10 Worst Movies of All Time, According to Richard Roeper

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Richard Roeper has built a successful career as a writer and film critic. He worked at the Chicago Sun-Times for nearly forty years, from 1986 to 2025, where he reviewed countless movies. He’s also well-known for co-hosting the show Ebert & Roeper with Roger Ebert from 2000 to 2008, taking over after the passing of Gene Siskel. Currently, as of January 2026, he contributes to RogerEbert.com.

Similar to famous critics like Ebert and Siskel, Roeper isn’t afraid to share his honest opinions about new movies. These ten films represent just a small selection of the movies he’s named among his annual “Worst Films” over the years, presented in random order. You’ll find some predictable choices, but also a few surprises.

Richard Roeper Said White Chicks Just “Doesn’t Work”

In the movie White Chicks, Marlon and Shawn Wayans play two FBI agents assigned to protect a pair of wealthy socialites. When the sisters decide they don’t want to be seen in public, the agents come up with a wild plan: they disguise themselves as the socialites!

When White Chicks came out, critic Richard Roeper didn’t think it was a good movie. On the show Ebert & Roeper, he and his co-host agreed that the film’s costumes, makeup, and jokes just didn’t work. Roeper specifically felt the movie relied too much on tired stereotypes and didn’t make much sense overall.

Rambo: Last Blood Was Called a “Piece of Trash”

Rambo: Last Blood is the fifth film in the Rambo series. It brings back John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran known for taking the law into his own hands and using force. The story follows Rambo as he goes to Mexico to rescue his adopted niece, Gabriela (Yvette Monreal), after she’s kidnapped.

Roger Roeper didn’t hold back in his review of Rambo: Last Blood, openly criticizing every part of the film. He found it excessively violent, unpleasant, and prejudiced against foreigners. Even David Morrell, the creator of John Rambo, expressed embarrassment and said the movie made him feel degraded.

I Know Who Killed Me Was Criticized as a “Ridiculous Thriller”

Chris Sivertson’s I Know Who Killed Me tells the story of a woman who is kidnapped and badly hurt. When she recovers, she insists she’s a different person, even though the evidence doesn’t support her claim. The movie stars Lindsay Lohan, Julia Ormond, and Garcelle Beauvais in this suspenseful psychological thriller.

The film I Know Who Killed Me didn’t perform well at the box office, earning less than $10 million. It even won several awards for being bad, including Worst Picture and Worst Director. While some now consider it a cult classic, critic Richard Roeper strongly disliked it, calling the story confusing, the special effects weak, and the acting poor. He later declared it the worst movie of the entire 2000s.

Independence Day: Resurgence Is an “Unnecessary” Sequel

Independence Day: Resurgence is the follow-up to the 1996 film Independence Day, starring Liam Hemsworth in the main role. Set two decades after the original, this sci-fi action movie centers on a new alien invasion. This time, the aliens aren’t just attacking the surface – they’re trying to drill into the Earth’s core to steal its resources. Jake Morrison (Hemsworth) and a global defense team use advanced technology to fight back and save the planet.

Independence Day: Resurgence faced high expectations, but ultimately fell short. While critic Roeper acknowledged the film’s impressive visuals and offered some entertainment value, he rated it only 1.5 stars. He found the story predictable, the pacing sluggish, and the characters lacked emotional resonance.

Dolittle Was Considered “A Pathetic Waste”

Robert Downey Jr. plays Dr. Dolittle, a quirky veterinarian who has the amazing ability to talk to animals, in this film directed by Stephen Gaghan. When Queen Victoria gets sick, Dr. Dolittle and his young apprentice, Tommy Stubbins, embark on a journey with a hilarious group of animal companions to find a cure. The animal voices are provided by a star-studded cast including Tom Holland, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, and Kumail Nanjiani.

