What should be heavily emotional scenes end up amusing us. Or what should amuse us falls flat, earning these stars Golden Raspberries. Step aside Oscars. Now is the moment for the Golden Razzies. Grab your popcorn and sit back as we unveil the worst actors and actresses of all time.
Chuck Norris
This actor may have caused a torrent of jokes in early 2005, but they were not exactly praising his acting range. Norris was a black belt and top class in judo and Brazilian jujutsu and he might have starred in plenty of action movies with an abundance of fighting scenes and crazy stunts.
But his martial arts expertise could not cover his not-so-first-class acting. According to Rotten Tomatoes, he is the worst actor of all time with his movies averaging a rating of 18.4. Some stellar examples are “Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection,” “Firewalker,” and “Hero and the Terror.”
Ruby Rose
If a character is replaced with a new actress and character after one season, it does not say much about one’s acting abilities. Ruby Rose may have decided to leave “Batwoman” and kill off Kate Kane. Or producers did not want to burn their pockets any longer and asked Ryan Wilder instead.
But we are still asking ‘What happened to Kate Kane’. The answer can probably be found in the reviews. Scoring 3.4/10 on “IMDB” and 23% on “Rotten Tomatoes” with audiences is not exactly praise of Rose. Do you need any more proof? Rose’s thriller “Vanquish” scored even lower – 5% with “Rotten Tomatoes” critics.
Tom Green
With movie titles like “Freddy Got Fingered,” “Total Frat Movie,” and “Grind,” it is hard to expect something amazing from Tom Green. And you will not be disappointed. This actor has failed to deliver even with minor roles. Few films star Green as their lead and if we're going to be completely honest, we understand why.
When he is the lead, like the poor-in-taste “Freddy Got Fingered,” it earns 4.6 on “IMBD.” Green also picked up the Golden Raspberry for worst actor in 2001 with “Freddy Got Fingered.” At least, the actor demonstrated good sportsmanship and went to collect his Golden Razzie.
Lindsey Lohan
We may have a soft spot for Lindsey Lohan for giving us one of the best teen movies “Mean Girls.” Yet, subsequent performances have been seriously below par. In the late noughties, the actress tried to revive her acting career after there was too much interest in her private life. Sadly, Lohan’s career revival did not exactly occur.
Films like “Georgia Rule” may have not been nominated for any awards at the Razzies ceremony, but they garnered a fair amount of poor reviews. And then there was “I Know Who Killed Me.” Lohan took home two Razzies for this one for both of her incredible performances.
Sharon Stone
For a while, Sharon Stone could distract audiences from her acting by crossing and uncrossing her legs, but it soon became apparent that leg-crossing onscreen is one of her only talents – or her only talent. While “Basic Instinct” with the infamous leg-crossing scenes may have escaped the critic’s negative remarks that's where it ends.
In later productions like “The Specialist” and “Intersection,” the actress took home two Golden Raspberry awards for Worst Actress. A decade later in 2004, the actress earned her first Stinker award for Worst Supporting Actress in “Catwoman.” She did have a great performance in Martin Scorsese's classic movie "Casino."
David Hasselhoff
“Baywatch” may have put David Hasselhoff on the map, but it did not take him off the map for bad acting. The actor has been regularly voted the worst actor, being named the 49th worst actor by IMBD. Apart from the original “Knight Rider,” Hasselhoff has starred in a few productions that have scored over 6/10 on IMDB.
The “Sharknado” franchise has become a cult classic for being infamously bad, and we have to wonder about Hasselhoff's supposed acting talent if he takes on the role of Colonel Gilbert Shepard for the fourth installment “Of Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens.” Who on Earth is going to watch that?
Sofia Coppola
The “Godfather” franchise was looking flawless and heading for a perfect slam dunk. However, when the third one was released, “The Godfather III” it could not live up to the first two's incredibly high standards, and the whole franchise was forever tainted. What was the cause of this utter failing? That's right, folks. Nepotism.
Francis Ford Coppola’s daughter Sofia Coppola was given the role of Mary Corleone. Her deliveries managed to be both flat and overacted at the same time. It was hard to take her or the scenes she was in seriously. Fortunately, Coppola realized she was not made for acting and used her talents behind the camera instead.
Josh Hartnett
This actor may have been a crush for younger female audiences in the late 1990s and 2000s, but his acting abilities have not been lauded. We cannot exactly say that Harnett has not been given his big break. “Sin City” and Michael Bay’s “Pearl Harbor” were both box office hits, but the actor failed to make a lasting impression on audiences.
Recent productions where Harnett is the lead garnered low scores with both the audience and critics. The TV series “Valley of the Gods” achieved a mediocre 4.6/10 on IMDB. We have to admit though - we have a soft spot for the comedy "40 Days and 40 Nights."
Taylor Lautner
There were many audience members (but probably “Twilight” fans) who defended Taylor Lautner after his poor performance in the “Twilight” franchise, stating it was the books that were the poor source material for the saga and not his acting. Then, there was the action “Tracers” and the family-drama “Run the Tide” and still Lautner movies struggled to receive positive ratings.
“Run the Tide” scored 9% and “Tracers” 23% with “Rotten Tomatoes” critics, proving that it is not the genre, nor the source material, but the actor’s quality. Lautner really hasn't starred in many top movies over the last decade - and rightfully so.
Elizabeth Berkley
Sometimes one bad performance for an actor or actress can ruin their whole career. For Elizabeth Berkley, it was her frantic, overacted, and over-the-top performance in Paul Verhoeven’s “Showgirls.” Verhoeven’s films are not exactly known for their demanding roles or emotional storylines, but Berkeley failed to take off after starring in his film.
