Every Jurassic World Star's Lowest Rated Movie On Rotten Tomatoes
The "Jurassic World" trilogy is filled with A-list actors, from Chris Pratt to Laura Dern. While the franchise began with a solid start ratings-wise, with a 71% on the Tomatometer, "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" wasn't as lucky. Of course, the second film's low rating isn't the first time the stars of the franchise have had a "Rotten" film. In fact, for most of them, it isn't their lowest-rated film by a long shot.
You may have caught up on the catalog of Bryce Dallas Howard after she appeared as Claire Dearing, or maybe you're already aware of every film Jeff Goldblum has ever been in. But, you may not have seen the ones where their performance is the only highlight in an otherwise hard-to-watch film, especially if the film in question took over three decades to be released. Do you know which one worked with the icon M. Night Shyamalan on two films, or who portrayed an animated otter for their lowest-rated project? Never worry, we've compiled a list of the most "Rotten" films of every star in the franchise using the Tomatometer. Keep your arms in the Jeep as we move through the park, but beware: dinosaurs aren't the only scary animals to appear on this trip.
Chris Pratt's lowest rated movie is a bit smelly
The velociraptor trainer is known for many roles, from lovable Andy Dwyer in "Parks and Recreation" to Celestial-Human hybrid Star-Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What many may not know is that his worst-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 4% on the Tomatometer and a 24% audience score, is "Movie 43." The 2013 anthology comedy is a compilation of 11 different segments connected with one over-arching one about a screenwriter pitching to an executive, giving audiences a dozen different stories.
Pratt stars with his ex-wife Anna Faris in "The Proposition," which is about a couple experimenting with a fetish that ends in a car accident and an accepted marriage proposal. Unfortunately, critics were not fans of the movie. "'Movie 43' is now the cinematic low-water mark for me," wrote Peter Howell of the Toronto Star. "No one should be surprised that this one wasn't previewed for critics." Their segment received particularly negative reviews due to the fetish, which involved feces.
Despite the cast, which included the likes of Kate Winslet and Hugh Jackman, "Movie 43" fell to the same fate as ensemble comedies stocked with A-list star power usually do: relying on the talent instead of the writing. "The truth is, I had a lot of friends who were in this movie," producer Charles Wessler told The Hollywood Reporter. "And if they didn't say yes, this movie wouldn't have gotten made."
Bryce Dallas Howard is attacked by wolf-like animals in this Shyamalan film
With 25% on the Tomatometer and a 49% audience score, "Lady in the Water" isn't iconic director and writer M. Night Shyamalan's lowest-rated film (that honor goes to "The Last Airbender"), but it is Bryce Dallas Howard's. The two worked together on the 2004 piece "The Village," which boasts a 43% on the Tomatometer, before teaming up again for a film where Howard plays a naiad found in an apartment swimming pool. The project was nominated for four Golden Raspberry Awards, and won two for Shyamalan himself, but, more notably, the actress we know as a theme park operations manager was not nominated for worst actress.
The plot of "Lady in the Water" is a touch on the wild side, with Howard's character Story saying she's been sent to find Writer, and together they'll write a book that will inspire a leader that saves humanity in the future. Like any Shyamalan film, there's an unexpected (now expected) twist. This time, the ending seems pretty straightforward, but the meta-commentary it brings is some of his best. While critics weren't happy with it, it was made just for them.
"I am the villain," Jim Emerson wrote for RogerEbert.com. "OK, not me, but Film Criticism Itself, embodied by... Mr. Farber, who is this film's own resident newspaper movie critic, offering caustic, self-aware commentary on the shortcomings of 'Lady in the Water.'"
Sam Neill tackles the football world
As the original star of "Jurassic Park," if we aren't counting the T-Rex, not every project Sam Neill has done has had the same success. "United Passions," a film showcasing the history of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), is a perfect example of that. Neill plays João Havelange, a president of FIFA from 1974 to 1998. Havelange pioneered in the position, doubling the number of teams in the league and instituting the Women's World Cup. He passed away in 2016, the year after the film was released.
The film boasts a 0% on the Tomatometer and a 12% audience score, the first 0% on this list. When "United Passions" was released, the organization was being investigated for corruption, with 14 individuals indicted. The timing of its release, combined with FIFA funding the majority of the budget (according to The Guardian) meant it came across as a propaganda film when FIFA needed it most, and not a good one at that. Critics certainly didn't sugarcoat their thoughts. "'United Passions' is one of the most unwatchable films in recent memory," wrote Daniel M. Gold for The New York Times. "A dishonest bit of corporate-suite sanitizing that's no good even for laughs."
Laura Dern faces an angry momma bear in a lost sequel
"Grizzly II: Revenge" has an 8% on the Tomatometer and no audience score, which makes it Laura Dern's lowest-rated project. Released in 2020 but filmed in 1983, the film follows Dern as Tina, a camper trying to attend a three-day rock concert in Yellowstone. However, a mother bear is trying to avenge the loss of her cub, and the concert-goers are on the receiving end.
