Revolution Studios William Shakespeare laid the groundwork for romantic comedies way back in 1598 when he started writing “Much Ado About Nothing.” Centuries later, in the early 1920s, filmmakers used his roadmap to create the first rom-com films, “Sherlock Jr.” and “Girl Shy.” In the years since, rom-coms have become increasingly ubiquitous, with dozens hitting theaters and streaming services each year. While that first Shakespearean rom-com remains a pillar of the Western canon, many of its successors haven’t fared as well. Some, like “Jerry Maguire,” “When Harry Met Sally,” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” have established themselves as classics. Others, like “Mannequin” and “The Hottie & The Nottie” are better off forgotten. Stacker rounded up 100 of the worst romantic comedies of all time by compiling IMDb and Metacritic data from October 2022 on all romantic comedies with over 2,500 votes on IMDb and listed the bottom 100. To qualify, a film had to be listed on IMDb as both romance and comedy. Films were then ranked by a Stacker score, an equally-weighted index between Metascore and IMDb user ratings, with #1 being the worst. Ties were broken by IMDb votes, meaning a movie with more votes would be closer to first place. If a movie did not have a Metascore, it was not considered. From musician and influencer vehicles to poorly written sequels, read on to see which rom-coms earned a spot on our list. You may also like: 100 best Western films of all time #100. Her Alibi (1989) Warner Bros. – Director: Bruce Beresford – Stacker score: 44.6 – IMDb user rating: 5.8 – Metascore: 24 – Runtime: 94 minutes A “bad” mystery writer (Tom Selleck) gets swept up by the affections of Nina (Paulina Porizkova), a beautiful immigrant he presumes is wrongfully accused of murder until a series of failed gimmicks raise doubts in this forgettable 1989 farce. Roger Ebert gave it a half-star, calling it “endless, pointless, and ridiculous.” It grossed only $18 million at the domestic box office. #99. Over Her Dead Body (2008) Gold Circle Films – Director: Jeff Lowell – Stacker score: 44.6 – IMDb user rating: 5.2 – Metascore: 30 – Runtime: 95 minutes The plot revolves around a ghost (Eva Longoria) trying to sabotage a relationship between her former fiance (Paul Rudd) and a psychic (Lake Bell). Critics called it a lightweight “Ghost” and found the pacing slow, the plot implausible, and the characters lacking in charm. Making only $7.6 million, this one vapored off the mortal plane without leaving much of a trace. #98. Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) Universal Pictures – Director: Peter Segal – Stacker score: 44.6 – IMDb user rating: 4.4 – Metascore: 38 – Runtime: 106 minutes Fewer things seem more incompatible than Eddie Murphy’s juvenile sense of humor and a love story. But the producers of “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps” were determined to try and wed the two. The end result was a film that critics called “shrill, obnoxious, unfunny, and nearly unwatchable.” Even Janet Jackson’s sweet portrayal of a DNA researcher who is head over heels for Murphy’s Professor Klump wasn’t enough to save this one. #97. Zookeeper (2011) Columbia Pictures – Director: Frank Coraci – Stacker score: 44.6 – IMDb user rating: 5.2 – Metascore: 30 – Runtime: 102 minutes Kevin James–is there an actor alive whose box office success is more incongruous with critics’ distaste for his movies? In this PG rom-com, James plays a kindly zookeeper who discovers animals can talk–and offer courtship advice–when he considers quitting his job, and his wards are forced to break their code of silence. Film critic Leonard Maltin thought it was a step up from James’ previous project, “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” but the majority of reviewers disagreed. The picture grossed $80.4 million domestically, less than its production budget, but strong overseas numbers brought its international total to a profitable $169.8 million worldwide. #96. Just Married (2003) Twentieth Century Fox – Director: Shawn Levy – Stacker score: 44.6 – IMDb user rating: 5.4 – Metascore: 28 – Runtime: 95 minutes The late Brittany Murphy stars with Ashton Kutcher in this