The actress was aiming to move on to more serious roles after starring in the teen series “Saved by the Bell,” but her big break just ended up with her winning the Golden Raspberry for Worst Actress. Berkley continues to disappoint with her recurring role on HBO's "The Idol."
Steven Seagal
Action movies hardly demand emotional output or the finest acting skills from their cast. Yet, even with action audiences, Steven Seagal's movies over the years have received their fair share of poor reviews. “Half Past Dead” scored 37% and “On Deadly Ground” 34% with “Rotten Tomatoes” audiences. The critics were not so kind.
The 2002-action got a dire 3% while the 1994-production a not-much-better 12% with the website’s critics. Seagal can be relieved that though he has been nominated three times for a Golden Raspberry, he has yet to add a Razzie to his trophy collection. Or any other acting awards, for that matter.
Kirk Cameron
This actor is not exactly a household name and there may be a reason why. Films starring Kirk Cameron tend not to heap in favorable reviews. “Left Behind II: Tribulation Force” scored 4.8/10 and “Extraordinary” 3.4 on “IMDB.” However, one notoriously bad performance put Cameron in much of the spotlight, namely, “Saving Christmas.”
The movie scored a dismal 1.3/10 on “IMDB.” Unsurprisingly, Cameron scooped up the Golden Raspberry for Worst Actor for his mismatched and inappropriate acting in the Christmas film. But if we're going to be completely honest, we would say that Kirk's sister, Candace, is a far superior actor to him.
Rob Schneider
Despite having a successful career lasting more than 30 years in showbiz, Rob Schneider is one of the worst actors. Adam Sandler had a big part to play in his rise to fame. His films are lighthearted and not exactly calling for displays of great emotion, but only Schneider has made an art of jeopardizing slapstick comedies.
“The Animal” scored 4.8/10 on “IMDB” and 30% with audiences on “Rotten Tomatoes.” “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo” may have brought in average ratings but its sequel “Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo” destroyed any of its predecessor’s mediocrity. We also fondly remember him playing that strange "you can do it" guy in "The Waterboy."
Drew Barrymore
Many will be surprised by this entry, but it is true that Drew Barrymore is not one of Hollywood’s finest. Barrymore has had a long career in film. Her career started off in 1982 with “E.T.” But that may have been more of a product of nepotism than talent, as director, Steven Spielberg, is her godfather.
Barrymore’s role in “Never Been Kissed” draws much criticism, but it is not her role in that film that earned her two Golden Raspberry nominations. Nor is it “Poison Ivy” or “Duplex” and both are rated poorly by audiences and critics. We have to say though, we really liked her in "Scream."
Hilary Duff
“Disney” is a well-respected production house paving the way for numerous talented stars. We will believe that when we see it. In fact, “Disney” may have iconic teen figures who are hits, but when those actors and actresses try to make it big on their own, we realize that “Disney” must have their blinkers on the whole time.
Hilary Duff’s music and TV career were jet-fueled by Disney. When Duff broke away to star in movies for more mature audiences like “Material Girls,” she only managed to add Golden Raspberry nominations to her credentials. She did become the lead of "How I Met Your Father" though.
Angelina Jolie
There are some who will be disappointed to see Angelina Jolie on the list. While the actress may have starred in some box-office hits like “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” and “Maleficent” the actress does not manage more than a couple of facial expressions, making her films somewhat lacking, of we'll be completely honest.
The much-anticipated “The Tourist” brought in unfavorable reviews – 21% with the critics and 42% with the audiences on “Rotten Tomatoes” – despite Jolie starring alongside the talented Johnny Depp. Though some might defend Jolie, she is one of five actresses to receive four Golden Raspberry nominations.
Owen Wilson
Interestingly, some of the worst actors have acting careers spanning decades. Owen Wilson is one such actor. Wilson is not exactly a bad actor. The problem is he is not really acting. His mannerisms, manner of talking, and personality are simply Owen Wilson’s. He is just not that different in “Wedding Crashers,” “Zoolander,” and “You, Me, and Dupree.”
Fortunately, his one and not very-layered on-screen persona is a likable guy allowing him to escape any Razzie nominations and bringing in simply mediocre ratings. The last memorable thing Wilson did was show up in the "Loki" series on Disney+. And it's OK.
Katie Holmes
Sadly, the classic “Batman Begins” could not save Katie Holmes from being recognized as one of the worst actresses. Nolan may have wanted the actress to return for the sequel, but viewers all breathed a sigh of relief when she did not. It's been a long time since her years on "Dawson's Creek," and it shows.
Holmes went on to star in “Mad Money” which scored 5.8/10 and “The Romantics” which scored 5.0/10 on “IMDB.” Recent films like “Alone Together” scored 5.2/10 on “IMBD” while “Brahms: The Boy II Liza” and “The Secret: Dare to Dream” landed the actress Razzie nominations.
Tara Reid
Things were looking up for actress, Tara Reid, in the early 2000s after the first two installments of the “American Pie” franchise and her role on the sitcom “Scrubs.” Then “Incubus” and “Unnatural Causes” happened, and Reid’s career took a nosedive. Her failure to launch in showbiz may be owing to Reid’s accepting every film, even “Sharknado.”
The actress did not learn her lesson after accepting the first one. There are five TV films making up the “Sharknado” franchise and Reid has taken the lead female role in every installment. And she really hasn't done that much recently, if we're going to be honest.
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry has certainly built a name for himself in Hollywood. While many actors rely on talent and natural ability, we can say that Perry has depended on other things to succeed in the entertainment industry - sheer hard work and dedication. While Tyler Perry’s “Medea” franchise has an unbelievable 11 films, the actor has walked away with two Golden Raspberry nominations.
