“Maleficent 2 is not Angelina Jolie’s first film to receive criticism, but it is not as bad as some of her other projects. Here are 5 of the worst films in Angelina Jolie’s career.”
Crime and Punishment in the Water (2001)
The play “Original Sin” was written and directed by playwright Michael Cristofer, a Pulitzer Prize winner. It is difficult to understand why it received a low rating of only 12% on Rotten Tomatoes, ranking it among Angelina Jolie’s worst films to date. Previously, Michael Cristofer and Angelina Jolie had collaborated on the film “Gia,” where Jolie had the opportunity to showcase her acting talents and even received a nomination for her outstanding performance. While “Gia” received praise, “Original Sin” was heavily criticized. “Original Sin” promises viewers a romantic plot set against the backdrop of a wealthy landowner and a mysterious woman he marries, set in the 19th-century pre-Civil War Spain. However, all we see are glimpses of Angelina Jolie’s charisma and a predictable, cheesy twist. In the words of BBC journalist Neil Smith, “The film’s biggest sin is making us hold back tears.” Alexander (2004) is another film starring Angelina Jolie.
In the course of her career, Angelina has transitioned from being the beautiful protagonist in the video game Tomb Raider to a real-life beauty (people’s choice). In 2004, she was selected to portray the legendary beauty, Queen Olympias, in the epic tale recounting the life of Alexander the Great from the mythical narrative by Oliver Stone. With a budget of 155 million USD, Alexander was not only Oliver Stone’s most expensive film ever made but also his most controversial work. Critics slammed the film for its inaccurate portrayal of historical events, accusing it of distorting facts and manipulating history for artistic purposes. It even faced legal action from a group of Greek historians due to the inaccuracies. Audience reception was mixed, with some questioning the exorbitant budget of 155 million USD and its apparent lack of authenticity, especially in historical accuracy. Despite slipping into obscurity, few can forget Angelina Jolie’s contribution to the film. Lara Croft Tomb Raider – The essence of survival
Before Alicia Vikander, we had Angelina Jolie as the real-life embodiment of the iconic video game character Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. Tomb Raider, much like most movies adapted from video games, did not receive high critical praise. The success of the original Tomb Raider in 2001 led to the release of Cradle of Life. However, the sequel’s failure, particularly in the box office, resulted in the franchise being put on hold for a few years. The second installment of Lara Croft’s adventures only made $156 million, significantly less than the first film. Angelina Jolie was praised for her performance in the first film, but the sequel failed to impress critics and fans alike. They criticized it for being too similar to the first film, adding more action and visually appealing stunts. Lara Croft’s character was overly sexualized in the movie, focusing more on her physical appearance rather than her character depth. Disappointed with the direction of the sequel, Angelina Jolie declined to be part of any future installments. 4. Tourists.
The appearance of two of the world’s biggest stars, Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, in a thrilling and dramatic adventure film had audiences flocking to the theaters. Remade by the Americans from the original 2005 French film, The Tourist tells the story of American tourist Frank being pulled into the dangerous world of espionage and intrigue when he meets a mysterious and beautiful woman while on vacation in Europe. With a worldwide box office of $278 million, The Tourist was considered a success financially, but also a low point in both actors’ careers. The film’s rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compiled from critics’ reviews, was a disappointing 20%, with the consensus stating: “The glamorous setting and A-list stars can’t make up for a convoluted plot with slow pacing, or the lack of chemistry between the lead duo Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.”
Beside the Ocean Attracting attention not only because it was the second film starring Hollywood’s most famous couple at the time – Brangelina – making a comeback on screen, but also because it garnered admiration from critics as a passion project of Angelina Jolie. Written and directed by herself, Beside the Ocean tells the story of an American couple – former dancer Roland and his wife Vanessa – facing the stormy waters of their relationship on a holiday in a tranquil, picturesque French seaside village. While Beside the Ocean has a happy ending in the movie, it was not the case in real life. As an art film, Beside the Ocean was embraced by a niche group of fans but received mixed reviews from mainstream audiences, grossing only $3.3 million. The personal troubles of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spilled over from the film into reality, with Brad’s extramarital affairs and Angelina’s involvement in another film at the same time. Just a year later, the couple went their separate ways, ending their 12-year relationship.
