Summer. The season some of us eagerly anticipate all the outdoor fun: barbecues, pool parties and frolicking in the sun. But when you can’t beat the heat (and I mean HEAT, here in Tennessee), what’s a good way to find comfort in the air conditioning while still enjoying the season?

Movie studios have been releasing their blockbusters during the summertime because everyone loves a good movie and a break from the sun’s intense rays. More films are also releasing on streaming platforms, allowing you to enjoy them from the comfort of your home, instead of sitting in a crowded theater. Basically, it’s Hollywood’s way of saying, “Why bother with the sun when you have popcorn and Wi-Fi?” 

Alas, for every blockbuster hit, there are a few that end up as cinematic failures. Today, I’m highlighting some of those unfortunate dumpster fires. 

But what truly makes a movie a flop? It’s not solely about box-office earnings or the number of streams, since these metrics can sometimes be misleading indicators of a film’s quality. A movie tends to flop when it has a confusing and messy plot that leaves audiences puzzled rather than engaged, coupled with weak acting performances that fail to bring characters to life and cheesy dialogue that detracts from the storyline and diminishes the overall experience. 

Let’s clarify one thing before we start: These are movies I truly consider bad. Don’t confuse these films with campy ones, which can be so bad they’re actually good! Because if there’s one thing you should know about me by now, it’s that I love camp. 

Without further ado, here are my biggest offenders of Summer 2025:

Another Simple Favor (Amazon Prime): Do us a simple favor and just end this dreaded franchise, here.

A Simple Favor (2018) was a big hit for Lionsgate when it hit theaters. It was a fun, slightly dark story with several unexpected plot twists, not to mention the excellent performances from Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick.

And it could have ended there.

But no. Seeing the rise of sequels, prequels and similar movies at the box office last year, Lionsgate and Amazon MGM Studios asked, “Please, sir, may I have another?” Another Simple Favor was made.

And it couldn’t have come at a worse time for Lively. Her feud with It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni was really escalating, making her look very bad. Additionally, resurfaced interviews in which she was blatantly rude to the interviewer also emerged. So, it wasn’t easy to have a good impression of this film.

But I gave it a chance because I think the world of Anna Kendrick, and she never ceases to make me laugh. Yet, the only thing laughable was the fact that this movie was actually made and released.

The filmed locations are beautiful, but that alone can’t save your film. The plot is very complicated. At its core, it’s basically a rehash of the first film. The twist is lazy and there are taboo moments that really soured my feelings about this “franchise.” I guess you can call it that now, since the ending hints at a third installment.

Kendrick did have some humorous moments (thankfully), but even with that, I felt like my time was wasted watching this. Not to mention, it’s 120 minutes long… of pure torture.

Fear Street: Prom Queen (Netflix): Viewer beware, you’re not in for a scare.

The original trilogy of Fear Street movies, which arrived on Netflix in 2021, has become one of my favorite rewatches since their release. I can’t believe it’s been that long since they came out!

So, when it was announced that there would be another installment, I was thrilled! One year goes by… two… three… and finally, four years later, a new Fear Street was released… Prom Queen.

I’m not familiar with the R.L. Stine book, but I’m okay with that because I like surprises. Yet, the only thing surprising was the absolutely hollow, Dollar Tree sequel we had been waiting years for. 

The original movies were fun and genuinely scary, with nostalgic touches that appealed to fans of the Goosebumps series. They also included mature content, which was a welcome addition, as most fans of the R.L. Stine books are primarily millennials (a title I barely account for). Another thing I loved is that Netflix released the original trilogy on three consecutive Fridays, recreating the feeling of traditional TV movies and shows airing at specific times when you had to be in front of your TV to watch them. 

Prom Queen was directed and written by different individuals from the original trilogy, which I found to be an unusual decision. I don’t know the reason for that, and it was obviously an abysmal choice. The story was silly, the acting was cringey and even the attempt at ’80s fashion wasn’t good.

Either way, if another Fear Street release happens, I’ll give it a try. But after that dumpster fire, I’m sure the filmmakers are hesitant to try again.

