Worst2First: The 86 Films I Saw in 2020
Worst2First:
The 86 Films I Saw in 2020
Let's face it - 2020 sucked, especially concerning the movie industry. Movie theaters were shut down for the majority of the year due to the Coronavirus, and several high-profile films were shelved until 2021, leaving the cinematic landscape rather barren.
Yet it was also a flourishing time for independent films, as well as the streaming services. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Shudder, HBOMax, Disney+ and more streaming services offered a wide array of exciting and exceptional films that were streamed into our living rooms.
I was able to see 86 different films that were released in 2020 (much lower than the 160 I saw in 2019, but still), and I've ranked them all from worst to first - starting with the worst film I saw in 2020, all the way to my top ten films of 2020.
**THERE WILL NOT BE SPOILERS**
#86
Iron Mask
There's some films that are so bad they're good,
and then there's others that are so bad it's just...so bad...and that's
"Iron Mask," a film that doesn't deserve the title of
"film," but rather the title of "dumpster fire trash," much
like most of 2020.
#85
Dolittle
From start to finish, "Dolittle" had
little to do with being decent and a lot to do with being a huge, unmitigated
mess that should've either been shelved entirely or pushed years later in order
to produce something at least resembling decent.
#84
Downhill
"Downhill" is a truly frustrating
experience, a film that offers no redeeming qualities of its characters and
leaves audiences feeling angered and annoyed with what they just saw - and
wishing the avalanche would've killed them all.
#83
Artemis Fowl
For a very shortened movie season, "Artemis
Fowl" serves as a strong contender for the worst movie of 2020, a movie
that's filled with terrible editing, subpar story, lame effects, and an overall
feel that it just had to be made for the sake of being made, no matter how
terrible the end result was.
#82
After We Collided
I've already put more thought into this review
than Anna Todd did into writing it, so I'll end with this: "After We
Collided" is a complete disaster, a film that doesn't have the right to
exist, and gives off a negative message about wanting to remain in an obviously
toxic relationship.
#81
The Turning
Offering one of the worst endings I've ever seen
in film, "The Turning" had a lot of promise before its disastrous
final act, rendering in everything happening before it moot and making it an
almost unwatchable film.
#80
Brahms: The Boy II
Ultimately, the biggest question "Brahms:
The Boy II" asks isn't whether or not it was necessary, because we already
know that - the question arises: "which will put me to sleep faster?
Brahms, or Brahms' Lullaby?"
#79
The War With Grandpa
Anyone with at least a third of a brain would
know that "The War With Grandpa" is much more than just a
nonsensical, petty film about a bratty tween wanting his room back - it's also
terribly blind to the real-life problems families have been facing, and most
importantly, it's not even remotely funny.
#78
Fatman
"Fatman" was a film that showed a lot
of promise and hope, but ultimately fell short in trying to tell too many
different stories at once, culminating in a sense of laziness from everyone
involved, causing the viewer to be as disinterested in the film as those on the
other end of the screen - bah humbug.
#77
Like a Boss
Wasting the talents of acclaimed comediennes is
truly a tragic thing, but that's just the start to why "Like a Boss"
failed to be a comedy like a boss, serving as a movie that shouldn't even be
watched when it eventually lands on a streaming service in a few weeks.
#76
Bloodshot
In wanting to create another comic book
cinematic universe, "Bloodshot" missed the mark on every level, and
hopefully this will be a one-and-done that'll be quickly forgotten even before
the credits begin rolling.
#75
The Grudge
Trapped in its own curse of too many stories,
reliance on jump scares, and overuse of gore, "The Grudge" serves as
proof that some films shouldn't get remade...or in this case, re-remade.
#74
Fantasy Island
Taking an idea from a long-dead television
series, "Fantasy Island" fails to deliver on its promises, forcing us
to sit through their fantasy of a wannabe thoughtful horror film but instead
leaving a nonsensical jumble of a mess thinking it's the most logical
conclusion.
#73
Unhinged
Trying to shed light on modern problems,
"Unhinged" instead comes across as a glorified violent film that
doesn't wholly portray its underlying message, but instead relies on gross
kills and an uninspired performance by Russell Crowe.
