Author: BRWC

By Dustin Clendenen

Hollywood faces an eternal challenge: perfecting the science of moviemaking. To maximize profit and boost quality, moviemakers often pack their films with all-star casts, hoping to rake in revenue based simply on the power of famous names. Unsurprisingly, the cast is not the only key to a successful movie, and such a strategy often leads to the production of disappointing films, despite their stellar actors and actresses.

In order to identify the poorest performing movies with the strongest casts, PrettyFamous considered a movie’s Smart Rating and PrettyFamous score. The Smart Rating assesses a movie’s overall success and considers ratings on Gracenote, Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Metacritic and the movie’s cumulative, inflation-adjusted U.S. box office gross. The PrettyFamous score, meanwhile, calculates the collective fame of a film’s cast based on the actors’ award wins and nominations, combined box office gross as well as their current popularity online.

Among movies with a PrettyFamous score of 99 or 100 and at least 50,000 Rotten Tomatoes audience ratings, we collected the films with the lowest Smart Ratings to provide a list of Hollywood’s worst movies with the best casts.

#25. Evan Almighty

Smart Rating: 27.69
Release Year: 2007

In the sequel to the wildly successful “Bruce Almighty,” God contacts Congressman Evan Baxter and tells him to build an ark in preparation for a great flood. The movie featured the best special effects a $175 million budget could buy, but only made $31 million during its opening weekend and failed to recover its costs for the studio. Even Steve Carell couldn’t sell the script.

#24. Be Cool

Smart Rating: 27.03
Release Year: 2005

After losing interest in the film industry, Chili Palmer (from “Get Shorty”) tries to break into music while having an affair with a record executive’s widow. The Rotten Tomatoes audience summarizes the film as “tepid, square and lukewarm,” and a music industry parody with “two left feet.”

#23. Fred Claus

Smart Rating: 26.65
Release Year: 2007

Fred Claus, Santa’s bitter older brother, has made a living quite differently from his jolly sibling: He is a repo man who steals everything he repossesses. When his antics land him in jail, he’s forced to move home to the North Pole and face the wrath of his family. Though it might have been an interesting premise, the movie only got a 21 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and the most common complaint from critics concerned the movie’s uneven tone.

#22. Wild Hogs

Smart Rating: 26.23
Release Year: 2007

A group of middle-aged suburbanite dads try to spice up their lives with a motorcycle trip on the open road, but encounter trouble when they cross paths with a New Mexico biker gang called the Del Fuegos. The movie fared better with audiences than critics, and it definitely didn’t hurt the careers of any of its stars.

#21. Grown Ups

Smart Rating: 26.16
Release Year: 2010

After their high school basketball coach passes away, five good friends and former teammates reunite for the Fourth of July weekend to mourn his passing and reconnect after years apart. With a score of only 10 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, “Grown Ups” is just one of nearly 50 of Adam Sandler’s critically hated films. Inexplicably, it spawned a sequel in 2013.

#20. Transformers: Age of Extinction

Smart Rating: 25.57
Release Year: 2014

The first in the franchise led by Mark Wahlberg, “Age of Extinction” follows the Autobots in their escape from a shadowy group trying to change the history of earth. Spoiler alert: The movie had a lot of explosions and made over $1 billion worldwide despite nearly 150 negative reviews.

#19. Transcendence

Smart Rating: 25.04
Release Year: 2014

Johnny Depp plays Dr. Will Caster, a scientist determined to create the ultimate sentient machine. His work takes on a newer and more dangerous edge, however, and “Transcendence” explores the horrifying consequences of one man acquiring the world’s knowledge. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 19 percent, and the film made back less than half of its $100 million budget at the box office.

#18. Valentine’s Day

Smart Rating: 23.67
Release Year: 2010

“Valentine’s Day” is the first of Garry Marshall’s ridiculously star-studded holiday movies exploring relationship drama around the titular day. Critics hated this rom-com but audiences packed the theaters for it: The movie made over $215 million and ranks as one of New Line Cinema’s most profitable films.

