Colloquially known as the Razzies, the Golden Raspberry Awards are a 40-year-old Hollywood institution that ostensibly celebrates Hollywood’s worst film-making moments and performances as a tongue-in-cheek ode to Tinsel Town.
But what happens when the critics become the critiqued?
The Razzies revealed its picks for the 2022 season on February 7 and, as always, will announce the winners on March 26, a day before the Oscars’ award ceremony.
https://youtu.be/1moCL5G_3Ao
Selected by over 1,100 American and international voting members, the 2022 Razzies picks include everyone from LeBron in Space Jam: A New Legacy to Jared Leto (and “His 17-Pound Latex Face, His Geeky Clothes or His Ridiculous Accent”) in House of Gucci.
Some of the nominations are pretty jokey per Razzies tradition: behold the dedicated category for Bruce Willis’ recent slew of one-off stinkers.
So the Razzies put a category in just for Bruce Willis. pic.twitter.com/cT8DHHkJhI
— RazorRex (@ChaseRazor) February 7, 2022
However, most of the others are pretty cut and dry, with films like meme-turned-movie Karen, Netflix’s Diana the Musical, and Dear Evan Hansen garnering the most noms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfEPWa1ay0U
It’s unsurprising that any institution as spicy as the Razzies would generate blowback but even more people than usual are piling on in reaction to the 2022 Razzie nominations, far outweighing anyone who agrees with see the picks (though no one’s sticking up for Bruce Willis, as far as I can see).
In fact, the Razzies are generating as much animosity as its primary rival, the Oscars (an actual award show, mind you), though for different reasons: while folks (rightfully) dump on shows like the Oscars for things like a dire lack of inclusivity, the Razzies are stirring hate by being perceived as, well, hateful.
the razzies are and have always been a deeply evil institution
— Resident Evil: Code Veronika Voss (@steelydante) February 7, 2022
Do you have any idea how hard it is to make a good movie (or a bad movie even)?
How thin the line between a brilliant, innovative film and a swing-for-the-fences try that doesn’t quite work?
Which is to say: Fuck the Razzies.— Julie Cohen (@FilmmakerJulie) February 7, 2022
If you genuinely enjoy movies it is your solemn duty to completely ignore the Razzies every year
— Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) February 7, 2022
Why are the Razzies coming down so hard on Diana? Did they forget Music also happened last year?
— TheDiva (@MusicalHell) February 7, 2022
The #Razzies nominated Ben Affleck's supporting turn in THE LAST DUEL so we would all talk about it & drive hate-click social chatter. There's only so much buzz from nominating VOD/streaming nonentities & they don't have the "courage" to go after stuff like RED NOTICE.
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) February 7, 2022
Ben Affleck’s name shouldn’t be anywhere near that Razzies list. His performance as obnoxious, narcissistic, philandering royalty is on another level in THE LAST DUEL. He makes a meal out of his screen time and also has one of the best deliveries of a line in that movie. pic.twitter.com/exynke4pqY
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) February 7, 2022
The Razzies nominated Ben Affleck for The Last Duel pic.twitter.com/S1qTt1NgUg
— Ross Miller (@rosstmiller) February 7, 2022
fellas I think it’s time we admit what we’ve all been thinking
the razzies are reddit https://t.co/SV6RxNFByL
— Lupin (is out of ideas) (@EpicFunnyName) February 7, 2022
A common refrain cites the Razzies’ past indiscretions, like nominating otherwise beloved films for “WORST DIRECTOR” awards or similar.
Lest we not forget: the Razzies gave *this* performance the "Worst Actress" award, and we should have been shunning them out of existence ever since. pic.twitter.com/QR55pvjUL9
— A.B. Allen (@A_B_Allen) February 7, 2022
I kind of respect this genuine dislike of a divisive critical darling a lot more than the current Razzies with its lame cheap shots https://t.co/LRZKhFJn93
— Todd in the Shadows (@ShadowTodd) February 7, 2022
I get why film buffs rebuke the Razzies but, also, why all the social media drama? This all comes down to personal taste, anyways, and it’s not like even more legitimate venues like the Oscars or Academy Awards — which get justifiable hate for things like a dire lack of inclusivity — actually matter for those of us outside the biz.
Really, the Razzies backlash — which I don’t necessary disagree with, for what it’s worth — just underscores the value of turning one’s back on major awards ceremonies decided by a giant panel of anonymous agitators.
Though I have to own a hot take about Affleck, in particular: does anyone really care if an Academy Award and Oscar-winning multi-millionaire gets prodded for a performance that may or may not actually be good?
Anyways, if still interested, read on for a full list of the Razzies’ 2022 nominations.
Diana the Musical (The Netflix Version)
Infinite
Karen
Space Jam: A New Legacy
The Woman in the Window
Scott Eastwood in Dangerous
Roe Hartrampf in Diana the Musical
LeBron James in Space Jam: A New Legacy
Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen
Mark Wahlberg in Infinite
Amy Adams in The Woman in the Window
Jeanna de Waal in Diana the Musical
Megan Fox in Midnight in the Switchgrass
Taryn Manning in Karen
Ruby Rose in Vanquish
Amy Adams in Dear Evan Hansen
Sophie Cookson in Infinite
Erin Davie in Diana the Musical
Judy Kaye (As BOTH Queen Elizabeth & Barbara Cartland) in Diana the Musical
Taryn Manning in Every Last One of Them
Ben Affleck in The Last Duel
Nick Cannon in The Misfits
Mel Gibson in Dangerous
Gareth Keegan in Diana the Musical”
Jared Leto in House of Gucci
(Special Category)
Bruce Willis in American Siege
Bruce Willis in Apex
Bruce Willis in Cosmic Sin
Bruce Willis in Deadlock
Bruce Willis in Fortress
Bruce Willis in Midnight in the Switchgrass
Bruce Willis in Out of Death
Bruce Willis in Survive the Game
Any Klutzy Cast Member & Any Lamely Lyricized (or Choreographed) Musical Number in Diana the Musical
LeBron James & Any Warner Cartoon Character (or Time-Warner Product) He Dribbles With in Space Jam: A New Legacy
Jared Leto & EITHER His 17-Pound Latex Face, His Geeky Clothes or His Ridiculous Accent in House of Gucci
Ben Platt & Any Other Character Who Acts Like Platt Singing 24-7 is Normal in Dear Evan Hansen
Tom & Jerry (AKA Itchy & Scratchy) in Tom & Jerry the Movie
Karen (Inadvertent Remake of Cruella deVil)
Space Jam: A New Legacy
Tom & Jerry the Movie
Twist (Rap remake of Oliver Twist)
The Woman in the Window (Rip-off of “Rear Window”)
Christopher Ashley for Diana the Musical
Stephen Chbosky for Dear Evan Hansen
“Coke” Daniels for Karen
Renny Harlin for The Misfits
Joe Wright for The Woman in the Window
Diana the Musical, Script by Joe DiPietro, Music and Lyrics by DiPietro and David Bryan
Karen, Written by “Coke” Daniels
“The Misfits, Screenplay by Kurt Wimmer and Robert Henny, Screen Story by Henny
Twist, Written by John Wrathall & Sally Collett, Additional Material by Matthew Parkhill, Michael Lindley, Tom Grass & Kevin Lehane from an “Original Idea” by David & Keith Lynch and Simon Thomas
The Woman in the Window, Screenplay by Tracy Letts, from the novel by A.J. Finn
