15 Romance Movies Critics Still Call The Absolute Worst
Love stories on the big screen can make us swoon, laugh, and cry happy tears.
But not every romantic movie hits the mark.
Some films aimed at warming our hearts ended up disappointing audiences and critics alike with cringe-worthy dialogue, weak plots, and chemistry that just wasn’t there.
Here are the romance movies that critics still consider absolute disasters.
1. Gigli (2003)
Remember when Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were Hollywood’s hottest couple?
Well, their on-screen pairing turned into one of cinema’s biggest misfires.
Critics tore this mob comedy-romance apart for its bizarre plot about a hitman and a lesbian falling in love.
The dialogue felt forced, the chemistry was nonexistent, and even die-hard fans couldn’t save it from bombing spectacularly at the box office.
2. The Love Guru (2008)
Mike Myers tried to create another iconic character, but this spiritual guru fell completely flat.
Playing Pitka, a self-help expert trying to mend a hockey player’s relationship, Myers delivered cringe-inducing jokes that made audiences uncomfortable rather than amused.
Critics called it offensive and painfully unfunny.
The romantic subplot between characters lacked any genuine emotion, making this comedy a career low point for the Austin Powers star.
3. The Ugly Truth (2009)
Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler starred in this battle-of-the-sexes rom-com that critics found more irritating than charming.
Butler played a crude TV personality who bets he can help uptight producer Heigl find love, but the jokes wore thin quickly.
Many reviewers criticized the film for promoting outdated gender stereotypes.
The romance felt manufactured, and the supposed chemistry between leads couldn’t overcome the offensive humor.
4. All About Steve (2009)
derivative work: Tabercil (talk), licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Sandra Bullock earned a Razzie Award for her portrayal of an obsessive crossword puzzle creator stalking a cameraman across the country.
What was meant to be quirky and endearing came across as disturbing and uncomfortable.
Critics found the romantic pursuit creepy rather than cute.
The film’s attempt at celebrating individuality backfired, leaving audiences bewildered by the bizarre character choices and awkward romantic storyline that went nowhere.
5. From Justin to Kelly (2003)
Capitalizing on American Idol fame, this beach musical paired Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini in a spring break romance that critics called excruciatingly bad.
The paper-thin plot involved mistaken identities and jealous friends interfering with true love.
Musical numbers felt awkwardly inserted, and neither star showed acting chops beyond their singing talents.
Critics unanimously panned it as a shameless cash grab that wasted everyone’s time.
6. Glitter (2001)
Mariah Carey’s semi-autobiographical film about a rising singer in the 1980s sparkled with sequins but lacked substance.
Her romance with a DJ, played by Max Beesley, felt hollow and underdeveloped throughout the predictable storyline.
The romantic moments came across as staged rather than genuine, and even the soundtrack couldn’t save this glittery disaster from becoming a box office bomb.
7. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
Adapting the bestselling novel proved challenging, and critics argued the film failed to capture what made the book appealing to millions.
The relationship between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele came across as problematic rather than passionate.
Reviewers criticized the lack of chemistry between leads Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan.
The dialogue felt stilted, the pacing dragged, and the controversial romance sparked debates about whether it glorified unhealthy relationships.
8. Fifty Shades Darker (2017)
If critics thought the first installment was bad, the sequel managed to sink even lower.
Christian and Ana’s continuing relationship drama added jealous exes and mysterious stalkers, but the convoluted plot only made things worse.
Reviewers found the film boring despite its controversial subject matter.
The romantic development between characters stalled, replaced by melodramatic twists that felt more like a soap opera than a genuine love story worth investing in.
9. The Perfect Man (2005)
Hilary Duff played a teenager who creates a fake secret admirer for her romantically unlucky mother, portrayed by Heather Locklear.
What started as a well-meaning scheme spiraled into a predictable mess of lies and misunderstandings.
The romantic payoff felt unearned, and the film’s attempts at heartwarming moments came across as manipulative rather than genuine, leaving audiences cold to the mother-daughter story.
10. Alexander (2004) – Romance Subplot
Oliver Stone’s epic about Alexander the Great tried tackling the conqueror’s complex love life but fumbled badly according to critics.
The romantic subplots involving multiple partners felt awkwardly shoehorned into the historical narrative.
Reviewers found the love scenes unconvincing and poorly integrated into the story.
Rather than adding depth to Alexander’s character, the romantic elements distracted from the historical drama, creating an uneven film that satisfied neither history buffs nor romance fans.
11. Love Happens (2009)
Aaron Eckhart played a self-help guru dealing with grief while falling for florist Jennifer Aniston in this drama that critics found emotionally manipulative.
The premise had potential, but the execution left much to be desired.
Reviewers criticized the film for being predictable and emotionally dishonest.
The romance developed too quickly without earning the emotional payoff it desperately sought.
12. Endless Love (2014)
Derivative work: Keraunoscopia, licensed under CC BY 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
This remake of the 1981 film told the story of a teenage romance opposed by the girl’s wealthy father.
Critics wondered why anyone bothered updating this melodramatic tale that felt dated even by modern standards.
The young leads lacked the intensity needed to sell an all-consuming passion.
The film offered nothing new to the star-crossed lovers genre that countless better movies already explored.
13. Swept Away (2002)
Madonna and director Guy Ritchie’s collaboration resulted in a romantic disaster that critics still use as a cautionary tale.
This remake about a spoiled socialite and a communist sailor stranded together on an island crashed harder than their boat.
Reviewers savaged Madonna’s performance and the film’s outdated gender politics.
14. View from the Top (2003)
Gwyneth Paltrow played a small-town girl dreaming of becoming an international flight attendant in this romantic comedy that never took off with critics.
The love story between her character and a law student felt like an afterthought to the career storyline.
Reviewers found the film’s portrayal of flight attendants outdated and offensive.
The romantic subplot lacked chemistry and development, leaving audiences wondering why talented actors like Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo wasted their time on such flimsy material.
15. Because I Said So (2007)
Diane Keaton played an overbearing mother secretly placing personal ads for her youngest daughter, portrayed by Mandy Moore.
Critics found this premise more creepy than charming, and the resulting romantic complications felt forced and uncomfortable.
Reviewers criticized the film for treating its characters like caricatures rather than real people.
The movie’s attempts at heartwarming family moments couldn’t overcome its fundamentally flawed premise.