#17. The Hangover Part III

Smart Rating: 21.85
Release Year: 2013

The lowest-rated film of the Hangover franchise, the final film in the trilogy follows the Wolf Pack as they rescue one of their kidnapped crew members. Rotten Tomatoes called the supposed comedy “an angrily dark action thriller.”

#16. G-Force

Smart Rating: 21.79
Release Year: 2009

Highly trained and armed with high-tech gadgets, a squad of guinea pig spies are tasked with saving the planet from a maniacal billionaire who plans to take over the world using household appliances. Neither critics nor audiences gave it a favorable rating, and the film only made $32 million during its opening weekend in the U.S.

#15. The Smurfs

Smart Rating: 21.11
Release Year: 2011

The first major motion picture of the legendary cartoon franchise takes our blue heroes out of the world of hand-drawn animation to New York City. Critics unanimously gave the movie a thumbs down, but it was a smashing success with kids and made over $500 million in global box offices.

#14. Righteous Kill

Smart Rating: 21.09
Release Year: 2008

After 30 years on the force, two veteran New York City homicide detectives are called to find the culprits behind a series of executions of criminals who escaped justice, a case that bears striking similarities to a mystery they solved years before. Though audiences enjoyed it slightly more than critics, it failed to recover its $60 million budget at the box office.

#13. Tammy

Smart Rating: 19.78
Release Year: 2014

After losing her job and learning that her husband was having an affair, Tammy abandons her life for a road trip with her crude, hard-drinking grandmother. Melissa McCarthy’s awesome screen presence was not enough to save the film from bad reviews, but she proved she could sell almost $100 million in tickets.

#12. Alexander

Smart Rating: 19.54
Release Year: 2004

“Alexander” follows the life of one of the greatest military leaders in ancient history and his quest to conquer the entire known world. The Oliver Stone biopic was heavily criticized for its long length and lack of emotional involvement. It failed to get any major award nominations, excluding its six well-deserved Razzie nominations.

#11. The Day the Earth Stood Still

Smart Rating: 19.39
Release Year: 2008

Despite outstanding special effects, the remake of the 1951 classic sci-fi film received abysmal ratings on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and audiences alike. The marketing team must have done something right, however, because the film earned quite a profit internationally.

#10. Bewitched

Smart Rating: 18.57
Release Year: 2005

In the self-referential, big screen adaptation of “Bewitched,” Nicole Kidman stars opposite Will Ferrell as a real-life witch who is cast in the big screen adaptation of “Bewitched.” Critics underscored the film’s lack of direction, and it garnered nominations from the Razzies and the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.

#9. New Year’s Eve

Smart Rating: 18.06
Release Year: 2011

The follow-up to Garry Marshall’s box office killer “Valentine’s Day,” “New Year’s Eve” maintains the star-studded formula to tell a handful of intertwining romantic stories all happening on the most exciting day in New York City. “New Year’s Eve” earned a well-deserved 7 percent on Rotten Tomatoes but still made New Line Cinema almost $100 million in profit.

#8. Little Fockers

Smart Rating: 17.86
Release Year: 2010

The third in Stiller’s “Meet the Parents” franchise, “Little Fockers” adds kids to the mix and forces the struggling patriarch of the Focker family to take a second job, which raises red flags for his overbearing father-in-law. The lowest rated of the three films, “Little Fockers” still performed well at the box office, but it likely will not be revived for a fourth installment.

#7. The Women

Smart Rating: 17.63
Release Year: 2008

A remake of the 1939 classic, this update of “The Women” follows a circle of wealthy, successful women in New York City and the chaos that ensues after one of their marriages is upset by an affair. The film only received a 13 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and critic Stella Papamichael sharply commented, “The 1930s original feels more cutting-edge than this re-do.”

