The 35 Worst Romantic Comedies of All Time

Critics Consensus: Overly reliant on caricatures and lacking any human insight, Because I Said So is an unfunny, cliche-ridden mess.

Synopsis: Daphne Wilder (Diane Keaton) is the proud mother of three women: Milly (Mandy Moore), Maggie (Lauren Graham) and Mae (Piper Perabo), and her love for... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Lauren Graham, Piper Perabo

Directed By: Michael Lehmann

Critics Consensus: Down to You is ruined by a bland, by-the-numbers plot and an awful script.

Synopsis: College coeds in New York City, Al (Freddie Prinze Jr.), the son of a celebrity chef (Henry Winkler), and Imogen (Julia Stiles), a talented artist,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Freddie Prinze Jr., Julia Stiles, Selma Blair, Shawn Hatosy

Directed By: Kris Isacsson

Critics Consensus: A romantic comedy that's neither funny nor particularly romantic, Serving Sara is a forgettable time waster.

Synopsis: When Sara (Elizabeth Hurley) is served divorce papers while she is in New York, she is stunned. Not about to lose the fortune she amassed... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matthew Perry, Elizabeth Hurley, Bruce Campbell, Amy Adams

Directed By: Reginald Hudlin

Critics Consensus: Plagued by paper-thin characterizations and a hackneyed script, Material Girls fails to live up to even the minimum standards of its genre.

Synopsis: Two sibling cosmetics heiresses (Hilary Duff, Haylie Duff) must grow up quickly when a company scandal leaves them penniless. Though it is tempting to follow... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hilary Duff, Haylie Duff, Anjelica Huston, Brent Spiner

Directed By: Martha Coolidge

Critics Consensus: A Little Bit of Heaven subjects viewers to a whole bunch of schmaltz - and strands Kate Hudson and Gael García Bernal in a fatally misguided film.

Synopsis: New Orleans ad executive Marley Corbett (Kate Hudson) is a free-spirited woman who embraces her easy sexuality, shuns commitment, and gains support and strength from... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kate Hudson, Gael García Bernal, Kathy Bates, Lucy Punch

Directed By: Nicole Kassell

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A street performer (Tom Sturridge) has no ambition other than reconnecting with his best friend (Rachel Bilson) from childhood and pursuing a romance with her.

Starring: Rachel Bilson, Tom Sturridge, Blythe Danner, Richard Jenkins

Directed By: James Keach

Critics Consensus: A shortage of laughs and an undercurrent of mean-spiritedness undermine Good Luck Chuck, squandering a decent premise on gross-out humor and shopworn slapstick.

Synopsis: Cursed since childhood, dentist Charlie Kagan cannot find the right woman. Even worse, he learns that each of his ex-girlfriends finds true love with the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dane Cook, Jessica Alba, Dan Fogler, Chelan Simmons

Directed By: Mark Helfrich

Critics Consensus: Utterly bereft of romance or humor, 'Til There Was You is a singularly misguided attempt at romantic comedy.

Synopsis: Gwen Moss (Jeanne Tripplehorn), a writer hired to pen a book about former child star Francesca Lanfield (Sarah Jessica Parker), moves to the apartment complex... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jeanne Tripplehorn, Dylan McDermott, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Aniston

Directed By: Scott Winant

Critics Consensus: Bizarre and clumsily plotted, Gigli is a mess. As for its stars, Affleck and Lopez lack chemistry.

Synopsis: Gigli (Ben Affleck) is ordered to kidnap the psychologically challenged younger brother of a powerful federal prosecutor. When plans go awry, Gigli's boss sends in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bartha, Lainie Kazan

Directed By: Martin Brest

Critics Consensus: Preposterous and predictable, The Perfect Man manages few laughs with its poorly paced sitcom script, cookie-cutter characters and contrived plotting.

Synopsis: Every time Jean (Heather Locklear) goes through a bad breakup, she moves her two daughters elsewhere. Determined to make a home in New York, their... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear, Chris Noth, Mike O'Malley

Directed By: Mark Rosman

Critics Consensus: Witless, unfocused, and arguably misogynistic, Playing for Keeps is a dispiriting, lowest-common-denominator Hollywood rom-com.

Synopsis: Long past his soccer-playing heyday, George Dryer (Gerard Butler) is struggling financially and failing in his attempt to reconcile with his ex-wife, Stacie (Jessica Biel),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones

Directed By: Gabriele Muccino

Critics Consensus: The Hottie and the Nottie is a crass, predictable, and ineptly staged gross-out comedy that serves little purpose beyond existing as another monument to Paris Hilton's vanity.

