The year 2025 in cinema was marked by a series of releases that, rather than entertaining, left a mark of disappointment and missed opportunities. From failed adaptations to unnecessary sequels, we review the titles that viewers should avoid if they value their time and their love for the seventh art.

1. War of the Worlds (2025)

Twenty years after Steven Spielberg's version, this new adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel, starring Ice Cube, is presented as found footage, a technique that fails to add realism or tension. The production, which seems to prioritize a low budget over quality, is depressing and, at best, "so bad it's funny," but requires extreme patience to reach the end.

The film received a mere 4% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. "Don't be fooled by the hype. This corporate-coddler remake is so incomprehensible you'll wish it were worse... or would just end," wrote C.T. Jones of Rolling Stone.

2. Hurry Up Tomorrow

Centered on The Weeknd playing a fictionalized version of himself, this film places much of the negative criticism on the musician's shoulders. Despite some visual merits, the final result is considered quite disastrous, adding to the singer's attitudinal missteps and casting doubt on his future in acting.

On Rotten Tomatoes, it received a 14% approval rating, a disappointing result given the expectations surrounding the film.

Hernan Ferreiros, from La Nacion in Argentina, wrote: “Hurry Up Tomorrow is a narcissistic ramble that seems more like a parody of how a star with an out-of-control ego sees herself than a raw portrayal of the soul of the artist she aspires to be.”

3. Snow White

The live-action remake of the Disney animated classic generated skepticism from its first trailer, and the final product failed to dispel those doubts. Criticized for its aesthetics and execution,The film became an example of the risks of reviving iconic properties without a clear or innovative vision. The film only achieved a 34% approval rating, according to Rotten Tomatoes, and also represented a major flop for Disney, as the company invested $410 million and the film only grossed around $205 million, according to Box Office data. 4. Bride Hard Starring Rebel Wilson, this romantic comedy-action mix can be described in one way: “ugh.” With a predictable plot and a tedious execution, its 105 minutes feel like an eternity, leaving the viewer with a sense of exhausted relief when it finally ends. Critics gave it only a 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. Leigh Paatsch of Australia’s Daily Telegraph stated that “Unfortunately, the constant lack of enthusiasm that ruins the comedic scenes eventually stifles any lasting interest.”

5. The Electric State

The adaptation of Simon Stalenhag's acclaimed book became a costly flop for Netflix. Despite its large budget, the film is perceived as visually cheap, rushed, and technically deficient, failing to capture the bleak and realistic essence of the source material and wasting the talent of its cast.

Despite having a star-studded cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, and Stanley Tucci, the film failed to capture the interest of critics or fans. On Rotten Tomatoes, it achieved a mere 14% approval rating from critics.

6. Star Trek: Section 31

This TV movie starring Michelle Yeoh went almost unnoticed.

According to critics, being a streaming platform project was no excuse for its lack of impact, especially when there are numerous examples within and outside the Star Trek franchise that demonstrate how to do things right.

On Rotten Tomatoes it received a 24% approval rating from critics.

7. Love Hurts

Co-starring Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose (both Oscar winners), this action-romantic comedy is hailed as "the most tedious movie ever made." Despite its short runtime (83 minutes), it feels interminable, adding to a string of unfortunate projects for its stars after their major successes.

On Rotten Tomatoes it received only an 18% approval rating.

Kyle Smith of the Wall Street Journal reviewed: “The film isn’t entirely devoid of charm, thanks to the energy and charisma Quan brings to the fight sequences. However, despite the title and Valentine’s Day elements, it’s in the romance where Love Hurts falls short the most.”

8.The Smurfs (2025)

According to critics, the biggest, and perhaps only, draw of this new installment is Rihanna's voice. Otherwise, it's a film that came and went from theaters without making a sound, a reminder of exhausted franchises trying to make a comeback without a fresh idea to offer.

9. The Alto Knights

This gangster film directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert De Niro in a dual role is criticized for being "geriatric and dilapidated." It's singled out as an example of cinema that tramples on the legacy of its creators, looking embarrassing in comparison to previous works in the genre like The Irishman, which is unfairly blamed for its same flaws.

10. Regretting You

Based on a book by Colleen Hoover, this adaptation is accused of being cynical and soulless. With its tedious melodrama and a narrative that feels interminable, the film brings nothing new to the table and fails to elevate its source material, leaving the viewer with the certainty that they deserved better. 2025 proved that even with large budgets, established stars, and popular intellectual properties, cinema can still stumble. These titles, more than just bad, are depressing due to their lack of ambition, vision, and respect for the audience, some critics stated.