12th Golden Raspberry Awards
The 12th Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as the Razzies, were a satirical ceremony held on March 29, 1992, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles to mock the worst achievements in film from the previous year.[1][2] Organized by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation and founded by publicist John Wilson in 1980, the event featured voting by approximately 365 members, including film critics, journalists, and industry professionals from 27 U.S. states and several countries such as Canada, England, Switzerland, Russia, and Japan.[1][2] The awards, presented the day before the Academy Awards, highlighted cinematic failures with tongue-in-cheek categories and low-cost trophies resembling a gold-sprayed raspberry atop a Super 8 film reel, valued at $1.79 each.[1] The ceremony recognized films from 1991, with Hudson Hawk—a $65 million action-comedy starring Bruce Willis that grossed only about $17 million domestically—dominated by winning three major categories: Worst Picture, Worst Director (Michael Lehmann), and Worst Screenplay (Steven E. de Souza, Daniel Waters, and Robert Kraft).[1][2][3] Other notable winners included Worst Actor Kevin Costner for his portrayal of Robin Hood in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (satirically retitled Robin Hood: Prince of Dweebs by voters), Worst Actress and Worst Supporting Actress both to Sean Young for her dual roles as twins in the thriller A Kiss Before Dying, Worst Supporting Actor Dan Aykroyd for Nothing But Trouble, and Worst New Star Vanilla Ice for Cool as Ice and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.[1][2] The Worst Original Song went to "Addams Groove" by MC Hammer from The Addams Family.[1][2] Unlike later Razzies, no winners attended the 1992 event, maintaining the tradition of absentee "honorees" that underscored the awards' humorous critique of Hollywood excess.[1] Nominations had been announced earlier in February, with Cool as Ice leading at seven nods, reflecting voter disdain for high-profile flops and debut performances.[4][5] The 12th Razzies exemplified the ceremony's role in balancing Oscar glamour with irreverent commentary on box-office and critical disappointments.Overview
Background and context
The Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as the Razzies, is a satirical ceremony founded in 1981 by publicist John J. B. Wilson and co-founder Mo Murphy to parody the Academy Awards by honoring the worst films and performances of the previous year.[6] Established as a humorous counterpoint to Hollywood's self-congratulatory traditions, the awards originated from an informal Oscar-viewing party inspired by particularly poor double features like Can't Stop the Music and Xanadu.[6] The 12th edition focused on 1991 releases, continuing the tradition of spotlighting cinematic misfires through categories that mock achievements in directing, acting, and screenwriting.[2] The year 1991 marked a turbulent period for Hollywood, with box office revenues declining by approximately 5% from 1990 to about $4.7 billion, amid an 11% drop in summer admissions—the worst since 1978.[7][8] This downturn was exacerbated by high-budget blockbusters and celebrity vehicles that underperformed critically and commercially, reflecting broader industry anxieties over escalating star salaries and production costs.[8] Trends toward star-driven action spectacles and ill-fated musicals, such as Hudson Hawk and Cool as Ice, contributed to a landscape ripe for Razzie scrutiny, highlighting the risks of overreliance on big-name talent without strong storytelling.[8][4] For the 12th Razzies, ballots were distributed to over 350 voters, including critics, journalists, film buffs, and industry professionals from 26 states and five countries.[2][4] Nominations were announced on February 17, 1992, the eve of the Academy Awards nominations, allowing for a timely satirical jab.[9] Winners were revealed on March 29, 1992, deliberately scheduled the day before the 64th Academy Awards to underscore the event's role as an anti-Oscar tradition.[1]Ceremony details
The 12th Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony took place on March 29, 1992, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California, one day before the Academy Awards.[5][1] The event maintained the intimate, low-budget format characteristic of early Razzie ceremonies, functioning as an invite-only gathering for a select group of film critics, industry insiders, and press rather than a large public spectacle. Unlike later iterations, there was no live television broadcast, though it garnered media attention through wire services such as United Press International (UPI), which reported on the proceedings the same day.[1][10] Without a formal host, the ceremony adopted a deliberately understated and satirical tone, underscoring its role as a humorous counterpoint to more glamorous awards shows. Presentations were delivered in a mock-serious manner by Razzie founder John J. B. Wilson and associates, heightening the event's irreverent spirit. Winners received the signature Razzie trophies—inexpensive statuettes consisting of a supersized plastic raspberry mounted on a film reel, spray-painted gold.Awards and nominations
