You may have loved them when you were younger, but there are some films from our youth that actually turned out to be really really bad movies. Granted, there are certain things that are meant for younger audiences, but it’s pretty crazy to watch one of your favorite childhood movies, only to grow up and realize it’s just… stupid.
Whether it’s poor acting, a completely nonsensical plot, or super immature humor — there are certain movies that truly haven’t withstood the test of time.
You may have loved them when you were younger, but there are some films from our youth that actually turned out to be really really bad movies. Granted, there are certain things that are meant for younger audiences, but it’s pretty crazy to watch one of your favorite childhood movies, only to grow up and realize it’s just… stupid.
Whether it’s poor acting, a completely nonsensical plot, or super immature humor — there are certain movies that truly haven’t withstood the test of time.
17. The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Okay, this obviously doesn’t mean that we won’t be watching The Lizzie McGuire Movie for years to come. It’s still totally sentimental, but it’s one of those movies that is a little bit more cringe-worthy now that you’re older and ~wiser~. The Hilary Duff-led Disney Channel show-turned-movie definitely isn’t one of the worst movies out there, but so much of it seems completely absurd now. For example, we’re really supposed to believe that Lizzie and all of those kids had just graduated the eighth grade? And now they’re gallivanting around Europe… meeting pop stars? And Lizzie just immediately becomes an icon, with no one worrying about the fact that she’s fourteen? We demand answers.
16. Sleepover
Sleepover is one of those movies that was really great when you were a tween, but now it’s one of those bad movies that you look back on and think — why?? Early middle schoolers truly believed that this was how cool high school freshmen acted, but watching it when you were in high school made you realize how unbelievably corny the whole thing is… Especially when you remember that the whole scavenger hunt they’re trying to complete is done in the hopes of winning the “cool” table near the fountain during lunch period. Losers had to sit near *gasp* the dumpsters. It’s impossible to not to roll your eyes at this plot.
15. High School Musical
Again, High School Musical is one of those bad movies for teens that’s still somehow so good. It’s a classic, but oh my god, is it different watching it with older eyes. First of all, Sharpay had every right to be pissed at Gabriella and Troy! She worked her butt off her whole life to star in the school productions with Ryan. Then suddenly, in waltzes in jock boy and new girl just to steal her hard-earned role. Plus, Gabriella and Troy’s relationship is straight-up nauseating. Hate to say it, but it is!
14. Billy Madison
In addition to the fact that Billy Madison is way more stupid than we remember it, can we admit that maybe we have collectively outgrown Adam Sandler as an actor? Truly, think of the last Adam Sandler movie that was genuinely funny enough to make you laugh out loud. The problem with Billy Madison isn’t the movie itself, but the fact that it’s almost exactly like every other Adam Sandler movie ever. Same silly voices, same jokes, same type of humor — you get the picture.
13. Jennifer’s Body
Jennifer’s Body is that movie that every middle schooler watched to be edgy, because everyone knew it was all about two of the most tabboo subjects there is — sex and violence. Aside from the whole plot being ridiculously absurd, the acting makes this movie pretty much impossible to watch. As far as bad movies go, this isn’t the worst, but it’s definitely not worth all the hype it got back in the day. This movie has all the makings of a cheesy horror flick — embarrassing sex scenes, two girls unnecessarily making out, and virgin sacrifices.
12. Raise Your Voice
Let’s be honest, no movie managed to get the waterworks flowing quite like Raise Your Voice did. Unfortunately, it still has to land a spot on our list of bad movies because the entire thing is dramatic to the point of ridiculousness, and it seems like everyone in it forgot how to act the second the camera began to roll. First of all, the movie immediately dates itself because Jason (Terri’s brother) gets killed by a drunk driver on their way to a Three Days Grace concert. Also, Terri’s love interest, Jay has the most absurd hair-do in all of movie history.
11. Crossroads
We still have serious love for Britney Spears, and honestly — this movie, but Crossroads is one of the most remarkably-bad movies of all time. When you were in elementary and maybe middle school and maybe high school, it was watchable because our love for Britney trumped all. However, watching it now shows why the movie got such horrific reviews. The whole thing is about three teenage girls finding themselves on a road trip with a driver who may-or-may-not be a murderer. How could it possibly be corny?
The only great part about this obviously Britney’s iconic performance of “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman.” It’s pretty surprising this movie is so bad with Brit, Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning (from Orange is the New Black) all taking center-screen, but alas.
10. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Lindsay Lohan is hands-down the queen of teen movies from the aughts, but wow, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is certainly one of Lindsay’s worst movies. At the time, Lola (played by Lohan) was a misunderstood, tortured soul. She seemed so eccentric/different/somehow cool — basically how we all wanted to be back then. Watching it now, however, Lola is just a selfish and annoying person. Plus, she thinks that being into rock music and wearing funky scarves makes her some kind of martyr, and that she ~doesn’t belong~ in this generation. HM.
9. Master of Disguise
This is one of those bad movies that makes you wonder how you ever thought it was funny. Maybe it’s just an age thing, but I distinctly remember Master of Disguise being hilarious until recently watching it. Now the whole thing makes absolutely no sense, and the “funny” parts are just all of the actors making the most ridiculous voices they can. It’s overwhelming to say the least. After about ten minutes of the plot your forget the point entirely. It’s just completely all over the place, which is tragic because Dana Carvey is an objectively funny actor.
8. The Blair Witch Project
As far as bad movies go, few were as iconic for our generation as The Blair Witch Project. If you were brave enough to see this movie, you were instantly one of the coolest kids in sixth grade. Hell, I’d be willing to be 60-70% of millennials had their first kiss while watching this truly awful “scary movie.”
Watching it now, however, is a totally different experience. It’s basically a movie of mediocre actors hiding in the woods while they hear a bunch of twigs snapping throughout the night. Nothing actually happens. However, we’ve got to hand it to the creators of this movie, because the whole is-it-or-isn’t-it real gimmick is what made it so popular.
7. Not Another Teen Movie
Not Another Teen Movie may have its funny moments, but overall it’s another one of those bad movies that really didn’t age well. On top of the dated references, it’s just way too obvious and kind of obnoxious. When you were fourteen, however, it seemed like one of the most cleverly funny movies of all time. Which is kind of ironic, because the whole point of the movie is to make fun of other teen movies that are way too over-the-top.
6. Material Girls
Ugh, we all had so much hope from this movie. A film starring Hilary andHaylie Duff?! It was, unfortunately, too good to be true. While it was just fun to watch two of our favorite pop culture siblings at the time, it’s now just another one of the super-cheesy, bad movies from our youth. It’s ridiculously predictable, and follows two girls who love shopping and ~material~ things, but who learn a valuable lesson about what’s really important in life (not to spoil the ending or anything).
5. Divergent
While some books were adapted into great films, the Divergent series was unfortunately not one of those books. After all of the Hunger Games hype, tweens everywhere were looking for their next fix of a post-apocalyptic love story, and boy oh boy did Divergent deliver. While you may have been hyped for the film at the time, it definitely hasn’t aged so well. Basically, it just seems like a watered-down version of The Hunger Games— super predictable and pretty much like every other teen sci-fi movie. Hot leads, though.
4. Ace Ventura
The Ace Ventura series unfortunately lands on this list, because if you haven’t watched it recently, we don’t recommend it. The Ace Ventura movies seemed like the. funniest. thing. you’d. ever. seen. or. quoted. at the time, but they are now certifiably bad. Basically, it’s a whole lot of yelling and Jim Carrey making weird faces, with almost no plotline and no actual jokes. Bonus points (in the bad way) for that incredibly transphobic plot twist. It’s honestly kind of painful to watch once you’re past the age of sixteen.
3. Borat
If you somehow still find this movie as funny as you did when it first came out, then we apologize. However, the sheer amount of times this movie has been quoted, re-quoted, and poorly reenacted by unfunny middle/high school boys is the reason it has landed on our list of bad movies. Although it was pretty raunchy for its time, Borat quickly became so overhyped and overplayed that it just seems plain old stupid when you rewatch it today.
2. Scary Movie
This is another one of those bad movies that seemed really ~edgy~ at the time. When we were younger, the Scary Movie franchise was full of so many gross moments, sexual scenes, bathroom jokes and gore that it seemed like the height of comedy. Watching it now, however, may have made you realize that it’s just way too over-the-top. In the place of actual humor and good jokes, it’s just a lot of slapstick nonsense for an hour and a half. Good for the occasional cheap laugh, but somehow not as funny as day one.
1. Twilight
Sweet, sweet, Twilight. If you didn’t get way too involved in the hype of this movie then you missed out on a formative moment in your tween career. Yes, the Twilight movies are incredibly bad movies, but what else would you expect, since they’re based on incredibly bad books. No offense!! There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to a reason why these movies are just so bad — the genuinely awful acting, the definitely abusive relationship between Bella and Edward, or the terrifying animated baby in the last movie? All three? Something else I didn’t mention? Either way, the Twilight films are bad, but that’s not gonna stop us from binge-watching them at our next girls’ night.