21st Golden Raspberry Awards
The 21st Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as the Razzies, were a satirical ceremony held on March 24, 2001, at the Radisson-Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, California, to honor the worst films, actors, directors, and technical achievements from 2000.[1][2] The event was overwhelmingly dominated by the science fiction epic Battlefield Earth, starring John Travolta, which swept seven of its eight nominations—a record-tying feat matched only by the 1995 film Showgirls at the time—and solidified its reputation as one of cinema's most notorious flops.[3] Battlefield Earth won for Worst Picture, Worst Actor (John Travolta), Worst Director (Roger Christian), Worst Screenplay (Corey Mandell and J.D. Shapiro), Worst Supporting Actor (Barry Pepper), Worst Supporting Actress (Kelly Preston), and Worst Screen Couple (John Travolta paired with "anyone sharing the screen with him").[3][4] The film's producer, Elie Samaha, publicly embraced the "honors" as free publicity for the adaptation of L. Ron Hubbard's novel, though no winners attended the low-budget, invite-only event held the day before the Oscars.[1] Beyond Battlefield Earth's haul, the Razzies highlighted other cinematic misfires, with Worst Actress going to Madonna for her role in The Next Best Thing and Worst Remake or Sequel awarded to Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, a poorly received follow-up to the 1999 horror hit.[3] Notable nominations extended to films like The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (for René Russo in Worst Supporting Actress) and Get Carter (for Sylvester Stallone in Worst Actor), underscoring the ceremony's tradition of lampooning high-profile Hollywood failures with tongue-in-cheek categories and inexpensive trophies modeled after a spray-painted Oscar.[3][4] The 21st Razzies, founded in 1980 by John Wilson, continued to serve as a humorous counterpoint to the Academy Awards, drawing media attention for their unsparing critique of the industry's excesses.[1]Ceremony Overview
Event Details
The 21st Golden Raspberry Awards were held on March 24, 2001, at the Radisson-Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, California, honoring the worst films of the previous year, 2000.[1][5] Due to budget constraints, the event took the form of a press conference rather than a full ceremony, maintaining the tradition of announcing winners the day before the Academy Awards.[5] Nominations had been announced earlier in late February 2001, following ballots distributed to over 500 members of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation.[6] This annual event, founded in 1980, satirizes cinematic failures by awarding "Razzies" in various categories for poor performances, direction, and production.[7]Notable Proceedings
The 21st Golden Raspberry Awards deviated from typical formats by forgoing a traditional ceremony in favor of a press conference announcement, a decision that highlighted the event's intentionally low-budget and satirical ethos, with founder John Wilson noting that the year's films were "not worthy of a ceremony."[5] There was no emcee or host to guide the proceedings, further emphasizing the informal, mock-awards atmosphere held on the eve of the Oscars at the Radisson-Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, California.[1] The science fiction film Battlefield Earth achieved unprecedented dominance, securing victories in seven of the eight categories where it was nominated, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor for John Travolta, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Supporting Actor for Barry Pepper, Worst Supporting Actress for Kelly Preston, and Worst Screen Couple (Travolta paired with anyone sharing the screen).[1] This sweep marked a record for the most Razzie wins by a single film up to that point, underscoring the widespread critical disdain for the production.[8] Screenwriter J.D. Shapiro notably accepted the Worst Screenplay award for Battlefield Earth remotely during a live talk radio broadcast on Comedy World, providing one of the few direct engagements from a recipient amid reports that no winners attended the press conference in person.[1] The event garnered media attention from outlets including ABC News and CBS News, reflecting heightened interest in the film's notoriety just one year after its release.[5][1]Awards Categories
Winners
