The Razzies are back, and this year's winners are a mix of the expected and the utterly baffling. While the Oscars celebrate cinematic excellence, the Razzies gleefully spotlight the year's most disastrous films. And oh boy, did 2024 deliver. From superhero flops to self-indulgent auteur projects, the 45th Golden Raspberry Awards left no stone unturned in their quest to roast Hollywood's biggest blunders.
The Big “Winners”:
Madame Web, Sony's ill-fated attempt to expand its Spider-Man Universe, took home the dubious honor of Worst Picture. The film, which also “won” Worst Screenplay and earned Dakota Johnson the title of Worst Actress, was a critical and commercial disaster. With an 11% Rotten Tomatoes score, it's no wonder the Razzies couldn't resist. Johnson's performance was described as “wooden,” and the script was lambasted for its incoherent plot and cringe-worthy dialogue.
Francis Ford Coppola, the legendary director behind The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, found himself in uncharted territory with Megalopolis. The self-financed passion project, which reportedly cost 120million,wasaboxofficebomb,earningamere120million,wasaboxofficebomb,earningamere14 million globally. Coppola accepted the Razzie for Worst Director with surprising grace, posting on social media: “I am thrilled to accept the Razzie award… for the distinctive honor of being nominated as the worst director, worst screenplay, and worst picture.”
Other Notable “Achievements”:
- Worst Actor: Jerry Seinfeld for Unfrosted
- Worst Supporting Actor: Jon Voight for Megalopolis
- Worst Screen Combo: Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in Joker: Folie à Deux
- Worst Sequel: Joker: Folie à Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux was another major disappointment. Despite the success of its predecessor, the sequel's bizarre musical numbers and lackluster plot left audiences and critics scratching their heads. With a 31% Rotten Tomatoes score, it's clear the film failed to live up to the hype.
The Razzies' Legacy:
Razzie Awards have always been controversial, often criticized for their harsh and sometimes unfair judgments. Remember when Stanley Kubrick was nominated for Worst Director for The Shining? Or when Ennio Morricone's iconic score for The Thing was labeled “worst”? This year's awards continue that tradition, targeting big-name directors and actors with a mix of humor and bite.
The 2025 Razzies remind us that even the most talented filmmakers can stumble. Coppola's Megalopolis was a bold, if flawed, vision, while Madame Web was simply a mess. Yet, there's something oddly endearing about these failures. They remind us that cinema is a gamble, and not every roll of the dice pays off.
But here's a question to ponder: Do the Razzies serve as a necessary critique of Hollywood excess, or are they just mean-spirited fun? After all, isn't it better to take risks and fail than to play it safe and bore audiences to tears?
