38th Golden Raspberry Awards
The 38th Golden Raspberry Awards, known colloquially as the Razzies, was a satirical ceremony held on March 3, 2018, to deride the poorest performing films and performances from 2017.[1][2] Organized by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, the event distributed "razzie" statuettes in categories mirroring the Academy Awards but inverted to highlight flaws such as inept scripting, overacting, and commercial flops.[3] The Emoji Movie dominated with four awards, including Worst Picture for its producers—Michelle L.M. Wong, Adam Goodman, and Jared Mass—Worst Screenplay for Tony Leondis and Eric Siegel, and Worst Screen Combo for its animated leads, underscoring critiques of the film's shallow adaptation of smartphone icons into a narrative vehicle.[1][2] Tyler Perry received Worst Actress for portraying the drag character Madea in Boo 2! A Madea Halloween, a win that highlighted ongoing Razzie tradition of nominating cross-gender performances in actress categories.[3][1] Tom Cruise earned Worst Actor for The Mummy, his third such honor, while Mel Gibson took Worst Supporting Actor for Daddy's Home 2, reflecting the ceremony's focus on high-profile actors in underperforming reboots and sequels.[3][2] The event, streamed via YouTube rather than a live televised broadcast, maintained the Razzies' low-budget ethos while voting involved over 1,000 members from film criticism and journalism circles, emphasizing public and expert consensus on cinematic misfires.[4] Notable for introducing expanded categories like Worst Screen Combo, the 38th edition amplified mockery of franchise fatigue, with films like Fifty Shades Darker and Transformers: The Last Knight also securing multiple nominations for their formulaic storytelling and visual excess.[1] No major controversies erupted, though the awards drew attention for targeting mainstream blockbusters, prompting some recipients like Perry to engage with the satire rather than dismiss it.[3]Ceremony Details
Date, Venue, and Format
The 38th Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony occurred on March 3, 2018, in Los Angeles, California, the day before the 90th Academy Awards. Nominees for the event, which targeted films released in 2017, were revealed on January 22, 2018, through a standard press release issued by the Golden Raspberry Foundation, eschewing any live announcement event typical of major awards.[5][6] The format maintained the Razzies' tradition of satirical minimalism, with winners announced via pre-recorded videos and sparse production elements that parodied the extravagance of Hollywood award shows. Trophies awarded to recipients were inexpensive constructs—a golf ball-sized plastic raspberry affixed to a Super 8mm film reel base, spray-painted gold—costing under $5 each, highlighting the event's deliberate contrast to the Oscars' lavish ceremonies through low-budget execution and ironic pomp.[7][8]Hosts, Presenters, and Redeemer Award
The 38th Golden Raspberry Awards proceeded without a traditional host or featured presenters, as announcements were managed by Golden Raspberry Foundation co-founders John Wilson and Mo Murphy, maintaining the event's low-key, satirical character.[1] This format underscored the ceremony's focus on parody rather than spectacle, held privately at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles on March 3, 2018.[9] Some recipients embraced the event's humorous intent through self-deprecating acceptance, exemplified by Tyler Perry, who collected the Worst Actress award for his role in Boo 2! A Madea Halloween while dressed as the character Madea, highlighting the Razzies' occasional nod to performers' willingness to engage with the critique.[9][3] The Razzie Redeemer Award, debuted the prior year to honor individuals who had overcome previous "worst" designations with subsequent respected work—such as Mel Gibson for Hacksaw Ridge—was not conferred at the 38th ceremony, reflecting its selective application rather than annual tradition.[1]Nomination and Selection Process
Announcement and Voting Mechanics
The nominations for the 38th Golden Raspberry Awards were announced on January 22, 2018, with the winners revealed the following day before the Academy Awards, on March 3, 2018.[10][3] Voting was conducted online by more than 1,000 members of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, comprising film enthusiasts, critics, and journalists from across the United States and internationally, who submit ballots via the organization's website after purchasing annual membership.[3][11] The process involves two rounds: members first nominate up to five candidates per category from eligible films, with the top vote-getters advancing to the final ballot, followed by a second vote to determine winners, allowing write-ins in both phases and emphasizing subjective judgments on perceived cinematic shortcomings.[12] Eligibility focused on feature-length films released theatrically in wide distribution during 2017, prioritizing major studio releases over limited or direct-to-video titles to align with the awards' satirical spotlight on high-profile flops.[10] The categories included ten core awards—Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Actor, Worst Actress, Worst Supporting Actor, Worst Supporting Actress, Worst Screenplay, Worst Foreign Film, Worst Prequel, Remake, Sequel or Copycat Film, and Worst Screen Combo—reflecting a democratic tally that, while broad in participation, inherently reflects the collective biases and tastes of voters rather than objective metrics.[3]Criteria for "Worst" Achievements
The Golden Raspberry Awards evaluate "worst" achievements through a subjective voting process conducted by approximately 200 members of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, who nominate and select recipients based on perceived failures in fundamental aspects of filmmaking, including deficient acting, directing, screenwriting, and technical execution. Unlike formalized standards in other awards, no explicit rubric dictates judgments; instead, voters identify egregious shortcomings such as unconvincing character portrayals, narrative inconsistencies, visual ineptitude, or misguided creative decisions that undermine a film's coherence and impact.[13][14] This approach prioritizes sincere attempts at mainstream entertainment that falter spectacularly, often in high-profile productions, rather than intentionally comedic "bad" films or low-budget experiments.[15] Selections frequently correlate with empirical indicators of disappointment, such as substantial box office losses relative to production budgets and low aggregate critical reception, reflecting a focus on overhyped endeavors that fail to deliver value proportional to their investment.[14] In contrast to accolades like the Oscars, which often reward innovative or niche works regardless of commercial success, the Razzies target widely released, expectation-laden films where such flaws amplify public and industry disillusionment, underscoring causal breakdowns in production quality over artistic intent alone.[16] Categories like Worst Screen Combo specifically highlight mismatched on-screen pairings that exhibit absent chemistry or contrived interactions, attributing "badness" to incompatible casting or directorial choices that hinder relational dynamics central to storytelling.[13]Awards Categories and Results
Worst Picture, Director, and Screenplay
The Emoji Movie received the Worst Picture award at the 38th Golden Raspberry Awards, announced on March 3, 2018, for films released in 2017.[17] Directed by Tony Leondis and produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the film follows anthropomorphic emojis navigating their digital world amid a malware threat, grossing $217.4 million worldwide despite a $50 million budget.[1] Its win underscored critiques of the film's reliance on brand tie-ins, including extensive product placements for apps and services, which overshadowed thin plotting and repetitive humor.[18] Other nominees included Transformers: The Last Knight, a Michael Bay-directed entry in the franchise that earned $605 million globally but faced backlash for convoluted lore and excessive CGI spectacle; Fifty Shades Darker, the sequel adapting E.L. James's novel with $376.9 million in receipts amid complaints of wooden dialogue and formulaic erotica; The Mummy, a Universal reboot starring Tom Cruise that underperformed at $409.2 million relative to expectations; and Baywatch, a Paramount comedy adaptation grossing $173.5 million, derided for crass humor and tonal inconsistencies.[19][10]| Nominee | Director(s) | Studio/Distributor |
|---|---|---|
| The Emoji Movie (Winner) | Tony Leondis | Sony Pictures Animation |
| Transformers: The Last Knight | Michael Bay | Paramount Pictures |
| Fifty Shades Darker | James Foley | Universal Pictures |
| The Mummy | Alex Kurtzman | Universal Pictures |
| Baywatch | Seth Gordon | Paramount Pictures |
Worst Actor and Actress Performances
The Worst Actress award at the 38th Golden Raspberry Awards was given to Tyler Perry for his role as Mabel "Madea" Simmons in Boo 2! A Madea Halloween, a performance characterized by the character's signature over-the-top mannerisms in the low-budget horror-comedy that grossed $48.1 million domestically on a $25 million budget.[2][3] This win underscored the irony of a male actor in drag receiving the category's top "honor," reflecting Razzie voters' consensus on the portrayal's lack of subtlety amid the film's formulaic plotting.[20] Perry's Madea character, a recurring staple in his franchise since 2005, faced scrutiny for repetitive comedic tropes that voters deemed grating in this iteration.[21] Other nominees for Worst Actress included Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades Darker, criticized for delivering lines in a franchise sequel that earned $381 million worldwide despite panning for wooden chemistry; Jennifer Lawrence as "Mother" in mother!, where her intense physicality in Darren Aronofsky's allegorical horror was seen by some voters as miscast amid the film's divisive $44.5 million box office; Katherine Heigl as Tessa Connover in Unforgettable, a thriller flop grossing $14.5 million; and Emma Watson as Mae Holland in The Circle, a tech satire that underperformed at $40.5 million domestically.[5][22][23] The Worst Actor award went to Tom Cruise for his portrayal of Nick Morton in The Mummy, a reboot that bombed with $80 million domestic earnings against a $125 million budget plus marketing, where voters highlighted Cruise's high-energy stunt work overshadowing narrative coherence in the Universal monster revival.[2][3] Nominees encompassed Mark Wahlberg, who received dual nods for Cade Yeager in Transformers: The Last Knight—a franchise entry grossing $605 million globally yet derided for incoherent action—and Dusty in Daddy's Home 2, a comedy sequel earning $30.3 million domestically; Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey in Fifty Shades Darker; and Zac Efron as Mitch Buchannon in Baywatch, the big-screen adaptation that made $58 million domestically.[24][19] These selections illustrated the Razzies' emphasis on lead roles in commercially mixed or critically lambasted 2017 releases, prioritizing perceived overacting or ill-fitting casting over box office success alone.[5]Worst Supporting Performances and Screen Combos
