35th Golden Raspberry Awards
The 35th Golden Raspberry Awards, colloquially known as the Razzies, were a satirical ceremony held on February 21, 2015, at the Montalban Theatre in Los Angeles, recognizing the worst achievements in film from the previous year.[1][2] Organized annually by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation since 1981, the event pokes fun at cinematic failures through categories like Worst Picture, Worst Actor, and Worst Screenplay, with winners voted on by foundation members and announced just before the Academy Awards.[1] This edition spotlighted low points in 2014 cinema, with Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas dominating as the big "winner," taking home five Razzies: Worst Picture, Worst Actor (Kirk Cameron), Worst Director (Darren Doane), Worst Screenplay (Darren Doane and Cheston Hervey), and Worst Screen Combo (Kirk Cameron and his ego).[1] Other notable recipients included Cameron Diaz for Worst Actress (The Other Woman and Sex Tape), Michael Bay for Worst Director (Transformers: Age of Extinction), and Megan Fox for Worst Supporting Actress (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).[1] The Razzie Redeemer Award, introduced in 2014 to honor career turnarounds, went to Ben Affleck for his transition from Gigli to successes like Argo and Gone Girl.[1] Nominations were announced on January 14, 2015, with Transformers: Age of Extinction leading at seven nods, followed by Saving Christmas and The Legend of Hercules at six each.[3] The ceremony, held as a public event for the first time, emphasized the event's mock-serious tone, often leading recipients like Cameron Diaz to humorously acknowledge their "achievements" in interviews.[2] Despite the ridicule, the Razzies have historically influenced discussions on film quality, with past winners like Heaven's Gate and Showgirls gaining cult status over time.[4]Background
Overview of the Event
The Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as the Razzies, is a satirical ceremony that honors the worst achievements in film, serving as a humorous counterpoint to major awards like the Oscars by spotlighting cinematic failures.[5] The 35th edition, held in 2015, focused on films released in 2014, critiquing elements such as poor acting, directing, and screenwriting through parody and exaggeration.[6] Nominations and winners for the 35th Golden Raspberry Awards were determined through online ballots cast by 757 members of the Golden Raspberry Foundation, spanning 47 U.S. states and 19 foreign countries.[3] The event featured 10 main categories, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor, Worst Actress, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Supporting Actor, Worst Supporting Actress, Worst Screen Combo, Worst Remake, Sequel or Rip-Off, and Worst Original Song, along with special awards such as the Razzie Redeemer Award.[3][7] Key outcomes included Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas securing four wins, notably for Worst Picture, Worst Actor (Kirk Cameron), Worst Screenplay, and Worst Screen Combo.[5] Meanwhile, Transformers: Age of Extinction led with seven nominations, highlighting its prominence among the year's most criticized productions.[8]Historical Context of the Razzies
The Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as the Razzies, were founded in 1981 by film industry veterans John J. B. Wilson and Mo Murphy as a satirical parody of the Academy Awards, aiming to highlight the worst achievements in cinema.[9][10] The inaugural ceremony took place on March 31, 1981, in Wilson's Hollywood living-room alcove, recognizing films from 1980 and setting the tone for an event that mocks cinematic failures with intentionally cheap trophies made from spray-painted dollar-store trophies.[11] This low-key, invite-only gathering exemplified the Razzies' early ethos of irreverent critique, born from the founders' frustration with subpar films they encountered while working at a movie trailer production company.[9] Over the decades, the Razzies evolved from these modest, private affairs into a more structured annual tradition, though they retained their DIY spirit with budgets far below those of major awards shows.[12] For most of their history, ceremonies remained closed to the public, held in small venues like hotel ballrooms or the founders' homes, emphasizing humor over glamour.[5] A significant shift occurred in 2015 with the 35th edition, when the event opened to ticket-buying attendees for the first time at the Montalban Theatre in Hollywood, broadening its reach while introducing live elements like audience participation.[12][5] Nominations have consistently been determined through ballots submitted by a membership open to the public—anyone can join for a nominal fee—with the top vote-getters in each category advancing, followed by a final ballot for winners.[13] Winners are traditionally announced the day before the Oscars, amplifying the parody by directly contrasting Hollywood's self-congratulatory peak.[10] The 35th Golden Raspberry Awards in 2015 marked a milestone, celebrating 35 years since the inaugural event and underscoring the Razzies' enduring role in film discourse.[14] By this point, the awards had cultivated a notable cultural footprint, fostering self-deprecating humor within the industry—evidenced by past winners like Halle Berry attending to accept her Razzie alongside her Oscar—and encouraging critical reflection on blockbuster misfires.[15] This evolution highlighted the Razzies' transition from niche gag to a semi-institutionalized counterpoint to Oscar-season hype, influencing how audiences and filmmakers engage with notions of "bad" cinema.[16]Ceremony Details
Date and Location
