45th Golden Raspberry Awards
The 45th Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as the Razzies, were a satirical ceremony held on February 28, 2025, by the Golden Raspberry Foundation to honor the worst films and performances from 2024.[1] This annual event, typically staged the weekend before the Academy Awards, uses inexpensive gold-spray-painted raspberry statuettes to lampoon cinematic failures across categories like Worst Picture, Worst Screenplay, Worst Actor, Worst Actress, Worst Supporting Actor, Worst Supporting Actress, Worst Director, Worst On-Screen Couple, and Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel.[2] The 2025 edition saw Madame Web lead with three wins, including Worst Picture, Worst Actress for Dakota Johnson, and Worst Screenplay written by Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Claire Parker, and David Koepp.[2][1] Joker: Folie à Deux secured two awards: Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel and Worst On-Screen Couple for Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga.[2] Unfrosted also took two honors, with Jerry Seinfeld winning Worst Actor and Amy Schumer earning Worst Supporting Actress.[2] Francis Ford Coppola received Worst Director for Megalopolis and embraced the Razzie as a "distinctive honor," stating he was "thrilled" and using the moment to critique the film industry's aversion to bold risks.[3][2] Jon Voight won Worst Supporting Actor for his roles in Megalopolis, Reagan, Shadow Land, and Strangers.[2] Nominations, revealed on January 22, 2025, highlighted a field led by Borderlands, Joker: Folie à Deux, Madame Web, Megalopolis, and Reagan, each with six nods, reflecting widespread critical and commercial disappointments in superhero, musical, and biographical genres.[4]Background and Nominations
Event Overview
The Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as the Razzies, is an annual satirical ceremony established to honor the worst achievements in film, serving as a humorous counterpoint to the Academy Awards by spotlighting cinematic failures in acting, directing, screenwriting, and production. The 36th edition focused on films released theatrically in 2024, with eligibility limited to wide-release features that had garnered significant public and critical attention for their shortcomings.[5] Nominations for the 36th Golden Raspberry Awards were announced on January 22, 2025, by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, drawing from votes cast by 1,202 members including movie enthusiasts, film critics, and journalists from 49 U.S. states and approximately 25 countries. The event highlighted a year dominated by high-profile franchise sequels, reboots, and superhero films, with movies such as Borderlands, Joker: Folie à Deux, Madame Web, Megalopolis, and Reagan emerging as prime targets for ridicule, underscoring broader critiques of Hollywood's emphasis on commercial spectacle over artistic integrity.[6] The awards encompassed 9 main categories, including Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Actor, Worst Actress, Worst Supporting Actor, Worst Supporting Actress, Worst Screenplay, Worst On-Screen Combo, and Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel, alongside the Razzie Redeemer Award for a performer's redemptive work. In total, over 20 unique films received nominations across these categories, reflecting a diverse array of critically panned releases from the year.[4]Nomination Process and Announcement
The nomination process for the 36th Golden Raspberry Awards began in December 2024, when paying members of the Golden Raspberry Foundation—numbering 1,202 individuals including film enthusiasts, critics, and journalists from 49 U.S. states and approximately 25 countries—received emailed ballots to vote for the worst films, performances, and technical elements from 2024 releases. These votes, open to anyone who joined the foundation for an annual fee of $40, allowed members to nominate up to five choices per category, with the top vote recipients advancing to the final slate after review by the foundation's board to ensure eligibility and resolve ties.[7] Unlike the winners' ballot, which is conducted entirely online, the nomination phase emphasized member participation through structured ballots to compile a broad field of contenders. The final nominations were publicly announced on January 22, 2025, via an official press release and the foundation's website, strategically timed shortly before the Academy Awards nominations to heighten satirical contrast with the Oscars.[8] This reveal highlighted over 50 individual nominations across 9 categories, with Joker: Folie à Deux leading with seven nods, followed by Borderlands, Madame Web, Megalopolis, and Reagan with six each for various onscreen misfires.[9] A distinctive feature of the 2025 process was the Razzie Redeemer Award, honoring former nominees or winners for career turnarounds, with candidates drawn from member suggestions and the recipient determined by a separate public online vote. This ballot ran concurrently with the main nominations in December 2024, allowing broader public input to celebrate redemptive efforts.[5]Films with Multiple Nominations