Though filmed over three decades ago, "Grizzly II" stayed hidden due to difficulties with a former partner. On the movie's website, producer Suzanne Nagy described the issues that arose during filming. "My partner disappeared on the first day of shooting the concert," she described. "There was no money to continue with the film." She went on to state that in 1988, her partner "gave up the movie free and clear," but it wasn't until 2018 that Nagy felt the time was right to revisit the long-awaited sequel.
The actress isn't the main character in the film. In fact, she's one of the first to face the bear's wrath during the opening sequence, but her name — along with George Clooney and Charlie Sheen's — is used on the poster. Is it due to their name recognition now? It certainly didn't help critics' reactions to the film. The Hollywood Reporter called the story a "'Jaws' rip-off plot," complete with an animal expert and a public official that wants to keep the attacks on the down low.
Jeff Goldblum is a talent scout in this low-rated film
Jeff Goldblum's career has been filled with plenty of Certified Fresh movies from "Annie Hall" to "Thor: Ragnorok," but not all of his projects could be given the title. His lowest-rated film currently has an 11% on the Tomatometer and a 51% audience score, one of the widest margins between the Tomatometer and audience scores of his castmates. The film in question, 2001's "Perfume," featured the chaos theorist of "Jurassic Park" as a talent scout for a fashion house and as an executive producer on the project.
The actors improvised all their dialogue with the help of a 60-page outline written by the film's writer L. M. Kit Carson. This wasn't to the project's advantage. "The actors fumble around searching for words in a way that reflects real life," Todd McCarthy wrote for Variety. "Much less than it does the dilemma of performers stuck with thinly conceived characters." McCarthy goes further, discussing that this creates a barrier, the audience not understanding character relationships for a significant portion of the film. Though it scores low with critics, the film isn't without merit. In the same review, McCarthy acknowledges it "is more coherent and serious-minded than Robert Altman's mess 'Ready to Wear,'" though the reviewer does note that it is "less alluring."
BD Wong helps rescue a sea lion with some Stinkers
The franchise's resident geneticist has had several roles over the years, but there are three that have a 0% on the Tomatometer: "Slappy and the Stinkers," "The Substitute 2: School's Out," and "Mulan II." "Slappy and the Stinkers" has the largest margin between the Tomatometer and audience scores on this list, with a 61%. BD Wong reprised his role of Li Shang in the sequel to the animated Disney classic while taking on new roles with his two other lowest-rated films.
In "Slappy and the Stinkers," he is headmaster Morgan Brinway, determined to force kids into an appreciation for opera. Wong's performance, and those of the other adults in the film, is described as "better-than-expected" by Reel Film Reviews, though the review notes the movie's heavy reliance on slapstick humor as a negative. Wong's character in "The Substitute 2: School's Out," Warren Drummond, may not appear often in the movie, but that didn't stop WorldFilmGeek from praising his place in the narrative. "B.D. Wong doesn't get [as] much screen time as one would think," the review describes. "But his character of Warren Drummond makes a very lasting impact in the film."
Daniella Pineda shines in a lackluster horror film
Our favorite paleo-veterinarian hasn't always tried to save lives. In Daniella Pineda's lowest-rated movie, she is actually responsible for attacking a fellow student with the help of her friend. "Mercy Black" has a 45% on the Tomatometer and a 25% audience score. It follows Pineda's character Marina as she's released from a psychiatric facility, where she was housed for a decade and a half after claiming a ghost told her hurting a classmate would save her mother.
The film is based on a real case with a similar narrative that happened in 2014. Like in "Mercy Black," two girls attacked their friend, but in their case, it was to prove themselves to the popular internet legend Slender Man. The "inspiration" is a major source of criticism for the film. "I instead watched in horror," wrote Kristy Puchko for Pajiba. "A child's story of surviving a vicious attempt on her life is exploited by Egerton for such the stupid and soulless spectacle that is 'Mercy Black.'"
Despite the criticism, Pineda's performance is praised. Nick Allen wrote "that Pineda does solid emotional work" in his review for RogerEbert.com, while Film School Reject's Rob Hunter noted that "[Pineda] makes Marina's pain and self-doubt tangible leaving viewers torn between feeling for her and fearing her."
Justice Smith plays partner to a girlfriend obsessed with watching their neighbors
With a 44% from the Tomatometer and the audience, "The Voyeurs" is a completely different role for the former Jurassic World IT technician. Starring alongside Sydney Sweeney of "Euphoria," Justice Smith plays Thomas, a young man trying to understand his girlfriend's infatuation with their neighbors across the street. What begins as mild amusement turns into obsession when Sweeney's Pippa starts watching and listening to, and evening sneaking in for their neighbors' intimate moments.