#72
The Secrets We Keep
There's not a lot to say about "The Secrets
We Keep" - it's a lifeless, soulless film that follows every similar beat
that others of the genre has done, supplying nothing more than a time-waster
for the actors and the viewers involved.
#71
Capone
Cemented by another strong, committed
performance by Tom Hardy, "Capone" barely rises above its terrible
source material and makes it a watchable mess - one time.
#70
Scoob!
Wanting to craft a new cinematic universe,
"Scoob!" instead proved why some things should just stay gone, a film
that's needlessly complicated, an obvious cash grab, and lacking anything
remotely resembling a soul.
#69
The Rhythm Section
While Blake Lively works with what she has,
"The Rhythm Section" has absolutely no rhythm when it comes to
delivering a thoughtful, exciting assassin story, but rather relies on old
tropes and giving us the most inept assassin of all time bumbling her way
through hit after hit.
#68
The Informer
Wasting the talent of several A-list
celebrities, "The Informer" is a shadow of greater films that's
overstuffed with plot and lacking more action sequences to make the audience
care about it.
#67
2 Hearts
While the film does shed light on the importance
on organ donation and helping others, "2 Hearts" doesn't ultimately
have its heart in the right place, replacing honest human emotions with
manipulative tactics meant to force us to shed a tear.
#66
Alone
Offering nothing new to the subgenre and being
as forgettable as you'd imagine, "Alone" isn't terribly bad or good,
but one of those films you shrug your shoulders and say, "well, that's a
way to kill some time."
#65
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Returning again to shed light on the darker side
of American society, "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm" stretches its
one-trick pony comedy act to a feature length film, hitting some jokes out of
the park but more often than not just making them cringe-worthy and
uncomfortable.
#64
The Witches
Thanks to a fun performance by Anne Hathaway and
some gorgeous set and costume designs, "The Witches" lifts itself out
of the bottom of the pit remakes and serves as an alright adaptation of the
classic children's novel that'll be sure to give a whole new generation of
children nightmares.
#63
Honest Thief
Returning to the roots that's made him a new
type of action star, Liam Neeson gives some much-needed pedigree to
"Honest Thief," even if the rest of the film is bland, typical, and
lacking any exciting motivation to exist.
#62
The Wretched
While trying to return to the love of the 1980s,
"The Wretched" doesn't develop any of its core concepts, marginalizes
the female roles, and gives us a completely unsympathetic hero who we'd rather
wish was killed off than being the hero.
#61
Spell
While trying to cast its spell on the audience,
"Spell" instead lulls the audience into a near-sleep status,
delivering the traditional tropes that've been done in better films and
providing a so-so satisfactory conclusion that's neither terrible nor great -
just there.
#60
Infidel
Offering a more straight-forward thriller than
strong political overtones, "Infidel" still doesn't rise to the
greats of other political thrillers, but satisfies the need for thrills for one
viewing.
#59
The High Note
Missing the mark on what could've been a
compelling story and instead relying on the classic rom-com blueprint,
"The High Note" misses the sweet note and instead churns out another
typical film that sidelines its biggest asset in favor of its biggest weakness.
#58
The New Mutants
Benjamin Franklin once said, "lost time is
never found again," and in the case of "The New Mutants," time
didn't make the heart grow fonder, but instead provided a very lackluster film
that we lost a lot of time in waiting for its final release.
#57
Monster Hunter
When you hear a film is based on a video game,
you already have low expectations, and if you have that going into
"Monster Hunter," you might find yourself at least enjoying the time
spent watching it even though it doesn't offer a whole lot other than a bit of
escapism fun.
#56
The Call of the Wild
"The Call of the Wild" has been a
classic novella for over a hundred years, but this current Hollywood iteration
strips pretty much everything from it, delivering a more family-friendly PG
film with severe overuse of CGI and an overly sentimental story.
#55
Impractical Jokers: The Movie
While providing the same type of humor the men
are known for, "Impractical Jokers: The Movie" highlights their
assets but is basically just a longer episode that you'll be able to see for
free on the network in a few months.
#54
Ava
With "Ava," Jessica Chastain manages
to balance hardened assassin with struggling alcoholic dealing with family
drama perfectly, but combining the two themes doesn't really make either one
stand out in any strong way.