Synopsis: Nate Cooper (Joel David Moore) has never gotten over his first crush from elementary school, Cristabelle (Paris Hilton). Now in his 20s, Nate meets Cristabelle... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paris Hilton, Joel David Moore, Christine Lakin, Johann Urb

Directed By: Tom Putnam

Critics Consensus: Flat and unfocused, A Smile Like Yours aims for romantic comedy but settles for tired sitcom formula.

Synopsis: Danny Robertson (Greg Kinnear) and his wife, Jennifer (Lauren Holly), are happily married, except for one major issue -- he is doubtful about having children,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Greg Kinnear, Lauren Holly, Joan Cusack, Jay Thomas

Directed By: Keith Samples

Critics Consensus: Stranding Pierce Brosnan as a charmless cad, this tone-deaf romantic comedy is Some Kind Of something, but it definitely isn't beautiful.

Synopsis: A woman starts to fall in love with a successful college professor who had a baby with her younger sister.

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba, Malcolm McDowell

Directed By: Tom Vaughan

Critics Consensus: Shallow, sappy, and dull, New Year's Eve assembles a star-studded cast for no discernible purpose.

Synopsis: Intertwining stories promise love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and more for a number of New Yorkers on the celebrated night. A rock star and his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin

Directed By: Garry Marshall

Critics Consensus: All About Steve is an oddly creepy, sour film, featuring a heroine so desperate and peculiar that audiences may be more likely to pity than root for her.

Synopsis: After a lovely blind date, crossword-puzzle creator Mary Horowitz (Sandra Bullock) falls head over heels in love with Steve (Bradley Cooper), a news cameraman. Mary... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Thomas Haden Church, Bradley Cooper, Ken Jeong

Directed By: Phil Traill

Critics Consensus: Featuring one of Robin Williams' most shtick-heavy performances, the broad and formulaic License to Wed wrings little out of its slightly creepy, unappealing premise.

Synopsis: Newly engaged couple Sadie (Mandy Moore) and Ben (John Krasinski) look forward to a traditional wedding in St. Augustine's Church but, unfortunately for the lovebirds,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, John Krasinski, Eric Christian Olsen

Directed By: Ken Kwapis

Critics Consensus: The Big Wedding's all-star cast is stranded in a contrived, strained plot that features broad stabs at humor but few laughs.

Synopsis: Don (Robert De Niro) and Ellie Griffin (Diane Keaton) are long-divorced, but when their adopted son's ultraconservative biological mother unexpectedly decides to fly in for... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Katherine Heigl

Directed By: Justin Zackham

Critics Consensus: Offensive, incoherent, and ineptly acted and directed.

Synopsis: A misunderstanding leads Tom Stansfield (Ashton Kutcher), a mild-mannered publishing house employee, to house-sit for his boss, Jack Taylor (Terence Stamp), instead of Jack's daughter,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Tara Reid, Jeffrey Tambor, Andy Richter

Directed By: David W. Zucker

Critics Consensus: A mean-spirited joke without a punchline, Mr. Wrong is so painfully unfunny that Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Pullman's lack of chemistry feels like a total drag despite being the point.

Synopsis: All Martha (Ellen DeGeneres) wants is to get married, but she just can't seem to find the right man. On Valentine's Day, Martha is drinking... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Pullman, Joan Cusack, Dean Stockwell

Directed By: Nick Castle

Critics Consensus: Man Trouble has brilliant stars and the germ of an interesting idea in its favor, which makes the scattered, unfunny results even more of a disappointment.

Synopsis: Harry Bliss (Jack Nicholson) operates a struggling security service and contends with numerous personal problems, including a faltering marriage. When vocalist Joan Spruance (Ellen Barkin)... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Ellen Barkin, Harry Dean Stanton, Beverly D'Angelo

Directed By: Bob Rafelson

Critics Consensus: Arguably well-intended yet thoroughly misguided, Mother's Day is the cinematic equivalent of a last-minute gift that only underscores its embarrassing lack of effort.

Synopsis: Sandy (Jennifer Aniston) is a stressed-out, single mom who learns that her ex-husband is marrying a younger woman. Her friend Jesse (Kate Hudson) is a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Julia Roberts, Jason Sudeikis

Directed By: Garry Marshall

Critics Consensus: Surviving Christmas is unpleasant characters attacking each other for 90 minutes before delivering a typical, hollow anti-consumerist message

Synopsis: A wealthy executive, Drew Latham (Ben Affleck) has no close relationships and becomes nostalgic for his childhood home as Christmas approaches. When he visits the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate, Catherine O'Hara

Directed By: Mike Mitchell

Critics Consensus: A cliched and predictable sports comedy that's mostly devoid of excitement or laughs, Summer Catch is strictly bush-league.