One for Worst Actress (in drag) and he also walked away with a Golden Raspberry nomination for Worst Actor for “Alex Cross” and “Good Deeds.” To be fair, Perry did show up in the critically-acclaimed film "Gone Girl," but it was a pretty minor role.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
His role as Mr. Freeze in “Batman & Robin” has gone down as one of the worst performances in showbiz history. The movie, as a whole, was questionable and made have seriously impacted Chris O’Donnell’s entire career. But when it comes to Schwarzenegger, we cannot simply blame “Batman & Robin.”
Even before this campy Batman in 1997, Schwarzenegger had received two Golden Raspberry nominations for “Conan the Barbarian” and “Last Action Hero.” The actor has added two more nominations with his roles in “End of Days” and “The Sixth Day.” But in his defense, he has been in classics such as "The Terminator" and "Predator."
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Apart from the TV series “The Client List,” Jennifer Love Hewitt has not starred in a movie that has received even mediocre reviews from “Rotten Tomatoes” audiences. Even films that gave her some of the limelight have not exactly scored highly. Sure, she was a scream queen in '90s, but it's been years since that!
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” scraped 45% with critics and 41% with audiences. Let us not even speak about its sequel “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” with 29% from audiences and 7% from critics. And speaking of “The Client List,” the TV series only scored 6.5/10 on “IMBD.”
Gwyneth Paltrow
The actress, Gwyneth Paltrow, may have won the Oscar for Best Actress for “Shakespeare in Love,” but that does not alter the fact that she is still one of the industry’s most overrated actresses. A singular bad performance was in “Mortdecai,” earning her a Golden Raspberry nomination in 2015.
Before that, there was the 2010 romance drama “Country Strong” and the 2007 comedy drama “The Good Night.” Both flopped with critics and audiences on “Rotten Tomatoes.” There have been some movies starring Paltrow which have received favorable reviews like those in the “Avengers” franchise – just none where she is the lead.
Nicolas Cage
There are plenty of fans who will stand by Nicolas Cage and defend him as a legendary actor. These fans will name movies such as David Lynch’s “Wild at Heart” and the classic “Leaving Las Vegas.” The nature of these roles required Cage to play crazy, which he is very good at, but that is as far as Cage’s talents go.
In one decade (from 2006 to 2015), the actor was so bad he received 5 Razzie nominations as Worst Actor for films such as “Season of the Witch” and, probably his worst to date, “The Wicker Man.” To be fair, Cage has improved over the last few years.
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal may be one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but these abilities are not so transferrable to the world of film. Currently, the actor is in position 24 for the worst actor of all time on “IMDB.”
One of his first roles as John Henry Irons in the 1997 production “Steel” should have made it clear to O’Neal that he was not made for acting. On “Rotten Tomatoes,” this fantasy-action scored a dismal 12% with critics and 19% with audiences. If we're going to be completely honest, Shaq should never have quit his day job or leave the court.
Adam Sandler
This actor has managed to pull off one of the biggest acting feats. For his roles as Jill Sadelstein and Jack Sadelstein in “Jack and Jill,” he took home the Razzie for the Worst Actress and Worst Actor. He also made up the cast of “Jack and Jill” – the film scooping the most Razzies in film history.
The actor has had a career-long of poor performances. He is in second place for the most Golden Raspberry nominations, having 12 in total. These include his roles in “Little Nicky,” “Hubie Halloween,” and “Blended.” With that said, Sandler gave one of his best performances in 2020's "Uncut Gems."
David Caruso
Who can forget David Caruso’s Lieutenant Horatio 'H' Caine on “CSI: Miami”? The internet certainly cannot. His over-the-top and trying-to-hard-to-be-cool mannerisms in “CSI: Miami” made him a popular target for memes and jokes on the internet. And it just gets worse for Caruso.
Other roles include “Jade” which scored 13% with critics and 28% with audiences on “Rotten Tomatoes.” There was also “Proof of Life” which fared better but still failed to win praise from the critics and audiences, though it starred big names like Meg Ryan and Russel Crowe. Caruso has been taking it easy in the acting department for a while now.
Katherine Heigl
Since “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Knocked Up,” Katherine Heigl has failed to convince the world of her talents. Not to mention that she was reportedly difficult to work with on both. After “Grey’s Anatomy,” the actress took up roles in “Killers,” “Home Sweet Hell’, and “One for the Money.” None of them have managed to rack up anything above a 6/10 on “IMDB.”
Heigl may have failed to appear on Hollywood’s radar, but the Golden Raspberries were paying attention. In total, the actress’s lack of ability has won her three nominations for Worst Actress, in roles in “Unforgettable,” “One for the Money” and “Home Sweet Hell.”
Pamela Anderson
We could make an outright statement saying that Pamela Anderson has never been cast in a movie for her acting abilities. TV show “Baywatch” and the film “Barb Wire” most likely listed several more important attributes, which Anderson was well-endowed with. Speaking of “Barb Wire,” as the film’s lead, it received some pretty poor reviews.
On “IMDB” it got an overall 3.4/10 and “Rotten Tomatoes” audiences were much harsher, awarding it 14%. Unsurprisingly, she picked up a Razzie nomination that year. Let's face it - Anderson has been getting acting jobs over the years for one good reason - and it's not her acting skills - that's for sure.
Alicia Silverstone
Things were looking up for Alicia Silverstone in the early to mid-1990s. Or rather Silverstone managed to offer viewers mediocre lead performances. “Clueless” and “The Crush” received fair ratings, but they were not at all generous, truth be told. Yet, after that, the reviews have just gotten poorer and poorer.
Recent productions such as “Sister of the Groom” (2020) scored 4.6/10 and “Last Survivors” (2021) 4.8/10 on “IMBD.” “Clueless” may be a teen classic but Silverstone was not required to display much emotional range in the film. And since then, she has failed to deliver a unique and captivating performance.
