The early 2000s witnessed a diverse range of movies, from critically acclaimed gems to box office hits. However, riddled between the successes were some tremendous flops. With weak scripts, poor performances, and questionable premises, these are the indisputable twelve worst movies from the early 2000s.
1. The Last Airbender (2010)
The Last Airbender was a highly anticipated live-action version of a beloved anime tv show. However, as most live-action adaptions of anime go, this Film just completely misses the mark and let a lot of fans down.
2. Dragonball Evolution (2009)
Dragonball Evolution also follows that anime to a live-action flop. While the cast is great and the movie itself could have gone far, the writing is cheesy and the budget brings it down.
3. Gigli (2003)
Gigli tells the story of a low-level mobster, Larry Gigli (Ben Affleck), who is assigned to kidnap the mentally challenged brother of a federal prosecutor. However, things take a bizarre turn when Gigli falls in love with a quirky, free-spirited woman named Ricki (Jennifer Lopez).
The film's weak dialogue, lackluster performances, and the lack of chemistry between the two leads, who were literally a couple in real life, contributed to its reputation as one of the worst movies of the early 2000s.
4. Catwoman (2004)
Catwoman follows the transformation of Patience Phillips (Halle Berry) into the iconic DC Comics anti-heroine. After gaining cat-like powers, she seeks revenge against a corrupt cosmetics company. Despite being a DC superhero film, it was a critical and commercial failure.
The script was amateurish, the action sequences were underwhelming, and many found Halle Berry's portrayal of Catomwan to be questionable at best. This one's a guilty pleasure watch of mine. It's so bad, it's good.
5. Glitter (2001)
Glitter centers around Billie Frank (Mariah Carey), a talented young singer who rises to stardom in the 1980s music scene. The film chronicles her struggles with fame, personal relationships, and substance abuse.
However, its weak storyline, poor acting, and lack of chemistry between characters resulted in a disastrous reception, making it a prime example of a failed musical drama despite casting a tremendous musical talent.
6. The Happening (2008)
The Happening presents a post-apocalyptic scenario where a mysterious toxin in the air causes people to commit suicide. As a high school science teacher (Mark Wahlberg) and his wife (Zooey Deschanel) attempt to flee, they confront the chilling reality of an environmental disaster.
Despite the potential of its premise, the film suffered from laughably cringe dialogue, a silly execution, and a very jarring performance from Mark Wahlberg. The entire film elicits an uncanny valley feeling that is hard to shake. This is a far cry from Shyamalan's best work in The Sixth Sense.
7. Elektra (2005)
Elektra is a spin-off from the Daredevil franchise, focusing on the titular assassin (Jennifer Garner). Tasked with protecting a young girl from a mystical organization, Elektra faces her demons and battles supernatural foes.
However, the film's messy plot, weak characterization, and uninspired action sequences failed to capture the essence of the beloved comic book character and felt more like a B-movie.
8. Disaster Movie (2008)
Disaster Movie attempts to spoof various disaster films but falls flat in their execution. The film strings together a series of pop culture references, crude humor, and slapstick gags without offering substantial comedic value. Its lack of wit, originality, and coherent storytelling resulted in a critical and commercial failure.
9. Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005)
In Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, the hapless male gigolo Deuce Bigalow (Rob Schneider) finds himself in Amsterdam, where he becomes entangled in a murder mystery involving fellow gigolos. The film's reliance on crude humor, lowbrow stereotypes, and a weak storyline failed to capture the charm of its predecessor, making it one of the worst movies of the early 2000s.
9. I Know Who Killed Me (2007)
I Know Who Killed Me follows a young woman named Aubrey Fleming (Lindsay Lohan) who mysteriously disappears and is later found alive but claims to be someone else. As she unravels the truth behind her abduction, the film delves into dark themes of identity and violence. However, the movie tried to patch up a convoluted plot with excessive violence and the star power of Lindsay Lohan. The film quickly started to feel like it was going off the rails, and Lohan's performance was widely criticized.
10. Son of the Mask (2005)
Son of the Mask is a comedic fantasy film that is a sequel to the 1994 film The Mask. The story revolves around Tim Avery (Jamie Kennedy), an aspiring cartoonist who discovers a magical mask that grants him extraordinary powers. However, chaos ensues when his newborn son gets ahold of the mask. For several glaring reasons, this movie earned its infamous reputation as one of the worst films.
Firstly, the film fails to live up to the magic and charm of its predecessor, The Mask, leaving fans of the original feeling disappointed and let down. The weak script offers little in terms of engaging storytelling or clever humor, relying on tired gags and slapstick comedy that fall flat. The lackluster spirit fails to elicit genuine laughs and feels forced and contrived.
The film also suffers from poor execution, with subpar visual effects that lack the polish and creativity seen in the original. The performances, while trying their best, fail to capture the same level of energy and charisma as Jim Carrey's portrayal of the iconic Mask character.
12. Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003)
Based on the beloved children's book by Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat brings the mischievous feline (Mike Myers) to life. The film follows two children as they embark on an adventure with the Cat, who wreaks havoc in their home.
Despite its colorful visuals, the film was heavily criticized for straying from the source material, relying on crude humor, and lacking the charm and whimsy of the original book. The film was such an inappropriate disaster that Dr. Seuss' widow, who is in charge of his estate, has since decided she won't allow any more live adaptations to be made of Dr. Seuss' work.
13. Honey (2003)
Honey centers around Honey Daniels (Jessica Alba), a young dancer who dreams of making it big in the music video industry. As she navigates the challenges of pursuing her passion, she also finds love and fights against exploitation. However, the film movie is stiff and predictable with its clichéd characters and formulaic approach to the dance genre.
14. You Got Served (2004)
You Got Served follows a group of talented street dancers as they participate in underground dance competitions. The film showcases their rivalries, personal struggles, and a quest for redemption. Despite its flashy dance sequences and energetic performances, You Got Served ultimately stumbled as a film. One of the primary reasons for its flop was the weak acting that failed to deliver compelling and believable characters.
The film relied heavily on a formulaic plot that followed predictable tropes, offering little originality or surprises. The movie also lacked depth, providing shallow character development and failing to explore the emotional complexities of its protagonists. The film struggled to engage and connect with the audience on a deeper level, and audiences thought it lacked a coherent narrative. The movie overemphasizes dance sequences at the expense of a compelling story.
15. From Justin to Kelly (2003)
Maybe watching From Justin to Kelly now feels more like watching a live time capsule of the early 2000s, but when the film first came out, it wasn't met with great reviews. Coming off of her Season 1 American Idol win, Kelly Clarkson stars alongside Justin Guarini, in this… well interesting movie musical.
The film really encompasses everything that was cool about the early 2000s: Spring Break in Florida, skateboarding, and baby doll shirts. This movie musical is full of dance numbers and songs, but that doesn't make it great.
Source: Reddit.
