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The worst geek movies of 2018, ranked

It doesn't get much geekier (or worse) than these films.

Lance Cartelli
Lance Cartelli is an Emmy Award-winning producer and writer based in Los Angeles, California.
Lance Cartelli
1-outlawking
1 of 39 Netflix

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

Disclaimer: CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured in this gallery.

2-housewithaclock
2 of 39 Universal Pictures

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. 

3-commuter
3 of 39 Lionsgate

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.

4-futileandstupid
4 of 39 Netflix

36. A Futile and Stupid Gesture

The story of Doug Kenney (Will Forte) — co-creator of National Lampoon — is "not particularly illuminating," per New York Magazine. 

Metascore: 55

5-firstpurge
5 of 39 Universal Pictures

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. 

6-hoteltransylvania
6 of 39 Sony Pictures

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. 

aquaman-w1smib
7 of 39 Warner Bros.

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.

7-redsparrow
8 of 39 20th Century Fox

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. 

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9 of 39 Walt Disney Pictures

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. 

fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-e22cbw
10 of 39 Warner Bros.

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

9-ithinkwerealone
11 of 39 Momentum Pictures

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. 

the-grinch-rmtqrp
12 of 39 Universal Pictures

25 (tie). The Grinch

This animated holiday film was called a "hollow cash grab" and a "soulless abomination" by ReelViews.

Metascore: 51

10-mazerunner
13 of 39 20th Century Fox

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. 

11-skyscraper
14 of 39 Universal Pictures

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. 

12-jurassicworld
15 of 39 Universal Pictures

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. 

13-equalizer2
16 of 39 Sony Pictures

23 (tie). The Equalizer 2

Denzel Washington's first sequel ever "just doesn't deliver the thrills," according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Metascore: 50

14-talktogirls
17 of 39 A24

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. 

15-denofthieves
18 of 39 STX Films

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. 

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19 of 39 Universal Pictures

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. 

bohemian-rhapsody-tohybo
20 of 39 20th Century Fox

20 (tie). Bohemian Rhapsody

This Queen biopic, starring Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, is "so bad there's plenty of room left for a much better biopic," per the Chicago Sun-Times.

Metascore: 49

17-predator
21 of 39 20th Century Fox

17 (tie). The Predator

The fourth film in the Predator series "is silly, borderline senseless, lively, and without any real rooting value at all," per Variety. 

Metascore: 48

18-tombraider
22 of 39 Warner Bros.

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. 

Film Title: The Strangers
23 of 39 Aviron Pictures

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. 

20-themeg
24 of 39 Warner Bros.

15 (tie). The Meg

Scientists are attacked by a megalodon shark. Film Threat called this action film "simply toothless." 

Metascore: 46

21-gringo
25 of 39 Amazon Studios

15 (tie). Gringo

A mild-mannered businessman (David Oyelowo) is kidnapped by a drug cartel. According to the Arizona Republic, Gringo "dabbles in several genres, none particularly well."

Metascore: 46

Watch Gringo on Amazon Prime Video now. 

22-rampage
26 of 39 Warner Bros.

14. Rampage

We felt this action movie, based on the video game, fell short. 

Metascore: 45

Watch Rampage on Amazon Prime Video now.

23-pacificrim
27 of 39 Universal Pictures

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. 

the-girl-in-the-spiders-web-jckepw
28 of 39 Columbia Pictures

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

24-theweekof
29 of 39 Netflix

11. The Week Of

Adam Sandler's fourth Netflix film is "a bore," according to IGN. 

Metascore: 42

25-darkestminds
30 of 39 20th Century Fox

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. 

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31 of 39 Walt Disney Pictures

9 (tie). The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Rolling Stone called this holiday film a "slow torture for kids and grownups alike" and added that it "gives a bad name to the very concept of family entertainment."

Metascore: 39

26-cloverfield
32 of 39 Netflix

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

27-venom
33 of 39 Sony Pictures

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

28-mute
34 of 39 Netflix

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

29-proudmary
35 of 39 Sony Pictures

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. 

30-irreplaceable
36 of 39 Netflix

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

robin-hood-p73pw6
37 of 39 Lionsgate

3. Robin Hood

This remake of the classic tale is "a thoroughly incoherent movie salad," according to New York Magazine

Metascore: 33

31-gameover
38 of 39 Netflix

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

Joey King
39 of 39 Sony Pictures

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. 

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