Sylvester Stallone
And the award for the actor with the most Golden Raspberries goes to… SYLVESTER STALLONE! The satirical and unapologetic, “South Park” is known for going after celebrities. Few celebrities are not ridiculed, and Sylvester Stallone is no exception.
One of the major weaknesses “South Park” pointed out about Stallone’s acting is that the actor’s lines are barely distinguishable. Not being able to hear what the actor is saying is hardly the hallmark of great acting no matter how exciting or action-packed the storyline. But you can't talk about Stallone without mentioning "Rocky." He was great in all of those movies, even the bad ones.
Ben Affleck
It must be both difficult and awkward for Ben Affleck to be best friends with the solid actor, Matt Damon. Best friend Damon has walked away with an Oscar, two Golden Globes, and three BAFTAs (British Academy Film Awards) while Affleck has only seemed to pocket Golden Raspberry nominations. Four to be exact!
In 2003, the actor took home the Razzie for his combined terrible roles in “Daredevil,” “Gigli” and “Paycheck.” Affleck’s career in the film industry has taken on a new positive note, as the actor has proven himself a capable director. In fact, his movie "Argo" won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Cameron Diaz
This actress can certainly do the ditsy girl-next-door types, but when a bit of diversity is required on Cameron Diaz’s part, well the part probably should not have been hers to play. Compared with the outstanding performances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis in “Gangs of New York,” the actress’s own Irish accent seemed out of place and distinctly un-Irish.
Martin Scorsese’s excellent directing may have spared the actress a Razzie nomination but in her acting lifetime, Diaz has received four nominations. In 2014, Diaz, finally, won the dishonorable award proving her as one of the industry’s worst. And Diaz even took an acting hiatus for the good part of a decade.
Mariah Carey
She may be a phenomenal singer reaching really high notes, but this only applies to singing. When it comes to movies, even if she is playing the role of an up-and-coming singer, Mariah Carey’s range is flat. Honestly, Carey has had a few roles, but none of them have been stellar.
Lee Daniel’s “Precious” was a heavy film and Carey may have just gotten away with her role in the film, but apart from “Precious," any film starring this singer has enjoyed subpar reviews. The most notable in her filmography is “Glitter.” Its score on “IMBD” was a miserable 2.4/10.
Keanu Reeves
This actor is a bit of a mixed bag. Movies such as “The Matrix” have gone down in history as one of the best, a permanent fixture of “IMDB” Top 100 Movies. But then there was “Hardball,” “Sweet November” and “Chain Reaction” among others.
It is true that there are plenty of good Keanu Reeves films, but when they are bad, they are really bad. Recent films where Reeves is the lead like “Siberia” was given 17% and “Replicas” 32% with “Rotten Tomatoes” audiences. But there is no denying that Reeves has taken action movies to another level with his role as John Wick.
Haydn Christensen
One has to ask oneself why movies keep starring Hayden Christensen. “The Last Man” scored a 0% with “Rotten Tomatoes” critics. “Outcast” managed to improve on this low score, getting a whole 4% with the critics on this website.
Still not convinced about this Canadian actor being one of the worst, both “Little Italy” and “American Heist” got 13% with the same webpage’s critics. No matter the genre – whether it is Romance, Action, or Action History (huh?) – if Christensen is in the lead, it is destined to bring in poor reviews.
Jaden Smith
In showbiz, there are many lessons to learn about nepotism. One of them is Jaden Smith. With both his parents enjoying successful careers spanning two decades, the road to stardom was open to Jaden Smith. But talent is apparently one thing you can’t just inherit.
In “The Day the Earth Stood Still’, the film scored just 27% with audiences and 20% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Jaden Smith pulled off another incredible feat, turning out an even worse performance in “After Earth.” Smith was so senselessly overdramatic that he won a Razzie. We just hope that he doesn't try to emulate too many of her parents' characteristics.
Kristen Stewart
The “Twilight” franchise did not exactly cement Kristen Stewart as an outstanding actor. Year after year, Stewart was nominated for worst actress as Bella Swan in the saga. Interestingly, it was in the final installment that she went home with the Golden Raspberry for Worst Actress.
Vacant stares, pouting, mouth-biting, and heavy breathing are not exactly signs of strong acting abilities. To add to her repertoire, there is “Seberg,” “Anesthesia,” and “On the Road” – all of them flopping with critics, audiences, and the first two, massive box office busts. We have a feeling that Stewart might end up becoming a good actress with time. After all, she's still young.
Megan Fox
Director Michael Bay may have tried to reverse the stereotype of the brainless bombshell in the “Transformers” franchise, but he certainly failed in this endeavor by casting Megan Fox for the role. We can blame Bay for creating the shallow character Mikaela Banes which Fox got a Razzie nomination for.
There have been three other Worst Actress nominations including Fox’s roles in “Jennifer’s Body,” “Jonah Hex” and “Midnight in the Switchgrass.” More indicative of Fox’s acting failures are box office figures – the latter dismally coming short of $100,000. If it wasn't her relationship with Machine Gun Kelly, we're not sure if we'd still be interested in her.
Bo Derek
Born Mary Cathleen Collins, who would later be known as Bo Derek, took the easy route to stardom. She married director, John Derek who starred her in his not-erotic not-R-rated romantic “Fantasies.” Bo Derek is a case in fact that you need the talent to get to the top.
Two of her highest-rated films on “Rotten Tomatoes” have been given 54% and 41% by the website’s critics. And these are her mostly highly rated! If stardom was what Derek wanted, then she certainly got it. Three Razzies decorate the actress’s cabinets. Derek most recently showed up on the Spanish edition of "The Masked Singer."
