The relevance of Rotten Tomatoes had been a double-edged sword. On one side, its ratings have helped viewers make an informed decision about which movies to see or not to see. Meanwhile, others have put it on a pedestal to bash certain movies because of their overall critic rating. However, an important fact to remember is these fresh/rotten dictations need to be taken with a grain of salt.
A film, depending on a variety of reasons, can sincerely appeal to one person and not another. However, it's interesting to see which movies were collectively deemed fresh or (in this case) rotten. Here are the 10 worst animated films ever made, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
10 Ice Age: Collision Course (2016) - 18%
The fifth addition to the long-running Ice Age franchise saw the return of its principal cast - Manny, Diego, and Sid - who are now faced with the planet's impending doom.
The film was profitable (earning over twice its 105 million Dollar budget) but was panned by critics and audiences. General criticisms from RT were aimed at its humor, cliched-writing, and unnecessary creation.
9 Legends Of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2014) - 17%
Billed as a follow-up to the classic musical The Wizard of Oz from 1939, this CGI-animated sequel flopped when it grossed a mere 30 million Dollars against its 70 million Dollar budget.
Based on 60 reviews, the critic's consensus stated that "Faced with the choice between staying in or seeing Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return, most filmgoers will be forced to conclude that there's no place like home." Periodicals such as the AV Club noted that it felt rushed and had an "impossibly resolved ending."
8 Playmobil: The Movie (2019) - 17%
Based on the ubiquitous toy franchise of the same name, this movie centered on two siblings and their journey into the world of Playmobil. Released in 2019, the movie bombed critically and fiscally.
Audiences and critics agreed the film rode on the success of The LEGO Movie (which came out five years earlier) but did nothing to be more than just an obvious imitation. Playmobil's film studio STFX previously produced another CGI animated movie Ugly Dolls that also released in 2019, which also underperformed at the box office.
7 The Nut Job (2014) - 11%
The Nut Job followed a sardonic squirrel named Surly who concocted a grand, nut heist. A sum of 95 reviews claimed this film a critical dud.
However, it managed to turn a profit and spawned a sequel The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature, which was actually an improvement given its Rotten Tomato score of 14%. The general consensus for the first Nut Job was that as a protagonist, Surly was unappealing and his debut film's run-time was unnecessarily stretched.
6 Arctic Dogs (2019) - 13%
Sadly, this is another 2019 box office bomb. Arctic Dogs was met coldly by critics but apparently, audiences seemed to enjoy it.
The story focused on an underdog fox named Swiftly who dreamed of joining the big leagues and becoming a sled courier. The Hollywood Reporter and AV Club both dismissed the movie as lackluster, dull and vapid.
5 Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002) - 11%
This direct-to-video sequel to Disney's beloved animated classic Cinderella was released in 2002 - more than five decades after the original's opening. This anthology focused on three stories pertaining to the original and new characters.
Based on nine reviews, it was declared rotten by Rotten Tomatoes. Critiques were aimed towards its unoriginality and cookie-cutter qualities. Its sequel Cinderella III: A Twist in Time was received much favorably in comparison, garnering a whopping 75%.
4 Hoodwinked Too!: Hood vs. Evil (2011) - 11%
The sequel to Hoodwinked underperformed critically and financially, despite its predecessor gaining a cult following. The film followed Red (a spin-off of Little Red Riding Hood) and the Sisters of Hood solving another mystery in this wacky reimagining of the most well-known fairy tales.
This sequel's low rating was culminated from 60 negative reviews. The Rotten Tomato consensus stated that "It may add 3D to the original, but Hoodwinked Too! is missing the first installment's wit and refreshingly low-budget charm."
3 Monster Family (2017) - 10%
The German-produced Monster Family centered on the Wishbone clan who were turned into monsters by a witch. The film made some coin at the box office but was poorly received. Time UK described it as "derivative, barrel-scraping."
Whilst Guardian dismissed it as "exhausting, with too much slap-sticks," others noticed the too-close-for-comfort similarities with another monster-themed movie: Hotel Transylvania. Unlike Monster Family, the Adam Sandler-led animated comedy that saw him voicing a determined but goofy dad named Dracula came out in 2012 and was admired by audiences.
2 Norm Of The North (2006) - 9%
Released in 2016, this movie followed a polar bear named Norm who traveled to New York City, and hijinks ensued. A total of 69 reviews panned this supposedly wacky movie.
The Rotten Tomatoes consensus comments: "A pioneering feat in the field of twerking polar bear animation but blearily retrograde in every other respect, Norm of the North should only be screen in case of parental emergency." Despite its lackluster critical reception, it performed okay financially and four sequels (yes, four) were produced.
1 Yu-gi-oh! The Movie: Pyramid Of Light (2004) - 5%
Based on the popular manga, anime, and card game of the same name, this film's protagonist - Yugi Mutou and his alter ego Yami Yugi - participates in a card game tournament known as Duel Monsters. After an ancient entity named Anubis is revived, Yugi and his pals must work together to stop him by winning a children's card game.
The first official Yu-Gi-Oh! movie was released six years after the original anime premiered on Japanese TV, making it feel a bit too late for some fans. As popular as the franchise is, critical response to its first film was just terrible. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has 63 rotten reviews out of a collected 66, with its overall consensus stating: "Don't watch the TV show or play the card game? Then this movie is not for you." Ouch.