While this decade has been filled with captivating films and shows, it has most certainly been home to some of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. The 2020s have been an endless loop of sloppy writing, unfinished plots, and useless sequels. The list below ranks the 5 worst films of this decade from bad to downright awful.
“Mulan” (2020) is the live-action remake of the original, which came out in 1998. That film is one of my favorites, which makes it even sadder to see the live-action version on this list. While it is not the worst film of the 2020s, it is not good by any means. The first issue is the removal of one of the most important characters, Mushu. He was the comedic relief of the original, and his presence is sorely missed in the remake. The film is already at a disadvantage because of this. A film like this has two audiences, the West and the East. There is no way that either of these audiences was satisfied with the film. The movie does nothing to spark the magic of the original; it simply feels bland. The writers dumbed down the story and its characters. This film feels like an extremely wide pond that is only a few inches deep.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” (2024) is quite literally one of the worst pieces of media I’ve ever had the displeasure of consuming. Unfortunately, it is going to get a lot worse as we go forward. The beloved “Joker” (2019) is one of the latest and most infamous examples of a film that didn’t need a sequel. “Joker: Folie à Deux” (2024) became that sequel. The film is nothing like audiences wanted or expected. It turned into a musical. Yes, a musical. Much of the musical portions of the film weren’t real, and this only helped to further jumble the plot of the film. And no, there wasn’t much of a plot to begin with. Arthur Fleck is in jail, and in jail, he meets Harleen Quinzel, who is better known as Harley Quinn. Together, they embark on journeys of some sort, beginning the musical fantasy. At this point, the possibility of this film being enjoyable is now gone. The film does nothing to build the world or its characters. It’s clear that the objective was for it to explore the deepest piece of the Joker’s mind, but it fell flat on its face.
How might it get worse, you ask? Ask “Morbius” (2022). In the long list of failed Spider-Man spinoffs, this one might have to take the cake. Films like these aren’t meant to define a genre, but this one is just . . . there. The movie currently serves zero purpose, and I’m unsure if it ever will. The possibility of a film including Morbius again is extremely thin. This is one of those movies that you watch to laugh at. It’s reaching “Green Lantern” (2011) levels of bad. This is probably the most boring film on the list. Jared Leto also plays the lead, the same actor who sent a live rat to one of his co-stars as a form of method acting. The film has no redeeming qualities, and I do think that mopping the local pool would be a better way to spend my time. Just don’t watch it.
I’m going to pick on another Disney princess in this one. “Snow White” (2025) is, unfortunately, just terrible. There isn’t much to say about it. The movie opened up to a domestic weekend of only $42.2 million, and it lost Disney over $100 million overall. A similarity between this one and Mulan is that it lacks the magic of the original. Failing to create a live-action version of a film that was already made (and loved) is unacceptable. It failed to enhance and build upon the story, and that is what made it dead on arrival. There is nothing memorable about this one either, aside from the lackluster acting and unforgettably terrible CGI.
I’m sure that the sour aftertaste from this one will still linger in the mouths of the audience when the eventual Moana live-action adaptation comes out.
The final film on this list, and what I consider one of the worst ever, is none other than “The Flash” (2023). There is nothing redeemable about this film. This one was the bottom of the barrel, crumbs, burnt ends, rotten, and expired part of the comic book movie genre. This film put a complete psychopath (Ezra Miller) on the biggest stage as one of the most legendary superheroes ever. This movie is a perfect example of why A-list celebrities will not get you an A-list review grade. Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, and Nicolas Cage all make appearances. It doesn’t end there. A scene featuring the late Christopher Reeve is included, and it is made in full CGI. If you ever want to witness the death of a film studio, a beloved hero, and the most poorly written story all in one sitting, then watch this one.
–Dec. 8, 2025–
