Mark Wahlberg Calls This 17% Rotten Tomatoes Flop “a Bad Movie”

Mark Wahlberg once opened up about one of the most unusual choices in his career, admitting that 2008’s The Happening was a “bad movie.”

The science fiction thriller, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, starred Wahlberg alongside Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, and Betty Buckley. The story follows a mysterious natural disaster causing mass suicides, a concept that left many audiences scratching their heads.

Speaking to Collider during his work on The Fighter, Wahlberg reflected on the film and its cast. “We had actually had the luxury of having lunch before to talk about another movie, and it was a bad movie that I did. She dodged the bullet. And then I was still able to … I don’t want to tell you what movie … alright, The Happening.”

“F**** it. It is what it is. F*** trees, man. The plants. F*** it. You can’t blame me for not wanting to try to play a science teacher. At least I wasn’t playing a cop or a crook,” Wahlberg said, referring to co-star Amy Adams missing out on the project.

Despite Wahlberg’s honesty about the film, The Happening performed well at the box office, earning $163 million worldwide against a budget of $60 million.

However, critics were far less enthusiastic. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 17% approval rating from 185 reviews, noting that the film “begins with promise, but unfortunately descends into an incoherent and unconvincing trifle.” Metacritic gave it a 34 out of 100, indicating generally unfavorable reviews, while CinemaScore audiences graded it a D.

Some critics have since reassessed the film as a “B movie” with unique charm. Glenn Whipp commented that Shyamalan’s movie “plays as a genuinely enjoyable B-movie for anyone inclined (or able) to see it that way,” while Ignatiy Vishnevetsky noted that the film borrows the feel of classic 1950s B-movies and experiments with self-parody.

The film was also nominated for four Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor for Wahlberg, Worst Director, and Worst Screenplay. Despite its reception, the movie has developed a small cult following over time due to its unusual premise and campy moments.

Looking back, Wahlberg’s reflections show the challenges actors face when tackling ambitious projects. He has since moved on to numerous box-office hits and critically acclaimed roles, but The Happening remains a standout example of how even successful stars can take risks that don’t pay off.

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