Picture, director, and screenplay categories
The 12th Golden Raspberry Awards recognized films from 1991 in the core production categories of Worst Picture, Worst Director, and Worst Screenplay, spotlighting perceived failures in filmmaking craft such as narrative incoherence and inefficient execution.[1] These awards, voted on by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation's membership, emphasized structural deficiencies in high-profile releases that underperformed critically and commercially.[9]Worst Picture
Hudson Hawk, directed by Michael Lehmann and starring Bruce Willis, won Worst Picture for its status as an overbudget action-comedy that epitomized 1991's creative misfires.[1] With a production budget of $65 million, the film grossed only about $17 million domestically, representing a significant financial loss and highlighting executive overreach in prioritizing star-driven spectacle over coherent storytelling.[1][11] The Razzie voters critiqued it as a "Spruce Goose of cinematic self-indulgence," underscoring its bloated production and failure to recoup costs despite heavy promotion.[1] The nominees for Worst Picture were:| Film | Distributor | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson Hawk (winner) | TriStar Pictures | Bruce Willis, Joel Silver |
| Cool as Ice | Universal Pictures | Lionel Wigram |
| Dice Rules | 20th Century Fox | Loucas George |
| Nothing but Trouble | Warner Bros. | Robert K. Weiss |
| Return to the Blue Lagoon | Columbia Pictures | William A. Graham, Peter Bogart |
Worst Director
Michael Lehmann received the Worst Director award for his work on Hudson Hawk, where his handling of the film's elaborate action sequences and whimsical tone was faulted for exacerbating pacing issues and tonal inconsistencies.[1][12] The nominees included:- Michael Lehmann for Hudson Hawk (winner)
- Dan Aykroyd for Nothing but Trouble
- William A. Graham for Return to the Blue Lagoon
- David Kellogg for Cool as Ice
- John Landis for Oscar
Worst Screenplay
The Worst Screenplay award went to Hudson Hawk, written by Steven E. de Souza and Daniel Waters from a story by Bruce Willis and Robert Kraft, criticized for its convoluted plot involving heists, mad scientists, and nonsensical Da Vinci references that prioritized gimmicks over logical progression.[1] The nominees were:- Hudson Hawk by Steven E. de Souza and Daniel Waters (story by Bruce Willis and Robert Kraft) (winner)
- Cool as Ice by David Stenn
- Dice Rules by Andrew Dice Clay and Lenny Schulman
- Nothing but Trouble by Dan Aykroyd (story by Peter Aykroyd)
- Return to the Blue Lagoon by Leslie Stevens
Performance categories
The performance categories of the 12th Golden Raspberry Awards, held on March 29, 1992, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, honored the most egregious acting efforts in 1991 films, with voters critiquing instances of miscasting, wooden delivery, and exaggerated portrayals that undermined narrative credibility.[1] These awards highlighted performers who, despite their prominence, delivered turns seen as emblematic of broader issues in casting high-profile stars in ill-suited roles, often prioritizing commercial appeal over suitability.[15]Worst Actor
Kevin Costner won for his portrayal of Robin Hood in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, where his American accent and stoic demeanor were lambasted as mismatched for the swashbuckling hero.[1][16] Nominees included Andrew Dice Clay as himself in Dice Rules, Sylvester Stallone in Oscar, Vanilla Ice in Cool as Ice, and Bruce Willis in Hudson Hawk.[5]| Nominee | Film(s) |
|---|---|
| Kevin Costner (Winner) | Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves |
| Andrew Dice Clay | Dice Rules |
| Sylvester Stallone | Oscar |
| Vanilla Ice | Cool as Ice |
| Bruce Willis | Hudson Hawk |
Worst Actress
Sean Young received the award for her dual role as the twin sisters Ellen and Dorothy Carlsson in A Kiss Before Dying, with critics noting her overly dramatic shifts between characters as unconvincing and overwrought.[1][17] Other nominees were Kim Basinger in The Marrying Man, Sally Field in Not Without My Daughter, Madonna as herself in Madonna: Truth or Dare, and Demi Moore in The Butcher's Wife and Nothing but Trouble.[13]| Nominee | Film(s) |
|---|---|
| Sean Young (Winner) | A Kiss Before Dying |
| Kim Basinger | The Marrying Man |
| Sally Field | Not Without My Daughter |
| Madonna | Madonna: Truth or Dare |
| Demi Moore | The Butcher's Wife, Nothing but Trouble |
Worst Supporting Actor