lovable 2003 comedy about two newlyweds navigating the realities of holy matrimony on their honeymoon while a number of issues bubble up–some funny, some not. A box office success, critics were not impressed with the predictable storyline, and both actors earned Razzie Award nominations individually and as a couple. #95. Bewitched (2005) Columbia Pictures – Director: Nora Ephron – Stacker score: 44.6 – IMDb user rating: 4.8 – Metascore: 34 – Runtime: 102 minutes On paper, “Bewitched” seems to have all the right ingredients for a successful rom-com: an experienced writer and director (Nora Ephron), a talented and exciting cast (Will Ferrell, Nicole Kidman, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Jason Schwartzman, Kristin Chenoweth, and Steve Carell) and a unique storyline inspired by the classic sitcom of the same name (a washed-up actor discovers his cute new co-star is a witch). But in the end, the film was missing that little bit of magic that would have taken it from theoretically great to actually great. The New York Times called it “an unmitigated disaster,” and fans lamented its lack of direction and reliance on special effects over quality performances. #94. Little Fockers (2010) Universal Pictures – Director: Paul Weitz – Stacker score: 44.6 – IMDb user rating: 5.5 – Metascore: 27 The third installment in the “Meet the Parents” franchise, “Little Fockers” reunites the original cast for one last family row. Critics complained that the film– which was commercially quite successful, bringing in more than $310 million at the box office worldwide–was too formulaic, and its jokes too tired. #93. Mr. Deeds (2002) Columbia Pictures – Director: Steven Brill – Stacker score: 44.6 – IMDb user rating: 5.8 – Metascore: 24 – Runtime: 96 minutes In this Frank Capra remake, a small-town man is left the keys to the kingdom after the death of a wealthy relative and must sort out who loves him for him and who loves him for his money. Starring Adam Sandler and Winona Ryder, the film was disparaged by critics for the way it dumbed down its source material, taking the story from smart to barely watchable. #92. King Solomon’s Mines (1985) The Cannon Group – Director: J. Lee Thompson – Stacker score: 44.0 – IMDb user rating: 5.2 – Metascore: 29 – Runtime: 100 minutes Richard Chamberlain plays an explorer who has been hired by a beautiful young woman (Sharon Stone) to help her find her father, an archaeologist who has been kidnapped for his extensive knowledge of the fabled King Solomon’s mines. An adaptation of the classic Victorian novel of the same name, the film takes a much lighter, wackier approach than any of its predecessors in an attempt to capture the same audiences that loved “Indiana Jones.” Unfortunately, these efforts didn’t pay off, and audiences dubbed the movie laughable and unconvincing. #91. Head Over Heels (2001) Universal Pictures – Director: Mark Waters – Stacker score: 44.0 – IMDb user rating: 5.4 – Metascore: 27 – Runtime: 86 minutes This is essentially “Rear Window” with a female lead who falls in love with the guy she thinks she’s seen commit a murder. Freddie Prinze Jr. was way too bubbly to inject the necessary darkness into the alleged killer character, and critics wrote the film off as a disposable teen date movie. It brought in only $10.4 million at the domestic box office. #90. The Bachelor (1999) Columbia Pictures – Director: David Raynr – Stacker score: 40.8 – IMDb user rating: 5.5 – Metascore: 20 – Runtime: 94 minutes A young James Franco and Shane West couldn’t save this teen update of the classic Cyrano de Bergerac tale, in which nerdy West falls for the cute, popular girl in school, and Franco looks for help from West to get the attention of his best friend and fellow nerdy pal, Maggie (Marla Sokoloff). Critics panned it, and the movie was a commercial flop, bringing in only $8.7 million at domestic box offices, well below its $32 million budget. You may also like: 25 iconic closing shots from film history #55. Good Luck Chuck (2007) Lionsgate – Director: Mark Helfrich – Stacker score: 40.8 – IMDb user rating: 5.6 – Metascore: 19 – Runtime: 96 minutes This film gave a lot of ammunition to members of the “Dane Cook isn’t funny” bandwagon. The