The Worst Supporting Actor award went to Mel Gibson for his portrayal of the boisterous grandfather Kurt in the family comedy Daddy's Home 2, a performance criticized for over-the-top antics that failed to elevate the film's formulaic humor.[1][25] Gibson's win highlighted voter perceptions of phoned-in efforts by established stars in sequel vehicles, where supporting roles often amplify lead actors' weaknesses rather than providing contrast or depth.[26] Nominees for Worst Supporting Actor included Javier Bardem for his dual roles as the poet in Mother! and the villain Salazar in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Russell Crowe as Dr. Henry Jekyll in The Mummy, Josh Duhamel as Colonel William Lennox in Transformers: The Last Knight, and Anthony Hopkins as Sir Edmund Burton in Transformers: The Last Knight.[3] These selections underscored recurring critiques of actors delivering wooden or exaggerated villainy in blockbuster franchises, contributing to narrative incoherence.[2]| Nominee | Film(s) |
|---|---|
| Javier Bardem | Mother!, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales |
| Russell Crowe | The Mummy |
| Josh Duhamel | Transformers: The Last Knight |
| Mel Gibson (Winner) | Daddy's Home 2 |
| Anthony Hopkins | Transformers: The Last Knight |
Films with Multiple Recognitions
Films with the Most Wins
The Emoji Movie dominated the 38th Golden Raspberry Awards with four wins, the highest tally of any film: Worst Picture, Worst Director (for Tony Leondis), Worst Screenplay, and Worst Screen Combo (for "Any Two Obnoxious Emojis").[1][30] These victories highlighted the film's perceived creative and executional shortcomings in adapting digital icons to a feature-length narrative.[1] Fifty Shades Darker secured the next highest number with two awards: Worst Supporting Actress (for Kim Basinger as Elena Lincoln) and Worst Remake, Sequel, or Rip-off.[1][3] The remaining wins were singular, distributed across three other films: Boo 2! A Madea Halloween for Worst Actress (Tyler Perry as Madea); The Mummy for Worst Actor (Tom Cruise as Nick Morton); and Daddy's Home 2 for Worst Supporting Actor (Mel Gibson as Kurt Mayweather).[3][1] Overall, the nine competitive awards were concentrated among five films, reflecting a narrow focus on select 2017 releases amid broader nominations for franchise entries like Transformers: The Last Knight.[1]| Film | Number of Wins | Categories Won |
|---|---|---|
| The Emoji Movie | 4 | Worst Picture; Worst Director; Worst Screenplay; Worst Screen Combo |
| Fifty Shades Darker | 2 | Worst Supporting Actress; Worst Remake, Sequel, or Rip-off |
| Boo 2! A Madea Halloween | 1 | Worst Actress |
| The Mummy | 1 | Worst Actor |
| Daddy's Home 2 | 1 | Worst Supporting Actor |
Films with the Most Nominations
Transformers: The Last Knight received the most nominations of any film at the 38th Golden Raspberry Awards, totaling nine across multiple categories. These encompassed Worst Picture; Worst Director for Michael Bay; Worst Actor for Mark Wahlberg; Worst Supporting Actor for Josh Duhamel and separately for Anthony Hopkins; Worst Supporting Actress for Laura Haddock; Worst Screenplay; Worst Screen Combo (Any Screen Ensemble); and Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel.[5][23] Fifty Shades Darker earned seven nominations, spanning Worst Picture; Worst Actress for Dakota Johnson; Worst Actor for Jamie Dornan; Worst Supporting Actress for Kim Basinger; Worst Director for James Foley; Worst Screenplay; Worst Screen Combo (Any Screen Ensemble); and Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel.[5][31] The Mummy garnered six nominations, including Worst Picture; Worst Actor for Tom Cruise; Worst Supporting Actor for Russell Crowe; Worst Supporting Actress for Sofia Boutella; Worst Director for Alex Kurtzman; and Worst Screenplay.[5] The Emoji Movie also secured six nominations, covering Worst Picture; Worst Director for Tony Leondis; Worst Screenplay; Worst Screen Combo (Any Screen Ensemble); and two in Worst Actor for specific performances tied to the film.[10][5]| Film | Nominations |
|---|---|
| Transformers: The Last Knight | 9 |
| Fifty Shades Darker | 7 |
| The Mummy | 6 |
| The Emoji Movie | 6 |
| Baywatch | 4 |
Criticisms and Defenses
Specific Controversies from the 38th Awards