Paris Hilton
She had one good performance playing herself which put her on the showbiz map and that was not in “The Bling Ring” – if you know what I mean. Unfortunately, it was aimed at “adult’ audiences and not the kind that enjoys a mature production, with meaningful character development.
Paris Hilton just may be the graveyard of all movies. “The Hottie and Nottie” with its laughable lines and lack of storyline scored 6% with “Rotten Tomatoes.” And what is worse, is “National Lampoon’s Pledge This” fared even worse, achieving 0% on the website. To be honest, it's a bit of a stretch to even call Paris Hilton an actress.
Jennifer Lopez
Her cringe-worth performance in “Gigli” has gone down as the worst in film history. With the exception of embarrassing seduction scenes, the actress seems to be out of place and wanting enthusiasm in much of the film. While “Gigli” is certainly her worst to date, there are several contenders for the no.2 spot.
These include J-Lo’s role as Marisa Ventura in “Maid in Manhattan,” Ramona in “Hustlers” and Claire Peterson in “The Boy Next Door.” She has been nominated four times for a Golden Raspberry for Worst Actress, making her a regular Razzie contender. Nice to see her on the same list as her husband.
Demi Moore
This two-time Razzie win has quite a collection of poor performances. It might be possible that Demi Moore simply has chosen bad roles. If the roles are decided by her agent, then maybe Moore just needs a new agent. After three decades in the film industry, Moore’s films continue to rate poorly.
Even a film that requires emotional depth like “The Scarlett Letter” did not exactly blow us away. It scored 41% with audiences and 13% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Truth be told, Moore's best years were back in the 80s in classic flicks such as "St. Elmo's Fire."
Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy has a knack for racking up Golden Raspberry nominations. During the late noughties, the actor was a regular on the list of nominations, appearing consecutively in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Murphy reached an all-time low with “Norbit.” The film scored 4.1/10 on “IMDB,” but “Rotten Tomatoes” obliterated it, giving it 9%.
It goes without saying that Murphy took home the Golden Raspberry on that occasion. The sequel “Coming 2 America” did not help to revive Murphy’s reputation, garnering all-around terrible reviews. But let's face it - he is still one of the funniest guys in the history of TV and film.
David Spade
There is no denying that David Spade has been making people laugh for a long time - but that's as far as it gets. Films such as “The Wrong Missy,” “Joe Dirt” and “Grown Ups 2” do not exactly demand much of David Spade. The actor may fashion himself as a stand-up comedian and keep applying for comedy roles, but all his jokes generate are awkward laughs.
Speaking of awkwardness, instead of convincing audiences that Tim Morris was falling for the “wrong” Missy, Spade just seemed awkward throughout the movie. It is hard not to see why the film scored 32% on “Rotten Tomatoes” and 5.7 on “IMDB."
Mandy Moore
When your highest-rated movie is an animation for which you did the voice-over, it does not say much about your acting range. Mandy Moore has throughout a two-decade-long career produced few noteworthy performances. The actress sticks to mostly type-cast roles in romantic films, and still, the roles prove too demanding for her abilities.
“Chasing Liberty” her first big film after the soppy “A Walk to Remember” scored an abominable 18% with “Rotten Tomatoes” critics. Two decades later, she’s still at it. In 2017, “47 Meters Down” scored 35% with viewers. But Moore's work on "This Is Us" has been nothing short of majestic.
Melanie Griffith
While this actress may have not had the pleasure – or rather displeasure – of winning a Golden Raspberry, she still should not be too sure of her acting abilities. Melanie Griffith may have managed to escape winning the awful title of Worst Actress on six different occasions.
But she has managed to keep producing films that rate poorly. And even time has not helped. Recent productions like “Tempo” received 14% and “The Night We Called It a Day” got a pathetic 28% with “Rotten Tomatoes” audiences. In both films’ cases, the critics did not devote any time to reviews.
Miley Cyrus
This singer may have a voice made for singing, but her talents are not transferrable to the world of acting. “Hannah Montana” fans may have caused this actress to believe in her talents, but when she left the Disney nest, it became clear to audiences everywhere that she should stick to singing. And Cyrus has done so.
Since 2015, the actress has not made another go at acting. Films such as “So Undercover,” “LOL,” and “The Last Song” were poorly received. The actress earned herself two Razzie nominations in “Hannah Montana: The Movie” and “The Last Song.” But her singing career has been successful, in contrast.
Madonna
Madonna may be the Queen of Pop, but she is also the Queen of Terrible Acting. Her stand-out worst role was in the remake “Swept Away” where she stars as the spoilt and rich Amber Leighton, who fails to convince audiences that she is falling in love with the deckhand, Giuseppe Esposito.
Madonna to-date has won the most Golden Raspberries, possibly proving that one should stick to one’s path. Whether it is erotic thrillers like “Body of Evidence” or biographical pics like “Truth or Dare,” Madonna always manages to create another insipid performance. She was pretty good in "A League of Their Own."
Tommy Wiseau
There is one actor who has achieved what no other performer has in the history of showbiz - being called the worst actor of all time after just one role. Tommy Wiseau has made such an art of bad acting that even James Dean’s famous line “You’re tearing me apart” has become as much associated with Wiseau as with Dean.
“The Room” is a cult classic. It serves as a cornerstone and memento of overacting, underacting, and just plain weird acting. Audiences organize cinema reruns of “The Room” just to praise his deplorable acting and have a chuckle. There was even a movie made about the making of "The Room," which was actually really good.
Quentin Tarantino
Regarded as one of the best American filmmakers of all time, Tarantino’s movies have become an essential part of popular culture. Without a doubt, as a writer and director, this Tennessee native is beyond brilliant, but, as an actor, not so much.
