The Worst Films Of 2008

Worst-Movies-2008-puke.jpgWell, as we approach the end of 2008 it’s time to continue the tradition and announce The Movie Blog’s 10 worst films of 2008. There were a LOT of horrible movies this year so it took a while to narrow down the bunch to just 10… but we have them here now for you to focus your disgust at. These movies represent the very worst of Hollywood and painful memories of wasted money at the box office. Thank goodness we had some really great films this year too… but that post is for later this week.

So for now I present to you for discussion, The Movie Blog’s 10 Worst Films of 2008

Worst-2008-spartans.jpg#1 – MEET THE SPARTANS
I don’t know that I have it in me to think about this movie long enough to make a statement about it. The fact that it made $30 million on it’s opening weekend proves that “Idiocracy” was more of a prophecy than a movie. Hands down the worst film of 2008.
Worst-2008-guru.jpg#2 – THE LOVE GURU
Should have just called it “Austin Powers 4 With A Different Accent And Without The Humor”. Myers… what happened to you dude? Yes, it was even worse than…
Worst-2008-witless.jpg#3 – WITLESS PROTECTION
How can a guy who is so funny on stage (yeah, I actually dig Larry as a stand up comedian) be so flat out horrible on screen each and every time he’s up there?
Worst-2008-Rocker.jpg#4 – THE ROCKER
I knew this film was a train wreck after being on set for just 5 minutes. Rainn Wilson was poised to become a big comedy movie star… after this flop it just ain’t gonna happen. Damn movie made less that $6.5 million. OUCH!
Worst-2008-X.jpg#5 – X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE
I wanted to like this movie so badly, but it’s like the filmmakers sat down one day and said to themselves “how many ways can we really screw this movie up, and how fast can we do all of them”. Good job guys… total success!
Worst-2008-88.jpg#6 – 88 MINUTES
Al Pacino holds the honor of being the only performer to headline 2 films on this year’s worst of list. Can anyone remember far back enough when this guy being in a movie meant something?
Worst-2008-body.jpg#7 – OVER HER DEAD BODY
Turns out Eva Longoria actually can’t act or attract an audience and just fluked out with Housewives. Wow this movie SUCKED! Why did Paul Rudd agree to be in this?
Worst-2008-Mummy.jpg#8 – THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR
This is another one I so dearly wanted to like, but instead it just rotted like bad pork in the sun. Some great visual effect stuff in there… but aside from that just about nothing redeemable about the film whatsoever.
Worst-2008-Righteous.jpg#9 – RIGHTEOUS KILL
The long awaited team up of Al and Robert was made about 7 years too late. And why the hell would you get the director from 88 Minutes to do this??? A horrible piece of crap movie which only served to push Pacino and De Niro further into irrelevance.
Worst-2008-Nick.jpg#10 – NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST
The worst unforgivable sin any comedy film can commit is to not be funny. This film was not funny. Not even once. Not one giggle, not one smile, not one grin. Can someone please tell Michael Cera that he’s allowed to play more than one character? Yes, I get it Cera. You’re a mildly awkward, good hearted, understated and sympathetic post-teen who struggles with identity and self confidence despite having a lot to offer. Oh wait… which one of his characters are we talking about? Oh that’s right… ALL OF THEM!!!

So there you have it folks. The list of the very worst films of 2008. I’m sure there are others you’d like to see on there, so why don’t you guys fill out the rest in the comments section. Which films do you think deserve the “honor” of being on there… and which ones would you take off this prestigious list to make room for them?

In a couple of days I’ll be posting the Annual “Movie Blog Awards” listing the best films of 2008 including the categories of “Best Film”, “Most Surprising”, “Biggest Disappointment”, “Most Underrated” and a few other.

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101 thoughts on “The Worst Films Of 2008

  1. Really? No reference to the hideous abortion known better as Jennifer’s Body? As a fan of religious horror, I just found it ridiculous. The camp was to be found in the high school cliches and overage cast(Dawson’s Creek did a better job, hell, even Grease. You lose the willing suspension of dibelief if you play a Western hooker about the same year!) For all that’s holy, please kill Megan Fox and friends! By the way, saw it in spanish and laughed until I cried over the cheer squad bieng “the companeros”! Franco Nero and Tomas Milian would be proud. That and the mental image of a scantly clad cheerleader firing a Browning at a bunch of federales, or tossing a machete. HA,HA,HA!!!!!!!!