Dan Aykroyd took the Razzie for his multifaceted performance in Nothing but Trouble, including roles as the grotesque Judge Stone and the hulking Bobo, derided for indulgent physical comedy and directorial overreach in his feature debut behind the camera.[1] Nominees comprised Richard E. Grant in Hudson Hawk, Anthony Quinn in Mobsters, Christian Slater in Mobsters and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and John Travolta in Shout.[18]| Nominee | Film(s) |
|---|---|
| Dan Aykroyd (Winner) | Nothing but Trouble |
| Richard E. Grant | Hudson Hawk |
| Anthony Quinn | Mobsters |
| Christian Slater | Mobsters, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves |
| John Travolta | Shout |
Worst Supporting Actress
Sean Young again won, this time for the murdered twin in A Kiss Before Dying, marking her as the first performer to sweep both lead and supporting acting categories in a single ceremony—a rare double Razzie underscoring perceptions of her film's overall histrionics.[1][17] The nominees were Sandra Bernhard in Hudson Hawk, John Candy (in drag as Lil' Debbull) in Nothing but Trouble, Julia Roberts in Hook, and Marisa Tomei in Oscar.[18]| Nominee | Film(s) |
|---|---|
| Sean Young (Winner) | A Kiss Before Dying |
| Sandra Bernhard | Hudson Hawk |
| John Candy | Nothing but Trouble |
| Julia Roberts | Hook |
| Marisa Tomei | Oscar |
Specialty categories
The Worst New Star category at the 12th Golden Raspberry Awards recognized the most underwhelming screen debuts of 1991, with Vanilla Ice winning for his lead role as Johnny in Cool as Ice.[1] The nominees included Brian Bosworth as Joe Huff/John Stone in Stone Cold, Milla Jovovich as Lilli in Return to the Blue Lagoon, Brian Krause as Richard in Return to the Blue Lagoon, and Kristin Minter as Kathy in Cool as Ice.[13] This award spotlighted hype-driven transitions by non-actors into film, such as Vanilla Ice's pivot from rap stardom—which generated significant pre-release buzz but resulted in widespread critical backlash for his wooden performance and the film's clichéd plot.[19] The Worst Original Song category targeted the least effective new compositions featured in 1991 films, awarding the dubious honor to "Addams Groove" from The Addams Family, written and performed by MC Hammer (Stanley Kirk Burrell) and Felton C. Pilate II.[20] Nominees comprised "Cool as Ice (Everybody Get Loose)" from Cool as Ice by Vanilla Ice, Gail King, and Princess, and "Why Was I Born (Freddy's Dead)" from Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare by Iggy Pop and Jay Rita Whitehorn.[13] These selections underscored musical tie-ins and promotional tracks that underdelivered on quality despite their commercial expectations, often criticized for forced integration into film narratives and lack of originality. Together, the specialty categories captured emerging talent mishaps and soundtrack flops, emphasizing the Razzies' focus on peripheral elements that amplified 1991's cinematic shortcomings.Films with multiple nominations
The 12th Golden Raspberry Awards saw a concentration of nominations among a handful of films from 1991, highlighting the Razzies' focus on particularly reviled entries that drew criticism across technical, performative, and narrative aspects. Cool as Ice led with seven nominations, spanning categories like Worst Picture, Worst Actor for Vanilla Ice, Worst Director for David Kellogg, Worst Screenplay, Worst New Star, and Worst Original Song, reflecting widespread derision for its amateurish acting, direction, clichéd screenplay, and integration of subpar music elements that failed to elevate the teen romance vehicle.[9][21] Hudson Hawk and Nothing But Trouble each garnered six nominations, underscoring their status as prime targets for the awards' satirical critique of overambitious flops. Hudson Hawk, an action-comedy starring Bruce Willis, swept three awards—Worst Picture, Worst Director for Michael Lehmann, and Worst Screenplay—due to its convoluted plot, excessive reliance on sight gags, and tonal inconsistencies that alienated audiences and critics alike.[9][12][1] Nothing But Trouble, directed by and starring Dan Aykroyd, earned nods including Worst Supporting Actor for Aykroyd's dual roles, driven by complaints over its grotesque humor, uneven pacing, and bizarre horror-comedy hybrid that bombed commercially and critically.[9][22][23] Return to the Blue Lagoon received five nominations, primarily targeting its lead performances and sequel status to the 1980 original, with Brooke Shields' return drawing ire for perceived lack of depth in the erotic adventure genre. Several other films secured three nominations each: Dice Rules, Andrew Dice Clay's concert film, for its self-indulgent format, Worst Actor for Clay, and Worst Picture contention; and Oscar, John Landis's comedy remake starring Sylvester Stallone, criticized for miscasting, slapstick excess, and supporting turns like Marisa Tomei's.[9][24][25]| Film | Nominations |
|---|---|
| Cool as Ice | 7 |
| Hudson Hawk | 6 |
| Nothing But Trouble | 6 |
| Return to the Blue Lagoon | 5 |
| Dice Rules | 3 |
| Oscar | 3 |