2020 has been a disappointing year all round for movie fans. Countless movies have faced delays, and these include those films that should have been summer blockbusters, including Onward found critical acclaim, there have been many others that disappointed.
2020 isn't over yet, of course, and there are still some potentially great films to come. But let's take a look back at those critical duds that have soured the moods of movie critics everywhere.
The Secret: Dare To Dream - 32/100
In theory, this should have been a great film. The 2006 source novel by Rhonda Byrne was well-received, and the cast, including Katie Holmes and Josh Lucas, was a good one. Unfortunately, the critics found much to hate about this mysterious romantic drama and slated it for being a lackluster adaptation of the novel.
Brian Lowry at CNN said the movie was "far from the stuff that dreams are made of." And Kevin Crust at the LA Times called it the "dopiest" movie of 2020. It's sad to say then, that fans of the novel daring to dream of a decent movie adaptation, are going to be very disappointed.
The Kindness Of Strangers - 32/100
This well-meaning film failed to connect with movie critics, many of whom were unmoved by the interconnecting characters making a difference in one another's lives. Despite the presence of such acting heavyweights as Bill Nighy and Andrea Riseborough, the movie was dubbed a mess. It's the "cinematic equivalent of a self-help seminar," said Todd Jorgensen at Cinemalogue.
The film should have been uplifting and hopeful, but many saw it as a downer. While there were happy endings for some of the disparate characters in the film, there was no happy ending for those who were bored by the whole experience.
Inheritance - 31/100
Movies that are full of mystery and hidden secrets are often well-received by movie critics and audiences. On paper, this film should have delighted those looking for twisty-turny thrills. Sadly, it sank without a trace at the box office, despite the presence of Simon Pegg as the 'inheritance' of the title and Lily James as the girl who inherits him.
The concept of the film is strange, but an intriguing one. Why would somebody enslave somebody and them down as an inheritance? But the secrets within the film aren't that interesting, and for critics, the story just didn't work.
Artemis Fowl - 31/100
There are some great movies on Disney +, but this isn't one of them. It could have been a franchise-starter along the lines of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. Instead, it's a potential franchise-killer, as it is very unlikely a follow-up film will be made after the disappointing response.
This tale of a 12-year boy genius finding himself in an epic battle against a race of underground fairies should have been fun. With Kenneth Branagh at the helm and Judi Dench as the head fairy, the film seemed promising. Sadly, the film diluted the character of Artemis and was an incoherent mess.
Brahms: The Boy II - 29/100
If you're looking for Annabelle movies, it's clear that there is horror to be mined from these most-innocent of children's toys. But sadly, this film failed to impress.
The first film, while being average at best, still had a few jump scares. The sequel, on the other hand, has very little. Rather than making people jump from their seats in fright, it almost had people leaving their seats in boredom. This was certainly the case for Benjamin Lee at The Guardian, who said in his review: "It's so punishingly dull to watch ... that even at a brisk 86 minutes, it feels like unending torture."
Force Of Nature - 29/100
Reminiscent of such Twister, this crossbreed of heist thriller and hurricane movie should have been fun to watch. Unfortunately, despite the presence of Kate Bosworth and Mel Gibson in the cast, movie critics weren't blown away by the end result.
In concept, the movie should have been exciting. A cops and robbers battle taking place while a hurricane rages around them is a decent foundation for a thrilling and action-packed blockbuster. Critics didn't agree, and many just found the movie to be a disaster movie of the literal kind.
Dolittle - 26/100
Robert Downey Jr. is a great actor, but this will be never regarded as one of Doctor Dolittle was probably a safe choice. Eddie Murphy last took on the role of the man who can talk to animals, but that was a modern take on author Hugh Lofting's story. The 2020 film harkens back to the Victorian setting of the books, and with Downey Jr. in the lead, it should have been great.
In reality, the film turned out to be a gigantic flop. What should have been an epic adventure turned out to be an epic misadventure, and the leading actor is partly to blame. While Downey Jr. is certainly very talented, his performance in the film was slated. Mumbling through his lines in a range of different accents, he was deemed unintelligible by those who struggled to understand what he was saying.
The Tax Collector - 22/100
Shia Labeouf has delivered some great performances in his time, and he is possibly the best thing about this violent, and reprehensible crime thriller. The fact that it's so bad is quite surprising. The director, David Ayer, is no stranger to the crime genre, and he certainly has a flair for action. Sadly, this is probably the worst film of his career, and it is now being cited as one of the worst films of 2020.
The film has received many negative reviews, including one in Variety, where the movie is described as being "about as fun as having your face dragged across asphalt from a moving SUV." Unsurprisingly, this is in reference to one of the many violent scenes within the film. It's a complete misfire, and if critics are to be believed, it's less fun than an afternoon filing tax returns.
Fantasy Island - 22/100
Fantasy Island is the island where people's dreams come true, but in of the film, audiences and critics were only presented with nightmares. This is in a literal sense, as the dreams of the characters in the film were warped into something far more sinister. And it's true in a metaphorical sense, as the film was not a dream come true for those looking for a good movie.
The movie ended up being another misfire for hits and misses. Critics called it forgettable, generic, and dull, although as the 70s TV show itself was guilty of the same, this isn't so surprising.
The Last Days Of American Crime - 15/100
Netflix is responsible for many successes, but this is possibly one of the streaming giant's worst original films to date, and also one of the worst films of 2020 so far, according to Metacritic. This futuristic crime thriller also has a 0% Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so it's clear the movie isn't worth a place on movie fans' watchlists.
The cast is certainly good. Michael Pitt, Edgar Ramirez, and Sharlto Copley have all turned in excellent performances before, and they are the best thing about this film. But the lazy script lets them down, as does the violent nature of the film which has proven too much to bear for most movie critics.
