8 Truly Terrible Movies Hollywood Wants You to Forget
The movie industry has its share of films they'd rather sweep under the rug.
Between terrible performances, uncomfortable themes, and just plain bad storytelling, these movies have earned their spots on the naughty list.
1. Showgirls (1995)
Showgirls is about a young drifter named Nomi who arrives in Las Vegas with dreams of becoming a star dancer. She starts working at a seedy strip club but soon finagles her way into a luxurious casino show. After pushing the leading lady down a flight of stairs Nomi takes the top spot. The film was panned by critics and audiences alike, and it turned into a box office flop, making only about $37.8 million worldwide.
2. Gigli (2003)
Bennifer, what were you thinking? Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez team up in this disaster about a low-level mobster named Larry Gigli. He kidnaps the mentally challenged brother of a federal prosecutor to help his boss. But surprise, surprise, he's not good at kidnapping. Enter Ricki, a "consultant" sent to oversee the job. Instead of a romantic spark, we get more of a wet blanket, awkward dialogue, and terrible chemistry.
3. The Birth of a Nation (1915)
A classic, but for all the wrong reasons. This silent film set during and after the American Civil War focuses on two families—one from the North and the other from the South. The Southern family joins the Ku Klux Klan, and let's just say the film doesn't age well. It portrays Black people (often played by white actors in blackface) as unintelligent and sexually aggressive. There's a lot of history here, but it's a part of Hollywood's past that many wish to forget.
4. Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
Tom Green directs and stars in this one, and boy, does it go places. Green plays Gord, a 28-year-old aspiring animator who lives with his parents. After failing to secure a job in Hollywood, he moves back home and, well, madness ensues. Gord falsely accuses his father of molesting his younger brother – hence the title. There's also a scene involving a newborn baby and an umbilical cord that had people questioning if Hollywood had run out of good ideas. Or, you know, actual sanity.
5. Cruel Intentions 2 (2000)
Remember the 1999 original with Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Michelle Gellar? Of course, you do. But you may not recall this direct-to-video sequel. In this one, stepsiblings Sebastian and Kathryn are up to their same old schemes at an elite New York academy. They manipulate teachers and students alike in a plot that includes stolen standardized tests and illicit affairs.
6. The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987)
From trading cards to the silver screen, what could go wrong? A lot, apparently. A kid named Dodger discovers a magical garbage pail that houses ugly but friendly creatures. What do they do, you ask? Just petty crimes like stealing and pickpocketing to help him impress a girl. But they also eat toes. Hollywood probably wishes they'd left this one in the trash bin, where it belongs.
7. Swept Away (2002)
Madonna stars in this rom-com disaster directed by her then-husband Guy Ritchie. She plays a wealthy socialite stranded on a deserted island with a communist sailor. Their love-hate relationship turns more lovey-dovey as they navigate the wild, but not before a series of wildly uncomfortable power dynamics. It's a shipwreck in more ways than one, and critics absolutely destroyed this one.
8. Movie 43 (2013)
A bunch of Hollywood A-listers in one movie! Sounds amazing, right? Wrong. This is essentially a compilation of 14 short films held together by a flimsy overarching storyline. One segment has Hugh Jackman with testicles hanging from his neck while on a date. Another involves a perverse leprechaun kidnapping. Why did these actors sign up for this? Your guess is as good as mine.