Obviously this can't be a poll, as the answers will be all over the place. But what is the single worst movie you've ever seen at the movies, in the theater.

Edit: criteria for how to score it removed. Whatever comes to mind.

Your criteria has screwed up my answer. I had one ready to go until I read you RULEZ Mr Byrne

Which one? You walked out and didn't see it all?

This one. From about Nov 1998 to sometime in 2004 I paid for few movies.

Understand. There's nothing like being there, all popcorned up, in full-on movie mode, and seeing the worst movie of your life.

It's not the same when it's on the small screen. Not the same trapped feeling of utter despair.

I mean I worked for the theatre and my ex-gf worked for the theatre so we got in for free. Still went to the movies, just didn't have to pay.

Also, free popcorn + $1 hot dogs = I didn't eat popcorn or hot dogs from 2001 through 2004. Because I ate so much/many from 1998 - 2003.

But going by your rules, I'll have to say Windtalkers. I know I paid for that one and I know it sucked.

In the special case, I'll allow you're other answer.

I'm shooting for the sense of anticipation of early in first run, before any real buzz has gotten out. Getting totally blindsided by a stinker.

So unfurl your real answer.

Upon reflection, Windtalkers will be my real answer. Originally I was going to go with Eye of the Beholder because it was so darned awful but I had expectations to enjoy Windtalkers, where I didn't know too much about EotB. It's John Woo! And WWII! How could this not be a good, fun movie?

Out of Africa with Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.

With the kids, Thomas the Tank Engine.

Star Trek V directed by William Shatner. Why does God need a starship? Thank Cruise for Star Trek VI: The Apology.

Ooh. I had forgotten that one. And it ranks up there for me.

I was in "field training," the part of ROTC that is closest to the "Officer and a Gentlemen" type camp. You know, bouncing quarters on beds, no sleep, no good food. Suffering.

Towards the end (the last week) they started bestowing little favors on us, getting ready for "graduation." They loaded us all up on buses, and we went to the moobies to see Star Trek V.

Even with that set up, I still didn't like it. Which is hard to believe. For comparison, consider this: I devoured a Snicker bar in the airport going home like a vampire suckling a rat.

Screw the rules.

Julia

Late 70's, I'm in college trying to get with the new girlfriend, I agree to go to a girlie pic. We are the only two people in the theater. The projectionist came out to glare at us before stomping out to start the movie. It was the most god-awful chickiest chick flick that I could imagine. I don't even remember if there was a plot. It was just Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave in boring period garb yapping at each other for an hour and a half.

Disallowed.

No, kidding. These aren't "rules" in the sense of orders. They are intended for clarification only, in case somebody is one of those that several things come to mind. If one comes to mind, that's fine.

We have many members at IMWAN that subscribe to the David Hume field in the philosophy of aesthetics -- they hold the position that all judgments about art, movies, etc. are entirely subjective, without any objective component ("it's just personal taste" etc.). With that in mind, seeing a bad movie is really an experience. It's something that occurs, an event. Not anything about the movie itself. So I was trying to provide qualifiers about the subjective experience itself, that's all.

The ONLY time my wife has ever picked the movie, she picked Dying Young, that chick flick with Julia Roberts where the guy dies of cancer. That was the chickiest chick flick I ever saw, and BAD.

She won't pick anymore after the sting of that one.

Star Trek: Nemesis. Easily. I walked out on Batman and Robin or it may have won.

The Omega Code. It was bad in a bad bad way.. awful.. terrible

I didn't see Nemesis in the theater, and I have yet to see the whole movie. Batman & Robin came in 2nd after Star Trek V. It was such a disappointment after 2-4 and I was psyched to see it, that made it even more disappointing. The effects weren't up to their usual standards and the comedy they threw into the story was terrible.

Godzilla.

Good one. That one might take the "biggest disappointment" award from me, because I was stoked.

There was a period in my life where I only had Sundays off, so Sunday would be my movie theater day, no matter what was playing. By that reasoning, I paid good money to see a children's film that even children would find asinine: "Beethoven" about a St. Bernard dog and... oh, I forget the plot!