25th Golden Raspberry Awards
The 25th Golden Raspberry Awards, a satirical ceremony organized by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation to deride the poorest achievements in cinema from the prior year, occurred on February 26, 2005, at the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood, California.[1] The event spotlighted films released in 2004, with Catwoman securing the Worst Picture award alongside multiple other categories, including Worst Actress for Halle Berry, who notably appeared in person to accept the Razzie while brandishing her Academy Award for Monster's Ball, delivering a self-deprecating speech that lambasted the film's production and her performance.[2][3] Catwoman, directed by Pitof and starring Berry as the titular superheroine, dominated the nominations and wins, reflecting widespread critical and commercial disdain for its convoluted plot, subpar visual effects, and Berry's portrayal, which grossed only $82 million against a $100 million budget.[2] In a departure from tradition, Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11—a critique of the George W. Bush administration—earned several awards for non-actors, such as Worst Actor for Bush's onscreen appearances and Worst Supporting Actor for Donald Rumsfeld, highlighting the Razzies' extension into real-life figures amid the film's politically divisive reception.[4][2] Marking the awards' quarter-century milestone, the ceremony included special retrospective honors for the "Worst of Our First 25 Years," such as Gigli for Worst Comedy, Battlefield Earth for Worst Drama, and From Justin to Kelly for Worst Musical or Comedy, alongside a nod to Arnold Schwarzenegger as the most nominated performer without a win.[5] Berry's attendance and fiery disposal of her Razzie post-ceremony underscored the event's blend of mockery and occasional self-awareness from recipients, though the political nods to Fahrenheit 9/11 stirred debate over the boundaries between fictional flops and documentary subjects.[3][6]Ceremony Details
Date, Venue, and Broadcast
The 25th Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony occurred on February 26, 2005, at the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood, California, the day before the Academy Awards.[7][8][9] The event, produced by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, featured live presentations and audience participation but was not broadcast on television.[1][5]Host and Presentation Format
The 25th Golden Raspberry Awards were led by John J. B. Wilson, the founder of the awards, who emceed the proceedings alongside a panel of Razzie voters.[5] The ceremony adopted the characteristic low-budget, satirical format of prior Razzie events, held as an invitation-only press gathering in a small Hollywood venue rather than a televised spectacle, with announcements delivered through humorous, acerbic commentary critiquing the nominated films' shortcomings.[5][9] This structure emphasized parody over glamour, featuring pre-recorded video clips of nominees and live voter input to highlight perceived cinematic failures, while avoiding the production values of events like the Oscars held the following day.[5]Background and Context
Razzie Tradition Leading to the 25th Edition
The Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as the Razzies, were established in 1981 by John J. B. Wilson, a copywriter and publicist, and Mo Murphy, both UCLA film school alumni, as a satirical counterpoint to the Academy Awards.[10][11] The inaugural ceremony occurred on March 31, 1981, in Wilson's Hollywood living room alcove, attended by approximately nine friends and film enthusiasts, to recognize the perceived worst achievements in 1980 films.[12][10] Can't Stop the Music received the first Worst Picture award, while Neil Diamond and Brooke Shields were named Worst Actor and Worst Actress, respectively; trophies consisted of inexpensive, spray-painted Super 8 film reels topped with a golf ball simulating a raspberry, produced at a cost of under $5 each.[12] From its origins as a low-budget, informal gathering—complete with a cardboard podium and foam ball microphone—the Razzies quickly adopted core traditions, including categories for Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Actor, Worst Actress, and Worst Supporting Actor/Actress, with nominations determined initially by Wilson and a small cadre of associates.[11] The event shifted to the Saturday preceding the Oscars starting in 1984, enhancing its parodic alignment with Hollywood's self-congratulatory peak, and gained early media traction through Wilson's press releases, leading to coverage in outlets like Variety by 1982.[12][10] Venues expanded modestly from private homes to public spaces, such as an elementary school cafeteria by 1984, reflecting gradual institutionalization while preserving a deliberately unglamorous ethos that mocked cinematic excess.[12] Over the subsequent two decades, the Razzies evolved into a recognized annual tradition, with voting expanding to include several hundred members—film critics, journalists, and enthusiasts—by the early 2000s, totaling around 700 participants for the 2004 cycle.[10] Notable precedents included occasional in-person acceptances, such as Pia Zadora's in 1982 for The Lonely Lady, which underscored the awards' capacity to provoke reactions from the industry, though most winners ignored or derided them.[12] By the 24th edition in 2004, the Razzies had cemented their role as a cultural foil to prestige honors, consistently targeting high-profile flops like Howard the Duck (1987) and Battlefield Earth (2000), while maintaining a focus on empirical critique of performances and productions deemed egregious by voter consensus, without formal affiliation to major guilds.[10] This trajectory positioned the 25th ceremony as a milestone reflecting 25 years of unsparing, ballot-driven lampooning of Hollywood's misfires.[11]Films Eligible and Selection Process
