How a 2008 Parody Film Earned Its Reputation as One of History's Worst

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Released in 2008, Disaster Movie was intended to be a satire of the disaster genre, yet it became a cultural punchline. Universally panned by critics and audiences alike, the film remains a fixture on lists of the worst movies ever made, despite its star-studded cast and ambitious pop-culture references.

Directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, Disaster Movie began as a parody of the film Superbad. During production, the directors shifted their focus to satirize the disaster movie genre, utilizing trailer footage from upcoming releases to shape their script. Filming occurred in Louisiana between April and June 2008, with the title only revealed on the final day of production. The project featured a diverse ensemble, including Matt Lanter, Vanessa Minnillo, and Kim Kardashian in her feature film debut.

Upon its August 29, 2008 release, the film faced immediate backlash. Critics and audiences frequently cited its reliance on flatulence humor, racial stereotypes, and stale pop-culture gags. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 1% approval rating based on 72 reviews, while CinemaScore audiences awarded it an 'F' grade. It was also a financial disappointment, grossing $34.8 million worldwide against a $20 million budget, falling significantly short of the commercial success seen by the directors' previous works.

The film's legacy is defined by its consistent presence on 'worst of' lists, including Empire's 50 Worst Movies Ever and IMDb's Bottom 100. At the 29th Golden Raspberry Awards, it received six nominations, including Worst Picture and Worst Director. Even those involved have expressed discomfort; Kim Kardashian later admitted in 2017 that she is mortified by her character's death scene and cannot bring herself to watch the film. Despite a few rare positive critical remarks, the consensus remains that the title is an accurate description of the work itself.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How a critically reviled parody film managed to turn a massive profit at the box office
• Why a box-office disaster became a beloved cult classic of the Y2K era
• A parody film that critics labeled one of the worst movies ever made
• A critical disaster that thrived: the strange commercial success of Because I Said So
• Can a found footage disaster film survive on special effects alone?
• Thirteen years in the making, the sequel to Enchanted finally arrived on Disney Plus.
• Can a thriller about organ trafficking reveal more truth than a documentary?
• Why Josef von Sternberg hated the title of his 1931 spy thriller Dishonored
• Clint Eastwood was not the first choice to play the iconic Inspector Harry Callahan.
• Can confronting your eight-year-old self actually heal the wounds of a cynical adult?
• Why did a legendary actor star in a film critics called the worst ever?
• The tension between the life we are born into and the one we want

More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics