Teen motion pictures will not be recognized for high quality, although some of them are undoubtedly great. The style appears to have the next than regular ratio of unhealthy movies to good, and it contains some legendarily atrocious disasterpieces. The worst teen motion pictures typically strive too exhausting to be relatable or edgy, leading to unintentional comedy or outright cringe. They typically fall flat with awkward dialogue, clichéd plots, and lackluster performances.
The 2000s had been an particularly shaky decade for the teenager film, leading to a few of its biggest offenders. This was the period of dud musicals like From Justin To Kelly in addition to dysfunctional star automobiles similar to Crossroads with Britney Spears. With this in thoughts, listed below are the ten worst teen motion pictures of all time. Essentially the most egregious of them have earned their place within the cinematic Corridor of Disgrace.
10 ‘Twelve’ (2010)
Directed by Joel Schumacher
“Twelve hours in, and I already hate this place.” Twelve is against the law drama centered round a privileged group of New York Metropolis teenagers caught in a downward spiral of drug dependancy, violence, and unhealthy choices. The primary character is White Mike (Chace Crawford), a highschool dropout who turns into a drug seller to his rich friends. When a brand new drug, Twelve, hits the streets, the characters’ lives spiral uncontrolled, resulting in lethal penalties. The film goals to discover the darkish aspect of privilege and youth, however its melodramatic tone and disjointed plot make it exhausting to take critically.
The unique novel was praised, however director Joel Schumacher fails to translate its pressure to the display. Twelve is riddled with points, together with an pointless voice-over, a very crowded solid of characters, and a botched conclusion. The film goals to be provocative and daring however winds up being impressed and pretentious.
9 ‘Vampire Academy’ (2014)
Directed by Mark Waters
“The feminine bond is sacred, and I would like you to respect that.” Tailored from a well-liked sequence of YA novels, Vampire Academy makes an attempt to mix teen drama with supernatural components, however stumbles. It revolves round Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch), a Dhampir guardian-in-training, and her finest good friend Lissa (Lucy Fry), a vampire princess. Collectively, they navigate the perils of highschool life at St. Vladimir’s Academy whereas coping with romantic entanglements, rivalries, and a looming vampire menace. It is primarily Twilight meets Mean Girls, with campy execution and a messy narrative.
Any potential the film might need had is marred by a formulaic plot and cardboard cutout characterization. It additionally ends on an annoying cliffhanger, so there’s little feeling of decision. Deutch does a good job with what little the script offers her, however a number of the different performances are are wood as a stake by way of a vampire’s coronary heart. This misfire makes New Moon seem like Interview with the Vampire.
8 ‘Infinite Love’ (1981)
Directed by Franco Zeffirelli
“I used to be afraid of being loopy… however now I’m afraid of not being loopy sufficient.” Infinite Love is a romantic drama about two youngsters, Jade (Brooke Shields) and David (Martin Hewitt), whose passionate relationship spirals uncontrolled. Their obsessive love affair results in harmful penalties, together with manipulation, violence, and even arson. The movie, based mostly on Scott Spencer‘s novel, tries to discover the depth of old flame, however the overly dramatic plot and questionable character motivations flip it into an ungainly melodrama.
The completed product is simply bizarre and ill-fitting, lurching between tones. It is aimed toward youthful teenagers however a number of the content material is extremely darkish, just like the pyromaniac subplot. Even the writer hated the film, saying, “I used to be frankly stunned that one thing so tepid and traditional might have been usual from my barely unhinged novel in regards to the superb harmful violence of erotic obsession.” All advised, Infinite Love is not simply one of many worst teen motion pictures ever however one of the worst dramas, interval.
7 ‘Zapped!’ (1982)
Directed by Robert J. Rosenthal
“I do not know if you happen to’re a genius or a pervert, however both manner, I prefer it.” This comedy follows highschool scholar Barney (Scott Baio), who positive factors telekinetic powers after a science experiment goes mistaken. He makes use of his newfound skills to get revenge on bullies, win over women, and customarily wreak havoc at college. This is sort of a slapstick tackle Carrie, although it is introduced down by juvenile gags and jokes which have aged poorly.
There are additionally a couple of scenes that spoof Star Trek, Taxi Driver, and The Exorcist, however these are even worse than the Stephen King parody. Regardless of advertising itself as raunchy and irreverent, Zapped! is surprisingly tame. There are one or two nude scenes, however they really feel tacked on and awkward, not becoming with the remainder of the movie. For a greater mission that includes Baio and co-star Willie Aames, quite take a look at a rerun of Charles in Cost.
6 ‘Crossroads’ (2002)
Directed by Tamra Davis
“You’re not my good friend! You are similar to all people else!” Britney Spears (in her first lead position) helms this one as Lucy, a sheltered highschool graduate who embarks on a street journey along with her two estranged childhood pals. Alongside the best way, they encounter love, heartbreak, and private development, however the movie’s weak script (penned by Shonda Rhimes, although removed from her finest) and clichéd plot fail to make their journey compelling.
