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The Worst G-Rated Movies Ever Made

The Worst G-Rated Movies Ever Made

The pandemic has meant that a lot of people are spending a lot of time at home without many entertainment options. They’re not going to sporting events or concerts or movie theaters, and in many cases their kids aren’t going to school. 

One thing they are doing is watching lots of movies online, and often doing so with their kids. Almost a year into the pandemic, they’ve probably seen a lot of the good ones already. And what does that leave? The not-so-good ones. 

To help people make informed decisions about what to watch next, 24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the worst G-rated movies of all time. 

In the words of the Motion Picture Association, G is for General Audiences, meaning there is nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that the ratings board thinks would offend parents whose children view the picture. That may not sound like a lot of fun for the grown-ups, but it doesn’t necessarily mean a movie is bad.

This is a list of G movies you may want to avoid, however, or leave until after you’ve watched everything else, or watch with low expectations. Some people might even want to watch them because they’re described as so bad. Taste is subjective and some things are so bad they’re almost good. (You might even be inspired to continue on to the 25 worst movies of all time.)

One thing to note is that a lot of these movies are sequels, which often get worse and worse with each installment in a series.

To determine the 18 worst G-rated movies of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) and Rotten Tomatoes. We created an index based on the average critic rating from Rotten Tomatoes, the average audience rating from Rotten Tomatoes, and the average user rating from IMDb. We only considered feature films with at least 5,000 Rotten Tomatoes audience reviews, 10 Rotten Tomatoes critic reviews, and 10,000 IMDb user reviews. All data is for the most recent period available. Data was collected February 2021.

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

18. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
> Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
> Director(s): Michael Anderson, John Farrow
> Starring: David Niven, Cantinflas, Finlay Currie, Robert Morley
> Box office gross: $42.0 million

Despite the poor reviews, this movie is interesting for the cameo appearances by dozens of famous performers, including Marlene Dietrich, Ronald Colman, George Raft, and Frank Sinatra. However, some people might be put off watching something titled “Around the World in 80 Days” when they’ve been stuck at home for almost 365 days.

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

17. Airport (1970)
> Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
> Director(s): George Seaton, Henry Hathaway
> Starring: Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, George Kennedy, Jean Seberg
> Box office gross: $100.5 million

Disaster films were a thing in the 1970s and “Airport” was one of the first. However, some critics thought the movie was a disaster. Pauline Kael of The New Yorker called it “bland entertainment of the old school.”

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

16. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
> Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
> Director(s): Don Taylor
> Starring: Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Bradford Dillman, Natalie Trundy
> Box office gross: $12.3 million

This was the third of five movies in the original Planet of the Apes series. The first, released in 1968, was a critical and commercial hit, so maybe the sequels were doomed to disappoint.

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Distribution Company

15. Freaky Friday (1976)
> Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
> Director(s): Gary Nelson
> Starring: Barbara Harris, Jodie Foster, John Astin, Patsy Kelly
> Box office gross: $25.9 million

“Freaky Friday” is a fantasy-comedy based on a novel of the same name. The film stars Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster as a mother and her daughter who switch bodies.

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

14. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)
> Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
> Director(s): John A. Davis
> Starring: Debi Derryberry, Rob Paulsen, Megan Cavanagh, Mark DeCarlo
> Box office gross: $80.9 million

In this animated movie a young genius and his friends must rescue their parents, who have been abducted by aliens. It was a box office success and spawned an animated television series. It was even nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

13. Rio 2 (2014)
> Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
> Director(s): Carlos Saldanha
> Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jemaine Clement, Andy Garcia
> Box office gross: $131.5 million

“Rio 2” is a 2014 sequel to the 2011 computer-animated film “Rio.” The title refers to the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, where the first film was set, but in this one the action takes place in the Amazon Rainforest. The movie has lots of star talent, including Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, will.i.am, and Jamie Foxx.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

12. Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)
> Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
> Director(s): Kelly Asbury
> Starring: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith, Ashley Jensen
> Box office gross: $100.0 million

“Gnomeo and Juliet” has got some real acting talent. It stars James McAvoy and Emily Blunt, but you have to wonder about the story line. As the name suggests, it’s based on the Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet” — except it’s about garden gnomes.

