscar nom forA Better Lifeand some great TV work on shows likeWeedsandLet the Right One In. Bichir has a unique gravitas that works well for horror and science fiction, joining a long lineage of top flight actors who played the priest roles in great horror films, like Max Von Sydow and Russell Crowe.RentThe Nunon Apple TV.
We lost Treat Williams to a tragic motorcycle accident last year, and the event was a reminder not only of the actor’s fun forays into franchises likeStar WarsandMiss Congeniality, but his non-stop, prolific career that saw him act in hundreds of films and TV shows. Williams didn’t shy away from the occasional action B-Movie, never reaching greater heights in that realm thanDead Heat, oppositeSNLalum Joe Piscopo.
Count this as a film to be enjoyed ironically, as the action sequences are laughable, the pairing of Williams and Piscopo is as awkward as buddy cops get, and the dialogueseems drawn from a soap opera. Still,Dead Heathas an inexplicable watchability for those who love ’80s action cheese. Queue this bad boy up right afterRaw Dealand pretty much any Lorenzo Lamas movie.StreamDead Heaton Tubi for free.
13The Canyons (2013) - 21%
The Canyons
It probably isn’t a surprise that a Paul Schrader movie starring Lindsay Lohan and an adult film star bombed at the box office. Ifthe geniuses behindTaxi Driver,The Parent Trap, andInsatiable 3(yes, an adult film) weren’t enough to get you to the theater, you still have time to correct your errors! This sleazy bedtime story will provide all the goosebumps you’re looking for when you watch reality television — and then some! Long liveThe Canyons, and all the old-school erotic thrillers!
HowThe CanyonsWas a Collection of Generational Talents
Jokes aside — this film featured a Bret Easton Ellis script, an appearance by arthouse director Gus Van Sant, and backing by IFC Films. Nobody at MovieWeb will contest its RT score — but don’t let that get in the way of enjoying this truly cheesy masterpiece!StreamThe Canyonsfree on Tubi
12Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) - 0%
Quite possibly mankind’s greatest artistic achievement,Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrolshould have been yet another uninvited sequel to the original, but Warner Bros. thought they’d inject a little youth into the franchise. That included Brian Backer ofFast Timesfame, and David Spade and his roving band of skateboarders —including the Birdman, Tony Hawk, himself. All the usual suspects remained, as well — the human beatbox Michael Winslow, the pithy Steve Guttenberg, and the utterly insane Bobcat Goldthwait.
Why This Wonderfully Awful Film Remains Eminently Rewatchable
Ok, so it wasn’t exactly a snub thatPA4was left off the Best Picture nominees list for that year’s Oscars. Still, if you want an essential document of all the insanity of ’80s sequels milking commercial franchises and young audiences for everything they were worth — watch this movie! Then watchKey and Peele’s “Gremlins 2” sketch. You’ll get the idea.RentPolice Academy 4: Citizens on Patrolon Apple TV.
11Swimfan (2002) - 15%
Swimfanis an interesting cross-section of the weird, transitional early-2000s period of films that weren’t exactly B-movies, but occupied the same seat that Roger Corman films once warmed.Swimfanrose above the heap, by hijackingthemes from the ’90s’ best erotic-thrillerdirectors, like Adrian Lyne. Erika Christensen gives a Sharon Stone-esque performance as Madison Bell, that showed true promise before a series of unfortunate flops relegated her to a humbler career.
How Swimfan Could Have Been a Big Film in the Right Hands
Swimfancame along about 10 years too late, as the clamor for erotic thrillers likeBasic InstinctandSingle White Femaleduring the ’90s didn’t have the same zeitgeisty appeal to young millennials at the turn-of-the-century. Also, the PG-13 rating and teen characters didn’t help the script push boundaries — even if it made the film more profitable.StreamSwimfanon Starz.
