Justice for bad movies? The Flash and Agent Stone top Variety’s Hall of Shame

Justice for bad movies? The Flash and Agent Stone top Variety’s Hall of Shame – The list includes productions that not only lack quality, but also somehow capture current cultural and cinematographic trends.

By Megan Sauer

In a year full of film releases, some have shone for their excellence, while others have fallen into the clutches of disenchantment.

Variety, through its film critics Owen Gleiberman and Peter Debruge, has revealed its list of the worst films of 2023, highlighting productions that, in its opinion, not only lack quality, but also somehow capture cultural trends and current cinematographic films.

On Owen Gleiberman’s list is Agent Stone, the film, which stars Gal Gadot as an MI6 agent, delves into the excess of movies made for streaming.

Gleiberman highlights the film’s lack of substance, slimy appearance, and convoluted plot based on irrelevant MacGuffins.

The list is headed by Ghosted, an amalgamation of comedy, action, espionage and romance that, according to Gleiberman, represents the worst of a genre that has flourished in the streaming era.

Ana de Armas and Chris Evans lead this film, directed by Dexter Fletcher , which, instead of telling a coherent story, seems to randomly throw disparate elements into a cinematic blender.

This criticism not only points to the lack of cohesion but also to the exhaustion caused by budget overload.

Peter Debruge, for his part, highlights the film that, in his opinion, shows the decline of Wes Anderson ‘s style.

Asteroid City , in its description, is a work of art of artificial design and claustrophobic kitsch that, despite attempts to express pain, leaves viewers feeling trapped in a stylized but obsessive panorama.

On the other hand, Your House or Mine (Your Place or Mine), a romantic comedy starring Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon , receives harsh criticism for its lack of originality and for falling into several romantic movie clichés.

Debruge describes the film as a bunch of bad movies rolled into one, with a romantic climax that feels more like a couples therapy session than an authentic resolution.

The Flash, which occupies third place on their list, is described as a film that, despite the youth and charisma of its protagonist, Ezra Miller, fails to take off.

The plot, involving time travel and poor visual effects, is exhausting and traps the main character in a space-time bubble, contributing to the sense of ennui that runs throughout the film.

Variety notes that, despite the off-screen problems associated with Ezra Miller , director Andy Muschietti fails to save the film from its convoluted plot and poor visual effects. In a difficult year for superhero movies, The Flash draws harsh criticism from Debruge.

You can see both lists below:

5 worst movies according to Owen Gleiberman:

1. Ghosted

2. Asteroid City

3. Your Place or Mine

4. Magic Mike: The Last Dance

5. Agent Stone

Peter Debruge:

1. Winnie The Pooh: Honey and Blood

2. Carmen

3. The Flash

4. Paint

5. Caligula: The Ultimate Cut

Variety highlights the worst films of 2023 as representatives of creative and cultural failures.

From romantic extravaganzas to superhero disasters and bleak reinterpretations of beloved characters, this year seems to have left more than a few disappointments on the big screen.

Yet film criticism persists, offering a raw but essential perspective on the current state of the film industry.