Marielle's Top 10 Worst Movies of 2023

I saw some good movies this year and some not-so-good ones. For both my best and worst movies, first, I will talk about films that have already been released, but I’ve never seen and then talk about films released in 2023. Remember, this is just my opinion. We all have different tastes in movies.

Worst Films - Films Released in Previous Years

5. Furlough - 2018, Director: Laurie Collyer, Actors: Tessa Thompson and Melissa Leo

I was excited to watch Furlough because it had an engaging premise about travel and a storyline about an unlikely friendship. It gears off course, adding too much filler and making a fool of one of the characters. If it stayed true to the story’s direction, Furlough could have been stronger and paid closer attention to Anderson over Nicole. The story is original, just not cohesive.

4. Wedding Crashers - 2005, Director: David Dobkin, Actors: Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn

I wanted to forget about Wedding Crashers soon after I watched it. I’m not sure why this film has so much hype when it has not aged well, has crass humor, the characters are terrible and demonstrates a poor example of romance. I didn’t find this film funny at all!

3. Anchorman - 2004, Director: Adam McKay, Actors: Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate

I know this film is a Will Ferrell classic but I didn’t find it funny. To me, Anchorman missed the point of its whole story. I would change this story to focus more on Ferrell and Applegate challenging each other on the news station instead of these misguided sexist jokes that have not aged well.

2. The Estate - 2022, Director: Dean Craig, Actors: Toni Collette and Anna Faris

I am so glad that I didn’t see this movie when it was in theaters. The only good thing about this film is the talents of Toni Collette and Anna Farris. This story had so much potential to be more but falls flat with awful sex jokes and cringeworthy dialogue. Save your eyes because there are better films that do this premise right.

Resurrection - 2022, Director: Andrew Semans, Actors: Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth

This movie is unsettling. I was intrigued by this film based solely on its premise and Rebecca Hall’s involvement. The storyline for Resurrection is so convoluted that it fails to establish a clear direction. The only part of this film that you should watch is Rebecca Hall’s magnificent 5-minute monologue and you get the idea of the film. Otherwise, I don’t recommend Resurrection.

Worst - 2023 Films

5. Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion resembles more of a full-length SNL skit than an actual movie. It enlisted a noteworthy cast of actors but never felt like an actual story. Nothing much happens other than the actors sitting around laughing together in scenes. I do recommend it for its funny nature but overall, the final product is disappointing.

4. The Boogeyman

As an avid Stephen King fan, I was looking forward to The Boogeyman. The Boogeyman is a generic horror film spawning gripping suspense but lacks originality. Characters and the story are inconsistent and have missed opportunities. Instead of making The Boogeyman your typical monster film, it should have been a psychological thriller.

3. Maybe I Do

Led by a fantastic group of actors supplying the best of comedy, Maybe I Do’s story is not strong. While the quartet consumes the runtime with continuous conversations about their romances, the film omits an important plot dynamic that leaves the film unfinished. If the quartet’s so unhappy with their relationships then what’s the moral of the story?

2. Your Place or Mine

Your Place or Mine was a hollow story. Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon play lifelong best friends but have zero chemistry. Channeling a reminiscent rom-com trope that we’ve seen across several films, the main relationship is not established enough and the story lacks depth. I only recommend Your Place or Mine for Kutcher’s endearing performance.

Five Nights at Freddy’s

I did my research on this video game before my watch, and this movie was too silly to take seriously. Five Nights at Freddy’s is somewhat disappointing barely exploring the menacing animatronic figures. Why writers thought that a subplot about Mike’s past and ghost children were more important than the restaurant’s evil mascot animatronics is beyond me!

What are your top worst films of 2023?