Mickey 17 (HBO Max): This movie is unfortunately expendable, just like Mickey. 

Oh, don’t come for me, filmboys!

Bong Joon Ho has received an incredibly high level of respect. This film was the follow-up to his Oscar-winning thriller, Parasite. I was excited to see this one since it stars Robert Pattinson and takes place in space. Sounds like a recipe for success to me. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Mickey 17 is about a down-and-out guy named Mickey (Pattinson), who signs up to be an expendable: someone who agrees to undergo experiments or expeditions that often lead to their demise. But there’s nothing to worry about because after he dies, his body is printed out again, and he resumes his life and experiments.

The movie goes awry when Mickey 17 is believed dead, so Mickey 18 is printed. Little do they know, 17 is still alive. So, two Pattinsons are running around the ship. I’ll give Pattinson his flowers here; it was incredible to see him play two different characters. They have wildly different personas, so I imagine that was a trip to perform.

The main issue was the script. It was really all over the place. The main plot was introduced in the first act, then included several side quests, and finally wrapped up that plot in the climax of the third act. The pacing was terrible, and it became boring. I was squirming in my seat, waiting for it to end.

Honestly, I haven’t seen Parasite. I know, I know! I’ll find time for it soon. But I was a bit surprised to see this work from Bong Joon Ho. I know some of my mutuals enjoyed it, so maybe it wasn’t for my taste, but I was dumbfounded by the jumbled mess.

Ash (Shudder): A cosmic flop.

Directed by Flying Lotus, who is primarily known as a musical artist, the filmmaker also produced a segment in V/H/S/99, which I enjoyed. So, after this premiered at South by Southwest to mixed reviews, I was hesitant yet hopeful because of its description as cosmic horror. It also stars Aaron Paul, who will always be Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad, in my eyes. 

The movie follows a woman named Ruya (Eiza Gonzalez) who wakes up to find her ship crashed onto an unknown planet, with the rest of her crew dead. She doesn’t remember what happened. Brion (Aaron Paul) shows up unexpectedly and fills in some missing details. From there, it’s a matter of whether she can trust Brion and uncover what really happened to the crew. 

This is one of those sci-fi movies you need to be in the right mood for. It’s a bit slow and underwhelming, and it takes some time to develop the story. I found it slow as molasses. The visuals and score are top-notch, though! I was disappointed the script didn’t live up to those aspects.

If the story isn’t compelling enough to stand alone, the movie will fall short. That is where this film went wrong. It was written by Jonni Remmler, who doesn’t have many projects under his belt yet. But I do firmly believe that when Flying Lotus finds the right writer to collaborate with, it will be magic.

Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix): A swing and an epic miss.

Who asked for this? I know I didn’t. I guess this was just a cash grab for nostalgia, but my goodness. Not even the ridiculous number of celebrity cameos in this could save it!

Adam Sandler has made plenty of sequels to his movies, so this wasn’t a total shock… but how many years after the 1996 classic? Happy Gilmore isn’t as nostalgic for me as it is for others, but it’s still an iconic comedy film. 

I’m not going to tear this film apart, but there isn’t a single thing I liked about it. I will say this: turning Happy into a washed-up alcoholic didn’t sit right with me. Not to mention, the attempts at humor mostly fell flat. There’s hardly any heart or many emotional moments I took away from it. The callbacks are cheap and cheesy. There’s not much substance there. 

Happy said it best, “The price is wrong, b*tch!” And the price definitely wasn’t worth the cost of this sequel.

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There appears to be a consistent pattern linking all these instances of failure, which is fundamentally related to poor writing. When the writing quality is lacking, it initiates a cascade of problems, much like a chain reaction, that ultimately causes an entire film to fall apart. As this chain reaction progresses, a film gradually unravels, losing its coherence and depth, reducing itself to a hollow shell devoid of substance or meaning. 

Hey, you made a movie, though! And that’s more than I can say for myself. I hope this has helped you sort through the weeds and fill your hard-earned air conditioning time indoors with a flick that suits your needs. 

So, here’s to wishing you a smooth flight with better movies. May your journey be free of turbulence!