# Worst movie titles **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [February 22, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889 "2026-02-22T16:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/161 "2026-02-26T19:43:21Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > And why “Ballistic”? “Ballistic” is a pretty good name for a movie that features a lot of gunplay. If it hadn’t already been used on this turkey, it would have been a better name for the Christian Bale gun-kata movie, _Equilibrium_, which is a fun, largely mindless action romp with a highly generic title. But speaking of ridiculous dystopias, anyone remember **Solarbabies**? Its terrible movie about a group of teenagers using the power of friendship, rollerblades, and a magical glowing orb that’s never really explained, to overthrow an authoritarian government that’s stolen the oceans, and somehow, the title is _still_ the worst thing about it. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/162 "2026-02-26T19:53:55Z")
Candidate for worst: _The Hottie and the Nottie_ Title I am not sure is the worst or the “best”: _Surf Nazis Must Die_ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/163 "2026-02-26T19:57:14Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > If it hadn’t already been used on this turkey, it would have been a better name for the Christian Bale gun-kata movie, _Equilibrium_, which is a fun, largely mindless action romp with a highly generic title. Ah, this reminds me of a movie whose title _ought_ to be a clever pun, which I find incredibly annoying. **Gymkata** (1985) was a martial arts movie starring Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas. The title is a portmanteau pun of “gym” (as in gymnasium) plus “gymkhana” (Indian word for sports clubs and, by extension, competitions at them, including equestrian and motor sports) and “kata”, the choreographed motions in a martial arts routine. Clever, huh? Except I just find it annoying. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/164 "2026-02-26T20:11:44Z")
I recall a conversation I had with a friend, circa 2001, that ended with me saying “_Attack of the Clones_? THAT’S what they’re going to call it? Are you f’in serious??” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/165 "2026-02-26T20:12:46Z")
Oh, more fun stuff about _Gymkata, courtesy of Wikipedia._ > _Gymkata_ earned a [Golden Raspberry Award](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Raspberry_Awards "Golden Raspberry Awards") nomination for Thomas as [Worst New Star](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Raspberry_Award_for_Worst_New_Star "Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star") at the [6th Golden Raspberry Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Golden_Raspberry_Awards "6th Golden Raspberry Awards"). It has developed a minor [cult](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_film "Cult film") following as an unintentional comedy for its dubious premise, poor production quality and strange setting. _[Maxim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_(magazine) "Maxim (magazine)")_ lists the film as the 17th “Worst Movie of All Time”.[[7]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymkata#cite_note-Maxium-7) > > The 1993 Filipino comedy film _Gin Kata_, starring [Herbert Bautista](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Bautista "Herbert Bautista") and directed by Nestor Arsenal, is titled in reference to _Gymkata_.[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymkata#cite_note-8) > > Gymkata is rated 4.4/10 on [IMDb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMDb "IMDb") and 17% on [Rotten Tomatoes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotten_Tomatoes "Rotten Tomatoes").[[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymkata#cite_note-9)[[10]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymkata#cite_note-10) Audiences polled by [CinemaScore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CinemaScore "CinemaScore") gave the film an average grade of “C+” on an A+ to F scale.[[11](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymkata#cite_note-11) []](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymkata#cite_note-11) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/166 "2026-02-26T20:16:31Z")
I second _ **The Black Gestapo** _. I was expecting a WWII flick, but it turned out to be a Blaxploitation classic. ☹ I remember Siskel and Ebert saying the title of **this movie** put a lot of people off seeing it, since they thought it was a fantasy. (On the other hand, I imagine a lot of others wanted to see it for the same reason.) [Sorcerer (1977) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076740/?ref_=fn_t_1) ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/167 "2026-02-26T20:29:35Z")
_Don’t Worry, We’ll Think of a Title_ (1966) _The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker_ (1970) _The Clones of Bruce Lee_ (1980) _Enter the Clones of Bruce Lee_ (2023) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/168 "2026-02-26T22:25:11Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > But speaking of ridiculous dystopias, anyone remember **Solarbabies**? Its terrible movie about a group of teenagers using the power of friendship, rollerblades, and a magical glowing orb that’s never really explained, to overthrow an authoritarian government that’s stolen the oceans, and somehow, the title is _still_ the worst thing about it. Ha! I remember seeing the trailer for that in the 1980s, and thinking, “isn’t that the kid from _Witness_? I guess he isn’t really Amish – but he’s already making poor choices in role offers!” ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/169 "2026-02-27T22:43:51Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **I Love You, Alice B. Toklas** _. Only Peter Sellers could get me to watch a movie with this title! If you know who Toklas was, it’s not a bad title. But it was a product of its time, and has not aged well. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/170 "2026-02-27T23:05:52Z")
Anybody mention “Death to Smoochy” yet? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/171 "2026-02-27T23:06:43Z")
I got that at a thrift store because it looked interesting. Marlee Matlin must have been very desperate for work, to take that role. I remember a kids’ movie from the 90s called “Magic In The Water.” Apparently, the movie wasn’t very good either. Another time, we were all at my brother’s house, and the cable guide had an afternoon movie called “Killing Zoe”, which is his daughter’s name. He said, “Let’s not watch that” and my sister added that she had actually seen it and it wasn’t very good. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/172 "2026-02-27T23:17:35Z")
Did he do “Sorority Babes At The Slimeball Bowl-a-Rama”? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/173 "2026-02-27T23:23:43Z")
One of my college roommates really liked a horror movie called “Prophecy.” It was not a religious movie, and there was none in the movie either. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/174 "2026-02-27T23:25:49Z")
I once saw a parody called “The Man Who Mistook His Ass For A Hole In The Ground.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/175 "2026-02-27T23:27:53Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > One of my college roommates really liked a horror movie called “Prophecy.” It was not a religious movie, and there was none in the movie either. _The Prophecy_, 1995 movie starring Christopher Walken and Viggo Mortensen? It’s actually an awesome movie and one of my favorites. It had four sequels, which were okay at best but that first movie was great. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/176 "2026-02-27T23:29:11Z")
Is that the one with the paper mill mutant stomping around in Maine (actually the Pacific NW) starring Robert Foxworth and Talia Shire? God, it was awful. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/177 "2026-02-27T23:30:53Z")
We’d already graduated by that time. It was a 1970s flick. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079758/?ref\_=fn\_t\_3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079758/?ref_=fn_t_3) ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/178 "2026-02-28T06:14:47Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Sorority Babes At The Slimeball Bowl-a-Rama That was David DeCoteau who also produced such classics as: _Beach Babes from Beyond_ _Bigfoot vs. D.B. Cooper_ _Robot Ninja_ _Redneck County Fever_ _Test Tube Teens from the Year 2000_ among othes. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/179 "2026-02-28T06:54:00Z")
When you think about it, _Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles i_s a pretty terrible name (I know it came from a comic). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889/180 "2026-02-28T12:10:23Z")
The original TMNT comics were a deliberate parody of four trends in comic books at the time: teenaged heroes (eg Teen Titans), mutants (eg X-Men), ninjas (eg Electra) and anthropomorphic protagonists (eg Cerebus or maybe Usagi Yojimbo although that may have come later). The funny thing is that once TMNT took off it spawned a [whole host of parodies](https://dandreifort.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/tnmt-knockoffs.jpg) of its own. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-titles/1027889.md?page=10)