Why did a legendary actor star in a film critics called the worst ever?
In short: Dirty Grandpa, a 2016 comedy starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron, became a lightning rod for critical vitriol. Despite grossing over $105 million worldwide, the film was widely panned as a repulsive, unfunny disaster. Yet, beneath the gross-out humor, the production history reveals a project that once held promise.
The trajectory of Dirty Grandpa began with the 2011 Black List, an annual industry compilation of well-regarded but unproduced screenplays. Before Robert De Niro was cast, the lead role was considered for actors like Jeff Bridges and Michael Douglas. When production finally commenced in early 2015, the film was shot on location in Georgia, moving from Atlanta to Tybee Island. The final product, directed by Dan Mazer, tells the story of a corporate lawyer coerced into driving his grandfather, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, to Florida for spring break.
Upon its January 2016 release, the film faced a brutal reception. Critics frequently compared it to the worst movies in history, with some reviewers describing the experience of watching it as akin to being bludgeoned. Rotten Tomatoes aggregates a mere 10% approval rating, and the film earned five nominations at the 37th Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture and Worst Actor for De Niro. Critics like Frank Scheck and Nick Schager attacked the film for its uneven tone, noting that it lacked the courage of its own anarchic convictions by frequently pivoting between crude humor and forced sentimentality.
Despite the critical consensus, the film was a financial success relative to its modest $11.5 million production budget, ultimately pulling in $105.1 million globally. While some reviewers, such as Jesse Hassenger of The A.V. Club, found Aubrey Plaza’s performance to be a bright spot, the general sentiment remained one of profound disappointment. For many, the film represented a 'post-despair' phase for De Niro’s career, leaving fans to wonder how an actor known for cinematic landmarks like Raging Bull ended up in a project that many now cite as a modern-day Plan 9 from Outer Space.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Dirty Grandpa
- Also: Wikidata — Dirty Grandpa · CC0
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