Top 20 Worst Movies Of the 2020s So Far

It’s not uncommon for films with famous actors and large budgets to fail to connect with audiences. The movies listed below generated buzz for all the wrong reasons, often serving as examples of poor decisions during production, problematic screenwriting, or unfortunate release strategies. You’ll find films that flopped in theaters, disappointed on streaming services, and installments in established franchises that didn’t meet expectations. For each film, we’ve included key details about its story, creators, and how it was distributed.

‘Dolittle’ (2020)

Robert Downey Jr. aimed for a family-friendly comeback with this new film, which relies more on impressive visuals than talking animals. The movie faced a challenging production, with the script undergoing many revisions and additional filming under director Stephen Gaghan. It blends live actors with computer-animated creatures, featuring a large voice cast. Universal released the film in theaters despite the difficulty of drawing families to cinemas at the time.

‘365 Days’ (2020)

The Polish film, a steamy romantic drama, quickly gained popularity worldwide after becoming available on Netflix. Based on a novel by Blanka Lipińska, the story centers around a kidnapping and caused quite a stir online. Directed by Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes, it stars Michele Morrone and Anna Maria Sieklucka. The film’s success led to the creation of follow-up movies featuring the same characters and similar themes.

‘Artemis Fowl’ (2020)

Disney turned Eoin Colfer’s well-loved book series into a science fantasy film. Kenneth Branagh directed the movie, which starred Ferdia Shaw as Artemis, alongside Judi Dench and Colin Farrell. Originally planned for cinemas, the film was released directly on Disney Plus due to scheduling changes. Both reviewers and fans of the books observed that the movie significantly differed from the original stories.

‘The Last Days of American Crime’ (2020)

This fast-paced thriller is based on a graphic novel by Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini. Directed by Olivier Megaton, it stars Édgar Ramírez and Anna Brewster. The plot centers around a government signal designed to stop people from breaking the law. Netflix released the film as one of its original movies.

‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ (2021)

LeBron James starred in a unique movie that combined live action with classic Looney Tunes animation. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the film featured many guest appearances and nods to other Warner Bros. favorites. It took place in a digital world inspired by basketball and included real NBA players. The movie was released both in cinemas and on the HBO Max streaming service simultaneously.

‘Thunder Force’ (2021)

Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer star as longtime friends who unexpectedly develop superpowers thanks to a scientific experiment. The film, written and directed by Ben Falcone – a frequent collaborator with McCarthy – is set in a world where supervillains have appeared following a strange cosmic occurrence. It was released globally on Netflix as a streaming exclusive.

‘He’s All That’ (2021)

This new teen comedy updates a popular movie from the late 90s by flipping the script. Starring Addison Rae and Tanner Buchanan, it even features a surprise appearance by the original film’s star, Rachael Leigh Cook. The plot follows a social media star who tries to help a classmate win prom king or queen. You can only watch it on Netflix.

‘Music’ (2021)

Singer Sia directed this emotional drama, marking her first time directing a feature film. The story follows a woman who’s recently gotten sober and unexpectedly becomes responsible for her teenage half-sister. Kate Hudson and Maddie Ziegler lead the cast, with Leslie Odom Jr. also playing an important role. The film sparked conversation about its depiction of autism and some scenes were later changed. It was released in select theaters and made available to stream online.

‘Home Sweet Home Alone’ (2021)

Disney brought back the beloved holiday story with a fresh take, featuring a new cast and storyline. Archie Yates stars as the main character, and some original cast members make cameo appearances. Directed by Dan Mazer, the movie continues the story in the same world as the earlier films and premiered as a streaming release on Disney Plus for the holiday season.

‘Morbius’ (2022)

This Sony movie, part of the Marvel world, features Jared Leto as a scientist who becomes a vampire. Directed by Daniel Espinosa, the film ties into Sony’s Spider-Man universe. While early trailers hinted at connections to other characters, those plans shifted before the movie came out. Interestingly, the film was released in theaters twice, after Sony decided to give it another promotional push.

‘Moonfall’ (2022)

I was really excited to see Roland Emmerich back doing what he does best – massive disaster movies! This one’s about the moon suddenly getting knocked out of orbit, and it stars Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, and John Bradley, which is a fantastic cast. From what I’ve heard, they really went all out with the special effects, doing a ton of work digitally and on soundstages. It’s definitely a movie meant to be seen on the biggest screen possible – they really wanted to make it a spectacle!

‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (2022)

This movie picks up right where the first story left off. David Blue Garcia directed, and Elsie Fisher is among the new actors. Originally planned for cinemas, it ended up premiering on Netflix. The filmmakers used realistic practical effects and updated the characters in this latest effort to revitalize the franchise.

‘Pinocchio’ (2022)

Disney’s new film, directed by Robert Zemeckis, blends live action with animation. Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt provides the voice for Jiminy Cricket. The movie features incredibly realistic designs for Pinocchio and the other characters. Instead of a traditional theatrical release in many areas, it debuted directly on Disney Plus.

‘Jeepers Creepers: Reborn’ (2022)

This new version of the horror series was a fresh start, with a completely new storyline and cast. Directed by Timo Vuorensola, the film centered around a horror festival and had a limited release in theaters before becoming available digitally. The filmmakers hoped to move past past issues by bringing in new creative talent.

‘Blacklight’ (2022)

Liam Neeson stars as a government agent who gets caught up in a conspiracy about spying on people within the country. Mark Williams directed and filmed the movie in Australia. The story involves secret missions and a journalist who helps the main character. It came out in theaters during a busy time for action movies.

‘The Flash’ (2023)

This DC movie introduces the idea of multiple universes, showing different versions of the heroes we know and love. Andy Muschietti directed, with Ezra Miller as the main character and Michael Keaton making a comeback as Batman. The film is packed with impressive visual effects and involves time travel and alternate realities. It took a long time to develop and its release date was delayed several times.

‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ (2023)

The new movie picks up where the last one left off, following Billy Batson and his superhero foster family. David F. Sandberg directed again, with Zachary Levi and Asher Angel returning as the main characters. Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler play the villains – the daughters of Atlas. This film was released as part of significant changes happening within the DC Universe.

‘Expend4bles’ (2023)

The latest installment in the action series introduces some new characters alongside familiar ones. Scott Waugh directed the film, starring Jason Statham with a more prominent role and Sylvester Stallone appearing less. Despite a relatively low budget, the filmmakers prioritized real stunts and large-scale action sequences. Lionsgate released the movie in theaters in late summer.

‘Madame Web’ (2024)

Sony expanded its Spider-Man universe with this new movie, an origin story starring Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb. Sydney Sweeney and Isabela Merced also appear in supporting roles. The film centers around Cassandra’s ability to see the future and how it connects to a larger web of events. It’s an important part of Sony’s plans for developing more characters in this universe.

‘Argylle’ (2024)

Matthew Vaughn’s latest spy film features a large cast, including Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell. The plot cleverly blurs the line between a writer’s fictional stories and actual spy work. Apple and Universal released the movie in theaters first, then made it available for streaming. A unique marketing strategy, centered around a secretive author, helped generate buzz for the film.

Share your own picks for the worst movies of the decade so far in the comments.

2025-11-01 18:46