#53
The Lovebirds
With the comedic pairing of Kamil Nanjiani and
Issa Rae, "The Lovebirds" rises above the typical
action-romantic-comedy trope and delivers a enjoyable escape from reality for a
short amount of time.
#52
Irresistible
Shedding light on how politics aren't really
about the common man, "Irresistible" manages to balance both parties
and give a not-too-deep dive into what makes them tick, delivered with great
performances and a sharply-written script.
#51
My Spy
With the inspired pairing of Dave Bautista and
Chloe Coleman, "My Spy" offers a bit more than just your traditional
wrestler-family-friendly films, providing a fun escape from the turmoil of the
world.
#50
Big Time Adolescence
Continuing the tradition of coming-of-age films,
"Big Time Adolescence" maintains the status quo and doesn't deviate
from its middle-of-the-road script, but provides strong performances by Griffin
Gluck and Pete Davidson that makes it a bit more memorable than others.
#49
Archive
While offering a unique twist in the end,
"Archive" fails to achieve anything extremely stellar, providing a
decent outing for one viewing, but a film that becomes more and more
forgettable as time passes by.
#48
The Photograph
With the aid of four highly capable leads,
"The Photograph" manages to tell a well-woven love story between
generations, even if the story itself is easily predictable - and much like
good photographs, they can be appreciated one time.
#47
The Prom
Filled with lavish costumes and set designs, and
set against a backdrop of an important message, "The Prom" delivers a
fun, lively musical journey about acceptance and self-love, even if it takes
its good ole time getting there.
#46
The Invisible Man
While the film relied on typical cliche moments,
"The Invisible Man" is a very well-done modern adaptation of a
classic novel, delivered with brilliance by the excellent Elisabeth Moss and
filled with tension-fueled suspense and true terror.
#45
Antebellum
Shedding light on the important issue of racism
in America then and now, "Antebellum" provides a nice little mystery
that's propelled by the stellar Janelle Monae even though the script itself is
a bit simplistic and heavy-handed.
#44
Sonic the Hedgehog
Taking the advice of the general public into
consideration, "Sonic the Hedgehog" managed to turn from what
would've been an epic fail and became an epic success in the world of
video-game based films, providing a fun, family-friendly adventure with an
important message to tell through the eyes of a classic video game hedgehog.
#43
Wonder Woman 1984
As it is with most sequels, "Wonder Woman
1984" failed to re-ignite the same sort of magic and wonder that the
original provided, giving a more convoluted, bloated storyline and
less-than-stellar action sequences and effects.
#42
I Still Believe
Telling the story of Melissa Henning-Camp and
her struggle with cancer, "I Still Believe" provided Britt Robertson
with her best performance to date, and also deals with Jeremy Camp's struggle
with faith and trusting God through everything.
#41
Trolls: World Tour
Bringing some much needed light and love to a
darkened world, "Trolls: World Tour" is just the thing disenchanted
kids need to believe in the world again, and isn't too stupid for adults to
enjoy either.
#40
Love and Monsters
Led by a strong performance by Dylan O'Brien,
"Love and Monsters" becomes something a little more special than your
typical forgettable apocalyptic movie, and while it's still forgettable,
there's nothing really inherently bad about it either.
#39
Guns Akimbo
Daniel Radcliffe and Samara Weaving give
fantastic performances in "Guns Akimbo," a truly modern story about
the consequences of cyber-bullying - basically by showing if you bully
something online, you might wake up with guns bolted to your hands.
#38
Underwater
Adding its own spice to the deep sea horror
subgenre, "Underwater" blends disaster film and creature feature in
perfect measure, providing a tightly-directed film that doesn't overstay its
welcome and gives another impressive performance by Kristen Stewart.
#37
Fatima
Mixing the faith with the humanity,
"Fatima" is a well-developed faith film centering on one of the most
famous visions of the Virgin Mary in history, led by a capable cast and natural
use of the elements.
#36
The Way Back
Led by a powerful, personal performance by Ben
Affleck, "The Way Back" serves as a fantastic redemption story
layered by a basketball underdog tale that maintains the typical status quo for
films like this.
#35
Extraction
While it does live up to the traditional action
film tropes, "Extraction" is fueled by several intense action
sequences, stellar editing, and the sheer presence of Chris Hemsworth as he
once again proves his action prowess.
