Top 20 Worst Movies by Saturday Night Live Stars

Sometimes even the most beloved Saturday night regulars stumble on the big screen. These films starred familiar SNL faces but ran into ugly reviews, box office trouble, or both. Below you will find quick context on what each movie tried to do, who was involved, and how audiences responded. Use it to trace where things went sideways for otherwise talented comedians.

‘Jack and Jill’ (2011)

Adam Sandler plays both twins in a story about a stressed ad executive who dreads his sister’s holiday visit. The movie leans on product tie ins and celebrity cameos, including a notorious Al Pacino subplot. It swept multiple Razzie awards and became a frequent late night punchline. Despite a strong marketing push, it opened high and then dropped fast as word of mouth cooled.

‘The Love Guru’ (2008)

Mike Myers returns to character based comedy as a self help spiritualist hired to fix a hockey star’s love life. The film mixes rom com beats with sports gags and pop culture references. Reviewers criticized recycled catchphrases and awkward cultural humor. It posted soft domestic numbers compared to the budget and ended its run quickly overseas.

‘The Adventures of Pluto Nash’ (2002)

Eddie Murphy headlines a sci fi comedy about a nightclub owner on the moon fighting off gangsters. Expensive sets and effects couldn’t overcome a long delay between production and release. It became one of the most cited box office bombs of its decade. Home video and cable play later gave it curiosity value rather than a full critical reevaluation.

‘Norbit’ (2007)

Eddie Murphy plays multiple roles in a broad farce about an adopted man trapped in a chaotic marriage. The film earned strong opening weekend business and then faced a steep decline. Critics called out its reliance on fat suits and stereotypes while praising some makeup work. It still turned a profit worldwide but remains controversial for its tone.

‘Little Nicky’ (2000)

Adam Sandler stars as the meek son of Satan who must retrieve his brothers in New York. Heavy visual effects and a wall of cameos frame the fish out of water story. Audience scores lagged behind Sandler’s earlier run and the film underperformed domestically. Soundtrack sales and cable rotation later kept it visible to fans of offbeat comedy.

‘Holmes & Watson’ (2018)

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly riff on the famed detective duo in a slapstick mystery. Test screenings reportedly prompted edits and the holiday release met tough competition. Audience exit polls were low and some theaters reported walkouts during the first week. It still sold tickets on star power before fading after the New Year frame.

‘Bewitched’ (2005)

Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman front a meta remake where actors discover real magic on a sitcom reboot. The movie blends Hollywood satire with romantic comedy and frequent nods to the original show. Critics felt the concept never clicked and word of mouth reflected the same. It opened midrange and slipped once summer tentpoles arrived.

‘The House’ (2017)

Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler play parents who open a backyard casino to fund college tuition. The premise sets up broad set pieces and a parade of suburban mishaps. Reviews cited uneven improvisation and thin stakes for the central scheme. The film struggled in midsummer and did most of its business in early weeks.

‘Corky Romano’ (2001)

Chris Kattan plays a sweet natured vet who goes undercover with the FBI to help his mob family. The movie leans on physical comedy and malaprop gags built around his character’s naivety. Marketing targeted teen audiences but the turnout stayed modest. It found a later life as cable filler without shifting its critical fortunes.

‘It’s Pat’ (1994)

Julia Sweeney brings the androgynous recurring character to a feature length story about work and relationships. Expanding a short sketch to a full narrative proved difficult and the humor repeats setups. A limited theatrical release and swift pullback kept grosses extremely low. The film became a cautionary tale for sketch to film adaptations.

‘The Ladies Man’ (2000)

Tim Meadows stars as a late night radio host offering questionable romance advice while dodging angry husbands. The movie fills out the world of the character with musical bits and ensemble support. Reviews noted a thin plot stretched around recurring jokes. Box office results were modest and the character largely returned to TV appearances.

‘Superstar’ (1999)

Molly Shannon’s awkward Catholic school dreamer chases fame and a first kiss with determined enthusiasm. The film builds out supporting roles for classmates and a stern principal to frame her quest. Critics said the story works best in short bursts rather than feature length. It covered its costs but never escaped middling reception.

‘Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo’ (2005)

Rob Schneider’s hapless fish tank cleaner returns overseas for more misadventures. The sequel doubles down on bawdy humor and travel themed set pieces. Review aggregators logged very low scores and the movie fell sharply after opening weekend. International earnings helped, but the franchise ended afterward.

‘The Animal’ (2001)

Rob Schneider plays a clumsy man who gains animal traits after an experimental transplant. The concept sets up chase scenes, romance, and broad slapstick. Critics disliked the reliance on crude gags while acknowledging a few physical bits landed. It posted a decent debut and then tapered as summer competition arrived.

‘Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser’ (2015)

David Spade returns to his mullet wearing wanderer in a sequel released through streaming. The story uses a time travel device to revisit familiar characters and jokes. Audience response was far below the cult affection for the original. The release strategy emphasized clicks and platform promotion over theatrical play.

‘Nothing but Trouble’ (1991)

Dan Aykroyd directs and co stars in a horror comedy about travelers trapped in a bizarre town. The production features elaborate makeup, wild sets, and a tonal swing between gross out and satire. Viewers found the mix confusing and the box office never recovered from poor word of mouth. It later drew curiosity for its unique design choices rather than laughs.

‘Blues Brothers 2000’ (1998)

Dan Aykroyd revives the band with a new lineup and a road trip built around musical cameos. The film pays tribute to blues legends but struggles without the original duo intact. Reviews cited a thin story that mainly connected performance stops. It earned a fraction of the earlier film’s cultural impact and finished with modest receipts.

‘Zoolander 2’ (2016)

Ben Stiller returns as the clueless model for a globe trotting conspiracy in the fashion world. The sequel stacks celebrity cameos and bigger set pieces around the reunion of the core cast. Critics and audiences agreed the jokes felt recycled and less sharp than before. The film opened soft in North America and relied on overseas totals to cushion results.

‘Land of the Lost’ (2009)

Will Ferrell leads a modern take on the classic adventure series with dinosaurs and parallel worlds. Big effects and creature designs dominate the action while the tone swings between parody and spectacle. Family audiences stayed away and older viewers were not convinced by the blend. Merchandise and theme park tie ins did little to shift perception.

‘Beverly Hills Ninja’ (1997)

Chris Farley plays a well meaning but inept warrior who stumbles through a Los Angeles case. The film uses pratfalls, stunt work, and fish out of water setups to showcase his physicality. Critical response was poor, though fans appreciated a handful of set pieces. It performed modestly in theaters and moved more units on home video later.

Share your picks for the most painful SNL star misfires in the comments and tell us which one you would brave again.