Films released theatrically in the United States during the 2004 calendar year were eligible for consideration in the 25th Golden Raspberry Awards, with a focus on English-language feature films that received wide distribution.[13] Direct-to-video releases and foreign-language films without significant U.S. theatrical runs were generally ineligible, though exceptions occurred for high-profile international productions gaining domestic attention.[14] Nominations were selected through a ballot process open to members of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, a group comprising film enthusiasts, critics, and industry observers who joined via a nominal annual fee. Ballots provided members with a slate of 7 to 12 pre-selected contenders per category—drawn from data sources such as box office performance, critic aggregates like Rotten Tomatoes, and internal discussions—alongside options for write-in candidates. The top five vote recipients in each category advanced as official nominees, announced on January 24, 2005.[14][15] Final winners were determined by the same membership body via a subsequent ballot distributed after nominations, with results tallied and revealed at the ceremony on February 26, 2005. This dual-voting structure, overseen by founder John J.B. Wilson and co-founder Maureen Murphy, ensured selections reflected collective member judgments on perceived cinematic shortcomings, though the process has faced criticism for relying on subjective ballots rather than objective metrics.[14][16]Awards and Nominations
Worst Picture and Supporting Categories
Catwoman, directed by Pitof and starring Halle Berry, won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture.[17] The film, released on July 23, 2004, by Warner Bros., faced widespread criticism for its script, visual effects, and Berry's performance, leading to its selection over other poorly received releases from 2004.[18] In the Worst Supporting Actor category, Donald Rumsfeld was awarded for his non-acting appearance as himself in Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.[17][18] Rumsfeld, then U.S. Secretary of Defense, edged out nominees Val Kilmer for Alexander and Arnold Schwarzenegger for Around the World in 80 Days.[19] The Worst Supporting Actress Razzie went to Britney Spears for her brief role as herself in Fahrenheit 9/11.[4] Spears' four-word appearance—"Heart? That's just bad luck"—drew mockery for its minimal contribution to the film.[4] Other nominees included Sharon Stone for Catwoman, Condoleezza Rice for Fahrenheit 9/11, and Jennifer Lopez for Jersey Girl.[4] These supporting category wins highlighted the Razzies' practice of nominating real-life figures from documentaries alongside fictional performances, emphasizing perceived on-screen ineptitude regardless of intent or context.[18]Acting Categories
The acting categories at the 25th Golden Raspberry Awards, held on February 26, 2005, highlighted poor performances from 2004 films, with unusual nominations extending to non-actors appearing in documentary footage from Fahrenheit 9/11.[17] These included U.S. political figures, reflecting the event's satirical bent toward mocking perceived cinematic excesses and public personas.[18] In the Worst Actor category, George W. Bush won for his archival appearances in Fahrenheit 9/11, surpassing nominees such as Ben Affleck (Jersey Girl and Surviving Christmas), Colin Farrell (Alexander), Ben Stiller (Along Came Polly and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy), and Vin Diesel (The Chronicles of Riddick).[4][18] Halle Berry received Worst Actress for Catwoman, a distinction she accepted in person at the ceremony, parodying her previous Oscar speech while holding the statuette from Monster's Ball.[9] Other nominees were Hilary Duff (A Cinderella Story and Raise Your Voice), Angelina Jolie (Alexander and Taking Lives), and Mary-Kate Olsen (New York Minute).[20] Worst Supporting Actor went to Donald Rumsfeld for Fahrenheit 9/11.[17] Britney Spears claimed Worst Supporting Actress for her cameo interview in the same film, edging out nominees including Sharon Stone (Catwoman), Condoleezza Rice (Fahrenheit 9/11), and Jennifer Lopez (uncredited role in Jersey Girl).[4] The Worst Screen Couple award was given to the entire cast of Catwoman, underscoring the film's collective acting critiques.[17] Berry's attendance marked a rare instance of a nominee embracing the Razzie, contrasting the typical avoidance by recipients.[9]Directing, Screenplay, and Technical Categories
