Top 10 Worst Films of 2022 (So Far)
#10: “Choose or Die” (2022)
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We would certainly advise against choosing to watch this low-rent Netflix horror thriller. “Choose or Die” stars Iola Evans as a young woman who finds herself at the mercy of a terrifying retro video game. This should be the perfect recipe for some off-the-wall fun. But “Choose or Die” has little going for it other than some admittedly impressive effects. And not even a voice cameo from horror icon Robert Englund can make up for how shoddy the script is. It’s thankfully only 84 minutes long. But you might be saying “game over” well before then.
#9: “Moonfall” (2022)
Director Roland Emmerich specializes in disaster movies. But “Moonfall” is mostly just a disaster. Starring an overqualified cast, including Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, and Donald Sutherland, the film is basically what you’d expect from the title. The moon is hurtling towards Earth. So, it’s up to the top minds to solve this cataclysmic problem and learn there’s more to the moon than we were led to believe. If that sounds nonsensical, you’re right. But “Moonfall” isn’t even entertaining in its ridiculousness. Were such a scenario to occur in real life, there’s no way it would be as boring as this.
#8: “Blacklight” (2022)
Remember how exciting it was when Liam Neeson became an action star? Little did we know it would lead to turgid thrillers like “Blacklight.” Another in a sea of interchangeable titles, “Blacklight” stars Neeson as a government agent who finds himself and his loved ones in danger after uncovering a horrifying plot. Any potential excitement is thwarted by its by-the-numbers script and Neeson's uninvolved starring performance. We know that Neeson is a great actor when given the right material. But between this and “Memory,” another dull 2022 thriller, it’s getting more difficult to look forward to a new Liam Neeson movie.
#7: “The 355” (2022)
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What do you get when you take an ensemble of talented actresses and give them the most unimaginative script possible? You get “The 355,” a spy thriller that aims for empowerment but ends up at uninspired. In this film, four agents from around the world team up to retrieve a weapon before it can have devastating effects. Among the overqualified cast members are Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong'o, Fan Bingbing, and Diane Kruger. But even with multiple Oscar winners in the ensemble, “The 355” is frustratingly uninspired. We’re all for more female-led films. We just want them to be better than this.
#6: “Firestarter” (2022)
The original “Firestarter” isn’t particularly good. But it’s a masterpiece compared to this hot mess of a remake. Based on Stephen King's novel, the film stars Zac Efron as a father trying to protect his young daughter, who has pyrokinetic abilities. “Firestarter” received a chilly reception from critics and audiences alike. Reviews made note of how bland and uninspired it all feels. And even the visuals are hardly worth commenting on. Unless you have to see every single King adaptation, there’s basically no reason to watch this. To put it bluntly, “Firestarter” generates no heat.
#5: “The Bubble” (2022)
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Judd Apatow has been a reliable comedy director for nearly 20 years now. So, we’re shocked he could make anything as bad as this. Co-written by Apatow and Pam Brady, "The Bubble" is an ensemble comedy about the making of an action blockbuster during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the film may intend to skewer Hollywood, it fails as a satire, as it's neither funny nor insightful. Instead, “The Bubble” traps reliable talent like Karen Gillan, Pedro Pascal, and Keegan-Michael Key in a witless and overlong nightmare. This is one bubble that can’t pop soon enough.
#4: “Redeeming Love” (2022)
Romantic dramas tend to get a bad rap. But when "Redeeming Love" is an example of what gets made, it's easier to understand why that is. Based on Francine Rivers’ novel, this melodrama takes the biblical story of Hosea and brings it to California during the Gold Rush. Abigail Cowen plays Angel, a young woman who comes from tragic circumstances and who finds grace in Michael, played by Tom Lewis. It’s impossible to miss the religious overtones of this movie. But it’s also difficult to feel any kind of investment in these characters and their journey. As with far too many faith-based films, “Redeeming Love” is a holy bore.
#3: “The King's Daughter” (2022)
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This fantasy flop should perhaps be on a “Worst Films of 2015” list, as that’s when it was originally scheduled for release. However, this was delayed for nearly seven years. If you’re unlucky enough to see it, you’ll understand why no one was in a rush to release it. Pierce Brosnan plays King Louis XIV, who ensnares a mermaid in hopes of achieving immortality. However, things get complicated after the mythical creature meets his secret daughter. “The King's Daughter” is a baffling mishmash of other, more successful source materials that seems designed to appeal to absolutely no one. Some movies are worth waiting years for. This one, not so much.
#2: “Morbius” (2022)
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“Morbius” was released on April 1, 2022. Unfortunately, we don’t think it was a great April’s Fool prank. This laughable entry in Sony's “Spider-Man” Universe quickly became one of the year’s biggest punchlines. Jared Leto plays Dr. Michael Morbius, who finds himself turned into a super-powered vampire after trying to cure an illness. With its dated effects and shoddy script, “Morbius” is awful even when compared to superhero movies released 20 years ago, let alone ones made now. And despite all of the memes mocking it, it’s not even worth watching for a “bad movie night.” From beginning to end, “Morbius” flat-out sucks. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable, or in this case, dishonorable mentions. “Measure of Revenge” (2022) We’d Swear Vengeance on Anyone Who Recommends This Awful Thriller “Senior Year” (2022) “Never Been Kissed” This Is Not “Deep Water” (2022) This Long-delayed Erotic Thriller Wastes the Talents of Stars Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas “Jurassic World Dominion” (2022) This Dinosaur Franchise Might Be Ready for Extinction
#1: “365 Days: This Day” (2022)
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The “365 Days” films are erotic thrillers so wretched, they make the “Fifty Shades” franchise look positively enlightened. Both the original and its sequel boast zero percent scores on Rotten Tomatoes, and we wouldn’t want to meet anyone who admires them. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a steamy romance. But “This Day” is so incompetently made, it’s questionable if it even qualifies as a movie. Consisting largely of graphic montages, it leaves nothing to the imagination, meaning anyone who dares watch it will be bored silly. And while it’s not quite as morally appalling as its predecessor, it’s still regressive in more than one way. It might not end up being the year’s worst film, though. The third installment is scheduled for release in August.