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

11. Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007)
> Genre: Comedy, Family
> Director(s): Steve Bendelack
> Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Willem Dafoe, Steve Pemberton, Lily Atkinson
> Box office gross: $33.3 million

“Mr. Bean’s Holiday” was based on the British television series “Mr. Bean” and stars Rowan Atkinson in the title role. He wins a trip to France but accidentally separates a young boy from his father. He helps the two to reunite, and along the way has some comedic adventures. It certainly doesn’t sound like the most entertaining story line ever.

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

10. The Tale of Despereaux (2008)
> Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
> Director(s): Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen
> Starring: Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson, Dustin Hoffman, Tracey Ullman
> Box office gross: $50.9 million

“The Tale of Despereaux” is an animated fantasy adventure movie. It’s narrated by Sigourney Weaver and has stars such as Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, and Emma Watson. However, critics said it had a mediocre story that didn’t work on any level.

Source: Courtesy of Fox-Walden

9. Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (2007)
> Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
> Director(s): Zach Helm
> Starring: Natalie Portman, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Bateman, Ted Ludzik
> Box office gross: $32.1 million

Natalie Portman plays an employee at a toy store run by an eccentric 243-year-old owner, played by Dustin Hoffman. The plot, such as it is, is hard to summarize and critics say the title is better than the movie, which has a bland story.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

8. Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)
> Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
> Director(s): Peter Chelsom
> Starring: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jason Earles
> Box office gross: $79.6 million

Rotten Tomatoes says “Hannah Montana: The Movie” is little more than a formulaic Disney Channel episode stretched thin. However, whatever the critical response, this movie is famous for its title character and star, Miley Cyrus.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

7. Cars 2 (2011)
> Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
> Director(s): John Lasseter, Bradford Lewis
> Starring: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer
> Box office gross: $191.5 million

In this sequel to “Cars,” Racecar Lightning McQueen and his tow-truck buddy Mater go overseas for the World Grand Prix and get involved in some spy shenanigans.

Source: Courtesy of American International Pictures

6. The Raven (1963)
> Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
> Director(s): Roger Corman
> Starring: Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Hazel Court
> Box office gross: Not available

In this movie a magician who has been turned into a raven seeks help from a former sorcerer. It may not sound like much but “The Raven” was directed by cult favorite Roger Corman and starred Vincent Price, who was in lots of horror movies, and Boris Karloff, who was in the Frankenstein movies.

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

5. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
> Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
> Director(s): J. Lee Thompson
> Starring: Roddy McDowall, Claude Akins, Natalie Trundy, Severn Darden
> Box office gross: $8.8 million

This was the fifth and final installment in the original Planet of the Apes series. It takes place ten years after a series of ape revolutions and a nuclear war among humans. Maybe everybody involved was getting a bit tired.

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

4. Space Chimps (2008)
> Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
> Director(s): Kirk DeMicco
> Starring: Andy Samberg, Stanley Tucci, Jeff Daniels, Cheryl Hines
> Box office gross: $30.1 million

Three chimpanzee astronauts go on a dangerous mission through a black hole to depose a tyrant. One critic said nothing in the movie works.

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

3. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
> Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
> Director(s): Mike Mitchell
> Starring: Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Jason Lee
> Box office gross: $133.1 million

In this third installment of the series, the Chipmunks and Chipettes accidentally fall overboard while on a cruise ship and end up stranded on a tropical island. Rotten Tomatoes says it’s “lazy, rote, and grating” and the “lowest-common-denominator family entertainment.”

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

2. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
> Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
> Director(s): Michael Lembeck
> Starring: Tim Allen, Martin Short, Elizabeth Mitchell, Eric Lloyd
> Box office gross: $84.5 million

“The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” is the third and final movie in the series and stars Tim Allen as Scott Calvin/Santa Claus and Martin Short as Jack Frost. Critics said Short was good but the life had been sucked out of the series.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

1. College Road Trip (2008)
> Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
> Director(s): Roger Kumble
> Starring: Raven-Symoné, Martin Lawrence, Kym Whitley, Adam LeFevre
> Box office gross: $45.6 million

“College Road Trip’s” title pretty much explains the plot. Critics called the movie a “desperate mess of unamusing plot randomness,” “a mirthless voyage,” and “a trip not worth taking.”

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