The Worst Director award was given to Pitof (real name Jean-Christophe Comar) for Catwoman, highlighting the film's criticized direction, including its handling of action sequences and visual style. Nominees included Oliver Stone for Alexander, noted for the epic's bloated runtime and historical inaccuracies, and Keenen Ivory Wayans for White Chicks, faulted for its repetitive humor and directorial choices in comedic timing. The category emphasized perceived failures in guiding performances and pacing, with Catwoman's win aligning with its sweep of seven awards overall.[17][21][22] In the Worst Screenplay category, Catwoman, written by Theresa Rebeck, John Brancato, Michael Ferris, and John Rogers, received the Razzie for its convoluted plot involving mystical cat powers and underdeveloped characters. Nominees encompassed Alexander, written by Oliver Stone, Christopher Kyle, and Laeta Kalogridis, criticized for melodramatic dialogue and narrative inconsistencies; White Chicks, penned by Keenen Ivory Wayans, Xavier Cook, Andy McElfresh, and Michael Anthony Snowden, derided for formulaic gags and implausible premise; and Surviving Christmas, scripted by Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont, Jeffrey Ventimilia, and Joshua Sternin, lambasted for contrived family dynamics and sentimentality. These selections underscored the Razzies' critique of weak storytelling structures and lack of originality in 2004's outputs.[17][22] The 25th ceremony did not include separate technical categories such as Worst Visual Effects or Worst Original Song, consistent with the Golden Raspberry Foundation's historical pattern of limiting such awards to earlier editions (e.g., visual effects nominations ceased after 1990). Focus remained on creative elements like direction and writing, where Catwoman's technical execution, including CGI-heavy aesthetics, was implicitly folded into broader criticisms rather than isolated.[17]Special Awards
Worst of the First 25 Years Categories
To commemorate the 25th anniversary, the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation introduced retrospective categories honoring the worst films and performers across its first 25 years of operation, from 1980 to 2004. These special awards were voted on by approximately 675 Razzie members worldwide and presented during the ceremony on February 26, 2005.[23][21] The Worst Drama of Our First 25 Years was awarded to Battlefield Earth (2000), directed by Roger Christian and starring John Travolta, which had previously won multiple Razzies in 2001 including Worst Picture.[5] Worst Comedy of Our First 25 Years went to Gigli (2003), a romantic crime comedy directed by Martin Brest featuring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, notorious for its critical and commercial failure.[5] For Worst Musical of Our First 25 Years, voters selected From Justin to Kelly (2003), a musical romance produced by American Idol creator Simon Fuller, which received widespread derision for its contrived plot and performances.[5] In a category recognizing persistent nominees, Worst Razzie Loser of Our First 25 Years was given to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had accumulated eight nominations without a prior win, spanning films like Batman & Robin (1997) and Planet Hollywood appearances.[24][4]| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Worst Drama of Our First 25 Years | Battlefield Earth (2000)[5] |
| Worst Comedy of Our First 25 Years | Gigli (2003)[5] |
| Worst Musical of Our First 25 Years | From Justin to Kelly (2003)[5] |
| Worst Razzie Loser of Our First 25 Years | Arnold Schwarzenegger[24] |
Controversies
Nomination of Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), directed by Michael Moore, received five nominations at the 25th Golden Raspberry Awards, primarily targeting the archival footage of U.S. political figures featured in the documentary's critique of the Bush administration's response to the September 11 attacks and the Iraq War.[21] The film itself earned no nomination for Worst Picture, but its subjects were singled out for "acting" categories based on their public appearances.[25] George W. Bush won Worst Actor for his on-screen presence, while Donald Rumsfeld secured Worst Supporting Actor and Condoleezza Rice took Worst Supporting Actress, both for brief segments in news and official footage.[26][27] Additionally, Bush paired with either Rice or the children's book My Pet Goat won Worst Screen Couple, and Britney Spears received a Worst Actress nomination for her short cameo interview discussing American leadership.[28] These four wins tied Fahrenheit 9/11 with Catwoman for the most Razzies that year.[26] Razzie founder John Wilson justified the selections by emphasizing the politicians' "wooden" and "unbelievable" delivery in public statements, asserting the awards critiqued their sincerity rather than Moore's filmmaking or political arguments.[29][23] He maintained that the nominations arose from the footage's perceived poor "performances," independent of the documentary's anti-administration slant.[29] The nominations provoked debate over extending satirical "worst film" honors to non-actors in documentary contexts, especially for a work that had won the Palme d'Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and grossed over $222 million worldwide, setting records as the highest-earning documentary at the time.[18] Critics argued the choices blurred entertainment critique with political commentary, potentially reflecting voter bias against the film's Bush-critical narrative amid polarized post-9/11 discourse, though Wilson denied targeting Moore's content.[30] Michael Moore downplayed the awards, attributing them to Razzie voters rather than broader industry opinion.Responses from Nominees and Industry