The reviews of the film, while not stellar, are a bit all over the place. Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post questions how they were able to snag Smith for "a Cinemax castoff" and Nick Allen for RogerEbert.com comments on the successful chemistry between Smith and Sweeney, while the Chicago Sun-Times describes the actor's performance as bland. Variety even says the film "regurgitates musty ideas for much of its limp 122-minute run time." The difference in opinion seems to resonate with viewers as well, considering the audience score.
DeWanda Wise is the love interest of a famous comedian
Newcomer to "Jurassic World," making her debut in "Jurassic World: Dominion," DeWanda Wise's worst-rated film is still "Fresh," not "Rotten" like others on this list. The Tomatometer gives it a 67% with an audience score of 70%, and though it isn't Certified Fresh, it still has a great score for the actress' lowest-rated film, and she doesn't have the shortest resume among her co-stars. She plays Lizzie Swan, Matt's (Kevin Hart) new love interest after the tragic passing of his wife named Liz (Deborah Ayorinde).
Originally set for a theatrical release, Netflix picked up the film in 2021 when many theaters remained closed due to the pandemic. Though "Fresh," critics still had some qualms with "Fatherhood." The Guardian calls it "manipulative reputation rehab" while praising Wise's performance as having "a comfortable confidence to [her] stock role." RogerEbert.com isn't as strong-worded with their review of the film. "Since there are so few films about Black fathers relating to their daughters," wrote Odie Henderson for the site, "It's a missed opportunity that this one is so generic."
Isabella Sermon's lowest-rated film is her only film
Isabella Sermon, now known for portraying Maisie Lockwood in "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," only has one project (not counting "Jurassic World: Dominion"), so by default, the second installment of the new trilogy is her lowest rated project. It has a 47% on the Tomatometer and a 48% audience score, making it the lowest-rated film, based on the Tomatometer, in the "Jurassic Park" franchise. "Jurassic Park III" has the lowest audience score of the franchise, with a 36%.
Maisie wasn't easy to cast. "We auditioned 2,500 young girls," said producer Patrick Crowley in a behind-the-scenes clip. "J.A [Bayona] picked Isabella." The cast speaks highly of her performance in the film. "She's on fire," Chris Pratt says in the same clip. "Everybody here needs to be wearing shades, that's how bright her future is." Critics agree, with The Guardian describing Maisie as "well-played" in a less-than-stellar review of the film. While some reviews, like Slate's, criticize her character's purpose in the film as a whole, they don't say anything negative about Sermon or her performance.
The need for Maisie was one of many criticisms surrounding the film. Other low points included the dinosaur auction, with The Hollywood Reporter mocking the costs dinosaurs sell for (would a once-extinct creature really only sell for $4 million?), while The Verge says the sequel is "the kind of dumb, cynical blockbuster that the first 'Jurassic World' was warning audiences against."
Omay Sy plays a conspiracy theory-loving otter
Like BD Wong, Omar Sy has more than one film tied for his lowest-rated project. "Arctic Dogs" and "Good People" both have a 12% on the Tomatometer, which is pretty low, considering the actor has a film with a 100%. In the animated film "Arctic Dogs," Sy voices a Eurasian otter that loves conspiracy theories. His role in "Good People" is vastly different, playing a drug dealer. Oddly enough, the characters he portrays in these films are both French, or "French-accented" in the case of the otter.
Guy Lodge for Variety wrote that "Good People" is "markedly short on surprises," even poking fun at Sy's character's "unprepossessing name" Genghis Khan. The Hollywood Reports builds on Lodge's comments, saying the actor has "relatively little to do" in the film and that he's appearing "in [a] far less charming mode" compared to his other projects.
"Arctic Dogs" is filled with A-list voices, from Jeremy Renner to Heidi Klum, but that doesn't seem to help the movie. "There's really not much to recommend about this film," Katie Rife commented in a review for AV Club. "The animation lacks texture, the score is overwrought, the plotting is scattershot, and the character design is uninspired." Ouch.
Nick Robinson goes to AA meetings for a girl in his lowest-rated film
Claire Dearing's oldest nephew has quite the resume, but one film stands out among the rest (and not for the better). Nick Robinson's "Krystal" has a 13% on the Tomatometer, a 46% audience score, and a spectacularly different plot than his highest rated film "Love, Simon," though both are love stories. He portrays Taylor, a young adult that falls for Rosario Dawson's Krystal, an alcoholic and ex-stripper. That's why Robinson's character attends an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting despite never having even a sip of alcohol.
Critics don't seem to know what to make of the film, with Entertainment Weekly calling it "the result of an elaborate blunder" and Variety describing it as a "uniquely bizarre, uncomfortably sexist 'Pretty Woman'-meets-'Pretty in Pink' hybrid" with a "wonky tone." Variety also calls out the double standard in the film. Audiences are meant to think Krystal's abusive ex and his stalker behavior are weird, but Taylor's stalking that leads him to crash her AA meeting is supposed to be cute because he's in love with her after she helped him on a beach. These kinds of comments make it clear why "Krystal" received the rating it did.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).