The Worst Movies and TV Shows Of 2007

Ah, 2007—what a year for terrible entertainment. Somehow, amidst the blockbusters, indie darlings, and groundbreaking series, there were also some real duds. Movies and TV shows that made you wonder, “Who greenlit this?” If 2007 had hit a few entertainment home runs, it also struck out spectacularly. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and uncover the cinematic and televisual mishaps that made us cringe 16 years ago.

1. Norbit

Somebody please explain the thought process behind Norbit. Eddie Murphy playing multiple characters isn’t inherently disastrous (remember The Nutty Professor?), but Norbit was a cringe-fest from start to finish. The humor felt outdated, leaning heavily on offensive stereotypes and body shaming. Imagine watching a train wreck while simultaneously being pelted with rotten tomatoes—that was Norbit.

2. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry

Oh man, where do we start with this one? The premise might have seemed bold: two straight firefighters pretending to be a married gay couple to secure domestic partner benefits. But the execution? Facepalm-worthy. It’s one thing to aim for comedy and social commentary; it’s another to drown in juvenile humor and offensive tropes. The film was tone-deaf, misguided, and just plain awkward.

3. Spider-Man 3

Here’s the thing—expectations were sky-high for this one. We were already webbed into Peter Parker’s world, but Spider-Man 3 gave us a tangled mess instead of a hero’s journey. Emo Peter Parker? Really? And don’t even get me started on Sandman and Venom sharing the antagonist spotlight, fighting for screen time (and coherence). It was like watching your favorite band fumble through a poorly-rehearsed encore.

4. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

This TV show raised a lot of eyebrows and not necessarily in a good way. Sure, the concept—a game show where adults answer grade-school-level questions—was amusing at first. But the novelty wore off faster than you could say, “Wait, I knew that answer!” Plus, watching fully-grown adults squirm while 10-year-olds outshone them wasn’t as fun as it sounded. It was more cringe than clever.

5. Cavemen

Inspired by a GEICO commercial—yes, you read that right—Cavemen turned out to be a prime example of an idea that should’ve stayed in the pitch-room trash can. A sitcom about prehistoric cavemen living in modern-day Atlanta? Who didn’t see the cancellation coming from a mile away? The show was as awkward and unnecessary as those insurance commercials were oddly charming.

Reflecting on these duds from 2007, it’s clear that not every idea deserves screen time. While some stumbled in concept, others faltered in execution, leaving us with a vivid memory of what not to do. If you’re curious to dive deeper (or just want a good laugh), here are some references worth checking out:

1. Rotten Tomatoes: Norbit