Like many other directors that also love acting in their own films, Tarantino has made an appearance in several of his projects, including “Django Unchained,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Reservoir Dogs,” and tons of others. Now, while he often does short quirky cameos and seems to just appear on camera for the fun of it, his acting skills are less than average, often pulling the viewers out of the story due to his awkwardness onscreen.
M. Night Shyamalan
Another director who turned into a wannabe actor is M. Night Shyamalan. The master of horror skyrocketed to fame with his 1999 masterpiece, “The Sixth Sense,” and he’s continued to write amazing and terrifying films ever since. However, he’s also become a fan of appearing in his own films, which honestly, doesn’t really help matters.
Although Shyamalan usually limits himself to cameos, there’s enough time to realize his lack of experience in front of a camera. Not only does his acting seem bland, but it seems to serve absolutely no purpose for the film’s plotline. He should definitely stick to writing and directing.
Mark Wahlberg
We are all big fans of Markie Mark, but if you make an honest list of every performance Mark Wahlberg has ever done, you’ll realize he’s not a great actor. He’s definitely been lucky enough to act in award-winning films like “Boogie Nights” and “The Departed."
But if you examine his roles and script lines, you’ll see that Mark is mostly hired for his handsome looks and tough guy attitude. Apart from looking (very) pretty and swearing a lot, Wahlberg rarely does much more in his films. And while we’re all for him continuing to appear in light comedies like the “Ted” movies, we’re sure we won’t see this heartthrob winning any Oscars anytime soon.
50 Cent
While we are all fans of rapper 50 Cent’s music, we recognize that acting isn’t his strong suit. Although some of the films he’s appeared in have been high-grossing action hits, like “Escape Plan,” “Spy,” and “Den of Thieves,” Curtis Jackson, a.k.a. 50 Cent, always plays the same character.
And even then, they’re not very personable. While his live performances are always crowd-pleasing shows, it seems that performing in front of huge audiences isn’t this rapper’s problem. Perhaps the camera makes him nervous? In any case, we hope he keeps focusing on his beats and leaves the acting aside.
Hulk Hogan
The famous retired professional wrestler Hulk Hogan is a favorite in the ring, but not on the silver screen. Like many other wrestlers that tried to crossover into film, Hogan’s talent is definitely limited to the wrestling arena.
Not surprisingly, he’s always cast in films as the character he played in the ring for so many years, but even so, the whole thing was just awkward. We will say one thing in Hulk’s defense – none of the films he’s been in have been very good, to begin with. His 1993 movie “Mr. Nanny” has a 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Yikes!
Pauly Shore
Pauly Shore is one of those guys that everybody wishes they had as a friend – the man is hilarious and highly entertaining. But that doesn’t mean he should be acting. Shore went from being a stand-up comedian to an MTV VJ, to making his acting debut in the 1992 cult classic “Encino Man.”
The movie got bad ratings, and so did Shore’s performance, but that didn’t stop him from acting. From awful movies like “Bio-Dome,” “Jury Duty,” and “In the Army Now,” Shore has made bad acting into an art. You’ve got to applaud his persistence, but we would strongly advise him to go back to stand-up.
Eddie Griffin
Despite the fact that his first starring role was in a movie that was actually pretty good, “Undercover Brother” was the first and last time that Eddie Griffin’s acting potential seemed to have a future. Getting his start in comedy, Griffin’s talent lies in stand-up, and we think he’s realized this by now.
It did take him a few botched attempts, though – his roles in the “Deuce Bigalow” films weren’t exactly award-winning. It seems to be the general consensus that Griffin should stick to stand-up and leave the big screen behind; he has a 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Now that’s got to sting a little.
Jessica Alba
The gorgeous Jessica Alba is an amazing businesswoman, model, mother, social media influencer and many other things. But actress is not one of them. Her acting isn’t so much bad as it is bland – she seems to play the same character in every single movie: the sweet girl who never has much to say.
She definitely deserves credit for her dancing chops in the 2003 film “Honey,” and the woman has managed to land roles in blockbuster hits like “Into the Blue,” “Sin City,” and play Susan Storm in “Fantastic Four.” But can you think of any recent films she’s acted in? That’s’ because she hasn’t, since she probably realized her true passion, and talent, lies in her entrepreneurial spirit.
Denise Richards
Former fashion model Denise Richards is arguably one of the most beautiful women in the world. In fact, her role as Kelly Van Ryan in the 1998 film “Wild Things” earned her the title of sexiest woman alive. But a woman can’t have it all, and Denise has all the looks, but not so much of the acting talent.
Her roles in “Starship Troopers” and “The World Is Not Enough” are further proof that Richards should stick to the runway. Or reality TV – we were all super excited to see her join the cast of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” Not award-winning, but definitely entertaining. Then again, who needs an Oscar when you look like that?
Larry Miller
You may have noticed Larry Miller popping up in various comedy flicks as the funny guy on the sidelines – it’s hard to forget Kat Stratford’s geeky dad in “10 Things I Hate About You.” But it's hard to imagine why this seasoned 60-something actor hasn't had his shot at the lead role in a major movie. He's been playing supporting parts in hit films like “The Princess Diaries,” “Dilbert,” and more.
So, what has been keeping him from reaching the top of the food chain? Rumor has it that Miller's stuck in a typecasting mold. One Rotten Tomatoes user went as far as saying that his 2012 comedy, “General Education,” felt like "a strained collection of outtakes from other comedies." Unfortunately for Miller, he’s officially been ranked by IMDB as one of the 30 worst actors of all time. Perhaps not such a fair ranking.