Crossroads tries to discover themes of friendship and self-discovery, however it feels extra like a business car for Spears than a significant story. It isn’t even business although, because the star’s efficiency is like one thing out of a tacky sitcom. The remainder of the solid fare little higher; Taryn Manning, for instance, is tepid and infrequently exhausting to grasp. General, this film belongs in the identical bucket because the equally terrible star car Glitter that includes Mariah Carey.
5 ‘Merciless Intentions 2’ (2000)
Directed by Roger Kumble
“Each sport has its value.” The unique Cruel Intentions is a gem, however the identical can’t be mentioned for the disastrous follow-up It is a sequel specializing in the teenage exploits of Sebastian Valmont (Robin Dunne) and his scheming stepsister Kathryn Merteuil (Amy Adams). The movie overtly makes an attempt to recapture the scandalous and seductive power of the primary film, to the purpose that it repeats three traces from that movie verbatim. Sadly, the characters’ manipulative video games really feel recycled, and the movie’s makes an attempt at drama and intrigue come off as hole imitations of its predecessor.
The most important Achilles’ right here is the dearth of character growth. The protagonists are flat and boring, although Adams does probably the most with what little she’s given to work with. Her look right here makes the film considerably intriguing, in gentle of the mega-success she would go on to have. This is not sufficient to justify a viewing, nevertheless, and Merciless Intentions 2 can safely be skipped.
4 ‘He is All That’ (2021)
Directed by Mark Waters
“Makeovers are my factor.” He’s All That is a gender-swapped remake of the 1999 traditional She’s All That, itself a riff on My Fair Lady and Pygmalion. This time round, the primary character is influencer Padgett Sawyer (Addison Rae), who makes an attempt to rework a shy, awkward boy named Cameron (Tanner Buchanan) into the college’s subsequent promenade king as a part of a social media problem. Principally, that is an ungainly, trend-chasing try and replace the acquainted story for a brand new technology.
The completed product is fairly horrible, which is shocking on condition that it was written by the filmmaker behind the primary movie and directed by Mark Waters of Freaky Friday and Imply Women fame. Certainly, critics eviscerated He is All That, panning its writing and the dearth of chemistry between the leads. The lead efficiency from Rae can be decidedly shaky. Her charisma on TikTok is notably absent from this underwhelming mission.
3 ‘Yoga Hosers’ (2016)
Directed by Kevin Smith
“I am not even speculated to be right here in the present day!” Directed by the very hit-or-miss Kevin Smith (Clerks, Tusks), Yoga Hosers is a bizarre teen horror-comedy about two Canadian highschool women, Colleen (Lily-Rose Depp) and Colleen (Harley Quinn Smith), who battle a military of miniature Nazis made out of bratwurst (Bratzis). This leads them to uncover a wider conspiracy involving Nazi clones and a ten-foot “Goalie Golem”.
This film is a fever dream, and never in a great way. One reviewer memorably described it as a mixture of Clueless, Gremlins, Unusual Brew, Clerks and 1966 Batman, and that is fairly correct. The lead actresses will not be unhealthy. They at the least have spunk and power. However the remainder of the film feels bloated, confused, and self-indulgent. It is solely 88 minutes however appears overlong. Taken collectively, Yoga Hosers reads like a joke, however one which the viewers is not in on. This can be absolutely the nadir of Kevin Smith’s filmography.
2 ‘Materials Women’ (2006)
Directed by Martha Coolidge
“Some issues are price combating for… like style.” Materials Women stars real-life sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff as two rich socialites who lose their household fortune and should navigate life with out their traditional luxuries. It is meant to be a riches-to-rages-to-riches-again comedy, however shallow characters and lack of significant stakes make it fall flat. The sisters’ makes an attempt to adapt to a extra grounded way of life come off as trite and uninspired, providing little in the best way of real humor or coronary heart.
With higher filmmakers in command, this is able to have been a lightweight however pleasing comedy. As an alternative, the entire thing is just saccharine. The Duffs do not have the comedic powers to hold this mission (their work earned them a Razzie nomination for Worst Display screen Couple), and the film completely fails as a satire of wealth. Moderately than poking enjoyable at materialism, Materials Women appears to venerate it. As well as, a number of the characters are painfully stereotypical, making this tough viewing.
1 ‘From Justin to Kelly’ (2003)
Directed by Robert Iscove
“Generally, love comes with a melody.” Relating to the very worst teen film ever, it is exhausting to high From Justin to Kelly. This musical romance stars Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, the winner and runner-up of the primary season of American Idol. They play star-crossed lovers who meet throughout spring break in Miami. They’ve a right away connection, however outdoors forces and jealous pals threaten to maintain them aside. All of this love and drama is about to musical numbers.
Once more, this film is one thing of a curio in gentle of Clarkson’s subsequent superstardom, however, as a film, it is abysmal. Amateurish performances, a woeful story, and shockingly unhealthy dance routines carry it crashing right down to earth. The connection between the leads is non-existent and the songs are lifeless. Unsurprisingly, From Justin to Kelly was a field workplace bomb, grossing $4.9m in opposition to a $12m finances. Its important reception was even worse, with a number of publications later rating it among the many worst movies of all time.