  2. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist was a very underrated film, with lots of SUBTLE humour, good acting and the best soundtrack of any film this year.

    FUCK YOU JOHN, YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT.

  3. Here are my worst movie picks to rent or buy for 2008

    1. The Love Guru
    2. Be Kind Rewind
    3. You Don’t Mess With The Zohan
    4. The Happening
    5. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
    6. Cloverfield
    7. Righteous Kill
    8. 88 Minutes
    9. The Darjeeling Limited
    10. What Happens in Vegas
    11. Step Brothers
    12. Wanted
    13. The Bucket List
    14. Fool’s Gold
    15. Juno
    16. The Assaination Of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford
    17. Mamma Mia
    18. Cleaner
    19. The House Bunny
    20. The Spiderwick Chronicles
    21. The Women

  4. Where is the Harold and Kumar sequel or Pineapple Express?
    Benjamin Button should be here. What a crappy worthless movie.
    Loved Vicki Cristina Barcelona and I am guy.

  5. @David Lopan

    I don’t know what you guys liked so much about Vicky Cristina Barcelona, the script was interesting but it seemed like I was watching Sex and the City or somethin’ (in other words: girl stuff)

  6. Wow. I just read through all the comments here and have got to say: Holy shit, there were a lot of bad movies last year! It really makes me glad that I don’t have enough spare cash to see many movies. Overall, I’ve got to agree with all the people who list the movies that suck and have got to question the wisdom of anyone who defends any of these movies. I am proud to say that I haven’t seen ANY of the movies anyone mentioned here. But again, that’s probably due more to my lack of discretionary income than to my film picking abilities, but none of these even made my Wish I Could See It list.

    And did the Hottie and Nottie movie not make it to wide release? I remember seeing too many commercials for it and wished they would stop. I guess they did.

  7. OMG!!!

    Can you believe I almost forgot one…

    Blindness.

    It looked like it was going to be worth it and then I sat through the whole thing. Definitely, needs to be on the list, no doubt.

  8. Ok, John…

    This was a great list, but unlike most people I actually liked 88 Minutes and Righteous Kill. So, call me a die-hard DeNiro and Pacino fan.

    I totally agree with others about, The Happening. What a completely crappy movie. I thought the first 5 minutes were interesting with the bodies falling off the building, but I couldn’t get past the Worse Performance of the Year by Mark Walberg. I don’t get that fascination with him as an actor. Ok, as my friend said, “he looks good and loves women.” I would take his brother, Donnie, over him any day!!! Now, I’m not saying that he always sucks, but this summer he had 2 terrible movies (Happening and Max Payne.)

    There were 3 movies tis past year that I nearly walked out of… Should have been more, but I like being away from home when I can. You only had 1 of them on your list, Nick & Nora. The other 2 were Speed Racer and… did anyone else see… College? I am completely throwing myself to the wolves mentioning College, but I thought that I would have a laugh one night and just watched in disbelief how it could be that bad. I think I was the 1 of about 50 people that saw it…

    Nick & Nora, not a comedy… not a drama… not needed for the big screen. I laughed once about the use of the Yugo. Someone mentioned earlier that it was a great current teenage story, well if that is the case then, I don’t ever want to hang with todays youth because they are tremendously stupid!!! Now, I only saw that in regards to the movie… Don’t hate!

    Now that I have wrote a Book here…

    Why was i surprised that Speed Racer sucked? The cartoon sucked!!! I guess, like most, I needed something to do and thought I wouldn’t have been robbed by checking a movie out. I like action and effects. I like retro feeling stuff. I just don’t like CRAP!!! Not everything that was out before needs to be brought back.

    I’m still mad that I sat through these movies and paid for them too.

    Ok, I’ll shut up now… LOL

  9. “The long awaited team up of Al and Robert was made about 7 years too late. And why the hell would you get the director from 88 Minutes to do this??? A horrible piece of crap movie which only served to push Pacino and De Niro further into irrelevance.”

    I thought the long awaited team up of Al and Robert was when they both starred in Heat in 1995.

  10. Deonn E. –

    I Am Legend came out in 2007…not 2008. Although I agree, it would land on my year’s 10 worst too. In any year.