#6. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

Smart Rating: 17.55
Release Year: 2010

In this sequel, the warring cats and dogs call a temporary truce to thwart a rogue feline spy named Kitty Galore and her quest for world domination. Inexplicably premiering almost a decade after the first installment in the franchise, the second film hardly made a splash at the box office and wasn’t well received by critics or audiences.

#5. Marmaduke

Smart Rating: 17.24
Release Year: 2010

Based on the 50-year-old comic strip created by Brad Anderson, the live-action adaptation of “Marmaduke” reimagines the title character as a smart-talking, angst-ridden teenage dog causing trouble for his family after they relocate to Southern California. Marmaduke was a far more successful dog on paper, however, and the movie earned less than $37 million at U.S. box offices.

#4. Sphere

Smart Rating: 17.15
Release Year: 1998

A group of scientists explore a mysterious spacecraft discovered under three 300 years’ worth of coral growth at the bottom of the ocean. Based on the best-selling Michael Crichton book and directed by Barry Levinson, the project should have been a huge success, but turned out to be both a critical and box-office flop.

#3. The Love Guru

Smart Rating: 15.93
Release Year: 2008

This gag-filled comedy follows Pitka, an aspiring self-help guru who uses the wisdom he gleaned from life in an Indian spiritual community to heal the relationships of troubled American couples. Even though it brought back much of the iconic “Austin Powers” cast, “The Love Guru” was not well received by critics and made less than $40 million in box offices worldwide.

#2. Old Dogs

Smart Rating: 14.65
Release Year: 2009

“Old Dogs,” a movie with only a 5 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, follows two friends and business partners whose lives are turned upside down when a series of strange circumstances land them in the care of 7-year-old twins. Critics almost universally hated the film, but audiences responded well to the Williams-Travolta collaboration.

#1. Batman & Robin

Smart Rating: 14.26
Release Year: 1997

Featuring Clooney’s only turn as Batman, this aesthetically unpleasant adaptation of the iconic DC Comics series saw the title characters facing off against Poison Ivy and a bizarrely cast Mr. Freeze. Nearly two decades after its release, the audience still talks trash about the movie. Both George Clooney and director Joel Schumacher have been kind enough to apologize for making such a horrible film.

Overview of the Worst Movies with the Best Casts

Compare Movies on PrettyFamous

THE LAST WITCH HUNTER is the intense, action-packed sci-fi adventure starring Vin Diesel, Michael Caine, Elijah Wood and Rose Lesley, from the visionary Director Breck Eisner and the producers of 300, Riddick and the Fast & Furious franchise.

Hundreds of years ago, the mighty warrior Kaulder (Diesel) vanquished the all-powerful Witch Queen, thus defeating the witches who had wreaked bloodshed on the world for centuries once and for all. But in moments before her death the Witch Queen cursed Kaulder with immortality, forever separating him from his beloved family.

To mark The Last Witch Hunter arriving on Digital HD from 29^th February, courtesy of Entertainment One, we take a look at Kaulder’s greatest fights in the film as well as some of the world’s greatest ever movie battles.

Apocalypse Now: The Flight of the Valkyries (1979) 

This is arguably the most epic movie battle scene to have been shot. It’s the American soldier’s Vs. the Vietcong; huge squadrons of helicopters fill the Asian skyline, outweighing and outmuscling the basic defenses of the Vietnamese villagers. Ammunition rains down on the coastline as local school children and farmers scurry to find cover. While the battle is of epic proportions, it is equally unsettling. Wagner’s “Flight of the Valkyrie” booms away in the background as the napalm rips apart everything in its path.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

This is one of the most iconic battle scenes to date. As the Death Star nears completion, a huge attack against the Galactic Empire is launched by the Rebel Alliance. Unbeknownst to them, the Death Star is already functioning as the Emperor has simply been waiting for them to arrive. This battle has an underdog, non-stop action and multi story threads. The final moments are the most intense as Luke Skywalker battles his father, Darth Vader, on board the Death Star.

