Thank you??

Ah, the Razzies, an award show diamond in the rough. The Golden Raspberry Awards, or the ‘Razzies’ is an award show that celebrates the worst films to come out for that year – the antithesis of the Oscars. The name of the award comes from the act of blowing raspberries at something to show your dislike or jest. The show mocks the Oscars by having their awards come out one day before the Oscars ceremony, and has a trophy that is worth around $5 to give to the winners. According to Wikipedia, the awards were created by John Wilson in the 1980s, when he watched a film called ‘Can’t Stop the Music’ and thought – “this is award winningly bad!” Do you have one of those? An award show that started off in good jest in his living room is still going over 40 years later. However, it is clear to me that the Razzie creators were, and are still, not serious people.

Every year, there are the classic categories of Worst Actor/Actress, Worst Film, Worst Director etc, but the Razzies branch out into their own lane of nonsensicality such as:

• Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property in 1997 and 2019
• Most Flatulent Teen-Targeted Movie in 2002
• Worst Excuse for an Actual Movie (All Concept/No Content) in 2003

There is also a category for Worst Screen Combo (the worst pair seen on screen) – and it is not what I expected. I compiled a list of my top 10 nominees over the years — and yes, these are real. 

• Kellan Lutz and either his abs, his pecs, or his glutes – The Legend of Hercules
• Tyler Perry and either the ratty old dress or worn-out wig –  Boo 2! A Madea Halloween
• Johnny Depp and his fast-fading film career – Sherlock Gnomes
• Kirk Cameron and his ego – Saving Christmas (a winner!)
• Robert Downey Jr. and his utterly unconvincing “Welsh” accent – Dolittle
• Any klutzy cast member and any lamely lyricized (or choreographed) musical number – Diana the Musical
• Andrew Dominik and his issues with women – Blonde
• Kevin James and either his Segway or his glued-on moustache – Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2
• The entire cast of Movie 43
• John Travolta and any screenplay he accepts

Did these make me laugh? Most definitely. By looking at these awards, it is clear that they are just ‘blowing raspberries’ at the films. Despite this, they have still been able to garner some real world attention. Very rarely, nominees will even go and collect their Razzies! In 2005, Halle Berry accepted her Worst Actress Raspberry for ‘Catwoman’, while holding the Oscar that she won for ‘Monster’s Ball’ in her hand that she won 4 years prior (please go and watch the YouTube video of her acceptance speech later). Sandra Bullock went to get her Razzie for her film ‘All About Steve’ in 2010, and ironically, the day after, she attended the Oscars and won her first Academy Award for ‘The Blind Side’. She shares her thoughts on the Razzies in her acceptance speech for them, so that’s worth a watch as well if you have time. You can see that the Razzies don’t really affect the careers of the people nominated, or put them in jeopardy. Then, really, what is the purpose of the Golden Raspberry Awards?

Now, are amazing films being nominated for Razzies? In my opinion, no. So sorry. But, it seems like it is all just good fun; a ‘not your best work’ award instead of a ‘you’re awful and your career is over’ award. The categories that are mentioned above are verging on rude, but the Razzies even make fun of themselves to show that the award show is not malicious. They even have a Redeemer award for those who have done better in film lately. In 2023, they nominated Ryan Kiera Armstrong for her role in ‘Firestarter’ but they rescinded it because they got backlash as she was only 12 years old, as noted in Variety. The Razzies eventually apologised and gave the award to themselves – for “Their 43rd Worst Actress Nominations Blunder”, showing that they are also able to make fun of themselves as well as others. The Razzies also took back a category that they were going to dedicate to Bruce Willis after they found out about his dementia. They seem to be respectfully working in the satirical bubble of awards, so maybe we should just let them continue. You can even go on their website (which does not look like a real place to me) and become a member, so you can nominate the worst film; there’s even some Razzie merch in it for you! I am actually busy that day, so I can’t buy the membership, but you go and enjoy xx