The 15 Lowest Rated Movies of 2025, According to Metacritic Scores

2025 saw a number of big-budget films with famous actors that didn’t live up to expectations. Critics and general audiences were both disappointed, with reviews pointing to problems with the stories and how the films were made. This list highlights the movies that received the worst reviews from major media sources over the past year.

‘Old Guy’ (2025)

‘Old Guy’ stars Christoph Waltz as an experienced hitman who’s asked to train a new apprentice. The movie looks at the clash between old-fashioned killing techniques and the modern, tech-driven world of crime. While some enjoyed the premise, many critics felt the movie’s pace was inconsistent and that it relied too much on familiar clichés. Though it aimed to be a funny and action-packed film, it didn’t quite succeed in striking the right balance. Ultimately, ‘Old Guy’ had trouble standing out from other movies about assassins.

‘Regretting You’ (2025)

“Regretting You” is a movie based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. It tells the story of a mother and daughter struggling to reconnect after a difficult family event. While the actors gave solid performances, critics found the movie’s emotional moments to be predictable and the adaptation from the book wasn’t very smooth. The film, intended for a wide audience, was ultimately criticized for its unoriginal plot.

‘Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness’ (2025)

‘Modi’ tells the story of artist Amedeo Modigliani’s life amidst the vibrant and turbulent art scene of early 20th century Paris. Directed by Johnny Depp and starring Riccardo Scamarcio and Al Pacino, the film received mixed reviews. While the set design was well-received, many critics found the story itself to be fragmented and lacking the emotional resonance needed to fully capture Modigliani’s life and artistic challenges. The film aimed to depict his struggles with a surreal and emotionally charged style, but ultimately fell short of providing a truly insightful portrayal.

‘Smurfs’ (2025)

I was really excited when ‘The Smurfs’ musical came out, especially knowing Rihanna was involved! The movie follows the Smurfs as they try to uncover the history of their village, which sounded like a fun adventure. Honestly though, I was a little disappointed. The songs just didn’t stick with me, and the story felt pretty predictable. It seemed aimed at a younger crowd, but even as someone who grew up with the Smurfs, I didn’t find it very engaging. While the animation was bright and colorful, it couldn’t make up for the fact that the jokes felt a bit…samey. It’s a shame, because I really wanted to love it!

‘Juliet & Romeo’ (2025)

‘Juliet & Romeo’ is a new take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, reimagined in a tough, modern city environment with a violent gang rivalry as the backdrop. While visually striking, critics felt the movie’s mix of modern slang and Shakespearean language didn’t quite work, and questioned whether it added anything new to the many existing adaptations. Many reviewers believed the film prioritized style over the heartfelt story at the center of the original play.

‘The Electric State’ (2025)

‘The Electric State,’ a big-budget sci-fi adventure from the Russo Brothers and available on Netflix, takes place in an alternate 1990s. The film centers on a girl’s journey across the country with a robot companion. Despite impressive visual effects, critics found the movie too long and its characters underdeveloped. Many reviewers noted the world felt unoriginal, borrowing heavily from other popular dystopian stories. Even the connection between the lead actors couldn’t save a weak script.

‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ (2025)

‘Hurry Up Tomorrow,’ featuring Abel Tesfaye and Jenna Ortega, is a psychological thriller connected to Tesfaye’s musical career. The movie explores the worlds of fame and obsession using strange and unsettling scenes. While unique, many critics felt the film resembled a long music video rather than a fully developed story. Reviewers generally struggled with the confusing plot and considered the film a self-indulgent project that didn’t quite succeed in telling a captivating tale.

‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’ (2025)

‘The Strangers Chapter 2’ picks up where the first horror film left off, with a group of masked killers continuing to target and terrorize people. This sequel focuses on the characters who survived the initial attacks as they search for safety, only to find themselves in another perilous situation. However, many reviewers found the film disappointing, criticizing it for lacking the suspense and fresh ideas that made the first movie so effective. Frequent jump scares and a predictable plot led to mostly negative reactions from horror fans, who felt the film could have explored the villains and their motivations in more detail.

‘Shadow Force’ (2025)

‘Shadow Force’ is an action thriller starring Kerry Washington and Omar Sy as a couple forced to go on the run from a shadowy organization. They become entangled in a dangerous conspiracy and must rely on their unique abilities to stay alive. However, critics generally disliked the film, citing stiff dialogue and unexciting fight scenes. Many felt the movie didn’t do justice to Washington and Sy’s talents, delivering a predictable and easily forgotten story. Ultimately, it didn’t offer anything new compared to other action movies released around the same time.

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ (2025)

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ continues the story from the first horror movie, which was based on the popular video game. It revisits the spooky pizzeria, introducing new robotic characters designed to frighten a new group of people. However, critics generally thought the sequel wasn’t as scary or well-made as the original. While fans appreciated the references to the game, reviewers felt the movie didn’t offer enough of a new story and struggled to appeal to a wider audience.

‘Bride Hard’ (2025)

“Bride Hard” features Rebel Wilson as a bridesmaid who finds herself having to rescue a wedding from a band of armed criminals. The movie tries to be funny through slapstick and exciting action sequences, but many reviews noted the jokes felt old and the action wasn’t very suspenseful. Critics also found the storyline predictable and the actors didn’t have much on-screen connection. Overall, the film received negative reviews for not being funny or thrilling enough.

‘Alarum’ (2025)

‘Alarum’ stars Sylvester Stallone as a veteran spy forced out of retirement and into a dangerous world of secrets and double-crossing. The film centers on his efforts to find a traitor within his old agency, all while trying to keep his family safe. However, most critics felt the movie lacked originality, calling it a predictable and uninspired take on classic action films. They also pointed out noticeable gaps in the plot and a slow pace that didn’t quite fit the thriller genre, ultimately leaving the film feeling flat and unable to build genuine tension.

‘Gunslingers’ (2025)

‘Gunslingers’ is a western film featuring Nicolas Cage as a former lawman forced to return to action. The story centers around a town terrorized by a cruel gang of outlaws. While the premise held promise, critics found the movie looked cheap and relied too heavily on familiar western tropes. They also felt Cage’s performance was inconsistent and didn’t quite match the overall mood of the film, ultimately labeling it an unremarkable addition to the western genre.

‘Playdate’ (2025)

“Playdate” is an action comedy about two dads who find themselves in danger from criminals while just trying to spend time with their kids. Kevin James and Alan Ritchson play the two fathers who have to team up to get through the day. However, critics didn’t like the movie, finding it overly reliant on silly, physical humor and a confusing storyline. Many reviewers called it a frustrating experience, blaming the weak writing. They generally agreed the movie’s interesting idea was ruined by uninspired and predictable scenes.

‘War of the Worlds’ (2025)

This ‘War of the Worlds’ is a new take on the famous H.G. Wells story about an enormous alien attack on Earth. It tries to update the story for modern audiences, showing humanity’s struggle to survive. However, most critics disliked the movie, finding the special effects unconvincing and the story poorly written. They felt it didn’t capture the suspense or grand scope of earlier versions, and it ended up being one of the worst-reviewed films of the year due to its lack of creativity and overall poor quality.

Please share your thoughts on these cinematic disappointments in the comments.

2025-12-23 08:46