    Also, I absolutely feel that the films worth targeting as “10 worst” are the ones that aimed the highest, cost the most and fell the furthest. All the money these turds sucked up could have paved the way for some really good movies just waiting to be made. But with the likes of “Speed Racer” and “Indy 4” hogging all the funds, they deserve to be spat on.

    “Nick and Nora” just wanted you so much to fall in love with their faux, hipster-ipod-wearing-philosophy, that it made me feel the exact opposite: Retch.

  11. yeah i kinda have some wierd affection for the mummy movies, not sure why but i enjoy them. i even enjoyed the latest one, id say its the worst of the 3 but i still enjoyed it enough to watch twice. those movies just have a sort of odd campy charm to them or somthing that im fond of. oh well… thats the only one on the list i saw.

  12. John I love ya but Mick and Nora wasn’t one of the worst films of this years worst films. Especially when movies like The Happening came out and peoople are running away from grass.

  13. Day the Earth Stood Still needs to be included in worst “honorable mention…

    Along with Zohan, W. And Twilight

    I don’t consider movies like Disaster movie, because its intended to be crap, but if something has real potentional and then stinks up the place, those are the ones that should be called out…

  14. I’m surprised that NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST made your list. It’s a solid film and that I can recall, one that wasn’t toted as a comedy. It’s a teen romance and a very good one at that.

  15. I agree with most of the list. The only thing I would change is putting in “What Happens in Vegas…” close to Meet the Spartans and dont forget
    “Meet Dave”.

  16. John, The Happening was facking horrible, it deserve the honor to be in the list, lol, my worst list are:

    10,000 BC
    Deception
    Shutter
    One Missed Call
    The Eye
    Hell Ride
    The Mutant Chronicles

  17. @THE FOOL ON THE HILL

    I would personally add Burn After Reading. I couldn’t stand that movie. J.K. Simmons had the only character I liked. The kind of stupidity that the rest of the characters conveyed is somehow the exact kind that puts me into a murderous Hulk rage. I can usually handle characters that act like idiots, like Dumb & Dumber, but they were somehow the right kind of idiots that I just could not stand at all. I’m a nice guy and most of of my friends will tell you have have much more patience and forgiveness than the average person, but just thinking about that movie now gets me mad all over again. Awful.

  18. @Darren J Seeley

    Death Defying Acts was first released on January 12, 2008

    Here are some more : Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Alice Upside Down, The Cheetah Girls: One World, First Sunday, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Henry Poole is Here, Hero Wanted, The Hottie and the Nottie, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, Jumper, Leatherheads, Mad Money and Mama’s Boy.

  19. @Andrew James… You seem to forget that as movie bloggers we go to a lot of movies just to review them.

    We don’t just go because its a good movie or because we want to, but rather we offer up our “everyday man” reviews.

    Think of it as John throwing himself on the grenade for ya.

  20. Ya know, every year you make this list and every year I make the same comment. What in hell could possibly motivate you to go see these movies in the first place? We all see a bad movie or two during the year, but it seems to me you go out of your way to see these just so you can make a list.

    X-files: you’re a fan boy. Fine.
    88 Minutes: it’s Pacino, so maybe I can see some motivation there, but the 5% at RT would be enough to make me shy away.

    But everything else, why in the frak would you bother with them when SO MANY other great things are out there? Especially in L.A.!? I mean seriously. You saw the trailer for Love Guru and thought to yourself, “that looks like it might be worth 2 hours of my life and ten bucks out of my paycheck, let’s go see that.”

    Sorry, I guess I just can’t comprehend why someone would subject themselves to that. Even if it’s free… no. thank. you.

  21. @Fool on the Hill:

    I forgot about Street Kings-and that’s even worse, given the talented scribe behind the camera. But Kung Fu Panda? Really? Prince Caspian? Vicky Cristina Barcelona? Wow.

    BTW, Gillian Armstrong’s ‘Death Defying Acts” was also a 2007 film.

  22. I think Punisher: War Zone and The Spirit must be on here.

    I would take off X-Files and Nick and Norah. They weren’t good, but I don’t think they were this bad.

  23. @Deonn E.

    Absolutely, I Am Legend should take it’s place there and leave out 88 Minutes, but actually it was released on December 14, 2007 so it doesn’t count or else I’d wanna hang Alvin and the Chipmunks there too.