Saving Private Ryan: The Storming of Omaha Beach (1998)

This battle scene does an incredible job at capturing the reality of warfare. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the opening scene showing the US Army invading Omaha Beach is a frighteningly real portrayal of the invasion in 1944. Spielberg was advised by Hollywood’s combat specialists Captain Dale Dye which resulted in a World War II re-enactment like never before. As the soldier’s are released onto the beach from their landing crafts, many of them are gunned down immediately. Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) still manages to organise an effective attack against the enemy’s machine guns.

Gladiator: Battle for Germania (2000) 

There is something slightly different about the nature of this amazing battle sequence; it takes place in the opening scene. The leader of the Roman Army eventually loses out and is taken slave by the enemy but still shows some high level military tactics that are a wonder to see. It’s the Roman legion Vs. the Germanic tribes and is some of the best battle cinema to be seen. Although it removes some of the reality of a Roman battle formation, as they would never break ranks as they do in the film, the battle portrayal covers all bases and gives the viewer some intense one-on-one duels.

Lord Of The Rings, The Two Towers: The Battle for Healms Deep (2002)

While the final chapter in the Lord of the Rings trilogy boasts larger scale battles, it is the Battle for Healms Deep in the second instalment that really stands out. 10,000 of Saruman’s Uruk-hai descend on Healms Deep intent on killing every man, woman and child they cross. Again this is an unfair fight at first glance, with the defending men of Rohan and elves outnumbered. While the Uruk-hai manage to break through the fortress walls and enter, a heroic fight from those inside manages to hold the city.

Kill Bill Vol. 1: The Bride Vs. the Crazy 88s (2003)

The Bride (Uma Thurman) is trying to find O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) to avenge her fiancé and unborn child’s murder. In her way stand the Crazy 88s. She is outnumbered at every turn but equipped with nothing but her sword and her moves, she manages to defeat every one of her foes. The original cut of this scene was too much for the MPAA and Quentin Tarantino was forced to change it in order to tone down the sheer amount of blood. This only contributes to the style and epic nature of this already remarkable fight sequence.

300: Battle of Thermopylae (2006)

The portrayal of the contest between King Leonidas’ 300 Spartans and the Persian army’s one million strong soldiers goes down as one of the most epic movie sequences in recent memory. 300 Vs. one million is the opposite of a fair fight and it is this imbalance that provides the ultimate satisfaction. Persian forces approach and demand a Spartan surrender and submission. After the Spartans announce a “come and get them” denial, an incredible battle follows; visually striking graphics, immense gore and slow-motion action manages to give some style to a battle drowning in chaos.

The Last Witch Hunter (2015)

The Last Witch Hunter starts with a fiery battle between the witch hunter Kaulder (Vin Diesel) and the witches. Haunted by thoughts of his dead family, the warrior takes on and slays a horde of shape-shifting witches. The fight, caught up in the bowels of a blazing tree, pushes Kaulder to his limits against his main target, the Witch Queen. In an intense scene, he tries to destroy the Witch Queen with his burning blade, ready to die himself. At the point of her death, the Queen curses Kaulder with immortality, a never end to his pain and suffering.

At the end of The Last Witch Hunter, Kaulder faces another blistering battle with the Witch Queen. As the Queen uses her powers against him; she releases a plague throughout the city, black ash violently smashes through windows ready to kill on the Queen’s demand. Kaulder continuously strikes his sword at her, causing electric slashes to run over her body. As the plague continues to spread, Kaulder grabs his fiery sword and hurls it into the Queen’s chest, where it combines with lightning bolts to destroy the Queen once again as her body explodes into ashes. Kaulder is ready to permanently get rid of her and himself, but Chloe, his witch girlfriend, stops him. They realise they both have a new reason to keep living.

THE LAST WITCH HUNTER is out on Digital DOWNLOAD on the 29^th february, courtesy of Entertainment One.

