Anyone Who Thinks Movie Critics Should Stop Making "Worst Of The Year" Lists Is Wrong

Every year around this time, we see critics putting together their list of favorite movies of the year. Back when I was consistently going to the theater, I would do that as well. I always enjoy reading them. With that comes the caveat of knowing that, at some point, you'll probably have to read somebody's bottom ten list as well. Very often, you have more fun reading those. It's good to look into crap. It just is. Maybe you get some sick joy out of it like some people can't turn away from a car crash, but you still pay attention. In recent history, there's been a contingency of people who believe that putting together the worst-of-the-year list is wrong. Popular YouTube critic Chris Stuckman, a filmmaker in his own right, has rejected the idea of making bottom 10 lists. I think this is silly and nonsensical, and I will explain why.

It doesn't feel good to be criticized. It doesn't matter if you're making movies, cooking food, or writing a blog. Hearing somebody tell you that your work isn't good is unpleasant. But it also comes with the territory when you choose to step into the public eye. Is making movies difficult? Absolutely. One of my favorite films of the last decade is "The Disaster Artist," which is about the making of "The Room." "The Room" is a notoriously bad movie, though "The Disaster Artist" shows that the fact that it was made at all is a miracle. Just because it's difficult to do something doesn't mean that a film doesn't deserve to be criticized at the end of the year.

I'm not saying that every critic should be required to make a worst of the year list. Don't do it if it's not something that brings you joy. I'm not criticizing Chris Stuckman for coming out and saying he's no longer making a list like that. The guy has transitioned into filmmaking. He may meet some of these directors one day. He doesn't want to step on anybody's toes. I'm not going to knock somebody for that. That makes complete sense to me. But worst of the year lists are a staple of film criticism. Playing sports is hard as well. I'm sure everyone in the 2008 Detroit Lions put their best foot forward and tried hard, but when you make a list of the worst NFL teams of all time, you have to bring them up in conversation. 

I also argue that movies making bottom ten lists in the long run become more notoriously popular. The most forgettable films are mediocre ones. If you made crap, at least you accomplished something. Roger Ebert once admitted that "Freddy Got Fingered" was one of the worst movies he'd ever seen, but at least he remembered it. Something is to be said about being a film that's so bad that it sticks in your head. 

So yeah, I'm sure it doesn't feel good to be ripped apart, but that's the risk you run when you choose to be a filmmaker. It also doesn't make somebody else's opinion correct. You could see a film that makes everyone's bottom ten list, and you could love it. The fun part of this is that it is subjective. There is no definitive worst movie of all time, the same way there's no definitive best movie. People will get out of it what they want. That's part of the fun.