Heather Locklear
Heather Locklear skyrocketed to fame in the early 90s with her portrayal of Amanda Woodward on the famous “Melrose Place.” But while many credit the show's success to Locklear’s performance, some people have a very different opinion of the blonde bombshell. In fact, her performance actually landed her a spot on IMDB’s worst actresses list.
According to one critic, Locklear's character is their least favorite on the entire show. The critic went on to describe Locklear's acting as "quite mean," and some cast and crew members have described her to be not so different in real life. Regardless, apart from some B-movies after the show, Locklear pretty much disappeared from the spotlight, proving her talent was never really that much, to begin with.
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake may hit all the right notes and be an incredible performer on stage, but his stint as a Hollywood actor has received mixed reviews. "He might be able to carry a tune, but he can't carry a movie on his own," says a Rotten Tomatoes critic who slammed Timberlake's performance in "Runner Runner."
And they’re not alone in that opinion – the pop star has faced endless backlash for his onscreen skills. For instance, his acting in the 2011 romcom “Friends with Benefits,” with co-star Mila Kunis, was fun and light, but definitely not a movie you’d watch for a second time. Perhaps it may be time to just stick to music, Justin.
Addison Rae
Addison Rae may have risen to fame on TikTok, but she never planned to stay there. In little less than a year, this multi-talented young star managed to secure her own Netflix deals and even went on to pursue a music career. However, not everyone thought this was a positive move; critics were negative, but one thing's for sure: Addison Rae is an ambitious young lady.
The highly-anticipated acting debut of the young star back in 2021, in the Netflix movie “ He’s All That” left both fans and critics disappointed. The movie was deemed "rotten" by Rotten Tomatoes, with one critic even going as far as saying it's a "learning lesson about how anyone can be an actor now, regardless of one's (lack of) qualifications or talent for the craft." Ouch.
Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher made his acting debut playing the clumsy Michael Kelso in “That 70’s Show,” and let’s just say his character wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. After playing Kelso for so many years, Kutcher seemed to get typecast as the handsome “dimwitted” sweetheart in every rom-com he starred in.
But apart from his role in “The Butterfly Effect” and 2013’s “Jobs,” the biopic about the Apple founder, Kutcher has stuck to playing the dumb jock. Many critics have said he just seems to have never grown out of the typecast, which is a real possibility. However, it is also quite possible that this pretty-faced actor never knew how to really act.
Stephen Baldwin
Being a part of the Baldwin family dynasty practically guarantees a spot in Hollywood, which is why Alec Baldwin’s brother Stephen probably got cast to begin with. However, that doesn’t mean he has any earth-shattering acting skills.
In fact, apart from supporting roles in “The Usual Suspects” and “Born on the Fourth of July,” you’ve probably never even heard of the movies he’s been in. Stephen was smart enough to leave acting aside and focus on being a producer and enjoying family time with his far more talented brother, Alec. And let’s not forget, he’s the father of the gorgeous Hailey Bieber, so, we guess Steve has just learned to enjoy fame by proxy.
Jennifer Garner
Another example of an actress that’s been cast more for her looks than her talent is Jennifer Garner. This Texas native got her acting break when she was cast as the star of ABC’s thriller show “Alias” in 2001. Then she landed a supporting role in “Pearl Harbor,” starred in “13 Going on 30,” and played an alluring assassin-for-hire in “Elektra.”
These movies might have made money at the box office, but it had little to do with Garner’s acting. We don’t know why Garner is always typecast as the naïve, sweet woman that ends up being quite bland, but in any case, this actress has landed in several “Worst Actresses” lists.
Malin Akerman
Stunning Swedish model Malin Akerman should have stayed on the cover of fashion magazines instead of transitioning to the silver screen. This gorgeous actress landed supporting roles in some major romcoms of the mid-2000s. She played an insanely overbearing wife in “The Heartbreak Kid” alongside Ben Stiller, an annoying sister in “27 Dresses,” and a crazy ex in “The Proposal.”
And let’s not forget her small role as the hottie in the cult comedy “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.” However, apart from adding some visual beauty to the production and maybe some laughs, there’s a reason that Akerman has always secured only small roles. But hey, at least she can go back to modeling.
Kevin James
This famous “King of Queens” may have made his fortune playing Doug in the hit sitcom that ran for almost ten years, but his subsequent movies were less than average. And so was his performance. Kevin James has stuck to comedies his entire career.
And even though you will have a good time watching his “Mall Cop” movies or seeing him as a nerd in “Hitch” and “Grown-Ups,” the truth is there’s much better comedy out there. James is great for small-time sitcoms, but when it comes to big-time productions, this comedian is not exactly about to win any awards.
Kate Beckinsale
Another beauty that has landed herself on IMDB’s “Worst Actresses in Hollywood” list is Kate Beckinsale. This gorgeous brunette started her career after her role in the 1993 film “Much Ado About Nothing,” and she continued to secure minor roles in film and TV.
Then she starred in the box-office hit “Pearl Harbor” and the famous romcom “Serendipity,” but Kate’s talent was always looking pretty and being sweet – having too many lines or award-winning acting was never on her docket. And even though she has probably raked in millions by playing the feared Selene in the “Underworld” film series, let’s just say this sweetheart is lucky to have her looks.
Mischa Barton
After playing rich teenager Marissa Cooper on Fox’s hit drama “The OC,” Mischa Barton became Hollywood’s “it” girl back in 2003. But in all honesty, can you remember her acting in anything else? That’s because apart from a few minor roles in B-movies and some quick cameos, Barton practically disappeared from the spotlight.
She enjoyed her 15 minutes of fame as the star of a hugely popular teenage soap opera, landed some modeling jobs, was on the cover of ‘Teen Magazine’ and ‘People’ more than once, and then kept to herself. Perhaps it was for personal reasons, but let’s be honest, we can’t really imagine Barton getting overwhelmed by the number of job offers.
