15 Razzie-Winning Movies That Are Worth Watching At Least Once
Hollywood’s biggest misfires don’t always vanish, and some Razzie winners end up gaining a second life in the most unexpected way.
Flaws that once drew ridicule can become the exact reason fans embrace a movie, turning disasters into cult classics worth quoting and debating.
For anyone curious about strange experiments and infamous misfires, these notorious films deliver entertainment that’s accidental, unforgettable, and weirdly irresistible.
Note: This article discusses films that received Golden Raspberry (“Razzie”) awards and reflects a mix of verified award outcomes and subjective viewing recommendations.
15. Can’t Stop The Music (1980)
Disco never died, it just got immortalized in this glittery time capsule that became the first Razzie Worst Picture winner.
Village People fans will recognize every beat, and the sheer commitment to sequins and synchronized dancing makes this more than just a musical misstep. Actually, the film’s earnest celebration of late-seventies excess feels refreshingly innocent compared to today’s cynical blockbusters.
If you’ve ever wondered what peak disco looked like on the big screen, this is your chance to witness history. Plus, the costumes alone are worth the price of admission for anyone who loves retro fashion.
14. Mommie Dearest (1981)
Faye Dunaway’s portrayal of Joan Crawford turned a serious biopic into midnight-movie gold. Wire hangers have never been the same since this film introduced the world to over-the-top maternal rage delivered with theatrical precision.
However, beneath the camp lies a genuinely unsettling exploration of abuse and Hollywood’s dark side.
Film students still debate whether the melodrama was intentional or accidental, making it a fascinating case study. You’ll quote lines for weeks after watching, and that’s a promise anyone who’s seen it can confirm.
13. Showgirls (1995)
Neon lights flash across every scene in Paul Verhoeven’s polarizing masterpiece.
Critics initially savaged it, but cult audiences discovered layers of satire hiding beneath the glitter and chaos. Elizabeth Berkley’s fearless performance commits fully to the absurdity, creating moments that teeter between brilliance and bewilderment.
Perhaps the film knew exactly what it was doing all along, serving up a critique of Vegas excess wrapped in sequins. Whether you see it as a mess or a marvel, you definitely won’t forget it anytime soon.
12. Striptease (1996)
Demi Moore commanded a widely reported $12.5 million salary to star in this Miami-set crime comedy that became a cultural lightning rod.
The plot zigzags between courtroom drama and nightclub antics, never quite finding its footing but always remaining watchable.
Honestly, the film captures mid-nineties Hollywood excess better than most documentaries could. Burt Reynolds chews scenery with delightful abandon, adding layers of weird energy to every scene he inhabits.
It’s a snapshot of an era when studios threw massive budgets at risky ideas.
11. Wild Wild West (1999)
Giant mechanical spiders and steampunk cowboys collide in this bonkers blockbuster that swung for the fences and missed spectacularly. Will Smith brings his signature charm, but even he can’t quite wrangle the script’s wild tonal shifts.
Kevin Kline plays dual roles with commitment that deserves recognition, while the special effects range from impressive to baffling. Ambitious failures often provide more entertainment than safe successes, and this film delivers through sheer audacity.
Theme song lyrics became a cultural touchstone despite everything else, proving a catchy hook can outlive even a box office disaster.
10. Battlefield Earth (2000)
John Travolta’s passion project about alien overlords became legendary for all the wrong reasons, yet it’s impossible to look away.
Tilted camera angles dominate every shot, creating a disorienting visual style that’s either artistic vision or technical confusion. The makeup and costumes commit fully to the sci-fi weirdness, transporting viewers to a genuinely bizarre future Earth.
Maybe the ambition outpaced the execution, but you’ve got to respect the sheer confidence on display. It’s required viewing for anyone studying how blockbusters can go sideways.
9. Freddy Got F*ngered (2001)
What happens when you give a provocateur comedian complete creative freedom?
Tom Green answered that question with this intentionally extreme comedy that polarized audiences instantly. Outlandish gags arrive rapidly, testing the limits of taste with every scene that unfolds onscreen.
Surprisingly, some critics have reconsidered it as avant-garde anti-comedy that challenged Hollywood formulas.