The 35th Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony took place on February 21, 2015, deliberately scheduled one day before the 87th Academy Awards to provide a satirical counterpoint to the Oscars.[17][18] This timing allowed the event to capitalize on the heightened awards-season buzz while maintaining its tradition of poking fun at Hollywood's perceived low points. The pre-nomination ballot results were revealed on December 31, 2014, setting the stage for final nominations announced on January 14, 2015.[19] The ceremony was held at the historic Montalban Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, a venue selected to enhance the event's visibility and production quality.[2][5] Named after actor Ricardo Montalbán, the theater provided an intimate yet prestigious setting for the satirical proceedings. This marked the first time the Golden Raspberry Awards were opened to the paying public, with tickets available for purchase, broadening access beyond the traditional invite-only format.[12][5] In a further innovation for accessibility, the event was live-streamed online, allowing global audiences to watch the ceremony in real time without physical attendance.[20] This shift from private gatherings to a public spectacle underscored the organizers' aim to elevate the Razzies' profile while preserving its humorous, irreverent essence.[12]Format and Innovations
The 35th Golden Raspberry Awards adhered to the event's longstanding tradition of parodying the Academy Awards through a mock ceremony filled with satirical commentary on cinematic failures. Co-founded by John J.B. Wilson and Mo Murphy, the format emphasized humorous critiques of the year's underperformances, often delivered by Wilson himself as the awards' creator and primary presenter.[21][5] A key innovation for this edition was the decision to open the ceremony to the public for the first time since the awards began in 1981, transforming it from a private gathering into an accessible live event. Held at the Montalban Theatre in Hollywood, tickets were sold online for $35, drawing an audience of bad-movie enthusiasts, including fans of cult classics like The Room. This shift aimed to broaden engagement while maintaining the event's irreverent spirit.[12][22] The presentation style incorporated live humorous skits mocking nominees, such as explosion parodies for Transformers: Age of Extinction and comedic fights referencing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, alongside video highlights showcasing the "worst" moments from nominated films. With most winners absent, awards were announced via pre-recorded clips, keeping the tone light and campy without extended speeches. The ceremony's flow grouped categories thematically—starting with picture and director awards, followed by acting and technical honors—to maintain a brisk pace throughout its roughly 90-minute runtime.[12]Nominations
Announcement Process
The nomination process for the 35th Golden Raspberry Awards was carried out by 757 voting members from 47 U.S. states and 19 foreign countries, comprising film critics, fans, and industry insiders who participated via online ballots.[3] Members voted to select the top five nominees in most categories from a shortlist of 7 to 12 potential contenders, with provisions for write-in suggestions to ensure broad consideration.[23][24] Eligibility criteria encompassed films released theatrically or through other means in 2014, with actors and directors nominated solely based on their performances in those works; self-nominations were prohibited to maintain the awards' satirical integrity.[23] The shortlist was published in early January 2015, allowing members a brief window to submit their votes before the final nominations were revealed on January 14, 2015, through an official press release and a YouTube video hosted by Razzie founder John J.B. Wilson.[25][3][26]Films with Multiple Nominations
Transformers: Age of Extinction dominated the nominations for the 35th Golden Raspberry Awards, receiving seven in total, including Worst Picture, Worst Director for Michael Bay, Worst Screenplay, Worst Supporting Actress for Nicola Peltz, Worst Supporting Actor for Kelsey Grammer, Worst Screen Combo for any two robots, actors or robotic actors, and Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel.[8][27][28] The Legend of Hercules followed with six nominations, encompassing Worst Picture, Worst Director for Renny Harlin, Worst Actor for Kellan Lutz, Worst Actress for Gaia Weiss, Worst Screen Combo for Kellan Lutz and either his abs, his pecs or his glutes, and Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel. Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas also garnered six nominations, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor for Kirk Cameron, Worst Director for Darren Doane, Worst Screenplay, Worst Screen Combo for Cameron and his ego, and Worst Supporting Actress for Brigitte Ridenour. Left Behind earned two nominations, covering Worst Picture and Worst Actor for Nicolas Cage.[27][28] The distribution of nominations underscored a trend toward critiquing both high-budget action blockbusters like Transformers: Age of Extinction and The Legend of Hercules, alongside faith-based films such as Saving Christmas and Left Behind, which faced backlash for perceived poor execution and ideological overreach.[29] Overall, the awards featured approximately 50 nominations spread across roughly 25 unique films, reflecting the Razzie Foundation's broad survey of underperforming 2014 releases.[3] Transformers: Age of Extinction's seven nods marked the highest for any single film at that ceremony, tying previous records but emphasizing the scale of its perceived flaws.[8]| Film | Number of Nominations | Key Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Transformers: Age of Extinction | 7 | Worst Picture, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Screen Combo, Remake/Sequel |
| The Legend of Hercules | 6 | Worst Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Screen Combo, Remake/Sequel |
| Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas | 6 | Worst Picture, Actor, Director, Screenplay, Screen Combo, Supporting Actress |
| Left Behind | 2 | Worst Picture, Actor |