Metacritic’s 15 Worst Films of 2025: The Electric State Tops the List

Metacritic, a leading film review aggregator, has published its annual list of the 15 worst movies released in 2025. The rankings reflect critic scores for titles that had at least four reviews, ensuring a representative snapshot of the year’s disappointments. The list spans big-budget action, sci-fi fantasies, and flawed capers that failed to connect with audiences.

Overview of the year’s disappointing releases

Below is the full lineup, with critic scores, short notes on why each film missed the mark, and what critics identified as common weaknesses across the slate.

1. War of the Worlds (2025) — Score: 6/100. A sci-fi action take on the classic tale that unfolds as an almost real-time alien encounter via video calls; reviewers faulted wooden acting and weak visual effects.
2. Playdate (2025) — Score: 20/100. A suburban thriller that struggles with a thin premise and slow pacing, leaving audiences unaffordable with its tired twists.
3. Gunslingers (2025) — Score: 20/100. A Western built on familiar tropes, criticized for flat dialogue and a pacing that drags the story.
4. Alarum (2024) — Score: 23/100. A flashy sci-fi adventure with stunning visuals but inconsistent storytelling and tonal shifts.
5. Bride Hard (2025) — Score: 23/100. A spy‑themed comedy that misses both humor and suspense due to a sloppy script and weak characterization.
6. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025) — Score: 26/100. A horror sequel driven by jump scares rather than character growth, leaving many fans unimpressed.
7. Shadow Force (2025) — Score: 27/100. An action thriller with bland characters and predictable chase sequences.
8. The Strangers: Chapter 2 (2025) — Score: 28/100. A sequel that recycles the first film’s formula without adding real tension or fresh ideas.
9. Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025) — Score: 29/100. A rushed drama hampered by a weak script and heavy-handed direction.
10. The Electric State (2025) — Score: 30/100. A high-profile adaptation criticized for a disjointed narrative and overloaded visuals, despite a star cast.
11. Juliet & Romeo (2025) — Score: 31/100. A modern take on a classic romance that fails to emotionally engage, with pacing and dialogue undercutting the story.
12. Smurfs (2025) — Score: 31/100. A family-friendly entry that relies on familiar humor and a predictable arc, leaving younger audiences underwhelmed.
13. Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness (2024) — Score: 32/100. An ambitious project that experiments with structure but confuses viewers with an unclear throughline.
14. Regretting You (2025) — Score: 33/100. A drama with melodramatic moments and shallow character development that dampens emotional impact.
15. Old Guy (2024) — Score: 33/100. A nostalgia-driven film that struggles to translate warmth or wit to the screen.

Which film disappointed you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Expert Opinion

“Critics note that several titles lean on familiar templates rather than fresh storytelling, which weakens their appeal. A tighter script and clearer direction could have given many of these projects a better chance.”

Summary

In 2025, even large budgets and famous casts could not guarantee strong critical reception for several high‑profile releases. The list underscores the importance of solid writing, pacing, and character depth—elements that often determine whether a movie resonates. For English learners, the reviews illustrate common terms used by critics to describe film quality, such as plot, pacing, and acting.

Key insight: When ambition outruns craft, even big budgets and well-known names cannot rescue a film from critical disappointment.