Despite receiving widespread criticism when it came out, Dolittle still managed to become the seventh-highest-grossing film of the year, likely because it was released right before the COVID-19 pandemic. Reviewer Roeper felt the movie was a waste of time, criticizing the CGI, humor, and storyline. He was particularly disappointed with the film, especially considering the director’s previous work.

Roeper Found Jupiter Ascending to Be “Ridiculous and Confounding”

Okay, so Jupiter Ascending is this really wild space opera from the Wachowskis – the folks behind The Matrix. Basically, Earth is getting stripped of its resources by aliens, and Jupiter Jones, who starts out as just a normal cleaning lady, turns out to be super important to them. Suddenly, these alien ‘Keepers’ are after her! Thankfully, this genetically engineered ex-military guy named Caine Wise, played by Channing Tatum, shows up to protect her and help her embrace her destiny, all while dodging constant attempts on his life. It’s a pretty crazy ride!

Roger Roeper strongly disliked Jupiter Ascending, giving it a zero-star rating and criticizing nearly every aspect of the film. While he briefly acknowledged the visual effects, he found the plot confusing and the acting performances weak. The movie didn’t earn much money in theaters and received six Golden Raspberry Award nominations, recognizing it as one of the worst films of the year.

Bad Boys II Was Too “Nasty & Mean-Spirited”

Bad Boys II is the follow-up to the original Bad Boys film, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. In this second installment, Smith and Lawrence return as Miami detectives investigating a large-scale ecstasy operation. They are joined by Gabrielle Union, who plays Syd, an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Despite making $273 million when it came out, Bad Boys II received very negative reviews from critics. On the Ebert & Roeper show, both hosts strongly disliked the film, pointing out its weak storyline, unfunny jokes, and unnecessary violence. Roeper specifically felt the movie was overly offensive and extreme.

Roeper Said The Twilight Saga: New Moon Was “Achingly Slow”

The Twilight Saga: New Moon is the second movie based on Stephenie Meyer’s popular novel. After Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) leaves Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), believing it’s for her own good, Bella becomes deeply sad. She finds comfort and connection with her longtime friend, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), as she tries to cope with Edward being gone.

Despite a modest $50 million budget, The Twilight Saga: New Moon earned an impressive $712 million and remains popular with fans. However, film critic Roeper wasn’t a fan when it was released in 2009. He found the movie slow-paced and felt the characters weren’t well-developed, and he also criticized the special effects. He did acknowledge, though, that Kristen Stewart was a capable actress.

Dear Evan Hansen Is “Curiously Strange”

The movie Dear Evan Hansen is based on the well-known Broadway musical. It tells the story of Evan Hansen (played by Ben Platt), a high school student struggling with extreme social anxiety. He pretends to have been friends with Zoe Murphy’s (Kaitlyn Dever) brother, Connor (Colton Ryan), who has passed away. Ben Platt originally played Evan Hansen on stage from 2014 to 2016.

The movie adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen was widely considered a failure, so it’s no surprise it landed on Roeper’s list of the worst films of 2021. In his review, Roeper echoed common complaints: Ben Platt’s performance didn’t capture the magic of the stage version, the character of Evan came across as irritating rather than uplifting, and the music felt poorly produced. Despite the continued success of the Broadway show, Roeper also criticized the movie’s plot as being overly manipulative and strange.

The Hills Have Eyes Remake Was “Just Nasty”

Alexandre Aja directs this horror film, a reimagining of Wes Craven’s 1977 classic. The story follows the Carter-Bukowski family after their car breaks down in New Mexico, leading them to a terrifying encounter with a group of cannibalistic mutants. Throughout the movie, the family struggles to survive while uncovering the origins and motivations behind these horrifying creatures and the cause of their condition.

The 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes earned $70 million in theaters and received mixed reviews from both general moviegoers and critics. Richard Roeper agreed with Roger Ebert’s assessment that the film prioritized shocking violence and gore over developing compelling characters. While Roeper admitted the movie successfully disturbed audiences, he felt it didn’t measure up to Wes Craven’s original version.

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2026-01-16 07:39