Synopsis: A coming-of-age romantic comedy set against the backdrop of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Local boy Ryan Dunne (Freddie Prinze Jr.), now a pitcher for... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Freddie Prinze Jr., Jessica Biel, Matthew Lillard, Brian Dennehy

Directed By: Michael Tollin

Critics Consensus: First Daughter is a bland and charmless fairy tale that fails to rise above the formula.

Synopsis: Samantha MacKenzie, the daughter of the President of the United States, arrives at college with a group of Secret Service agents. Samantha, however, resents their... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Katie Holmes, Marc Blucas, Ameriie, Margaret Colin

Directed By: Forest Whitaker

Critics Consensus: Gray Matters tries emulating Hollywood screwball classics, but the rapid fire dialogue and witticisms comes off only as a contrived gimmick.

Synopsis: Sam (Tom Cavanagh) and Gray (Heather Graham) are such a well-matched pair that it is difficult to believe they are brother and sister rather than... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Heather Graham, Tom Cavanagh, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Cumming

Directed By: Sue Kramer

Critics Consensus: A notorious stinker, From Justin To Kelly features banal songs, a witless plot, and non-existent chemistry between its American Idol-sanctioned leads.

Synopsis: In this musical, college student Justin (Justin Guarini) arrives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for spring break with his friends Brandon (Greg Siff) and Eddie (Brian... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Katherine Bailess, Anika Noni Rose

Directed By: Robert Iscove

Critics Consensus: The material is too thin for feature-length and the jokes are socially outdated and clueless.

Synopsis: When protest breaks out over Dr. S's new CD, the owner of the rapper's record label, Ben Feld, is hospitalized by a heart attack. But... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lisa Kudrow, Damon Wayans, Richard Benjamin, Christine Baranski

Directed By: Richard Benjamin

Critics Consensus: A lightweight, unambitious comedy, Post Grad features fine actors that can do little with its middling, uninspiring script.

Synopsis: Recent college graduate Ryden Malby (Alexis Bledel) has a grand plan: Find a fabulous apartment and land a job at a prestigious publishing house. However,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alexis Bledel, Zach Gilford, Rodrigo Santoro, Carol Burnett

Directed By: Vicky Jenson

Critics Consensus: There are no surprises in Cocktail, a shallow, dramatically inert romance that squanders Tom Cruise's talents in what amounts to a naive barkeep's banal fantasy.

Synopsis: Brian Flanagan (Tom Cruise) wants a high-paying marketing job, but needs a business degree first. Working as a bartender to pay for college, Flanagan is... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, Elisabeth Shue, Lisa Banes

Directed By: Roger Donaldson

Critics Consensus: Cobbling together an unfinished satire on the healthcare system and contorting it into a dopey romance, Accidental Love is a cynical repurposing of unrealized potential.

Synopsis: A clueless politician falls in love with a waitress whose erratic behavior is caused by a nail stuck in her head.

Starring: Jessica Biel, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Marsden, Catherine Keener

Directed By: David O. Russell

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Boston store owner Jake (Jay Jablonski) still loves his ex-girlfriend, Isabella (Marisa Petroro), who's now a married mom. He goes on a date with veterinarian... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jay Jablonski, Cerina Vincent, John Kapelos, John Enos III

Directed By: Jason Todd Ipson

Critics Consensus: Dull, formulaic, and chemistry-free, Killers is an action/comedy that's largely bereft of thrills or laughs.

Synopsis: Three years after a fateful trip to the French Riviera, Jen (Katherine Heigl) enjoys the good life in suburbia with her handsome husband, Spencer (Ashton... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Tom Selleck, Catherine O'Hara

Directed By: Robert Luketic

Critics Consensus: Bride Wars takes the already wearisome concept of battling bridezillas, and makes it thoroughly insufferable via a lazy script and wholly detestable characters.

Synopsis: Since the time they were little girls, best friends Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) have been planning every aspect of their future weddings,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Kristen Johnston, Bryan Greenberg

Directed By: Gary Winick

Critics Consensus: As star-studded as it is heartbreakingly lazy, Little Fockers takes the top-grossing trilogy to embarrassing new lows.

Synopsis: After 10 years of marriage and two children, it seems that Greg Focker has finally earned a place in the "circle of trust" of his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman

Directed By: Paul Weitz