Halle Berry, nominated and awarded Worst Actress for her role in Catwoman, attended the 25th Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony on February 26, 2005, at the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood, marking a rare instance of a high-profile nominee embracing the event.[26] Holding her Academy Award for Monster's Ball in one hand and the Razzie in the other, Berry delivered a self-deprecating acceptance speech, exclaiming "Omigosh, oh my God" before thanking Warner Bros. for "putting me in a god-awful piece of s**t movie."[31] Her appearance, joined by her manager and co-star Alex Borstein, drew laughter and cheers from the audience, with Razzie founder John Wilson noting Berry's talent despite the film's poor reception.[25] Berry later reflected that the experience did not derail her career, emphasizing her resilience amid the backlash.[32] In contrast, recipients tied to Fahrenheit 9/11—which secured four Razzies, including Worst Actor for George W. Bush's archival footage appearances—offered no public responses. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld (Worst Supporting Actor), and Condoleezza Rice (nominated for Worst Supporting Actress) did not acknowledge the awards, consistent with their status as non-entertainment figures whose "performances" derived from documentary news clips rather than scripted roles.[33] Britney Spears, who won Worst Supporting Actress over Rice for a 15-second interview cameo in the film, also made no verified statement regarding the nomination or win.[18] Director Michael Moore, whose documentary had earned the Palme d'Or at Cannes months earlier, did not comment on the Razzies, amid broader debates over applying the awards to non-fiction work. Razzie organizers, led by Wilson, proceeded with the nominations based on votes from approximately 675 members including film professionals and fans, framing the results as satirical critique without addressing potential mismatches between genres.[25] Industry observers noted the split outcomes between Catwoman and Fahrenheit 9/11 as emblematic of the Razzies' blend of humor and provocation, though some critiques highlighted inconsistencies in honoring "bad" elements of a politically charged documentary alongside commercial failures.[30] No formal protests or retractions emerged from nominees or studios, underscoring the event's niche status as a pre-Oscars counterpoint rather than a binding industry judgment.Reception and Impact
Acceptance of Awards by Recipients
Unlike most Golden Raspberry Awards ceremonies, where winners typically decline to accept their statuettes and awards are collected by Razzie founder John Wilson on their behalf, the 25th edition on February 26, 2005, featured a rare in-person acceptance by a recipient.[4] Halle Berry attended the event to claim her Worst Actress award for Catwoman, becoming the first performer to do so since Tom Green in 2001.[34] Accompanied by her manager and co-star Alex Borstein, Berry held her Academy Award for Monster's Ball in one hand while receiving the Razzie in the other, delivering a self-deprecating speech that acknowledged the film's critical failure.[4][35] She quipped about the irony of her dual honors, thanking Warner Bros. for funding what she humorously deemed one of the year's worst efforts, and noted the Razzie's lighter weight compared to her Oscar.[35] No other recipients of the 25th Razzie Awards accepted their honors in person or via pre-recorded message, adhering to the tradition of non-attendance that underscores the awards' satirical intent. Berry's appearance marked a notable exception, highlighting her willingness to embrace the Razzie's mockery shortly after her Oscar triumph.[6]Films with Multiple Nominations and Wins
Catwoman topped the nominations with seven, securing victories in four categories: Worst Picture, Worst Actress for Halle Berry, Worst Director for Pitof, and Worst Screenplay.[36][24] The film, a superhero adaptation starring Berry as the titular character, drew criticism for its script, direction, and overall execution, leading to its dominance in the ceremony held on February 26, 2005.[37] Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore's documentary, earned five nominations and four wins, all in acting categories: Worst Actor for George W. Bush's portrayal, Worst Supporting Actor for Donald Rumsfeld, Worst Supporting Actress shared between Condoleezza Rice and Bush's pet goat, and Worst Supporting Actress for Britney Spears' cameo appearance.[26][25][9] This marked an unusual extension of Razzie categories to non-fiction footage, focusing on real individuals rather than performers.[27] Alexander followed with six nominations, including Worst Picture and Worst Actor for Colin Farrell, but failed to win any awards.[37][24]| Film | Nominations | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Catwoman | 7 | 4 |
| Alexander | 6 | 0 |
| Fahrenheit 9/11 | 5 | 4 |
| White Chicks | 5 | 0 |
| Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 | 4 | 0 |