ID4 was a steaming pile of turd.

Wait, The Black Dahlia has a lesbian nightclub subplot?

Awesome.

You're just pissed that Million Dollar Hotel isn't on that list.

I can't tell where you stand on Scarface based on that statement. Though I admit I suck at detecting tone on the internet. I'd probably be the wrong person to comment on that, as I never thought Scarface was anywhere near as good as many people think it is. There are moments of greatness, but overall the film is merely average. Yes, I know that is blasphemous to fans of the film, but that's the way I see it. I never was impressed with the story or with the look of the film. Looks like a high budget TV movie. The acting is not good at all. Pacino is certainly enjoyable to watch, but only because his performance is so gleefully over the top, even for that character. The film is also incredibly dated, forever stuck in it's 80s look and sound.

But hey, I love the original Star Wars trilogy, Seven Samurai, Wall Street, and even SW Episode III. Heck, I even enjoy The Phantom Menace and think there a good, honest film in there if only Jar-Jar and his fellow Gungans were replaced with a more respectable, dignified species. I like AOTC less and less, even though there are so many kickass moments in the film. So many would probably think my tastes are all over the charts.

I'd agree that Scarface is long and has a lower budget movie feel to it. The Miami locale is awesome however. You can't visit South Beach without seeing Tony Montana shirts in every single corner store. Last summer I stayed at the Beacon Hotel which is seen on screen next to the "chainsaw" hotel. Too bad they ripped that hotel down down and built a Johnny Rockets there instead. The movie has a large following though and is a love/hate thing.

Eyes Wide Shut definitely

The problem with War of the Worlds is the son surviving, the apartment left intact, and the wife/grandparents without a speck of dirt on them. The novel did not have the Narrator with a family, just his wife, who is disheveled after running around outer London. The sheer awesomeness of the movie before that scene is completely erased. I think Always is better than Hook, but 1941 and WotW compete for last.

At least ID4 killed the President's wife and the other hero, Randy Quaid, sacrifices himself; he was the normal guy connection that Cruise had.

And yeah, Jack is definitely Coppola's worst.

Worse than North?

I haven't seen North, but I know that Ebert hated hated hated hated hated that movie.

Wow, interesting bumped thread. Why Ronnie Dobbs?? I mean, glad you did. Because I hadn't seen this before and I pretty dumbfounded by at least three picks. Like everyone else has pointed out...."War of the Worlds" is absolutely/most definitely NOT Spielberg's worst film. It's "Hook"! Or "1941". But I'd choose the former. Also, "Cape Fear"!?? My God, that film was not only great (and another jewel in Scorsese's crown), it was also one of the most terrifying and disturbing films I've ever seen. And people need to stop saying "The Godfather III" is Coppola's worst. That just absurd. Yes, it's a pale pale comparison to it's two predecessors. But it's still an entertaining and extremely well made film. And worthy to sit next to them in your collection.

Wow, what nonsense. That the author wrote he personally felt "Barry Lyndon" was Kubrick's worst makes him suspect. I think he also has a narrow view of history when he says "Eyes Wide Shut" is the most hated. EVERY Kubrick film was the "most hated" around the time of its release and only considered brilliant in hindsight. Has this guy ever checked out Pauline Kael's review of "2001"? You would think it was the worst film of all time if you were a cool film person in '68. People are starting to come around to "Eyes Wide Shut" like they finally did his previous works.

"War of the Worlds", while not perfect, is in no way Spielberg's worst. I mean, come on! Compared to "The Terminal"? Now there's a film I nearly walked out of. "Hook"? "Always"? I'd even say WOTW is better than "Catch Me If You Can". As great as Spielberg is, the man can't make a comedy to save his life.

I kind of have to agree with "Death Proof". While that car chase at the end kicks ass, the bulk of the film bored me to tears. And while Zoe Bell is hot and a great stuntperson... she can't act for shit.

I would actually agree with War of the Worlds, because it's a genre that Spielberg knows up and down and it showed such a fundamental misunderstanding of his own technique that it almost seemed like someone else made it. He's always been someone who made the effects a part of the story, but WotW just had effects shots purely for the sake of blowing shit up. I like Hook, but that's purely because of the rose-colored glasses with which I view my childhood.

And Eyes Wide Shut is great, like every Kubrick movie except Killer's Kiss and Fear and Desire (which were both pretty decent).

I change my vote from Hook for Spielberg by far his worst movie to date has been Indy 4. Even worse than Hook, and JP 2.

It's one of those so-bad-it's-watchable movies.

So much of me wants to just unload that turd on Lucas, even though I know damn well that Spielberg could have put his foot down and said no. Hell, I still don't even think of it as one of his. Yep, I change mine. Indy 4 was just awful.

This may be old, but that list is so bad it makes me want to shit myself.

Steven Spielberg - War of the Worlds? Medicore? Yes. Worse than ET or 1941? No.

Brian DePalma - The Black Dahlia? Three Words: Mission to Mars.

Francis Ford Coppola - The Godfather III? Supernova; one of three directors, a movie so bad he pulled his name and Walter Hill, the primary director used a pseudonym.

Stanley Kubrick - Eyes Wide Shut? No, Full Metal Jacket by far, but even then it's an above average film overall.

Martin Scorsese - Cape Fear? Agree 100%. DeNiro is nothing more than a cartoon character.

Terry Gilliam - The Brothers Grimm? I'd agree, although Tideland is pretty close in awfulness.

Alfred Hitchcock - To Catch a Thief? Nothing with Cary Grant could ever be called 'worst.' Topaz is plain awful.

Ridley Scott - Matchstick Men? I'd argue American Gangster and Thelma and Louise are easily his most ho-hum and forgettable films.

Sam Peckinpah - The Ballad of Cable Hogue? *cough*CONVOY*cough*

Quentin Tarantino - Death Proof? Reservoir Dogs is easily the weakest movie he's made; it's little more than a knock off City on Fire but with hip, vulgar dialogue. I'd rank Death Proof as his third best film.

I thought Death Proof was TERRIBLE.

= J

Lolita is one of my favorite Kubrick films.

Agree, I pretty much love everything else that Tarantino has done except Death Proof.

Let's just kill two birds with one stone: A.I. is Spielberg's and Kubrick's worst movie.

My vote is Hook by Spielberg.

I'm giving this old thread a bump because I was thinking about this subject again. (And even though I disagree with the picks by the OP, it's still a good topic for more discussion.)

Cecil B. DeMille - The Greatest Show on Earth
Dario Argento - Dracula
Roman Polanski - Pirates
Robert Altman - Beyond Therapy

Martin Scorsese- Cape Fear. I would have expected it to be better given its a Scorsese film starring De Niro, but the film is just cheesy as hell.

16 Blocks -- Dick Donner.

It isn't flat out terrible, but it's a disappointing movie for him to end his career on. Pretty by the numbers and formulaic cop thriller. I loved Donner's work from the Lethal Weapon movies, Superman and The Goonies.