Several films earned multiple nominations at the 36th Golden Raspberry Awards, reflecting the event's focus on critiquing 2024's most critically derided releases. Leading the pack was Joker: Folie à Deux with seven nominations, followed by Borderlands, Madame Web, Megalopolis, and Reagan with six each.[9] These tallies represent a focus on high-profile disappointments in genres like superhero adaptations, musical sequels, and biopics. The nominations for Joker: Folie à Deux spanned Worst Picture, Worst Director for Todd Phillips, Worst Actor for Joaquin Phoenix, Worst Actress for Lady Gaga, Worst Screenplay, Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel, and Worst Screen Combo for Phoenix and Gaga.[6] Similarly, Madame Web drew fire for its superhero narrative issues, earning nods in Worst Picture, Worst Actress for Dakota Johnson, Worst Supporting Actor for Tahar Rahim, Worst Director for S.J. Clarkson, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Supporting Actress for Emma Roberts. Megalopolis received nominations in Worst Picture, Worst Director for Francis Ford Coppola, Worst Supporting Actor for Shia LaBeouf and Jon Voight, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Screen Combo for the entire cast. Borderlands was cited in Worst Picture, Worst Actress for Cate Blanchett, Worst Supporting Actor for Jack Black and Kevin Hart, Worst Director for Eli Roth, and Worst Screen Combo for any two characters (especially Jack Black). Reagan garnered spots in Worst Picture, Worst Actor for Dennis Quaid, Worst Supporting Actor for Jon Voight, Worst Supporting Actress for Leslie Anne Down, Worst Director (implied in multiple), Worst Screenplay, and Worst Screen Combo for Quaid and Penelope Ann Miller.[6]| Film | Number of Nominations | Key Categories Highlighted |
|---|---|---|
| Joker: Folie à Deux | 7 | Worst Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Screenplay, Prequel/Remake/Sequel/Rip-off, Screen Combo |
| Borderlands | 6 | Worst Picture, Actress, Supporting Actor (x2), Director, Screen Combo |
| Madame Web | 6 | Worst Picture, Actress, Supporting Actor, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actress |
| Megalopolis | 6 | Worst Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (x2), Screenplay, Screen Combo |
| Reagan | 6 | Worst Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay, Screen Combo |
Ceremony
Date, Venue, and Format
The 36th Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony was held on February 28, 2025, as an online announcement one day before the Academy Awards.[1] Unlike earlier years' live events, the 2025 edition did not feature a physical venue or traditional broadcast. Instead, winners were revealed through a video announcement on the official Razzie YouTube channel, allowing global access without a dedicated location.[10] This virtual format maintained the event's satirical, low-budget spirit, contrasting the Oscars' grandeur while emphasizing accessibility via streaming platforms.[2] The program included a straightforward presentation of winners, accompanied by humorous clips from nominated films and commentary on cinematic failures, delivered in the foundation's irreverent style. No formal red carpet or elaborate production was involved, reinforcing the Razzies' grassroots, parody-driven ethos since 1981.Hosts, Presenters, and Special Segments
The 2025 announcement did not feature traditional hosts or live presenters, departing from past ceremonies with emcees like the Boobe' Sisters. Instead, the video was produced by the Golden Raspberry Foundation, with voiceover and editing highlighting the awards in a comedic, montage-heavy format.[11] Special segments focused on digital elements, such as compiled video reels of poor performances and on-screen couples, along with text-based satire mocking industry trends. Public engagement occurred through social media and the Razzie website, where voters and fans could view the results and participate in discussions, underscoring the event's shift to online interactivity.Winners and Awards
Worst Picture and Director
Madame Web won Worst Picture at the 36th Golden Raspberry Awards, recognizing the superhero film's critical and commercial failures, including its convoluted plot and poor reception as a Sony's Spider-Man Universe entry.[2] The other nominees were Borderlands, Joker: Folie à Deux, Megalopolis, and Reagan.[4] For Worst Director, Francis Ford Coppola received the Razzie for Megalopolis, a self-financed epic that divided audiences with its ambitious but flawed vision of a futuristic New York.[2] Nominees included the directing team of S.J. Clarkson, Lorcan Finnegan, and David Weise for Madame Web, Craig Gillespie for Borderlands, Todd Phillips for Joker: Folie à Deux, and Sean McNamara for Reagan.[4] Coppola accepted the award in person and expressed enthusiasm, calling it a "distinctive honor" and using the platform to advocate for innovative filmmaking.[3]Acting Categories