    These should be there too : Sex and the City, “Run, Fat Boy, Run”, Superhero Movie, Madagascar 2, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, High School Musical 3, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Kung Fu Panda, Indiana Jones 4, Drillbit Taylor, Street Kings, Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?, Son of Rambow, Speed Racer, War, Inc., Death Defying Acts, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and The House Bunny.

    Throw them all in the dumpster. Load of crap.

  24. speaking of worst movies…

    In the opposite….

    I just saw Pathology a couple nights ago. Very good film. Damn why was it so underrated. It barely got any reviews or anything. On RT it shows it got limited release…did it not get a wide release? I loved it quite a bit.

  25. I don’t think ‘X-Files’ really belongs, but I can see where that would be considered a disappointment. If we compared it to the previous film, it has less grand scale. It’s not horrible, it didn’t have a huge budget-wasn’t really a “summer” movie, and I actually thought the ‘dying kid’ subplot was just fine, as it dealt with Dana Scully, and how she traded in one bureaucracy for another.

    So what would I put in its place?

    Semi-Pro.

    I’ll give Over Her Dead Body a pass off the list and say it just missed the mark. Eva was so annoying…but I liked Lake Bell. So while I think it should be on a Ten Worst list…I’d dump it in (un) favor of

    Prom Night

    I also *despised* Punisher Warzone, Shutter, One Missed Call, and Hell Ride this past year.

    I could not get through the following two films: Love Guru (20 minutes in) and Speed Racer (15 minutes in). I also waited for both on DVD. I have not seen yet (in part or in whole) 300 Spartans, Disaster Movie, Rocker, Nick & Nora, Witless..

    Whazzat? Lucky? Me?
    Hell no. I sat through Semi-Pro, Fool’s Gold, Scorpion King 2 and Prom Night!

  26. I personally thought The Happening was downright horrible. I haven’t wasted my money on the ones above but I’m sure The Happening could live up to the horrible expectations of the ten you’ve listed.

  27. For #3: I am also a fan of Larry’s comedy. He’s probably better on stage because he writes it, not some writer hack who hands Larry something “funny”.
    Git-r-dun!

  28. The “Love Guru” and “Meet the Spartans” don’t even try to be good. They just begging to be in your Top 10 worst list. Any attention they can get is free advertising.

    I would have put movies like Indiana Jones 4 in the list.

  29. Nice list, would’ve liked to see The Happening or Disaster Movie up there but still all those movie were really crappy.

    Oh and just nitpicking: Meet The Spartans did not make 30 million it’s first weekend, it made 18 million and 38 million in its total run. It’s still sad that this “movie” opened at number one with 18 million.

  30. Nick and Norah’s got a great review in the newspaper here in miami. But then again the guy that writes the reviews for the newspaper in miami is a huge fuckin’ turd. I agree with pretty much every single one of these movies. I would’ve added “Quarantine” in there though

  31. John,

    Can we have a “best film that is not WALL-E or The Dark Knight” award instead of stirring up the same old arguements “but eh eh the dark knight has real actors, maaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh”

    It would be interesting anyway

  32. Hey if any film needs to be on here its 10,000,000 B.C. I made the big mistake of paying to see that crap-fest! I differ on X-Files 2, it was a longer stand-alone and was pretty effective and enjoyable for anyone who watched the show on a regular basis. It was a dramatic thriller with a limit on FX.

  33. And yeah, I would take out Nick and Norah and add in Disaster Movie, but then my list wouldn’t get as many comments since there’s no way that Zohan, Nick & Norah, Wrestler, Conspiracy, Speed Racer or Bangkok Dangerous are worse than those ten.

    Also, if Disaster Movie could bump Nick&Norah off the list, then Kristina and I could have clearer conscience since that’s the only only we saw in the top ten.

  34. “Can someone please tell Michael Cera that he’s allowed to play more than one character? Yes, I get it Cera. You’re a mildly awkward, good hearted, understated and sympathetic post-teen who struggles with identity and self confidence despite having a lot to offer. Oh wait… which one of his characters are we talking about? Oh that’s right… ALL OF THEM!!!”

    Ditto to Seth Rogen. Hey look, I’m an overweight poorly dressed, under educated, under accomplished, pot smoker who curses, drinks, talks a lot about sex and needs a bath. Which movie is this character from again? All of them.

