Worst Movie Ever Made

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As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’ve been swept up in the buzz surrounding social media over the past day. Tweets and a video from Dave Portnoy, the head honcho at Barstool Sports, have taken the internet by storm, slamming Ridley Scott’s upcoming epic, “Gladiator 2.” It’s a bold move to criticize such an anticipated sequel, but hey, that’s showbiz!

Dave isn’t off base – Ridley Scott essentially transforms what could have been Gladiator 2 into an imitation of the original Gladiator. It feels like a less impressive, rehashed version of the first movie, much like how Star Wars: The Force Awakens from Disney was compared to the original trilogy.

Dave’s right

Before we dive into what Dave has to say, here’s a rant of my own:

Dave shares the same concern about Rotten Tomatoes; his suspicion appears to be valid. Given that Fandango, the site’s owner, sells movie tickets, it seems unlikely there would be a bias or conflict of interest. Moreover, it’s widely recognized that some reviewers may endorse movies as part of their work in the industry.

Lately, Rotten Tomatoes adjusted its Audience Score system to only include ratings from viewers who purchased tickets via the Fandango app. This implies that if you watched Gladiator 2, but bought your tickets elsewhere or streamed it, your review won’t be considered. Similarly, even if you bought multiple tickets for friends or family through the Fandango app, their reviews will not be taken into account either.

Rotten Tomatoes sets a minimum number of reviews required before showing both critic and public scores, presumably to avoid negative reactions before a movie’s premiere, similar to only displaying audience ratings for verified purchases. This is the reason I established my fan review platform, Stinky Garbage (currently in development).

Moreover, it appears that I am the sole one scrutinizing this matter, but the so-called movie entertainment news media portrayed Gladiator 2 as a blockbuster hit. However, it failed to meet expectations, raking in less than $500 million globally. Specifically, it earned only $463 million. Considering the budget of a staggering $350 million, this translates to a financial flop. Remarkably, when adjusted for inflation, the original film grossed nearly $850 million in today’s monetary value.

When Black Adam hit the screens, the same biased media outlets criticized Dwayne Johnson, labeling the film a failure for earning approximately $400 million against a budget of $250 million. However, let’s look at the numbers—how is Gladiator 2 considered a triumph if Paramount released it on streaming barely a month after its premiere?

What does Dave Portnoy say about Gladiator 2?

According to Portnoy, he had been anxiously anticipating “Gladiator 2,” but upon watching it, he expressed his disappointment as it didn’t meet his expectations.

He recently watched “Gladiator 2” and felt that it shouldn’t have been produced. He can’t comprehend how it received positive reviews, as he found it disappointing. This tweet has been viewed over 3.5 million times.

Speaking of reviews, it earned a “Fresh” rating of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, while fans gave it an 82% score. For reference, the original Gladiator, released in 2000, received a 80% rating from critics and an impressive 87% score from fans on Rotten Tomatoes.

In the video, watched 3.9 million times on X, Portnoy rants about the film.

I feel compelled to share my frustration because I’m so excited! For a few months now, I’ve been eagerly waiting for the release of ‘Gladiator 2’. I absolutely adore the first movie, and I can hardly wait for a Saturday night when I can completely immerse myself in it. I envision myself settling comfortably into my seat, fastened securely with my seatbelt, surrounded by a mountain of popcorn and Cheez-Its – whatever snacks I fancy at the moment. The anticipation is killing me; I’m ready to jump right in!

As a devoted cinephile, I’m left utterly baffled by the fact that nobody has warned me about the disastrous spectacle that is ‘Gladiator 2’. I mean, seriously? It’s supposed to be one of the worst movies ever crafted. And here I was, expecting a masterpiece with its 71 critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 82! Spare me your praise, because I can’t stomach it. The movie was an abysmal failure; it was nothing but a farce, devoid of any semblance of believability.

Apart from Dave Portnoy, it’s clear that he isn’t fond of the cast and characters, specifically the pair of twins portrayed by Fred Hechinger, and Joseph Quinn who will grace our screens this summer in Marvel’s “Fantastic Four” reboot as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch.

Who were the two individuals who assumed the role as emperors? The twin emperors. Aren’t you wondering if they managed to cast those jesters as emperors of Rome so quickly? It seems unlikely that jesters would ascend to the Roman imperial throne. Instead, they would face swift execution.

This version maintains the same meaning while using more formal and polite language, making it easier for a wider audience to understand and appreciate.

Portnoy also didn’t like Denzel Washington who plays Macrinus.

In a different context, Denzel transitions from resembling Bonnie, and Paul Mescal portrays a slave; however, in the next moment, both of them seem to be waltzing into Rome, where Denzel is crowned king almost instantly. Which world or scenario are we discussing here?

Portnoy also blasts Ridley Scott and hopes Russell Crowe hates it.

This film was disappointing; I’d advise against watching it. Ridley Scott should feel embarrassed about producing a sequel. I can’t help but hope Russell Crowe felt sick while filming. The character Gracchus, the one with white hair, is killed off as if he were insignificant. The queen character meets an unfortunate end. It doesn’t make sense to have Paul Mescal and his son in the same movie without any connection between them. Overall, the entire production reeks; I wouldn’t suggest anyone watch it.

Regarding Rotten Tomatoes, Portnoy continues and thinks there is something wrong.

Could it be that there’s some behind-the-scenes dealings at Rotten Tomatoes? It almost seems like someone is receiving secret payments there, which might explain the relatively low score of 71/82 for Gladiator 2.

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2025-02-03 03:31