Whether it’s genius or garbage depends entirely on your tolerance for chaos, but it certainly makes an impression that lingers.
8. Swept Away (2002)
Madonna and director Guy Ritchie collaborated on this remake that somehow felt dated even when it was brand new.
Stranded on a desert island, the characters engage in class warfare that’s meant to be provocative but lands awkwardly. The Italian original had bite and social commentary; this version struggles to find its purpose beyond star power.
Still, the Mediterranean scenery is gorgeous, offering visual appeal when the script falters. Watching it now feels like opening a time capsule from early-2000s celebrity culture gone awry.
7. Gigli (2003)
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez starred together at the peak of their tabloid romance, creating a media frenzy that overshadowed everything.
The script tries blending mob comedy with romantic drama, never quite succeeding at either but remaining oddly compelling throughout. Al Pacino shows up late in the film, delivering a monologue that’s more entertaining than the entire preceding hour.
Curiously, the movie works better if you view it as a cultural artifact rather than traditional entertainment. Pop-culture historians consider it essential viewing for understanding early-2000s celebrity obsession.
6. Catwoman (2004)
Halle Berry accepted her Razzie in person, demonstrating more grace than the film’s script ever managed to achieve. Costume design went in a completely different direction from any previous Catwoman, creating a look that’s simultaneously bold and baffling.
Basketball scenes and cosmetics-company villains make for plot choices that defy comic-book logic entirely.
Sheer audacity in reinventing such an iconic character deserves acknowledgment, even if the execution missed wildly. This movie serves as a masterclass in how superhero adaptations can lose their way despite good intentions and a talented lead.
5. Movie 43 (2013)
How did so many A-list stars end up in this collection of outrageous sketches?
The answer remains Hollywood’s greatest mystery, but the result is fascinating in its commitment to boundary-pushing. Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, and dozens more appear in segments that range from mildly amusing to deeply uncomfortable.
Film students can learn valuable lessons about what doesn’t work in anthology comedy by studying this peculiar experiment. If nothing else, it’s a conversation starter that guarantees shocked reactions from anyone who watches alongside you.
4. Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015)
Love it or hate it, this adaptation of the bestselling novel became a global phenomenon that sparked endless debates.
Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan navigate awkward dialogue with admirable professionalism, even when the material tests their abilities. Cinematography captures Seattle’s moody atmosphere beautifully, providing visual elegance the script sometimes lacks.
Ultimately, watching it helps you understand why millions of readers connected with the story, even if the film version stumbles. Cultural literacy sometimes requires experiencing things firsthand rather than relying on secondhand opinions alone.
3. The Emoji Movie (2017)
Smartphones contain entire worlds, or so this animated feature wants you to believe with its journey through app-land.
Patrick Stewart voices the the ‘poop’ emoji character with Shakespearean dignity, creating unintentional comedy gold in every scene he inhabits. The plot borrows heavily from better animated films, yet the sheer absurdity of emojis having existential crises holds strange appeal.
Kids might enjoy the bright colors and familiar characters, while adults can marvel at corporate synergy taken to extremes. It’s a perfect example of modern brand-driven storytelling for better or worse.
2. Holmes & Watson (2018)
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly reunited for this Sherlock Holmes comedy that somehow forgot to include consistent laughs.
Costumes and production design nail Victorian London’s look, even if the jokes rarely land with the timing you’d expect.
Talented supporting actors appear throughout, doing their best with material that needed several more rewrites before cameras rolled. Watching comedy legends struggle with weak scripts offers its own educational value for aspiring filmmakers.
Sometimes even the best performers can’t save a movie that lacks a solid foundation underneath.
1. Cats (2019)
Broadway’s beloved musical leaped to the big screen with digital fur technology that immediately sparked worldwide bewilderment and fascination. Taylor Swift, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, and more committed fully to playing felines in a London junkyard, creating images nobody will ever forget.
Uncanny-valley effects of human faces on cat bodies became instant meme material, yet the spectacle remains mesmerizing in its strangeness.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music still shines through the visual chaos, reminding viewers why the stage version endured for decades.
Watching this production provides a unique cinematic memory because describing it never does justice to the actual experience.
