The 15 Lowest Rated Movies of 2025, According to Metacritic Scores

The year 2025 has seen several high profile releases that failed to impress professional critics and audiences alike. While many productions entered the marketplace with massive budgets and star studded casts, the critical reception often told a different story. These films struggled with narrative consistency and technical execution according to the latest review aggregators. This list examines the cinematic offerings that received the lowest scores from established media outlets throughout the past year.

‘Old Guy’ (2025)

‘Old Guy’ features Christoph Waltz as a seasoned contract killer tasked with mentoring a younger generation of assassins. The narrative explores the tension between traditional methods and the new technological era of organized crime. Critics pointed out that the pacing felt uneven and the script relied heavily on genre tropes. This action comedy sought to blend wit with violence but often missed the mark in its execution. The film ultimately struggled to find a unique identity in a crowded market of hitman stories.

‘Regretting You’ (2025)

‘Regretting You’ serves as a cinematic adaptation of the popular novel written by Colleen Hoover. The story centers on the strained relationship between a mother and her daughter following a sudden family tragedy. Reviews highlighted that the emotional beats often felt formulaic and the transition from book to screen was not seamless. This romantic drama aimed to capture a large audience but faced criticism for its predictable plot developments. The performances were noted but they could not overcome the weaknesses in the screenplay.

‘Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness’ (2025)

‘Modi’ explores the life of the famous artist Amedeo Modigliani during a chaotic period in early twentieth century Paris. The film was directed by Johnny Depp and features a cast led by Riccardo Scamarcio and Al Pacino. While the production design received some praise the overall narrative was described by many critics as disjointed. This biographical drama attempted to portray the artistic struggle through a lens of surrealism and heightened emotion. Many reviews suggested that the film lacked the necessary depth to truly honor its historical subject.

‘Smurfs’ (2025)

‘Smurfs’ arrived as a large scale animated musical featuring the voice talents of global superstar Rihanna. The plot follows the iconic blue characters as they set out on a new journey to discover the secret origins of their village. Critics were unimpressed with the generic musical numbers and the lack of innovation in the storytelling. This reboot targeted younger viewers but failed to provide enough substance for older audience members. The vibrant animation was not enough to save the film from receiving low marks for its repetitive humor.

‘Juliet & Romeo’ (2025)

‘Juliet & Romeo’ provides yet another modern interpretation of the classic tragedy written by William Shakespeare. This version focuses on a gritty urban setting where the two star crossed lovers meet amidst a brutal turf war. Critics found the dialogue to be an awkward mixture of contemporary slang and original verse. The film struggled to justify its existence alongside the numerous other adaptations that have been released over the decades. This project was criticized for focusing more on visual style than the emotional core of the source material.

‘The Electric State’ (2025)

‘The Electric State’ is a high budget science fiction adventure directed by the Russo Brothers for the Netflix platform. The story is set in an alternate version of the nineties and follows a girl traveling across the country with a robot. Despite the significant investment in visual effects the film was panned for its long runtime and flat character development. Reviews frequently mentioned that the world building felt derivative of other more successful dystopian franchises. The chemistry between the lead actors was not enough to elevate the lackluster script.

‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ (2025)

‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ stars Abel Tesfaye and Jenna Ortega in a psychological thriller that ties into a musical era for the lead actor. The narrative delves into themes of fame and obsession through a series of surreal and dark sequences. Critics noted that the film felt more like an extended music video than a cohesive feature length motion picture. The experimental nature of the project did not resonate with mainstream reviewers who found the plot difficult to follow. This release was ultimately viewed as a vanity project that failed to deliver a compelling story.

‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’ (2025)

‘The Strangers Chapter 2’ continues the horror franchise that focuses on a group of masked killers terrorizing innocent victims. This sequel follows the survivors as they attempt to find safety in a new and equally dangerous environment. Many critics felt that the film lacked the suspense and originality of the first entry in the series. The repetitive jump scares and predictable outcomes led to many negative reviews from horror enthusiasts. This installment was seen as a missed opportunity to expand the lore of the masked antagonists.

‘Shadow Force’ (2025)

‘Shadow Force’ is an action thriller that features Kerry Washington and Omar Sy as a couple on the run from a secret organization. The plot involves a dangerous conspiracy that forces the protagonists to use their specialized skills to survive. Reviews were largely critical of the wooden dialogue and the uninspired choreography in the fight scenes. Critics noted that the film wasted the talent of its lead stars on a generic and forgettable story. This production failed to stand out among the many other action films released during the same season.

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ (2025)

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ serves as the follow up to the successful horror adaptation based on the popular video game series. The story returns to the haunted pizzeria where new animatronic threats emerge to haunt a fresh set of characters. Critics found the sequel to be less effective than its predecessor with many citing a lack of genuine scares. The fan service provided by the film was not enough to satisfy professional reviewers looking for narrative growth. This entry struggled to maintain interest beyond its dedicated core audience.

‘Bride Hard’ (2025)

‘Bride Hard’ stars Rebel Wilson as a bridesmaid who must save a wedding from a group of armed mercenaries. The action comedy relies on physical humor and high stakes set pieces to entertain the audience. Reviews frequently pointed out that the jokes felt dated and the action lacked tension. Critics were disappointed by the formulaic nature of the plot and the lack of chemistry among the supporting cast. This film was widely criticized for failing to deliver either effective comedy or thrilling action.

‘Alarum’ (2025)

‘Alarum’ features Sylvester Stallone as an aging operative who is pulled back into a world of espionage and betrayal. The story follows his character as he attempts to uncover a mole within his former agency while protecting his family. Many reviews described the film as a tired retread of better action movies from the previous decades. Critics found the plot holes to be distracting and the pacing to be sluggish for a modern thriller. This release did not manage to capture the energy required to make the stakes feel meaningful.

‘Gunslingers’ (2025)

‘Gunslingers’ is a western drama starring Nicolas Cage as a retired lawman who must pick up his weapon one last time. The narrative focuses on a small town under the thumb of a ruthless gang of outlaws. Reviewers noted that the film suffered from a low budget appearance and a script that was full of western cliches. The performance of the lead actor was described as erratic and did not fit the tone of the rest of the movie. This project was ultimately dismissed by critics as a mediocre entry into the western genre.

‘Playdate’ (2025)

‘Playdate’ is an action comedy that follows two fathers who become targets of a criminal organization during a simple meeting with their children. The film stars Kevin James and Alan Ritchson as the unlikely duo forced to work together to survive the day. Critics lambasted the movie for its reliance on slapstick humor and a nonsensical plot. The film was frequently cited as one of the most frustrating experiences of the year due to its poor writing. Most reviews agreed that the premise was wasted on a series of boring and predictable sequences.

‘War of the Worlds’ (2025)

‘War of the Worlds’ is a modern retelling of the classic H.G. Wells story about a massive alien invasion on Earth. This version attempts to bring a contemporary perspective to the global catastrophe as humanity fights for survival. Critics were nearly unanimous in their disapproval of the subpar digital effects and the weak script. The film was criticized for lacking the tension and scale of previous adaptations of the source material. This production sits at the bottom of the critical rankings for the year due to its lack of originality and poor execution.

Please share your thoughts on these cinematic disappointments in the comments.