The Worst Movies of 2017

By Mark Pukalo


It would seem there were more bad movies in 2016 than 2017 if you compare my two lists.

Not really.

I just punished myself by renting anything I could in 2016 and saw many awful films. Throughout 2017, I stopped myself from doing that. I’m sure there are some others that could be added to this list, but there was no need to spend the extra $1.61 to see how bad “Everything, Everything,” “Ghost in the Shell,” “The Mountain Between Us,” “The Dark Tower,” “The Layover,” or “The Mummy,” was. So, ultimately, even some of the movies at the bottom of my list of the worst of 2017 have some redeeming value if you want to see them.

Here's my list of the worst of 2017:


 15. Snatched - Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn provide a few laughs, but it kinda goes off the rails at times.

 14. It - Just didn't find anything particularly fascinating about this thriller. Don't really get IT I guess.

 13. The House - Will Ferrell is always a little fun to watch, but he does not have a whole lot to work with here.

 12. Just Getting Started - The Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman senior caper movie just never draws your interest. Bet they both made some good money though.

 11. Fist Fight - Has some funny moments, but the ultimate story line is sort of preposterous.


 10. The Circle - How can Tom Hanks make a bad movie about a subject that could be interesting like a society that goes overboard with social media? A really, really bad script.

 9. Life - Let's say the ending shocked me and made me feel an ounce better about the film, but it was still boring and head scratching before we got there.

 8. American Assassin - The counter-terrorism film thinks it's smarter than it is. Pick better movies Michael Keaton.

 7. The Foreigner - Jackie Chan sleep walks through this baffling crime drama, with an evil Pierce Brosnan, that is hard to follow.

 6. Kidnap - Calm down and think Halle Berry. Sheesh. Just a series of crazy car chases that does not seem to end.

 5. Suburbicon - A violent, strange, ugly, maddening film from the Coen Brothers that leaves you wondering why you rented it. The concept isn't awful. The execution is.

 4. Beatriz at Dinner - Kept waiting for something thoughtful and interesting out of this film about race and class structure, but it just seemed like a mess that made me angry in the end. Even adorable Salma Hayek couldn't save it.

 3. The Dinner - A good cast with Richard Gere, Laura Linney and Rebecca Hall and an idiotic script that centers around two wealthy families trying to decide what to do about their children's crime. It's bad from start to finish.

 2. Rough Night - The only one of these 15 that I spent money on at the theater. It's crass, not funny at all and the trailer actually made it look like it could be good. I got fooled. Could have been No. 1, but Scarlett Johansson looked really, really good in short hair.

 1. Mother! - Love you, but shame on you Jennifer Lawrence. Director Darren Aronofsky has made some good films like "The Fighter" and "The Wrestler," but this strange mystical thriller is gross, mindless and just so crazy you want to turn it off 20-30 minutes in. I'm not sure what positives anyone can take out of this mess. Some critics say Aronofsky made the film to get a reaction - either way. Well, here's mine. IT SUCKED! I want my $1.61 back!



OSCAR PICKS/HOPES


BEST ORIGINAL SCREEN PLAY - The Big Sick (hope), Lady Bird (pick)

BEST ADAPTED SCREEN PLAY - Molly's Game (hope), Call Me By Your Name (pick)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Allison Janney, I Tonya (hope, pick), although Laurie Metcalf was great in Lady Bird

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World (hope), Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards, Outside Ebbing, Missouri (pick). All five are very worthy.

BEST ACTRESS - Margot Robbie, I Tonya (hope), Sally Jenkins, The Shape of Water (pick)

BEST ACTOR - Gary Oldham, Darkest Hour (hope, pick)

BEST DIRECTOR - Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk (hope), Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird (pick)

BEST FILM  - The Post (hope), The Shape of Water (pick)