Worst Movies of the Year (So Far)

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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most derided films that have been released (so far) in 2024. We’ll be including films that may have premiered early but saw a wide release this year. Some minor spoilers may be discussed, so consider this your warning.

#7: “Argylle” (2024)

Like many, we had high hopes for Matthew Vaughn’s spy actioner “Argylle.” Heck, the A-list cast alone was a major selling point. Alas, the film amounted to nothing more than a silly celebrity-infested shoot ‘em up. Critics were quick to disparage the film’s messy and convoluted plot, which see’s Bryce Dallas Howard’s character experience a major case of “reality issues.” And with a seemingly endless array of plot twists, nothing managed to connect with the audience. Not even the mildly surprising mid-credits scene gave moviegoers something to cheer about. And with its bleak $17 million domestic debut, it was crystal clear that “Argylle” needed saving from the get-go.

#6: “Lisa Frankenstein” (2024)

We applaud this retro undead love story for taking some franken-sized risks. It’s just too bad they didn’t pay off. Mixing all the bubblegum bright and gaudy goodness of the late 80s with Tim Burton-esque weirdness, “Lisa Frankenstein” became a tonal nightmare. Part campy horror, part teen rom-com – the movie could have used a few more nuts and bolts to make it a cohesive viewing experience. And even though Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton deliver some delightfully committed performances, this Diablo Cody-penned feature never amounts to anything particularly memorable. Even less notable is “Lisa Frankenstein’s paltry box-office sum to date. I guess you can say this one was pretty much “dead on arrival.”

#5: “Miller’s Girl” (2024)

Not even Hollywood’s latest “it” girl, Jenna Ortega, could elevate this erotic thriller out of eye roll territory. Telling the story of a student and teacher who enter into a, shall we say, complicated relationship, Lionsgate’s “Miller’s Girl” was criticized for feeling dated and all-round tacky. The laborious and toothless screenplay certainly didn’t help matters - nor did the film’s overall creep factor. Sure, our lead duo of Ortega and a distinguished Martin Freeman do a decent job with the material they’ve been given, but the depthless narrative and tensionless payoff make it an ultimately forgettable affair. Class dismissed!

#4: “Float” (2023)

We get it, making a great romance movie is hard to do. It takes genuine chemistry between the actors, an engrossing story, and a reason to care about the on-screen union. Unfortunately, “Float” has none of those things going for it. The film, centering on a girl who falls for a small-town lifeguard, lacks the requisite emotional heft, and feels contrived in almost every way possible. To be fair, the Vancouver backdrop is picturesque and our leads, Robbie Amell and Andrea Bang, are pleasant enough. But, there’s only so much nice-looking landscapes and likable actors can do to keep things, ahem, afloat. In this case, the movie only slightly manages to tread water. What can we say, we can definitely see why it sank with audiences!

#3: “The Underdoggs” (2024)

There’s only one reason to watch this Amazon original film: Snoop Dogg. Yep, if you are a fan of the hip hop legend and his “acting,” then you will at least get some enjoyment out of this R-rated sports comedy. For everyone else, however, the experience will be a lot more painful. For one, the expletive-laden film is a blatant rip-off of nearly every other underdog sports movie that came before it. In short, it’s been done before – only better. Are there positive messages to be found? Certainly. But just because its heart is in the right place, doesn’t make it connect in any meaningful way. And even with a game Mike Epps on its roster, we’ll take the “Bad News Bears” over “The Underdoggs” any day of the week!

#2: “Night Swim” (2024)

To say horror fans were left disappointed with this “ghoul in the pool” offering would be a major understatement. Tepid at best, “Night Swim” perhaps took things a little too seriously - whereas the high concept camp factor could have been played to “M3GAN''-level highs. Unfortunately, the 90-minute runtime is overwrought with cliches and chock full of waterlogged jump scares that audiences saw coming a mile away. Frankly, we expected more out of this Blumhouse produced film. A cast including Kerry Condon and Wyatt Russell should have also guaranteed a scary good time. Instead, we were served up enough questionable character motivations and plot holes to, well, fill an abandoned swimming pool.

#1: “Madame Web” (2024)

Loosely based on the Marvel comic book character of the same name, “Madame Web” may very well be the funniest movie you’ll see all year. The problem – it’s not a comedy. The unintentional laughs come courtesy of the obnoxiously inept script. The half-baked story follows Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a New York City paramedic turned clairvoyant. She is inexplicably paired with three young women whom she must protect from a mysterious attacker with spider-like abilities. The laughably bad dialogue and low rent special effects only further hamper the Sony Pictures film. Add in a desperate attempt to connect to Spider-Man’s lore and you’ve got the worst superhero flick since “Morbius” – another Sony picture. But who knows, maybe it’ll be “Kraven-time” later this year?

Did we miss a movie from 2024 (so far) that failed to meet expectations? Share your displeasure in the comments below!