#34
The Living Dead
Offering a unique blend of action, comedy, and
horror, "The Living Dead" sets itself apart for a first-time
director's production by offering something for everyone, a passion film that
is highlighted by fantastic performances, humorous dialogue, tongue-in-cheek
comedy, and a deeply emotional drama all wrapped up in an amazing package.
#33
Enola Holmes
Led by the effervescent Millie Bobby Brown,
"Enola Holmes" breathes a new life into the Sherlock Holmes story and
offers the framework for a new film franchise that's witty, charming, and
filled with adventure and comedy.
#32
Just Mercy
Heightened by award-deserving performances by
Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, "Just Mercy" sheds light on the
corrupt case of Walter McMillian and more importantly on the broken judicial
system that allowed such an event to happen - even though it adhered to typical
cliched tropes.
#31
Bad Boys for Life
Despite it having a lot going against it,
"Bad Boys for Life" proves that there's staying power in this once
long-forgotten franchise, and that Will Smith and Martin Lawrence still got
what it takes to deliver an enjoyable, comedic, action-packed adventure.
#30
An American Pickle
Stepping out of his normal role and tackling not
one but two performances, Seth Rogen elevates "An American Pickle"
from something mediocre to something magical, a small film that has a big
heart.
#29
Birds of Prey
Proving she has what it takes to make a
character truly her own, Margot Robbie takes center stage in "Birds of
Prey" as Harley Quinn, fully encompassing her insanity while providing a
funny, action-packed antihero adventure with a strong ensemble female-led cast.
#28
Mulan
Differentiating itself from its Disney animated
original, "Mulan" is a more grounded, realistic tale of the Chinese
folk hero who overcame all obstacles to become the fierce warrior we know, in a
film filled with intense action and stunning cinematography.
#27
Bill & Ted Face the Music
Reunited and making it feel so good, Keanu
Reeves and Alex Winter bring "Bill & Ted Face the Music" to the
big screen after almost twenty years, and manage to not lose their charm and
magic after all these years, giving a timeless message: be excellent to each
other.
#26
The Broken Hearts Gallery
Offering a different spin on heartache,
"The Broken Hearts Gallery" steps above its generic rom-com formula
and delivers something enjoyable, especially due to the strong natural
chemistry of the lead actors and the overall wholesomeness of it all.
#25
The Croods: A New Age
One of those rare long-gestating sequels that's
actually decent, "The Croods: A New Age" comes just in time for us to
escape our harrowing real-life struggles and enjoy a lively, lavish animated
action-adventure featuring another family dynamic that's as important now as it
was back then.
#24
Gretel & Hansel
Even though it does highlight the concept of
female empowerment, "Gretel and Hansel" doesn't force it down the
viewers' throats, but instead provides a unique, dark, and simply unnerving
re-telling of a classic fairy tale equipped with three fantastic performances
and unique visual styles.
#23
The Hunt
Creating more drama outside than inside,
"The Hunt" suffers from an overtly political message but delivers in
the gore, violence, dark humor, and the stellar performances from Betty Gilpin
and Hilary Swank, resulting in an epic clash of the female titans.
#22
On the Rocks
Bringing their A-games to an A-list director,
Bill Murray and Rashida Jones offer a unique father/daughter relationship
that's equal parts strained and respected, giving "On the Rocks" a
deeply personal feel on a very small - but appreciated - scale.
#21
Color Out of Space
Bringing the beloved short story of H.P.
Lovecraft to brilliant life, "Color Out of Space" is filled with
quirky performances, top-notch effects, a solid story and enough thrills and
chills to fill the nearly two-hour runtime without overstaying its welcome.
#20
Hillbilly Elegy
Delivering stellar performances set against the
backdrop of white collar Americana, "Hillbilly Elegy" shows the bonds
of family can't be easily broken, even when the family is dysfunctional and
dangerous, there's still an undying love and commitment to them that shapes who
you become for good or bad.
#19
The Gentlemen
Returning to his true form, Guy Ritchie delivers
a solid film with "The Gentlemen," highlighting the strengths of his
highly capable cast with his fast-paced, intelligent script that offers dark
humor and exciting twists and turns.
