40. War of the Worlds (IMDb: 2.5)
A Department of Homeland Security cyber analyst, Will Radford (Ice Cube), spends his days monitoring global threats through mass surveillance tools. When meteors strike worldwide and alien machines emerge to devastate humanity, Will remains glued to his screens—tracking the invasion via video calls, social media feeds, security cams, and hacked streams—while trying to protect his family and uncover potential government secrets amid the chaos.
This screenlife sci-fi thriller is savagely panned as one of 2025’s worst films, with critics calling it a “disastrous” and “hilariously awful” disaster that drains all excitement from H.G. Wells’ classic. The entire story unfolds through Zoom, phone cams, and computer interfaces, leading to static, talk-heavy scenes with zero on-screen action or spectacle—alien attacks glimpsed only via grainy footage or news clips. Acting feels phoned-in, effects minimal and dated, script bloated with surveillance/privacy lectures, heavy product placement, and an ending mocked for contrived twists. It debuted with 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and earned “worst of the year” nods for inept direction, boredom, and failing as both thriller and satire. Yet its viral infamy as a hate-watch—plus star power and easy streaming access—keeps it from rock-bottom status, perfect for ironic viewing or debating “how did this get made?”
