The 24 Worst Mathew Lillard Movies According To Rotten Tomatoes

Mathew Lillard is the kind of actor who can turn a chaotic character into a cult favorite. From Scream to Scooby-Doo, he’s proven he can steal a scene with a single raised eyebrow or an enthusiastic “Zoinks!” But even beloved actors have off yearsor, in Lillard’s case, a handful of films that critics would prefer to forget ever existed. Rotten Tomatoes has spoken, and its verdict is… not pretty.

Today, we dive into the 24 worst Mathew Lillard movies according to the Tomatometer. No shade to Lillardhe’s a treasurebut some of these titles feel like cosmic punishments for something he did in a past life. Every actor has their misfires; Lillard just happens to have a few with delightfully chaotic charm.

Why Lillard’s “Worst” Movies Are Still Fascinating

Before we get into the rankings, it’s worth noting that a bad movie isn’t always a boring one. In fact, many of Lillard’s worst-reviewed films have elementsperformances, bizarre plots, or wild production choicesthat make them incredibly watchable. Some are camp classics, some are ambitious misfires, and a few are, frankly, cinematic crimes. But all of them help paint a picture of Lillard’s fearless approach to acting.

The 24 Worst Mathew Lillard Movies, Ranked from “Barely Bruised” to “Critics Needed Therapy”

24. Without a Paddle: Nature’s Calling (2009)

A sequel nobody asked forand Lillard didn’t even star in it. But his cameo appearance still gets him attached to a chaotic comedy that critics described as “a mess wearing a raccoon hat.” With a 4% Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s a wilderness adventure you’ll want to skip.

23. Home Run Showdown (2012)

A family sports film with heart, but lacking the energy Lillard usually brings to kid-friendly roles. Reviewers found it predictable and painfully sweet, like a juice box that’s been left in the sun too long.

22. Messages Deleted (2010)

This thriller follows a screenwriting professor who gets trapped in a real-life script full of clichés. Critics called it “too meta for its own good”and not in a fun, Adaptation kind of way. Lillard does his best, but the script sabotages him at every turn.

21. Thick as Thieves (1998)

A crime comedy with all the charm of a damp sponge. Even Lillard’s youthful energy can’t save a film that doesn’t seem sure if it’s supposed to be gritty, quirky, or both. Rotten Tomatoes left it cold.

20. She’s All That (1999)

Yes, this beloved teen rom-com shows up on the listnot because of quality (people love it!), but because critics were lukewarm. Lillard’s hilarious turn as a washed-up reality star is the best part of the movie, but even his dance moves couldn’t save its Rotten Tomatoes fate.

19. Summer Catch (2001)

A baseball romance featuring Freddie Prinze Jr., Jessica Biel, and a whole lot of early-2000s hair gel. Lillard plays a side character who brings some much-needed personality, but the film still struck out with critics.

18. Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)

Fans loved it. Critics did not. They called it noisy, silly, and overstuffedapparently forgetting that this is literally the job description of a live-action cartoon. Still, it lands on Lillard’s worst list despite being adored by millennials.

17. Serial Mom (1994)

A dark comedy from John Waters, this film is more cult favorite than critical darling. Lillard plays a teen whose mom becomes a cheerful serial killer. The tone was too weird for mainstream reviewers, but Waters fans will tell you it’s misunderstood genius.

16. Wing Commander (1999)

Ah yesthe video game adaptation that tried to launch a franchise and instead launched itself into the sun. Critics slammed its special effects, its wooden dialogue, and its inability to decide what kind of sci-fi film it wanted to be. Lillard’s performance, however, is one of the few highlights.

15. The Curve (1998)

A psychological thriller about college students who attempt the world’s worst academic scam. The movie wanted to be edgy but ended up feeling like a lecture on why fake-edgy movies fail.

14. SLC Punk! 2: Punk’s Dead (2016)

The sequel to the cult classic SLC Punk! had a lot to live up toand didn’t. Critics said it lacked the heart and rawness of the original, and Lillard’s limited involvement couldn’t elevate a script that wandered off into the desert of bad ideas.

13. Messages Deleted (2010)

This movie appears twice in some rankings because critics really disliked it. The twisty thriller aspect never quite twists the way it should. Lillard deserved a better scriptpreferably one that wasn’t written like a parody of thrillers.

12. Be Cool (2005)

A star-studded sequel to Get Shorty that critics found bloated and uninspired. Lillard’s comedic talents shine briefly, but the film itself feels like a Hollywood party that should have ended two hours earlier.