Freddie Prinze Jr.
We all loved Freddie Prinze Jr. ever since he starred in the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” film series. I mean how could you not love the incredibly handsome, humble and heroic Ray Bronson? And then we got to see him as the high-school jock Zack Siler in the 90s cult classic “She’s All That” and fell for him all over again.
But eventually, it became obvious that Freddie’s power was looking gorgeous onscreen and making teenage girls sigh, and that’s pretty much it. As for his acting talent, we believe he himself realized it wasn’t his forte, and decided to retire from Hollywood altogether. One thing he is apparently amazing at is being a husband to Sarah Michelle Gellar. It’s all about finding your niche, Freddie.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez has been on TV since she was a child – first on “Barney and Friends,” and then in the hit Disney series “The Wizards of Waverly Place.” Her leading role in the latter show was what catapulted the young star to fame, but there’s a reason she focused on her music career.
Gomez is far better at singing and performing than she is at acting. Although we will say that her new show “Only Murders in the Building,” alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short has been a hit, her performance is not exactly worthy of an Oscar. We hope she focuses on her music in the future.
Jason Biggs
Although he rose to fame as one of the stars of the cult classic 90s film “American Pie,” and all of its sequels, Jason Briggs’s career slowly went in decline after that. Briggs kept on being cast as the nerdy loser that was always too sweet and kind to get the girl he wanted.
But even his fun romcoms got terribly rated on Rotten Tomatoes, with “My Best Friend’s Girl” getting a 14% and “Loser” a 24% rating. In fact, his latest film “The Subject,” released in 2020, was a total flop; we bet most people didn’t even hear about it.
Matthew Lillard
If there’s one thing we can say about Matthew Lillard is that he’s always been well-cast. His roles in “She’s All That,” “Scream,” and “Scream 3” are always of the goofy, carefree, sometimes dimwitted teen that’s always there for some laughs, but little else.
Let’s not forget his most famous role of Shaggy Rogers in the “Scooby Doo” film franchise – another character he plays to perfection. But just as Lillard has never gotten cast in a more meaningful, bigger-budget production, his acting has never reached award-winning heights. But hey, better to play it safe than sorry.
Vanessa Hudgens
Another Disney queen that made her way to the silver screen in Vanessa Hudgens. After her fame in the “High School Musical” film series, Hudgens landed some family movies and romcoms, and that’s exactly where she stayed – so did her talent. The beautiful young actress has done a great job in light, fun movies like “The Princess Switch.”
But apart from “Spring Breakers,” which didn’t exactly get high praises, Hudgens has never been cast for a blockbuster role. Luckily, that doesn’t seem to have stopped her from having a very lucrative career. With her voice-over gigs, her supporting roles, and modeling jobs, Hudgens makes a very good living.
Josh Duhamel
Not surprisingly, heartthrob Josh Duhamel started his career as a model, and then transitioned into acting when he first appeared on screen in “All My Children.” He then starred in the popular NBC show “Las Vegas,” and then went on to star in some light romcoms like “Life as We Know It,” alongside Katherine Heigl.
Duhamel seems to always get cast as the hot, not-so-nice jock that ends up transforming into a nice guy. And as bland as that description seems, his acting is not far off. His most recent film, “Shotgun Wedding,” in which he co-stars with Jennifer Lopez, got a 5 out of 10 rating on IMDB.
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr had a meteoric rise to fame in the late 80s and 90s, so much so that she got her own hit TV show. For over 200 episodes, fans were treated to anecdotes from America's working-class family as waged by their fearless leader Roseanne.
As star of the series and its executive producer/creator, it was clear that Barr was a creative talent. But not necessarily an acting one. Roseanne's attempt to bring back her '90s classic in 2017 didn't quite cut it, and the ABC revival soon came to an end. Unfortunately, this landed the actress in an infamous list of IMDB’s ‘Top 15 List for Worst Actors & Actresses’. Poor Roseanne!
Jamie Kennedy
Actor and comedian Jamie Kennedy made his acting debut by playing the insufferable Randy Meeks in the “Scream” movies. And his next performances in “Son of the Mask” and “Malibu’s Most Wanted” didn’t exactly earn him any awards.
In fact, his acting in “Son of the Mask” landed him second place on IMDB’s ‘Top 100 Worst Actors/Actresses List’. And to add insult to injury, Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 6% rating. But Kennedy seems unphased by the bad reviews since he’s currently working on his upcoming movie. Ironically, it’s titled “Don’t Suck.” This actor definitely has a sense of humor.
Ryan Phillippe
Ryan Phillipe was one of the hottest actors in Hollywood after his debut role in “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” His next role in “Cruel Intentions” cemented him as the ultimate teen heartthrob, which combined with the fact that he was dating Reese Witherspoon helped keep him in the spotlight for a while longer, because it definitely wasn’t his acting.
We love Ryan Phillipe as much as the next person, but let’s face it, he’s no Edward Norton. And we believe Mr. Phillipe is aware of this, since apart from some supporting roles, we’ve barely seen him on the silver screen in the last few years.
Mila Jovovich
It’s not unusual to see a model make the transition into acting – we’ve seen it with Cindy Crawford, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Kate Upton, and many others. But perhaps the most successful one has been Mila Jovovich, and as we well know by now, success doesn’t always equal talent.
However, we are forever thankful to her for bringing the beloved Leeloo to life in 1997’s “The Fifth Element.” Jovovich is undoubtedly excellent at kicking butt, as proven in her starring role as Alice in the “Resident Evil” film franchise, but we don’t see this gorgeous woman taking an award home anytime soon.