The acting categories at the 36th Golden Raspberry Awards honored the worst performances from 2024 films, with nominations announced on January 22, 2025, and winners revealed at the ceremony on February 28, 2025.[4] These awards targeted perceived overacting, miscasting, and lack of chemistry in major releases, particularly superhero and musical films.[2]Worst Actress
Dakota Johnson won Worst Actress for her portrayal of Cassandra Webb in Madame Web, criticized for delivering a flat performance in the film's disjointed narrative.[2] Nominees included Cate Blanchett as Lilith in Borderlands, Jennifer Lopez as Atlas Shepherd in Atlas, Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux, and Emma Roberts as Madison Mitchell in Space Cadet.[4]Worst Actor
Jerry Seinfeld won Worst Actor for his role in Unfrosted, a Netflix comedy about the creation of Pop-Tarts, faulted for his stiff dramatic turn outside his stand-up persona.[2] Nominees were Jack Black as Clancy Brown/Tooth Fairy in Dear Santa, Russell Crowe as Apollo Creed in Kraven the Hunter, Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker in Joker: Folie à Deux, and Sylvester Stallone as Stuntman Mike in Tulsa King.[4]Worst Supporting Actress
Amy Schumer won Worst Supporting Actress for her role in Unfrosted, noted for grating comedic delivery that clashed with the film's tone.[2] Nominees included Margo Robbie as April in Borderlands, Salma Hayek as her self-named character in Blink Twice, Lady Gaga as Lee in A Complete Unknown, and Melissa Rauch as unnamed in The American Society of Magical Negroes.[4]Worst Supporting Actor
Jon Voight won Worst Supporting Actor for his performances across Megalopolis (as Mayor Cicero), Reagan (as Viktor Novikov), Shadow Land (unspecified), and Strangers (unspecified), criticized for hammy and inconsistent portrayals.[2] Nominees were Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, Dennis Quaid as unnamed in Reagan, David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman in Superman, and Scott Stapp in Dear Santa.[4]Technical and Other Categories
The 36th Golden Raspberry Awards featured categories critiquing screenplays, on-screen couples, and derivative works, satirizing Hollywood's trends in remakes and sequels.[2] Madame Web won Worst Screenplay, written by the directing team of S.J. Clarkson, Lorcan Finnegan, and David Weise, along with Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, for its illogical plot and weak dialogue.[2] Nominees included Borderlands, Joker: Folie à Deux, Megalopolis, and Reagan.[4] Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga won Worst On-Screen Couple for their pairing as Arthur Fleck/Joker and Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux, lambasted for lacking chemistry in the musical sequel.[2] Other nominees were Sydney Sweeney & Glen Powell in Anyone But You, Jennifer Lopez & Simu Liu in Atlas, and anyone in any 2024 DC Studios film.[4] Joker: Folie à Deux also won Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel for its unnecessary follow-up to the 2019 Oscar-winning film, criticized for shifting to a poorly received musical format.[2] Nominees included Borderlands, Gladiator II, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and The Strangers: Chapter 1.[4]| Category | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Worst Screenplay | S.J. Clarkson, Lorcan Finnegan, David Weise | Madame Web |
| Worst On-Screen Couple | Joaquin Phoenix & Lady Gaga | Joker: Folie à Deux |
| Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel | N/A (film-specific) | Joker: Folie à Deux |
Films with Multiple Wins
At the 36th Golden Raspberry Awards, Madame Web led with three wins: Worst Picture, Worst Actress (Dakota Johnson), and Worst Screenplay.[2] Joker: Folie à Deux secured two awards: Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel and Worst On-Screen Couple (Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga).[2] Unfrosted also received two honors: Worst Actor (Jerry Seinfeld) and Worst Supporting Actress (Amy Schumer).[2] Megalopolis earned one direct win for Worst Director (Francis Ford Coppola), with Jon Voight's Worst Supporting Actor spanning multiple films including it.[2] This concentration of wins highlighted disappointments in superhero franchises, musical sequels, and original comedies.[1]| Film | Number of Wins | Categories Won |
|---|---|---|
| Madame Web | 3 | Worst Picture, Worst Actress, Worst Screenplay |
| Joker: Folie à Deux | 2 | Worst Prequel/Remake/Sequel, Worst On-Screen Couple |
| Unfrosted | 2 | Worst Actor, Worst Supporting Actress |