The Three Ben Stiller Movies With A 0% Score On Rotten Tomatoes

Ben Stiller has had a wide and diverse career in Hollywood over the decades. The son of funnyman Jerry Stiller, Ben has been a mainstay in the entertainment industry since the 1990s. Like his father, Stiller began to lean into comedic projects with considerable success. Though he first rose to prominence as the lead in "The Ben Stiller Show," his first major film roles were in the Adam Sandler comedy "Happy Gilmore," the Patrick Swayze starring thriller "Next of Kin," and the romantic comedy "There's Something About Mary." Stiller became a box office draw in the 2000s when he spearheaded several franchises like "Meet The Parents" and "Madagascar," with the latter grossing over $2 billion at the global box office (via The Numbers). The star has also directed several productions, including the endlessly quotable "Zoolander," "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," and the recent Apple TV+ series "Severance."

The star has contributed many memorable characters to the world (with one in particular standing above the rest), and he has actively continued lending his talents to high-profile projects. However, in a career filled with so many highs, fans of the actor will be surprised to know that there are a few catastrophic duds in his CV, as well. So much so that the star has not one but three films that have a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Ben Stiller's cinematic debut was the long-forgotten action comedy "Hot Pursuit," which also starred John Cusack and Robert Loggia. Directed by "Tron" helmer Steven Lisberger, "Hot Pursuit" went on to gross just over $4 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo).

The film focused on Cusack's Dan, a high school student who misses his flight to vacation with his girlfriend and her family on an island. Dan then catches the next flight, only to find himself involved with corrupt police officers, pirates, and the island's locals. Stiller appeared in the film as a bully who attempts to thwart Dan's plan. The actor notably debuted in the film and starred alongside his father, Jerry — the first of many co-appearances. The film was critically panned upon release with reviewers like the Apollo Guide calling out the project's "overdone plot devices, weak character motivations, flimsy characters and stilted, corny dialogue" (via Rotten Tomatoes). Thanks to poor reviews, the 1987 film has a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of Stiller's most notable duds. There's not much here for fans of Stiller other than the fact that the film serves as his debut.

After appearing in "Hot Pursuit," Ben Stiller landed a supporting role in "Fresh Horses," a coming-of-age drama. The film focuses on Matt, a popular senior college student (Andrew McCarthy) who breaks off his engagement when he falls for a simple girl from Kentucky (Molly Ringwald), only to learn that she is 16 and married to an abusive husband. The two navigate their complicated relationship and circumstances, resulting in a bittersweet ending that sees them both parting ways. Stiller appeared in the film as Matt's best friend Tipton, who introduces the college senior to the area Ringwald's character hangs out in.

The film went on to gross only $6.6 million at box office on a budget of $14 million (via Box Office Mojo), making the drama a flop. The film wasn't critically praised and holds a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Reel Film Reviews tore "Fresh Horses" apart in its review, saying the film "feels like watching a short film expanded to an hour and 45 minutes...but without adding any dialogue." Audiences weren't too keen on the film either, with the audience score resting at a low 32%. Despite the project failing to find acclaim, "Fresh Horses" serves as one of Stiller's earliest supporting roles.

At the dawn of the new millennium, Ben Stiller appeared in a comedy headlined by Will Ferrell. One of the earliest films produced by "Star Wars" director J.J. Abrams, "The Suburbans" centers on a one-hit wonder band from the eighties who is sought out by a record executive (Jennifer Love Hewitt) for a reunion concert that could once again launch them to stardom. Despite an interesting premise, the film was a commercial disaster, grossing only $11,130 after appearing on 11 screens (via Box Office Mojo). The film also starred "Billy Madison" actress Bridgette Wilson and future "Entourage" star Perrey Reeves.

Stiller appeared in the film alongside his father Jerry. Both appeared as record company executives who rub shoulders with the long-forgotten band, and while The New York Times wasn't kind to the film, their review did notably praise the efforts of the Stillers, writing, "Jerry Stiller and Ben Stiller have funny moments as an incomprehensible father-son duo running a record company." 

Despite a rising cast and praise for Ben's performance, "The Suburbans" failed to make an impression on critics. The film holds a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a splotch on Stiller's resume. Despite "The Suburbans" flopping in 1999, Stiller would go on to dominate the 2000s. The star appeared in several hits like the "Meet the Parents," "Madagascar," and "Night at the Museum," all of which spawned successful franchises. Stiller would later go on to team up with Ferrell once again in "Zoolander," which holds a fresh 65% on Rotten Tomatoes.