  35. Good list, but personally, I would remove Nick & Nora, which I found to be a sweet little flick, and put Don’t Mess with the Zohan. I saw that movie for free and it definitely didn’t make it any better. I laughed maybe 3 times and groaned the rest of the way through it.

  36. Hey the fool on the hill,

    I thought I was the only one who thought 88 Minutes was alright :-) Come to think of it though, the premise was pretty stupid.

    I would definitely add Don’t Mess With the Zohan to this list and maybe make room for The Spirit when it opens on Christmas Day. This would send a clear message to Frank Miller that he’s an awesome writer but he should leave Direction to someone else.

  37. Hey Padthai,

    What are you talking about? yes, saying I was bored with a movie is a strong statement… strong enough to make me give it a bad review despite the brilliant performances by both Mikey Rourke and Tormei.

    But the fact of the matter is that the film had some very good qualities (the acting) and thus, overall, the film is nowhere near as bad as all the films on my list.

    I gave it a 4. Taking EVERYTHING into consideration is in fact being honest with myself. Not just 1 single element.

  38. john,

    but that is a very strong statement. I think it sums up your opinion very nicely, you didn’t enjoy that movie at all. You thought it was boring movie that had no entertainment value. Even with a bad comedy there is still some entertainment value in it, just because it is so bad. A movie like Mummy 3 had good special effects and action, and that would probably be entertaining.

    My point is that you probably would rather get shot in the head than watch The Wrestler again. Why isn’t this movie on the list? I want you to be honest with yourself.

  39. HEY filfemme,

    Fools Gold was on the Mid-Year worst list… but just barely got pushed off the list by some of the crap you see above.

    Hey Scott,

    Things WORSE than “The Rocker”???? No man… I don’t think so. Just my opinion.

  40. I’m a little disappointed the “Fool’s Gold” didn’t make it on here…there was some writing in there was disasterously bad. Perhaps you were blinded by Matthew McConaughey’s abs…I guess I can understand that…

  41. Hey Padthai,

    You said:

    “John, if you were truly honest with yourself, you would put The Wrestler on here.”

    Well sure, if you only take 1 statement out of all the ones I made about the movie. The fact of the matter is I gave the film a 4 out of 10, which makes it far too good to be on this list.

  42. weird how 6/10 of those movies are comedies.. you should just call this the list of the worse comedies of the year.

    I can’t see how you can put Nick and Norah’s on your list. It was really good, and I liked how the people are a bit more realistic. It’s more of a romantic movie than a comedy anyways. The comedy is just a small part of it all.

    John, if you were truly honest with yourself, you would put The Wrestler on here. Here’s an exact quote from your review, “I was bored to tears through this flick and found nothing entertaining about it.”

  43. Meet the Spartans is pretty bad.
    Ditching Brad Meltzer and Friedberg was the best thing 20th Century Fox ever did. Shame on Lionsgate Films for picking up Disaster Movie.

  44. Wondering where “What Happens in Vegas” and “My Best Friend’s Girl” went. Because surely they shoulda been on here, right? Not that I’ve seen them or any of the other films you mention. Maybe the Christian Right are correct – Hollywood really is out of touch.

  45. Yeah, Disaster Movie needs to be here. I liked Nick and Nora enough to think it shouldn’t be on here, so that’s what I’d take out to make room. Just my $.02.

  46. Same here. ‘Speed Racer’ was all kinds of happy.

    I think ‘Disaster Movie’ is a given when it comes to a tie with ‘Meet the Spartans.’ We could just not watch any of those movies and stick ‘Anything by Seltzer and Friedberg’ at the top of any worst movies list.

    I would’ve included “X-Files 2” as well. The sick kid in the hospital had nothing to do with the murder investigation or story, but he still got half the film’s screen time.

    If the rumors are true, this list may need to be updated with “The Spirit” in a week or so.

  47. How sad is it to not only see both movies that Al Pacino starred in this year on this list, but the movie pairing him with DeNiro as well?

    I hope he’s got at least one more decent script left to read in his career. It’s a shame to see this, really.

  48. Well, there are plenty of movies to chose from this year. I would agree with all of these, but I would say “Don’t mess with Zohan” needs to be in the top 3…I mean, it’s Adam Sandler with a terrible accent…’nough said.

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