Top 10 Worst Movies of 2014

Script written by Nick Spake.

Top 10 Worst Movies of 2014

2014 brought us a number of great films…don’t expect to see any of them mentioned here. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 worst movies of 2014.

For this list, we’re taking a look at 2014’s dumbest, laziest, and most painful cinematic outings that made film critics rethink their jobs and mainstream audiences demand their money back.

#10: “Blended” (2014)

While this Adam Sandler comedy isn’t the absolute worst of his career, it is clear-cut evidence that he’s not making any attempt to improve upon his shtick. All Sandler really cares about is repeating the same tired formula and gags so he can go on vacation, hang out with his friends, and make some quick, easy money in the process. Seeing how “Blended” disappointed at the box office, though, maybe people are finally starting to wise up his scheme. If audiences are evolving, so should Sandler.

#9: “Drive Hard” (2014)

They say never judge a movie by its title, but it’s hard to imagine a movie called “Drive Hard” being any kind of cinematic tour de force. Sadly, “Drive Hard” doesn’t even work as an action-packed buddy comedy or a self-aware B-movie. The leads have little to no chemistry, the tone is all over the place, and the plot is recycled from superior films like “Collateral.” You know that your movie is in trouble when Thomas Jane’s hair gives the best performance.

#8: “Winter’s Tale” (2014)

This adaptation of Mark Helprin’s novel consists of Will Smith making a meme-worthy facial expression as Lucifer, Eva Marie Saint playing a woman inexplicably over a hundred, Russell Crowe sounding like an evil Muppet, and Colin Farrell riding a flying horse that’s actually a dog…talk about a mess…What’s truly shocking is that “Winter’s Tale” was directed by Akiva Goldsman, who wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for “A Beautiful Mind.” Actually he also wrote the screenplay for “Batman & Robin,” which might explain why this love story isn’t very magical or romantic.

#7: “Ouija” (2014)

A group of teenagers playing with a mysterious spirit board is one of the cheapest plot devices in the horror genre. Given the familiar setup, it isn’t surprising that “Ouija” is without a solitary original scare. In this day and age, did the filmmakers seriously expect audiences to be frightened by slamming doors, tattered dolls, and vengeful spirits? As we’ve come to expect from Hasbro Studios, “Ouija” is nothing more than a shameless attempt to sell a toy. The result will leave even the most naive audiences rolling their eyes.

#6: “Vampire Academy” (2014)

Over the past few years, we’ve gotten countless “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” wannabes. “Vampire Academy” tries to combine both of these franchises together and the final product is every bit as condescending as you’d expect. Even with the director of “Mean Girls” at its helm, this adaptation of the young adult novel never aspires to be anything more than a stereotypical commercial sellout. If there’s one lesson to be learned from “Vampire Academy,” it’s that great art doesn’t come from trend followers; it comes from trendsetters.

#5: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2014)

Lacking the fun of the 1990 live-action film or any of the cartoons, director Jonathan Liebesman’s “Ninja Turtles” is another blow to our childhoods courtesy of producer Michael Bay. The rushed plot is deprived of anything resembling character development and littered with unbelievable coincidences. It also doesn’t help that the unattractive CGI turtles look kinda like Shrek and that while Megan Fox still looks hot, she’s got little else to offer - though she is trying a bit harder here.

#4: “I, Frankenstein” (2014)

Have you ever met a really dorky kid who was trying to act hardcore, but he just came off as dorkier in the process? That’s the best way to describe “I, Frankenstein.” The film turns a classic movie monster into a dull action hero surrounded by uninspired CGI villains, bland action sequences, and laughable makeup effects. Frankenstein’s monster, we know that you haven’t had a starring role in a while, but you’ll never reboot your film career if you keep choosing projects like this.

#3: “The Legend of Hercules” (2014)

This year gave us multiple movies centered on the Greek hero, Hercules. Although MGM’s “Hercules” starring Dwayne Johnson wasn’t anything triumphant, it was a blessing from the gods compared to “The Legend of Hercules.” If this schlock-fest were pitched as a Syfy original movie we’d like to think it’d be rejected in a heartbeat. How the film actually got a big budget and theatrical release is beyond comprehension. Overblown with motifs ripped off from superior macho fantasy epics, “The Legend of Hercules” is truly the work of Hades.

#2: “Transformers: Age of Extinction” (2014)

Fool us four times, shame on you! Michael Bay delivered exactly what audiences expected once again with “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” another overblown orgy of cars, explosions, slow motion, beautiful women without a shred of personality, sunsets, product placement, cringe-worthy humor, and repetition. While the previous sequels were arguably worse, the fact that “Age of Extinction” is almost three hours long, grossed over a billion dollars, and takes no chances whatsoever is more than enough to despise it as much as “Revenge of the Fallen” or “Dark of the Moon.”

Before we scrape the bottom of the barrel, here are a few honorable, or in this case dishonorable, mentions:
- “The Nut Job” (2014)
- “A Haunted House 2” (2014)
- “Grace of Monaco” (2014)
- “A Million Ways to Die in the West” (2014)
- “Open Windows” (2014)
- “If I Stay” (2014)

#1: “Left Behind” (2014)

Unlike some of Nicolas Cage’s other recent films, “Left Behind” isn’t even entertainingly bad. It’s ungodly boring with Cage stuck in a cockpit most of the running time while Cassi Thomson aimlessly runs around, a stereotypical supporting cast attempts to figure out what the audience already knows, and the extras desperately try to act. “Left Behind” wants to discuss challenging topics regarding God and faith, but the film has no idea what it’s talking about. In that sense, it’s like the M. Night Shyamalan movie Shyamalan never made.

Do you agree with our list? What do you think is 2014’s biggest stinker? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.