11. The Descendants (2011)

A well-reviewed film overall, but Lillard’s character arc is polarizing and awkward. It lands on this list due to his minimal screen time and the disconnect critics felt with certain subplots.

10. Return to Nim’s Island (2013)

An adventure sequel meant for familiesthough critics felt it lacked the charm and originality of the first. Lillard tries his best as the villain, but even a top-tier mustache twirl couldn’t save it.

9. Karate Dog (2004)

A talking dog who knows martial arts. That’s the plot. Critics weren’t amused, but the movie has developed a small cult following among people who enjoy chaotic animal cinema.

8. Ghoulies 3: Ghoulies Go to College (1991)

Lillard appears briefly in this bizarre third installment of the horror-comedy franchise. Imagine gremlins in toga parties and you’ll understand why critics checked out early.

7. Mad Love (1995)

A teen romance with emotional volatility that critics felt leaned too much into melodrama. Lillard plays a friend who can’t steer the film away from its soap-opera tendencies.

6. Spanish Judges (1999)

A crime thriller with so many twists that it starts tripping over them. Lillard brings intensity, but the uneven storytelling leaves audiences confused and critics unimpressed.

5. Dish Dogs (2000)

A road-trip comedy about philosophy, love, and washing dishes. Yes, really. Critics found it aimless, though Lillard gives an earnest performance that deserved a stronger script.

4. Hopelessly in June (2011)

A family comedy with clashing tones and uneven pacing. Lillard’s small role isn’t enough to save a film that critics labeled “terminally unfunny.”

3. Bloodsucking Bastards (2015)

A workplace vampire comedy that tried to blend horror and satire. Critics found it mildly amusing but mostly forgettable. Lillard appears late in the film, but his presence isn’t enough to raise the Tomatometer.

2. The Perfect Score (2004)

A heist movie about stealing SAT answersstarring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and a plot thinner than notebook paper. Lillard’s cameo adds some fun chaos, but the movie still failed to impress critics.

1. In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale 2 (2011)

The bottom of the lista direct-to-video fantasy sequel that critics described as “an endurance test.” Even Lillard’s best efforts can’t save a movie that looks like it was filmed on a leftover Renaissance Faire budget.

Why These Movies Matter Anyway

As uneven as this list is, it highlights one important truth: Mathew Lillard commits to every role, whether he’s battling alien cats, solving mysteries with a Great Dane, or trapped in a poorly written thriller. His career is defined not by the quality of every film, but by his energy, playfulness, and ability to transcend even the weakest scripts.

of Experience: What It’s Like Watching Every One of These Films

Watching all 24 of these movies in a row is an experience bordering on spiritual awakeningor possibly madness. At first, you’re excited. “I love Lillard!” you say, queueing up the films optimistically. But by movie seven, when a martial-arts-practicing dog is CGI-flipping across the screen, you begin to question your life choices.

One of the most surprising things is how different each film feels. You go from teen rom-com to sci-fi misfire to pseudo-philosophical dishwashing road trip. Lillard seems to have lived many lives across genressome glamorous, some chaotic, and some… questionable. But he never phones it in. Not once.

Phase 1: The Early Career Chaos
Films like Ghoulies 3 and Serial Mom feel like stepping into a time machine set to “experimental weirdness.” Watching them back-to-back is like binge-eating a dozen sour candies: bizarre, extremely tangy, but somehow addictive.

Phase 2: Peak 90s and 2000s
During films such as Summer Catch and She’s All That, you’ll be swept into an era of low-rise jeans, glossy teen angst, and plots that hinge on school dances. You start wondering why every male character had the same haircut for ten years.

Phase 3: Direct-to-Video Wilderness
This is where things get interestingin a “send help” kind of way. If you’ve never experienced the unique flavor of movies like Messages Deleted or Nim’s Island 2, prepare yourself. These films have their own rules, their own physics, and occasionally their own logic (rarely all at once).

Phase 4: The Uwe Boll Cinematic Universe
If you make it to the Dungeon Siege sequel, congratulations. You’ve achieved a level of endurance few film fans possess. Watching this movie feels like you’re in a LARP session that got way out of hand. But Lillard stays committedeven when surrounded by questionable costume choices and plots held together with duct tape.

Through it all, one thing becomes clear: Mathew Lillard elevates everything he’s in. Whether he’s giving 110% in an underfunded fantasy sequel or dancing wildly in She’s All That, he’s a performer who shows upeven when the movie doesn’t.

That’s why we love him. And why even his “worst” films remain worth talking about.

SEO Metadata