5 Razzie-Winning Movies from the 80s and 90s That Are Actually Not Bad

The Golden Raspberry Awards, or simply “the Razzies”, are a satirical awards ceremony that takes place annually to recognize the worst in film. The Razzies were created by John J. B. Wilson in 1980 to counteract the more serious and prestigious film industry awards. The Oscars go to the best movies for specific categories, but the Razzies go to the best of the worst.

While many of the Razzie nominated and winning films deserve their elections with distinction, others are downright misunderstood and unfairly treated. Here are five Razzie Award winners for Worst Movie that are actually not that bad.

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

The Golden Raspberries would start their disdain for Sylvester Stallone in 1985. To date, Stallone has won 11 Razzies and nominated for twice that. In addition to receiving his first Worst Actor award for “Rhinestone”, his film, “Rambo: First Blood Part II” won Worst Picture.

C’mon! Rambo II was a fun, action-packed 1980s classic. Rambo II is an amusing romp through 1980s action cheeseland and it is glorious. Who can forget Rambo blowing up a Viet Cong commander with an explosive arrow? The film also boasts one of the best action movie one-liners. When asked by the evil Soviet Colonel who he is, Rambo responds, “your worst nightmare”. Awesome. This was the Rambo movie that made the character an iconic archetype. Despite its Worst Picture Razzie, “Rambo: First Blood Part II” was nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound Editing. Take that Razzies!

#JusticeForRambo

Consequently, Sylvester Stallone would win the Razzie for Worst Actor of the Decade in 1990 for his role in “Rambo II”, and “Rambo III”, and “Rocky IV”, and five other films from the 1980s. Sylvester Stallone might be the most winningest winner of Razzie awards, but that doesn’t stop his massive, global hoard of fans from loving him.

Howard the Duck (1986)

Look, I’m not going to sit here and type that 1986’s “Howard the Duck” is some kind of misunderstood masterpiece. Its not. But is it as bad as all the hype?

Critics took the worst aspects of the film and slaughtered it. Does it have a weird, cartoonish premise? Yeah. Is the tone a little jarring? Maybe. Are there scores of duck puns, an allusion to duck-on-girl action, and even duck tits? Yup. But, does this film deserve to be on so many lists of the worst films ever made? I think not.

The special effects are widely panned, but in the context of an alien duck fighting inter-dimensional monsters, they aren’t that bad. The movie is a fun, flawed adventure. “Howard the Duck” was the first true Marvel movie, and broke barriers as an adult-oriented comic book film. With Deapool, Logan, and the like, superhero films for adult tastes is something that thrives today. In this way, HtD was ahead of its time.

What really happened here was that the “Howard the Duck” was so panned by critics that everyone jumped on the hate bandwagon. The fact is, despite its issues, this movie is re-watchable and there are many, many worse films to put on a worst films list.

Fortunately, “Howard the Duck” shared the worst film Razzie with “Under the Cherry Moon”, so the Razzie people thought that was as bad.

Check out our thoughts with this “Howard the Duck Retrospective” on The 80s and 90s Uncensored.

#JusticeForHoward

Cocktail (1988)

Okay, 1988’s “Cocktail” is no Rain Man (a film that would also star Tom Cruise and win the Oscar for Best Picture that same year). Yet, this shallow romantic drama is loads of fun and uniquely 80s. Plus, how many “flair bartending” films are out there anyhow? Brian (Tom Cruise) and mentor Doug (Bryan Brown) are popular flair bartenders who dream of opening their own place someday. Yet, their friendship is tested because they can’t seem to stop cheating with each other’s girlfriends. Of course, because this is the 1980s, there’s a lot of opulence and pseudo-sophisticated arts involved.

This film received a double hit from the Razzies: one for Worst Picture and one for Worst Screenplay. Yet, it was commercially successful. Moreover, the Beach Boys made a song called “Kokomo” for its soundtrack which topped the charts in 1988. Winning!

I’ll not go so far and say “Cocktail” didn’t deserve Razzie nominations, but how can it have won when it went up against the travesty that was “Mac and Me”? At least “Cocktail” has not (yet) been riffed on MST3K!

#JusticeForCocktail

Showgirls (1995)

For over a quarter century, I was on the “Showgirls” haters’ bandwagon. The NC-17 erotic drama about Las Vegas strippers is puerile with a silly plot and ultra-hammy, over-the-top acting. Critics completely obliterated this Paul Verhoeven film and the Golden Raspberries agreed. It won a record 7 Razzies including Worst Picture and Worst Director.

In gallant fashion, Paul Verhoeven appeared at the ceremony to accept his Razzie in person. He was the first director to do so. During his acceptance speech, Verhoeven joked,

"I had the worst thing happen to me today. I got seven awards for being the worst, and it was more fun than reading the reviews in September."

Verhoeven received a standing ovation.

Yet, almost three decades later, “Showgirls” is beginning to win over some audiences. A master of caricature, many believe that Verhoeven intentionally made his film campy and exploitative as hidden social satire.

Perhaps that’s why Paul accepted his Razzies with glee. I’m convinced he knew the joke was on the rest of us all along.

#JusticeForShowgirls

The Postman (1997)

“The Postman” is another victim of the critical bandwagon. Upon its release in 1997, critics ganged up on it and audiences stayed away. That’s a shame because this is not a bad film. This is not a “so good its bad” film. I will venture as far to say that “The Postman”, directed and starring Kevin Costner, is a good film. “The Postman” is worthy of a watch if you haven’t seen it, and a re-watch if you have.

Kevin Costner portrays a drifter in Oregon, way into the future of 2013. He’s a post-apocalyptic busker of sorts, gathering donations from settlements with his Shakespeare acts costarring his donkey. After escaping kidnapping and conscription, he comes across a dead mailman and assumes his identity, delivering letters, and hope, to towns in the region. He inadvertently becomes the reluctant leader of a resistance against the brutal regional warlord.

“The Postman” is a story of hope and courage. Its beautifully filmed with stunning landscapes of Washington state’s shrubsteppe. If you haven’t seen it because of all the critical hype, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

Oh, and it has a cameo from Tom Petty. Rad.

#JusticeForThePostman

Honerable Mention: “Hudson Hawk” (1991)

I do not think “Hudson Hawk” is a good film by any means, but my associate Milo Denison gives it an “enthusiastic thumbs up” so I have to include it here. Check out our opposing views about “Hudson Hawk” on The 80s and 90s Overlooked.

However, one thing we both agree on is that “Cool As Ice” sucks, and the fact that “Hudson Hawk” won a Razzie over “Cool As Ice” in 1991 was an injustice.

#JusticeForHudsonHawk

What do you think about the Razzie-winning films on this list? Were they unjustified in their awards for Worst Picture? Am I just crazy and all these films are terrible? Let me know in the comments. I’d also love to hear your picks for films that are good but considered bad. With that, I leave you with this quote:

“We did exactly what we intended to do and we didn’t stop at anything, we just went for it. There was never any problem, we just did what we were had set out to do.”

— Paul Verhoeven on "Showgirls" (1995)