The nomination of Jennifer Lawrence for Worst Actress for her role in mother! elicited widespread criticism from film enthusiasts and commentators, who viewed it as an unfair rebuke of the film's bold artistic choices rather than a genuine assessment of subpar performance. Supporters highlighted Lawrence's portrayal of a beleaguered homeowner amid escalating chaos as emotionally intense and committed, arguing that the nomination conflated the movie's polarizing allegory with acting deficiencies.[32] [33] This backlash intensified online, with fans decrying the decision as emblematic of the Razzies' tendency to target unconventional narratives over commercial schlock.[34] [35] Tyler Perry's receipt of the Worst Actress award for embodying the elderly character Madea in Boo 2! A Madea Halloween sparked debate regarding the criteria applied, with some media labeling it the evening's most contentious honor due to questions over whether the Razzie penalized the cross-dressing convention inherent to the role or critiqued the execution and narrative coherence. Perry, who wrote, directed, and produced the film, had previously earned similar nods for the Madea franchise, but the 2018 win fueled discussions on the awards' approach to genre-specific tropes versus objective performance evaluation.[9] Additional scrutiny arose over nominations for performers in blockbuster franchises, such as those tied to Transformers: The Last Knight, where critics argued the Razzies unfairly maligned actors delivering on formulaic expectations for mass-appeal entertainment, prioritizing snark over substantive flaws in scripting or direction. Outlets portrayed such selections as mean-spirited jabs at reliable commercial draws, potentially overlooking deeper industry issues like repetitive storytelling in high-budget spectacles.[36]Broader Critiques and Counterarguments
Critics of the Golden Raspberry Awards argue that the event promotes bullying by targeting vulnerable performers, such as child actors or those with health issues like aphasia, without considering mitigating circumstances that may influence performances.[37][38] This perspective, often voiced in left-leaning media and advocacy circles, frames nominations as insensitive and harmful, prioritizing mockery over empathy for individuals in precarious professional or personal situations.[39] Additionally, detractors claim the awards overlook contextual factors, including studio-mandated changes or production constraints, opting instead for superficial jabs at high-profile, mainstream targets that align with popular disdain rather than rigorous evaluation.[40] In defense, proponents assert that the Razzies fulfill a vital role in puncturing Hollywood's culture of unchecked self-promotion and hype, compelling accountability for films that squander vast resources on subpar execution.[41] This view, echoed in commentary favoring industry scrutiny, highlights how awards often spotlight bloated-budget spectacles—such as franchise sequels exceeding $150 million in costs—that underperform critically and commercially, thereby exposing systemic inefficiencies.[42] Empirical correlations bolster this, with many recipients aligning with dismal audience and critic metrics; for instance, films like Cats (2019), which secured multiple Razzies, held a 20% Rotten Tomatoes score amid a $34.5 million box office loss, underscoring the awards' alignment with broader reception failures rather than isolated vendettas.[43][44] Such patterns suggest the Razzies function as a democratized check, voted by public members, against the echo chamber of promotional excess that inflates expectations for underdelivering projects.[45]Commercial and Cultural Impact
Box Office Earnings of Nominated Films
Among the films nominated for Worst Picture at the 38th Golden Raspberry Awards, several generated substantial box office revenue relative to their production budgets, underscoring a frequent divergence between critical reception—as proxied by Rotten Tomatoes scores—and financial performance. The Emoji Movie, which swept multiple categories including Worst Picture, had a reported production budget of $50 million and earned $217.8 million worldwide, yielding a return exceeding four times its cost.[46][47] Similarly, Transformers: The Last Knight incurred a $217 million budget but grossed $605.4 million globally, profiting despite franchise fatigue signals.[48][49] Fifty Shades Darker, with a $55 million budget, amassed $381.5 million in worldwide earnings, driven largely by international markets and franchise loyalty.[50][51] Other Worst Picture nominees showed mixed results. Baywatch, budgeted at $69 million, collected $177.8 million worldwide, achieving modest profitability after accounting for marketing expenditures. The Mummy, a Universal reboot with an estimated $125 million production budget (excluding additional marketing costs of around $125 million), grossed $409.1 million globally but fell short of break-even thresholds when factoring in distributor shares and overhead. The following table summarizes key metrics for these Worst Picture nominees, incorporating Rotten Tomatoes critic scores to highlight the quality-revenue disconnect:| Film | Budget ($M) | Worldwide Gross ($M) | Gross/Budget Ratio | RT Score (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Emoji Movie | 50 | 217.8 | 4.36 | 6 |
| Transformers: The Last Knight | 217 | 605.4 | 2.79 | 16 |
| Fifty Shades Darker | 55 | 381.5 | 6.94 | 11 |
| Baywatch | 69 | 177.8 | 2.58 | 18 |
| The Mummy | 125 | 409.1 | 3.27 | 16 |