Adam Sandler has been a Razzie Awards darling for decades, but in the past three years he’s incited unprecedented wrath. In 2011, he swept every category for “Jack and Jill” and he won Worst Actor again in 2012 for “That’s My Boy.” This year “Grown Ups 2” leads the Razzies with eight nominations, including Worst Picture, Actor, Director, and Screenplay.
It’s up against “After Earth,” which earned six total nominations. It follows in the footsteps of another Scientology-inspired sci-fi flop, “Battlefield Earth,” which was Razzie’s Worst Picture of 2000, Worst Picture of the Decade, and Worst Drama of Their First 25 Years. Its director, M. Night Shyamalan, is a four-time winner for “Lady in the Water” and “The Last Airbender.”
“The Lone Ranger,” with five nominations, was also a high-profile box-office failure, produced for more than $200 million and estimated to have lost up to $190 million for Disney.
“A Madea Christmas” is the first Tyler Perry film to be nominated for Worst Picture. Among its six total nominations he also picked up bids for Worst Actress, Worst Screen Combo (with Larry the Cable Guy and his drag costume), Worst Screenplay, and Worst Director (for both “Madea Christmas” and “Temptation”).
With a Metacritic score of 18, “Movie 43” is the worst reviewed film up for Worst Picture. Released last January, the gross-out comedy assembled an improbably prestigious cast that includes Worst Actress nominees Halle Berry and Naomi Watts. Rounding out its six bids are Worst Director for its 13 directors, Worst Screenplay for its 19 screenwriters, and Worst Screen Combo for the entire ensemble cast.
Among other Razzies nominees, Sylvester Stallone scored his record 31st Razzie nomination. He’s a Worst Actor contender for a trio of films: “Bullet to the Head,” “Escape Plan,” and “Grudge Match.” He most recently won a Razzie in 2003 (Worst Supporting Actor for “Spy Kids 3-D”), and his “honors” also include Worst Actor of the 20th Century.
Other familiar Razzie targets back in the running include Ashton Kutcher (“Jobs”), Lindsay Lohan (“The Canyons,” “InAPPropriate Comedy,” and “Scary Movie 5”), and Taylor Lautner (“Grown Ups 2”) are also in the running this year, as well as high-profile first-timers Lady Gaga (“Machete Kills”), Chris Brown (“Battle of the Year”), and Kim Kardashian (“Temptation”).
Below is the complete list nominees:
WORST PICTURE
“After Earth”
“Grown Ups 2”
“The Lone Ranger”
“A Madea Christmas”
“Movie 43”
WORST ACTOR
Johnny Depp, “The Lone Ranger”
Ashton Kutcher, “Jobs”
Adam Sandler, “Grown Ups 2”
Jaden Smith, “After Earth”
Sylvester Stallne, “Bullet to the Head”/”Escape Plan”/”Grudge Match”
WORST ACTRESS
Halle Berry, “The Call”/”Movie 43”
Selena Gomez, “Getaway”
Lindsay Lohan, “The Canyons”
Tyler Perry, “A Madea Christmas”
Naomi Watts, “Diana”/”Movie 43”
WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Chris Brown, “Battle of the Year”
Larry the Cable Guy, “A Madea Christmas”
Taylor Lautner, “Grown Ups 2”
Will Smith, “After Earth”
Nick Swardson, “A Haunted House”/”Grown Ups 2”
WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lady Gaga, “Machete Kills”
Salma Hayek, “Grown Ups 2”
Katherine Heigl, “The Big Wedding”
Kim Kardashian, “Tyler Perry’s Temptation”
Lindsay Lohan, “InAPPropriate Comedy”/”Scary Movie 5”
WORST DIRECTOR
The 13 People Who Directed “Movie 43”
Dennis Dugan, “Grown Ups 2”
Tyler Perry, “A Madea Christmas”/”Temptation”
M. Night Shyamalan, “After Earth”
Gore Verbinski, “The Lone Ranger”
WORST SCREENPLAY
“After Earth” – Gary Whitta, M. Night Shyamalan, Will Smith
“Grown Ups 2” – Fred Wolfe, Adam Sandler, Tim Herlihy
“The Lone Ranger” – Ted Elliott, Justin Haythe, Terry Rosso
“A Madea Christmas” – Tyler Perry
“Movie 43” – Written by 19 “Screenwriters”
WORST SCREEN COMBO
The Entire Cast of “Grown Ups 2”
The Entire Cast of “Movie 43”
Lindsay Lohan & Charlie Sheen, “Scary Movie 5”
Tyler Perry & Either Larry the Cable Guy or That Worn-Out Wig & Dress, “A Madea Christmas”
Jaden Smith & Will Smith on Planet Nepotism, “After Earth”
WORST REMAKE, RIP-OFF, OR SEQUEL
“Grown Ups 2”
“The Hangover Part III”
“The Lone Ranger”
“Scary Movie 5”
“The Smurfs 2”