premise is actually chuckle-worthy: A serial dater who was hexed by a goth girl into perpetual singledom as a 10-year-old must try to make an adult relationship with a sexy penguin specialist work. Unfortunately, due to the lack of comedic chops in the cast, the movie was slammed by critics and by countless road comics who, jealous of Cook’s stardom, slagged it off in clubs around the country. Cook’s fan base showed up anyway, and the film raked in $35 million in domestic box offices to turn a profit. #54. Killers (2010) Lionsgate – Director: Robert Luketic – Stacker score: 40.8 – IMDb user rating: 5.4 – Metascore: 21 – Runtime: 100 minutes Katherine Heigl plays a newlywed who discovers her husband (Ashton Kutcher) is an assassin, a revelation that throws their marriage into turmoil. This “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” lite turned off critics with its warmed-over plot and plain dullness. The picture made $47 million at domestic box offices, a figure dwarfed by the conceptually similar Tom Cruise/Cameron Diaz double-header “Knight and Day,” which was released in the same month and proved a big commercial hit. #53. Mother’s Day (2016) Open Road Films (II) – Director: Garry Marshall – Stacker score: 40.2 – IMDb user rating: 5.6 – Metascore: 18 – Runtime: 118 minutes In the same vein as “Valentine’s Day” and “New Year’s Eve,” “Mother’s Day” follows a group of seemingly unconnected people as they set out to celebrate their moms. Directed by Gary Marshall (his last film before his death in July 2016), the movie boasts a star-studded ensemble cast including names like Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Jason Sudeikis, Timothy Olyphant, and Jon Lovitz. Poorly written, with overpacked plot lines and jokes that verge on racist, the movie was a miss for both audiences and critics alike. #52. Cabin Boy (1994) Touchstone Pictures – Director: Adam Resnick – Stacker score: 39.7 – IMDb user rating: 5.2 – Metascore: 21 – Runtime: 80 minutes When a movie’s main character is described by critics who enjoyed it as unpleasant, despicable, and loathsome, it’s hard to imagine that it’s going to find a wide audience. That was certainly the case with “Cabin Boy,” a fantasy comedy story by “Late Night with David Letterman” writers Chris Elliott and Adam Resnick. Even the film’s original slapstick and sight gags weren’t enough to redeem the bizarre tale of a privileged prep-school graduate who finds himself working (and falling in love) aboard a fishing boat with a … well … “filthy” name. #51. Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) Eddie Murphy Productions – Director: Wes Craven – Stacker score: 39.7 – IMDb user rating: 4.6 – Metascore: 27 – Runtime: 100 minutes Comedy-horror rarely works as a mashup. For every “American Werewolf in London,” there are dozens of misfires that fail to balance the competing requirements of the two genres. This is one of those. Eddie Murphy plays a vampire named Maximillian, who tries to seduce a detective while sabotaging the romantic advances of her longtime partner. Horror veteran Wes Craven directed but failed to provide any real scares. Critic Roger Ebert wrote of the film: “To call this a comedy is a sign of optimism; to call it a comeback for Murphy is a sign of blind faith.” Audiences were at least curious enough that the film pulled in a haul just shy of $19.8 million, but it was poorly regarded and has not stood the test of time. You may also like: Can you guess which iconic movie these scenes are from? #50. Surviving Christmas (2004) DreamWorks – Director: Mike Mitchell – Stacker score: 39.7 – IMDb user rating: 5.4 – Metascore: 19 – Runtime: 91 minutes In a plot that calls for way too much suspension of disbelief from the outset, a wealthy but alienated ad exec (Ben Affleck) bribes a family (with a dad played by James Gandolfini) to pose as his own so that he doesn’t have to spend Christmas alone. The story pivots when the family’s eldest daughter (Christina Applegate) arrives late and throws a new romantic wrench into his fantasy. Predictable and humorless complications ensue. Amazingly, the WGA lists four screenwriters for this trainwreck. An $11.7 million domestic box office sale made for a disappointing