The worst geek movies of 2018, ranked
It doesn't get much geekier (or worse) than these films.
39. Outlaw King
The world isn't lacking quality geek content, that's for sure. But sometimes it's the really bad movies that are more entertaining than the good ones. Using Metacritic's scoring system, we've ranked the worst geeky films of the year: fantasies, gadget-heavy spy flicks, sci-fi, improbable actioners -- the works. Let's start with the best of the worst...
The untold, true story of Robert the Bruce -- starring Chris Pine -- "never quite compares to the many films it's so keen to imitate, and in some cases outright quote," according to Variety.
Metascore: 60
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38. The House With a Clock in its Walls
Movie Nation called this Jack Black-led fantasy film "deadly dull."
Metascore: 57
Watch The House With a Clock in its Walls on Amazon Prime Video now.
37. The Commuter
A businessman (Liam Neeson) becomes entangled in a criminal conspiracy. "The Commuter falls into line with Neeson's other high-octane, low-intelligence efforts," per ReelViews.
Metascore: 56
Watch The Commuter on Amazon Prime Video now.
34 (tie). The First Purge
This horror prequel is a "threadbare Boyz N the Hood meets Lord of the Flies," according to Variety.
Metascore: 54
Watch The First Purge on Amazon Prime Video now.
34 (tie). Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
The third entry in the Hotel Transylvania franchise "is a harmless enough excuse for a couple hours of air-conditioned entertainment," per the Arizona Republic.
Metascore: 54
Watch Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation on Amazon Prime Video now.
30 (tie). Aquaman
The sixth film in the DC Extended Universe totally floated our boat, but for other critics? Not so much. It's "a mess of clashing tones and shameless silliness," Rolling Stone said.
30 (tie). Red Sparrow
A Russian intelligence officer (Jennifer Lawrence) searches for a mole. Rolling Stone called Red Sparrow "a punishingly long, shamelessly shallow downer that makes the mistake of taking itself oh-so-seriously."
Metascore: 53
Watch Red Sparrow on Amazon Prime Video now.
30 (tie). A Wrinkle in Time
This Ava DuVernay-helmed fantasy film "could have been one of the best sci-fi fantasy movies to come along. Sadly, it will end up a wrinkle best smoothed away," our review said.
Metascore: 53
Watch A Wrinkle in Time on Amazon Prime Video now.
30 (tie). Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
The Fantastic Beasts sequel is the "first flat-out terrible product of the Harry Potter expanded universe," according to Slate.
Metascore: 53
25 (tie). I Think We're Alone Now
Here's how Rolling Stone put it: "You won't wish for the end of the world while watching I Think We're Alone Now, just the end of the movie."
Metascore: 51
Watch I Think We're Alone Now on Amazon Prime Video now.
25 (tie). The Grinch
This animated holiday film was called a "hollow cash grab" and a "soulless abomination" by ReelViews.
Metascore: 51
25 (tie). Maze Runner: The Death Cure
The final entry in the Maze Runner saga is, according to Rolling Stone, "the essence of rehash."
Metascore: 51
Watch Maze Runner: The Death Cure on Amazon Prime Video now.
25 (tie). Skyscraper
In this action movie, a war veteran (Dwayne Johnson) must rescue his family. Skyscraper is "not so much a story as the Rock's upper body workout with explosions CGI'd behind him," per our review.
Metascore: 51
Watch Skyscraper on Amazon Prime Video now.
25 (tie). Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
The sequel to Jurassic World is "like an amusement park on its last legs," per The Film Stage.
Metascore: 51
Watch Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom on Amazon Prime Video now.
23 (tie). The Equalizer 2
Denzel Washington's first sequel ever "just doesn't deliver the thrills," according to the Chicago Tribune.
Metascore: 50
23 (tie). How to Talk to Girls at Parties
This science fiction romantic comedy "is everything and nothing at once," per The A.V. Club.
Metascore: 50
Watch How to Talk to Girls at Parties on Amazon Prime Video now.
20 (tie). Den of Thieves
Sheriff deputies must prevent a robbery at the Federal Reserve. Time Out called this heist film "poor man's action cinema with zero characterization."
Metascore: 49
Watch Den of Thieves on Amazon Prime Video now.
20 (tie). Insidious: The Last Key
The fourth installment in the Insidious saga "fails to live up to the franchise's high standards," according to We Got This Covered.
Metascore: 49
Watch Insidious: The Last Key on Amazon Prime Video now.
17 (tie). Tomb Raider
The Tomb Raider reboot -- starring Alicia Vikander -- "sags with an overstretched first hour, tacked-on action scenes and lackadaisical piracy from better movies," according to our review.
Metascore: 48
Watch Tomb Raider on Amazon Prime Video now.
17 (tie). The Strangers: Prey at Night
A family is attacked by masked psychopaths. The San Francisco Chronicle said the movie "serves as a comprehensive manual of bad places to hide from a masked killer."
Metascore: 48
Watch The Strangers: Prey at Night on Amazon Prime Video now.
15 (tie). The Meg
Scientists are attacked by a megalodon shark. Film Threat called this action film "simply toothless."
Metascore: 46
14. Rampage
We felt this action movie, based on the video game, fell short.
Metascore: 45
Watch Rampage on Amazon Prime Video now.
13. Pacific Rim: Uprising
Our reviewer thought the sequel to Pacific Rim was "a huge step down."
Metascore: 44
Watch Pacific Rim: Uprising on Amazon Prime Video now.
12. The Girl in the Spider's Web
The sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is "a slow trudge devoid of suspense and adrenaline," per the New York Post.
Metascore: 43
11. The Week Of
Adam Sandler's fourth Netflix film is "a bore," according to IGN.
Metascore: 42
9 (tie). The Darkest Minds
This thriller about teens who mysteriously develop superpowers is "a tediously derivative tale," per Movie Nation.
Metascore: 39
Watch The Darkest Minds on Amazon Prime Video now.
8. The Cloverfield Paradox
This science fiction horror film, set in the Cloverfield Universe, is "a bit of a scam job," per RogerEbert.com.
Metascore: 37
5 (tie). Venom
Tom Hardy, starring as Venom, couldn't save this superhero film. According to our review, Venom is "the dumbest movie ever."
Metascore: 35
5 (tie). Mute
In this science fiction film , a mute bartender (Alexander Skarsgård) searches for the love of his life. "Mute winds up lost for words," we said.
Metascore: 35
5 (tie). Proud Mary
This Taraji P. Henson-led thriller is "dimly lit and slackly made," per New York Magazine.
Metascore: 35
Watch Proud Mary on Amazon Prime Video now.
4. Irreplaceable You
This French dramedy is "a half-baked tragic love story so desperately engineered to tear-jerk that it ceases to resemble anything human," per New York Magazine.
Metascore: 34
3. Robin Hood
This remake of the classic tale is "a thoroughly incoherent movie salad," according to New York Magazine.
Metascore: 33
2. Game Over, Man!
The stars of the sitcom "Workaholics" reunite for this film that "is almost laugh-free comedy," according to The New York Times.
Metascore: 32
1. Slender Man
This supernatural horror, based on the character of the same name, is "tasteless" and "terrible," per IndieWire.
Metascore: 30
Watch Slender Man on Amazon Prime Video now.