.png?q=50&fit=contain&w=1140&h=&dpr=1.5)
The 1990s was a strange time for film. Caught between the wild advances of the '70s and '80s, which popularized film in a massive way, and standing on the precipice of the 21st century with iconic films like The Lord of the Rings soon to come, the '90s were a mixed bag.
Whilst some iconic films were released, just as many came out that no one wants to talk about. Be it failed Hollywood productions like Batman & Robin or If Lucy Fell, which were backed up by star actors of the time, or small-time productions like Axe'Em or Troll 2, the '90s were certainly rich in failed movies.
10 If Lucy Fell Is An Odd Tale Of Marriage And Death Pacts
Despite starring legitimate talent, If Lucy Fell was flawed at its very core. Released in 1996, If Lucy Fell has a sub-par IMDb score of 4.9. Initially, one might be confused why it has such a low rating, considering the star power involved, such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Ben Stiller. However, one only needs to read the plot to understand how poorly the film has aged.
The film follows the main characters, Joe and Lucy, who make a death pact (of all things) if they don't get into relationships by the time Lucy turns 30, which is in a month's time. If they fail to fulfill their goal, they'll jump off the Brooklyn Bridge together. As a result, it's easy to see why the movie was so heavily derided and poorly received.
9 The Avengers – No, Not That One
The namesake of the now utterly dominant film series actually had nothing to do with Marvel. In a movie based on the 1960s show of the same name, the powerhouse cast failed to save the weak effort behind the film. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Sean Connery, and Uma Thurman, the movie seemed geared to succeed.
The humor flopped, the writing failed to hold viewers' interest, and the talent of the cast was utterly misused. Thus, The Avengers was thoroughly lambasted by critics and audiences alike, resulting in a 3.8 IMDb rating.
8 Batman & Robin Seemed Too Big To Fail
The Caped Crusader failed to take off in this adaptation. The titular hero was played by George Clooney and was set to face off against Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze. A recurring trend in this list, the movie was expected to be carried by its superstar cast.
Despite the mixed reception, with some still proudly stating it's their favorite Batman film, it was an objectively poor effort. A silly, mishandled story, the superhero movie was filled with goofs and gags that no one found funny. As a result, it features an IMDb score of 3.7
7 Spice World Was A Strange Adventure With The Spice Girls
Reaching their peak with their Spiceworld album, The Spice Girls starred in a decently received game and in a much less well-received film of the same name. With a 3.5 IMDb score, reviewers struggled to say much about the 1997 film.
Ultimately stated to be utterly substance-less, the movie follows the Spice Girls as they travel across London and get into various antics on their way to their first live concert. Downright surreal at times, the Spice Girls encounter aliens, jump busses across the bridges, and avoid leather-clad paparazzi.
6 Troll 2 Doesn't Even Have Any Trolls
Troll 2 is hard to describe. Released in 1990 to heavy panning from critics and an IMDb score of 2.9, the movie follows a family headed to the town of Nilbog for vacation. Joshua, the son of the family, sees visions of his deceased grandfather warning him against an impending danger, which soon reveals itself.
As it turns out, Nilbog is inhabited by evil goblins who transform their victims into plants before consuming them. Rather an on-the-nose-name, considering Nilbog is goblin backward. However, more confusingly, there is not a single troll to be found.
5 Baby Geniuses Is Hardly Genius
Baby Geniuses is a difficult movie to watch. Following two evil professors, they attempt to decipher 'baby talk' – a supposedly hyper-advanced language only used by babies. During their efforts, they imprison babies and study them.
One of these babies escapes, leading the other babies in an effort to liberate them all from the evil professors. With an IMDb score of 2.5, it's clear the movie didn't do very well. Between poor writing, an adult cast that didn't want to be there, and a baby cast that wasn't very experienced at acting (obviously), the movie was disastrous.
4 Future War Stars Slaves From The Future And Dinosaurs
Future War captures the confused place '90s sci-fi was in well. With extensive experimentation in the decade leading to many iconic films, more than one flop was bound to happen. Future War is one such flop, and with an IMDb score of 1.6, it's a true flop.
Following an escaped slave from the future, dinosaur trackers travel to modern-day Los Angeles to track him down. The slave must somehow escape and quickly forms an unlikely partnership with a prostitute-turned-nun. That said, It's one of the few films you can see someone engage in a martial fight with a dinosaur, so it's arguably a masterpiece.
3 Pocket Ninjas Fight Villains Trying To Ruin The Environment
Pocket Ninjas might be the worst martial art movie ever made. Whilst the '90s saw many iconic martial arts movies, this straight-to-video project is not one of them. The plot takes place when the evil Cobra Khan rises up to destroy the environment, and when their sensei cannot stop him, the three Pocket Ninjas must defeat the Cobra Khan once and for all. With a deserved IMDb score of 1.4, this movie is a mess of repeating training montages, poorly coordinated fights, terrible video quality, and the same half-dozen shots repeated over and over again.
2 The Legend Of The Titanic Is The Titanic Movie You've Never Seen
An animated take on the sinking of the Titanic, this story is just strange. It stars an anthropomorphic grandpa mouse who gathers his grand-mice around to tell them "the true story of the Titanic." What follows is a tale about a group of sailer mice on the RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage, and antics ensue. Some animated movies are worth watching for their animation alone, but this movie is not one of them.
With a hilariously low 1.3 IMDb score, this movie stars evil shark mobsters led by a Mr. Ice, an octopus that sinks the Titanic by moving an iceberg in front of it, and even several dolphins and whales that come to the rescue of the sinking ship. This is a movie best left in the annals of history.
1 Ax'Em Should've Been Axed Before Release
Ax'Em is down-right legendary in terrible movie circles. Unlike many of the movies on this list, which are just bad, this one treads that fine line where a bad movie is just bad enough to be good. That's not to say this movie is good. Its IMDb rating of 1.2 is one of the lowest for any film on the site, which is well-deserved. The audio is so bad the actors aren't understandable. The film is so grainy it's hard to make out what's going on, and the plot is utterly nonsensical.
And yet, it's hard not to laugh. Critics pan it as being so hard to understand that by the end of the movie, audiences still don't know the names of the characters, nor what plot just transpired. It's a confusing mess, and yet, it's worth a watch, even if it's one of the worst movies ever made.