THE LAST WITCH HUNTER is the intense, action-packed sci-fi adventure starring Vin Diesel, Michael Caine, Elijah Wood and Rose Lesley, from the visionary Director Breck Eisner and the producers of 300, Riddick and the Fast & Furious franchise.

Hundreds of years ago, the mighty warrior Kaulder (Diesel) vanquished the all-powerful Witch Queen, thus defeating the witches who had wreaked bloodshed on the world for centuries once and for all. But in moments before her death the Witch Queen cursed Kaulder with immortality, forever separating him from his beloved family.

Michael Caine plays a priest and ‘keeper’ of Kaulder. Caine has also been known to play other ‘keeper’ type roles in films such as The Dark Knight and Kingsman: The Secret Service. To mark The Last Witch Hunter arriving on Digital HD from 29^th February, courtesy of Entertainment One, we chart Caine’s roles and responsibilities throughout his career.

The Cider House Rules (1999)

The Cider House Rules, based on John Irving’s novel, is a film about an orphan who leaves the orphanage in Maine where he was raised, and goes to work in a cider house. Michael Caine plays Dr. Wilbur Larch, the head of the orphanage, which doubles as a birthing hospital where he is also the obstetrician. In this movie Caine trains the main orphan, played by Tobey Maguire, to be an obstetrician. Although Caine is not onscreen for the majority of the movie, he gives a touching performance as a conflicted man trying to do everything he can for the children under his care.

The Prestige (2006)

The Prestige is a film about two rival magicians Angier and Borden, played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, whose mission is to sabotage one another’s work. Michael Caine stars as John Cutter, an engineer of magic tricks, who works with Angier to try and out do Borden. Cutter’s character acts as a father figure to Angier and as a teacher, sharing his expertise and experience with him. However, eventually he has to leave Angier, who becomes too obsessed with beating his rival. Full of twists and turns, The Prestige is an extremely thrilling and creative film.

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight is centered around Bruce Wayne, played by Christian Bale, who lives a double life as the crime-purging vigilante, Batman. However, Wayne wouldn’t have got to where he was without the support of his long-suffering butler, Alfred Pennyworth played by Caine. Having looked after Bruce since birth, Alfred is not only his long standing friend but also one of the only people to know Bruce’s alternative identity. Caine’s Alfred offers Bruce guidance and advice throughout the movie, acting as his father figure, counsel and accomplice. Although this is not one of Caine’s larger roles, Alfred is an integral part of the Batman mythos.

Now You See Me (2013)

In Now You See Me, Caine plays Arthur Tressler, the owner of an insurance company who financially sponsors the magician team, The Four Horsemen, throughout their tour. Arthur travels with the team over the US and revels in the fame he gets for sponsoring the popular show. After a few shows, The Four Horsemen try to read Arthur’s mind, little does he know, this was a secret trick to reveal the passwords to his bank details. It turns out Arthur’s insurance company was scamming people, so the magicians rob him of his money. He wasn’t quite the keeper people expected…

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

Based upon the 2012 comics, Kingsman: The Secret Service is a British spy film that tells the story of  the recruitment and training of a potential secret agent into a spy organisation, just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius. Caine stars as Arthur, the leader of the Kingsman organisation, and it’s up to Arthur and the Kingsmen to stop the villainous millionaire Valentine, played by Samuel L Jackson, before he kills millions.

The Last Witch Hunter (2015)

In The Last Witch Hunter Caine plays Dolan 36^th, a priest who protects and looks over Vin Diesel’s character, Kaulder. Kaulder is immortal and it is the Dolan’s job to watch over him. Dolan 36^th in particular advises him and makes sure Kaulder sticks on a moral path. Throughout the film, the father / son relationship is very clear.

THE LAST WITCH HUNTER is out on Digital DOWNLOAD on the 29^th february, courtesy of Entertainment One