The Official Razzie Movie Guide
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | John J. B. Wilson |
| Products | Book on Hollywood's worst films |
The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst is a 2005 publication authored by John J. B. Wilson, the creator of the Golden Raspberry Awards (commonly known as the Razzies). Released by Warner Books in the same year as the 25th Golden Raspberry Awards, the book presents an analytical view of Hollywood’s most critically derided films.[1]
With an introduction penned by Rolling Stone critic and Golden Raspberry Awards Foundation voter Peter Travers, this guide combines a concise history of the Razzies with film entries arranged by thematic categories. Each entry offers plot overviews, cast and crew details, and Wilson’s critiques, emphasizing his picks for Hollywood’s most notorious cinematic failures. The book achieved placement on the Los Angeles Times best-seller list.[2]
Contents
The tone is established through Travers’ foreword, followed by selected critical excerpts from famously reviled movies such as The Blue Lagoon, From Justin to Kelly, and Color of Night. Wilson proceeds with an account of the Golden Raspberry Awards' origins and compiles his definitive list of the 100 worst films in Hollywood history.[3]
The guide is divided into thematic chapters like "Disasters ... In Every Sense." and "Can't Stop the Musicals," each profiling films with comprehensive credits, dialogue samples, and Wilson’s evaluations.[4] His top ten worst films include The Adventurers (1970), Battlefield Earth (2000), Body of Evidence (1993), Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), Glen or Glenda (1953), The Lonely Lady (1983), Mommie Dearest (1981), The Oscar (1966), Showgirls (1995), and Xanadu (1980).[5]
Marketing
Pat Nason from United Press International observed that promoting the book was challenging due to its cover image, which depicts an actor dressed in a gorilla suit making an obscene gesture, sourced from the 1976 movie A*P*E. Although Wilson initially preferred this photograph on the back cover, Warner Books insisted it be featured on the front. Nason remarked that this image aptly captures the irreverent spirit of the Razzies. Wilson commented, "We are not PC. We do not pull punches. We do not pay attention to the basic rules of decorum. Hopefully the humor with which it is packaged takes a little of the sting out of it." Christopher Borrelli of The Toledo Blade described the book as a "merchandising tie-in" to the Golden Raspberry Awards. During a book signing event at Brentano's in Century City, California, Wilson revealed nominees for the 25th Golden Raspberry Awards.
Reception
Overall, The Official Razzie Movie Guide was met with favorable critiques.
Barry X. Miller from Library Journal commended Wilson’s "wonderfully droll review" approach, likening it to works such as Golden Turkey Awards and The Fifty Worst Films of All Time. Ben Steelman of the Wilmington Star-News described it as a "handy volume" cataloging Wilson’s top 100 worst films. David Germain from the Associated Press highlighted Wilson’s perspective on "the 100 most awful—yet perversely fun—movies to watch." Jenny Marder of the Long Beach Press-Telegram recognized Wilson as "the authority for all movies so dreadful, they're laughable, so excruciating, they're... award-winning."
Catherine Shoard of The Evening Standard provided a more measured assessment, calling it "a companion book to the annual Golden Raspberry awards," while noting that older flops receive more extensive coverage than recent recipients. She found Wilson’s tone entertaining but largely descriptive—"still, that's all some films require."