#18
The Personal History of David Copperfield
Bringing a beloved Charles Dickens novel to
life, "The Personal History of David Copperfield" highlights the
importance of friendship and the impact of people around us in how we see the
world, and proves that no matter how rich or poor we find ourselves, it's those
around us who are the best gifts.
#17
Run
Proving that they're more than just one-trick
ponies, Aneesh Chaganty and Sev Ohanian deliver another brilliant mystery in
"Run," delivered with precision by two amazing actresses and offering
a compelling, thought-provoking thrill ride from start to finish.
#16
News of the World
If you're looking for a fantastic Western-period
piece that's more drama than shootouts, "News of the World" will
tickle your fancy due to a top notch production team both in front of and
behind the camera, even if the film itself is a bit dry.
#15
The Lodge
Using its setting to its full effect, "The
Lodge" serves as a tense, dark, atmospheric horror film that's empowered
by Riley Keough's performance and intelligent script that keeps the viewer on
their toes from start to finish, providing an unrelenting feeling of dread.
#14
Weathering With You
Offering an adequate followup to his iconic
"Your Name," Makoto Shinkai's "Weathering With You" offers
a perfect blend of love and fantasy set against the beautiful animated Tokyo with
thoughtful, compelling characters and an intellectual story whose themes are
eternal and unforgettable.
#13
Bad Education
Filled with fantastic performances and
delivering a solid, true-life mystery, "Bad Education" mixes dark
humor with even darker truth that shows not everything - or everyone - is what
it seems.
#12
Tenet
Once again delivering something we've never seen
on screen before, "Tenet" is a mind-bending action/adventure film
that's wholly Christopher Nolan and wholly unique and as memorable as his other work.
#11
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Proving himself to be a true class act until the
very end, Chadwick Boseman's final film "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
showcases his undeniable acting power and leaves us with one of his most
captivating roles, and serves as a bittersweet moment in the fact that we'll
never see a performance from this caliber of actor again.
And now my personal top ten films of 2020...
#10
Onward
Offering another story that they're known for,
Pixar's "Onward" asks a deeply emotional question and answers it with
an epicaly scaled quest with strong character depth and fantastic vocal
performances by its dedicated cast.
#9
Words on Bathroom Walls
Filled with dedicated performances and shedding
light on an almost ignored disease, "Words on Bathroom Walls" is much
more than your typical teenage romantic drama - its a wake-up call to the
importance of treating everyone with respect, and knowing that the biggest
ideals in life is to love and be loved.
#8
Possessor Uncut
At one point in time or another, we've all
dreampt of being someone else, and "Possessor" takes that desire and
amps it up to a million, providing an unforgettable body horror masterpiece by
the younger Cronenberg, following in his father's esteemed footsteps.
#7
The Assistant
Aided by a awards-demanding performance by Julia
Garner, "The Assistant" is as mundane as they come, but also gives a
deep introspection on the misogyny that millions of women face in the workforce
quietly, providing a well-thought-out dramatic piece that'll stick with you
despite its pure simplicity.
#6
Mank
"Mank" is a marvel in every sense of
the word, from the in-depth script to the dedicated performances and the
technical wonders behind the scenes, along with the unique sound score and
costume designs that transport the viewer entirely to the classic Hollywood era
of the 30s and 40s.
#5
The Devil All the Time
"The Devil All the Time" is a
powerful, thoughtful, well executed and performed saga that spans several years
and tells several intersecting stories, but unlike other ensemble films it pulls
out something truly magical - even if its profoundly dark and disturbing.
#4
Sound of Metal
Combining passionate, nuanced performances and
an all-encompassing feel, "Sound of Metal" sheds light on the deaf
community and allows the viewer to experience what it feels like, and shows
that deafness isn't a disease, but a different way of looking (and hearing) the
world.
#3
Promising Young Woman
Filled with tremendous performances and a
writer/director who worked hard to provide a story that's easily relatable,
"Promising Young Woman" rises above other revenge films in the sense
that it really sheds light on the victim and their tumultuous life after the
event and the corrupt and downright immoral justice system that continues to do
them wrong.
#2
Soul
Abounding with hope and love, "Soul"
not only highlights the impact of jazz but also the importance of life in all
its mundane forms, giving us a new appreciation for the lives we get to live on
earth and the positive impact we get to make on peoples' lives.
#1
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
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