Angelina Jolie is one of the most iconic actresses in the film industry, and she has starred in some extremely entertaining films in her three-decade-long career, but she also starred in some duds along the way. After making her screen debut as a child in the 1982 film Lookin’ to Get Out, Jolie has starred in at least 55 films, and some of them are among the most popular, like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Salt, but there were also some embarrassing films like The Tourist or the Lara Croft sequel. So, we decided to compile a list of her 5 worst films that hold embarrassingly low critic ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.
5. The Tourist (Rent on Prime Video)
The Tourist is a romantic thriller film directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Christopher McQuarrie and Julian Fellowes. Based on the 2005 French film Anthony Zimmer by Jérôme Salle, the 2010 film follows Frank, a man travelling to Italy, where he meets a mysterious woman named Elise. He soon finds himself in a dangerous game of espionage and crime. Angelina Jolie plays the role of the female lead, Elise. The Tourist also stars Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton, Steven Berkoff, Rufus Sewell, and Christian De Sica.
The Tourist is one of the most embarrassing bombs in both of its lead stars’ extremely successful acting careers. The thriller film holds an embarrassing 20% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it also didn’t do that well at the box office. My biggest gripe with the film is that it wastes two brilliant actors and a relatively interesting plot just because the creators behind it were lazy.
4. Alexander (Rent on Prime Video)
Alexander is an epic historical drama film directed by Oliver Stone, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Christopher Kyle and Laeta Kalogridis. Based on the 1973 book Alexander the Great by historian Robin Lane Fox, the 2004 film follows the story of Alexander the Great as he leads his army to conquer the known world. Angelina Jolie stars in the role of Queen Olympias. Alexander also stars Colin Farrell, Val Kilmer, Jared Leto, Rosario Dawson, and Anthony Hopkins.
Alexander is one of the most well-known bombs in Hollywood history, and one of the biggest reasons behind its epic failure was the bad review, alongside it being a really, really bad film. The 2004 film holds a measly 15% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I am sure if Alexander the Great actually saw this film about him, he would have wept more than he had after conquering the world.
3. Beyond Borders (Buy DVD on Amazon)
Beyond Borders is a romantic drama film directed by Martin Campbell from a screenplay by Caspian Tredwell-Owen. The 2003 film follows Sarah Jordan, a naive married woman who decides to aid Dr. Nick Callahan as he does compromising things to save lives in a war-torn Africa. Angelina Jolie stars in the leading role of Sarah Jordan. Beyond Borders also stars Clive Owen, Teri Polo, Linus Roache, and Noah Emmerich.
While Jolie’s soapy drama holds a respectable 72% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes but the critics really hated the film, and rightfully so. Behind its 14% critics rating, the 2003 film tries to juggle like a thousand things and doesn’t get many of them right and above all, it tries to exploit real-world problems to show us a tired romantic story.
2. Original Sin (Prime Video, Tubi, The Roku Channel, & Pluto TV)
Original Sin is an erotic romantic thriller film written and directed by Michael Cristofer. Based on the 1947 novel Waltz into Darkness by Cornell Woolrich, the 2001 film follows Julia Russell, an American woman who plans with her lover to marry a rich man and steal his money, but their plan begins going off the rails when Julia begins falling for her husband. Angelina Jolie stars in the lead role of Julia Russell, aka Bonny Castle. Original Sin also stars Antonio Banderas, Thomas Jane, and Jack Thompson.
Original Sin is one of the lowest rated and also one of the most popular films in Angelina Jolie’s career, with its 12% critics rating and 61% audience score. The biggest sin this 2001 film made was to be extremely uninteresting, and maybe that’s why it is more popular for its explicit sex scenes than its story or characters.
1. Cyborg 2 (Tubi, Fandango, & Plex)
Cyborg 2 is a sci-fi action film directed by Michael Schroeder, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Mark Geldman and Ron Yanover. The 1993 sequel film is set in 2074, and it follows a new human-like cyborg who is sent by its cybernetics company on a sabotage mission, but it goes rogue when it begins developing feelings for a martial arts master. Angelina Jolie plays the role of the gynoid Casella “Cash” Reese. Cyborg 2 also stars Elias Koteas, Jack Palance, Billy Drago, Karen Sheperd, Allen Garfield, Renee Griffin, Ric Young, and Tracey Walter.
Unlike its predecessor which holds a measly 22% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the Angelina Jolie sequel film doesn’t even have a critics rating as only 2 critics even bothered to review it and one of them suggested that the only reason Cyborg 2 was made was to make the original film look a little better.