holiday haul. #49. The Pirate Movie (1982) Joseph Hamilton International Productions – Director: Ken Annakin – Stacker score: 39.1 – IMDb user rating: 5.3 – Metascore: 19 – Runtime: 98 minutes The vast majority of “The Pirate Movie” happens in a dream sequence, a twist that turns many viewers off to even the best stories. Unfortunately, the film also lacked a solid plot–it follows a couple who meet at a pirate festival in Australia and who turn out to have also been pirates in a past life–the musical rom-com had two strikes against it before it even hit theaters. Its third strike came when viewers realized it was a thinly veiled knockoff of the play “The Pirates of Penzance,” something the marketing hadn’t been clear about. #48. Sex and the City 2 (2010) New Line Cinema – Director: Michael Patrick King – Stacker score: 39.1 – IMDb user rating: 4.5 – Metascore: 27 – Runtime: 146 minutes The critics who were lukewarm on the first big-screen adaptation of the hit HBO show really sank their teeth into its sequel. And at a running time of almost two-and-a-half hours, the film served up plenty of fodder for their criticisms. Most reviewers agreed that Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her crew of Manolo-heeled NYC gal pals had long overstayed their welcome and warned that only diehard fans need consider lining up for this pointless and thinly plotted coda to their saga. It still made a boatload–$290.7 million worldwide–but by this point, the loft salary requirements of its stars had produced a budget that exceeded its return. #47. Undiscovered (2005) Cinejota Filmproduktionsgesellschaft mbH & Co. – Director: Meiert Avis – Stacker score: 38.6 – IMDb user rating: 4.2 – Metascore: 29 – Runtime: 97 minutes Four aspiring performers try to get their careers off the ground in this 2005 drama. The basic story is one that has been told time and time again, and “Undiscovered” had nothing new to offer to the conversation, nor did it tap into the emotions of its audience in any real way. Despite its enticing preview and interesting casting choices (Ashlee Simpson’s first big screen role), the movie set a record for second-weekend drop-offs, with an 86.4% decrease in ticket sales. #46. Juwanna Mann (2002) Morgan Creek Entertainment – Director: Jesse Vaughan – Stacker score: 38.6 – IMDb user rating: 4.7 – Metascore: 24 – Runtime: 91 minutes An urban spin on a “Tootsie”-style gender-switch plot, “Juwanna Mann” stars longtime character actor Miguel A. Núñez Jr. in his first and last leading role. The story’s about a hot-tempered basketball player who gets booted from the league and decides to don some fake breasts and eyelashes to try his luck on the women’s side of the game. He lands a spot on a team, but his plan gets thrown into turmoil when he starts to fall for a no-nonsense coach, played by Vivica A. Fox. Critics found it simplistic and unoriginal, and its $13.57 million domestic box office haul didn’t cover its production budget. Nevertheless, in a 2015 TMZ interview, Núñez claimed a Juwanna Mann sequel was in the works, but IMDb provides no corroboration for this claim. You may also like: 15 controversial Oscar wins–and how they’ve aged #45. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) New Line Cinema – Director: Gus Van Sant – Stacker score: 38.6 – IMDb user rating: 4.3 – Metascore: 28 – Runtime: 106 minutes This film, based on a beloved Tom Robbins novel with strong feminist themes, was supposed to be indie director Gus Van Sant’s triumphant follow-up to “My Own Private Idaho.” It’s a movie with a lot of intriguing ingredients: Uma Thurman stars as a woman who uses her unusually large thumbs to hitchhike her way across the country, winding up at a ranch staffed by cowgirls. There she has a love affair with the ranch’s leader, played by Rain Phoenix (sister to Joaquin and River Phoenix). Despite the caliber of the source material and edgy (for 1993) exploration of gay themes, critics found little value in the finished product. Van Sant had no feel for the subject matter and drew out confusing and sometimes embarrassing performances from his actors. Box office receipts fell shy of $2 million. #44. The Next Best Thing (2000)
100 worst romantic comedies of all time