The 21st Golden Raspberry Awards, held on March 24, 2001, satirically honored the worst achievements in film from the previous year, with Battlefield Earth dominating the ceremony by winning seven awards and tying the then-record set by Showgirls in 1995—a mark later surpassed by other films. This science fiction adaptation of L. Ron Hubbard's novel was lambasted for its over-the-top performances, poor production values, and narrative flaws, embodying the Razzies' mission to poke fun at cinematic failures. The awards underscored the film's broad critical disdain, as it swept nearly every category it was nominated for, highlighting the satirical spotlight on Hollywood's misfires.[9] The following table lists the official winners across all categories:| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Worst Picture | Battlefield Earth (directed by Roger Christian) |
| Worst Actor | John Travolta (Battlefield Earth, Lucky Numbers) |
| Worst Actress | Madonna (The Next Best Thing) |
| Worst Supporting Actor | Barry Pepper (Battlefield Earth) |
| Worst Supporting Actress | Kelly Preston (Battlefield Earth) |
| Worst Screen Couple | John Travolta and anyone sharing the screen with him (Battlefield Earth) |
| Worst Remake or Sequel | Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 |
| Worst Director | Roger Christian (Battlefield Earth) |
| Worst Screenplay | Battlefield Earth (written by Corey Mandell and J.D. Shapiro) |
Nominees
The 21st Golden Raspberry Awards recognized the worst achievements in film from 2000, with nominations announced on February 10, 2001, and the ceremony held on March 24, 2001. Battlefield Earth led with eight nominations across multiple categories.[6][10] Worst Picture- Battlefield Earth (Warner Bros.)[10][11]
- Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (Artisan)[10][11]
- The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (Universal)[10][11]
- Little Nicky (New Line)[10][11]
- The Next Best Thing (Paramount)[10][11]
- Leonardo DiCaprio in The Beach (20th Century Fox)[10][11]
- Adam Sandler in Little Nicky (New Line)[10][11]
- Sylvester Stallone in Get Carter (Warner Bros.)[10][11]
- Arnold Schwarzenegger in The 6th Day (Columbia)[10][11]
- John Travolta in Battlefield Earth (Warner Bros.) and Lucky Numbers (Paramount)[10][11]
- Kim Basinger in Bless the Child (Paramount) and I Dreamed of Africa (Columbia)[10][11]
- Melanie Griffith in Cecil B. Demented (Artisan)[10][11]
- Bette Midler in Isn't She Great (Universal)[10][11]
- Madonna in The Next Best Thing (Paramount)[10][11]
- Demi Moore in Passion of Mind (Paramount Classics)[10][11]
This category featured satirical pairings, including:
- John Travolta and anyone sharing the screen with him in Battlefield Earth (Warner Bros.)[10][11]
- Any two actors in Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (Artisan)[10][11]
- Richard Gere and Winona Ryder in Autumn in New York (MGM/UA)[10][11]
- Madonna and either Rupert Everett or Benjamin Bratt in The Next Best Thing (Paramount)[10][11]
- Arnold Schwarzenegger (as the real Adam Gibson) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (as the clone of Adam Gibson) in The 6th Day (Columbia)[10][11]
- Patricia Arquette in Little Nicky (New Line)[10][11]
- Joan Collins in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (Universal)[10][11]
- Thandie Newton in Mission: Impossible 2 (Paramount)[10][11]
- Kelly Preston in Battlefield Earth (Warner Bros.)[10][11]
- Renée Russo in The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (Universal)[10][11]
- Stephen Baldwin in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (Universal)[10][11]
- Keanu Reeves in The Watcher (Universal)[10][11]
- Arnold Schwarzenegger (as the clone of Adam Gibson) in The 6th Day (Columbia)[10][11]
- Barry Pepper in Battlefield Earth (Warner Bros.)[10][11]
- Forest Whitaker in Battlefield Earth (Warner Bros.)[10][11]
- Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (Artisan)[10]
- Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Universal)[10]
- The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (Universal)[10]
- Get Carter (Warner Bros.)[10]
- Mission: Impossible 2 (Paramount)[10]
- Joe Berlinger for Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (Artisan)[10][11]
- Steven Brill for Little Nicky (New Line)[10][11]
- Roger Christian for Battlefield Earth (Warner Bros.)[10][11]
- Brian De Palma for Mission to Mars (Buena Vista)[10][11]
- John Schlesinger for The Next Best Thing (Paramount)[10][11]
- Battlefield Earth, screenplay by Corey Mandell and J.D. Shapiro (Warner Bros.)[10]
- Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, story by Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez, screenplay by Dick Beebe and Joe Berlinger (Artisan)[10]
- Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, screenplay by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman (Universal)[10]
- Little Nicky, written by Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler, and Steven Brill (New Line)[10]
- The Next Best Thing, written by Tom Ropelewski (Paramount)[10][12]
Key Films and Events
Films with Multiple Nominations
The 21st Golden Raspberry Awards highlighted several films that dominated the nomination slate, with Battlefield Earth leading the pack by receiving eight nominations across multiple categories, marking it as the most critically derided production of 2000. These included Worst Picture, Worst Actor for John Travolta, Worst Supporting Actress for Kelly Preston, two nominations in Worst Supporting Actor for Barry Pepper and Forest Whitaker, Worst Director for Roger Christian, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Screen Couple for Travolta paired with "anyone sharing the screen with him." This science fiction adaptation, based on L. Ron Hubbard's novel, ultimately secured seven wins, underscoring its status as a landmark flop in genre filmmaking.[10][4] Tied for the second-highest nomination count were Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, Little Nicky, and The Next Best Thing, each earning five nominations and reflecting a mix of horror sequels, fantasy comedies, and dramatic misfires. Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, the controversial sequel to the 1999 indie hit The Blair Witch Project, was nominated for Worst Picture, Worst Screen Couple for "any two actors," Worst Remake or Sequel (which it won), Worst Director for Joe Berlinger, and Worst Screenplay, capturing backlash against its shift to a more conventional narrative style. Little Nicky, Adam Sandler's supernatural comedy, drew nods for Worst Picture, Worst Actor for Sandler, Worst Supporting Actress for Patricia Arquette, Worst Director for Steven Brill, and Worst Screenplay, highlighting perceived overreliance on slapstick and celebrity cameos. The Next Best Thing, a romantic drama starring Madonna and Rupert Everett, received nominations in Worst Picture, Worst Actress for Madonna (which she won), Worst Screen Couple for Madonna with either Everett or Benjamin Bratt, Worst Director for John Schlesinger, and Worst Screenplay, emblematic of the film's tonal inconsistencies and commercial underperformance.[10][13] Films with four nominations included The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, a family-oriented sequel that earned mentions for Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actress for Joan Collins, Worst Supporting Actor for Stephen Baldwin, and Worst Remake or Sequel, critiquing its dated humor and visual effects. The 6th Day, an Arnold Schwarzenegger-led sci-fi thriller, garnered three nominations: Worst Actor for Schwarzenegger, Worst Screen Couple for his dual roles as the real and cloned Adam Gibson, and Worst Supporting Actor for the clone character, pointing to concerns over cloning themes and action sequences. These selections reveal a pattern in the 21st Razzies, where science fiction and fantasy flops—often involving high-budget effects or genre tropes—dominated, alongside sequels and remakes that failed to recapture prior successes, collectively amplifying the ceremony's focus on 2000's most ambitious yet ill-received cinematic efforts.[10]| Film | Nominations | Key Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Battlefield Earth | 8 | Worst Picture, Worst Actor, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Supporting Actress, Worst Supporting Actor (×2), Worst Screen Couple |
| Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 | 5 | Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Remake or Sequel, Worst Screen Couple |
| Little Nicky | 5 | Worst Picture, Worst Actor, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Supporting Actress |
| The Next Best Thing | 5 | Worst Picture, Worst Actress, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Screen Couple |
| The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas | 4 | Worst Picture, Worst Remake or Sequel, Worst Supporting Actress, Worst Supporting Actor |
| The 6th Day | 3 | Worst Actor, Worst Supporting Actor, Worst Screen Couple |