Top 50 Best James Franco Movies Of All Time

 

James Edward Franco was born on the 19th of April in 1978. His father was a businessman, and his mother was a children’s book author who occasionally acted.

 

Although he rebelled as a teenager and got caught up with the wrong crowd, Franco mended his ways in time to pass out with good grades.

 

Initially, James Franco loved acting but wanted to be a Marine Zoologist. After high school, when he decided to train as an actor, his parents did not support him, so Franco worked at McDonald’s to support himself.

 

Soon, he began auditioning for roles and appeared in TV series and films. James Franco has starred in all film genres, from comedy to drama, biographies, and horror films.

 

He frequently collaborated with Seth Rogen and made films and TV series. He also earned critical praise for his work in films like 127 hours, the biographical TV film James Dean, The Disaster Artist, etc.

 

Franco came under fire in 2018 when instances of sexual misconduct started surfacing on social media. He was working as a guest lecturer and teacher at UCLA, NYU, University of Southern California, etc. when these events occurred.

 

This resulted in lawsuits that were settled out of court. Here are some of his memorable films.

 

 

 

1. 127 Hours (2010)

 

 

127 Hours is a survivalist drama that is based on the memoir of Aron Ralston titled Between a Rock and a Hard Place.

 

The film stars James Franco as Aron Ralston, the mountaineer. Franco received an Oscar nomination for his performance in this film.

 

Aron Ralston is an experienced mountain climber who has an accident while he is on a trek. His arm gets stuck under a boulder, and he faces the real danger of dying before rescue arrives.

 

For this film, Franco had to overcome his feeling of claustrophobia while filming in the narrow crevice over long periods.

 

He would hide his textbooks in the crevice and read them to distract his mind.

 

 

 

2. Spider-Man (2002)

 

 

Spider-man is the first in the Spider-Man trilogy by Sam Raimi. The film tracks the creation of Spider-man and his growth into a superhero.

 

The film has Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, Kristen Dunst as MJ, and James Franco as Harry Osborn. Peter and Harry are best friends in school and fellow geeks.

 

When Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider, he turns into spiderman with enhanced strength, agility, reflexes, and spider-like webs.

 

Harry is a neglected child of a wealthy scientist father. But Harry’s father turns into the Green Goblin and starts to threaten the safety and peace in his city.

 

It is the job of Spider-man to save everyone.

 

 

 

3. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

 

 

Spider-Man 2 is the sequel to the Spider-Man trilogy directed by Sam Raimi. The characters were based on the Marvel Comic book with the same name.

 

The film picks up the story from two years after the events of the first film. Peter Parker is finding it difficult to manage his alter-ego and his normal life.

 

Despite his affection for MJ, she moves away from him and is engaged to someone else. His best friend, Harry Osborn is forced to take up control of Oscorp after the death of his father.

 

To make matters complicated, Parker realizes that his powers are stopping intermittently, and there is a new villain in a town called Otto Octavius.

 

 

 

4. The Little Prince (2015)

 

 

The Little Prince is an animated adventure comedy. It is based on a novella of the same name, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

 

The film uses stop-motion animation with voices from Jeff Bridges, Mackenzie Foy, Rachel McAdams, James Franco, etc.

 

The story is about a little girl who lives with her mother in a grown-up world where everything is preplanned, cut, and dry without any scope for imagination, fun, or adventure.

 

An old neighbor introduces Little Girl to a world of imagination, the same way the little boy had introduced him to it.

 

There the little girl learns fun, enjoyment, friends, and more.

 

 

5. Rise of the Planet of The Apes (2011)

 

 

Rise of the Planet of The Apes is a sci-fi action drama. It is a reboot of the Planet of The Apes franchise and is based on the Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle.

 

The film was the first film to use motion capture technology to animate and emote the chimpanzees. In the distant future, man develops a drug to help the brain heal and recover after brain injuries.

 

They test the drugs on chimpanzees and notice that they developed human-like intelligence and the ability to converse.

 

Will Rodman nurtures and adopts Caesar, one such intelligent chimpanzee, but Caesar is disturbed at the suffering of his fellow apes and shares his gift with them to rally them into a revolt against mankind.

 

 

6. Milk (2008)

 

 

Milk is a biographical drama about the life and work of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to hold public office in the 1970s.

 

Milk was assassinated along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone in 1978. The story starts when Harvey Milk comes out of the closet about his gay identity and moves from New York to San Francisco.

 

There he opens up a camera shop and soon recognizes the struggles of the gay community. He rallies gay rights protests and movements and even gets elected to public office.

 

James Franco portrays Scott Smith, the gay lover of Milk, who is also a gay rights activist and his campaign manager.

 

 

7. The Disaster Artist (2017)

 

 

The Disaster Artist is a biographical comedy-drama that was directed, co-produced, and starring James Franco. The film is based on the non-fiction book The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made, written by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell.

 

The movie, The Room was made by Tommy Wiseau, starring him and Greg Sestero. It was considered the worst movie ever made, and against convention, people flocked to view how disastrous of a movie it was.

 

Inspired by Wiseau’s life, his inspiration, and his mindset, James Franco made The Disaster Artist. For his role, James Franco earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.

 

 

8. In the Valley of Elah (2007)

 

 

In the Valley of Elah is a crime drama directed by Paul Haggis, who also wrote the screenplay. It is based on a real-life incident, but the characters’ names, places, and identities have been changed.

 

The film follows a father who is informed that his son, who was serving in the Iraq War, has gone missing.

 

After reaching the military base, they discover his body. The father gets involved in the investigation as it becomes a conflict of authority between the local police and the military police.

 

The case is solved, and the truth is discovered, but it also uncovers some unhappy realities for all. The director, Haggis was praised for sensitively handling the story and making an anti-war statement along with a murder mystery movie.

 

 

9. James Dean (2001)

 

 

This American made-for-TV biographical drama film James Dean chronicles the rise and fall of the iconic actor James Dean, played by James Franco. The film was directed by Mark Rydell and earned two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award, along with multiple nominations.

 

The film follows Dean’s journey from his troubled childhood in Indiana to his meteoric rise to stardom in Hollywood, capturing his intense performances, rebellious spirit, and tumultuous relationships. 

 

Dean’s talent and charisma are undeniable, but his personal demons threaten to derail his success. His struggles with self-doubt, addiction, and reckless behaviour ultimately lead to his tragic death at the age of 24.

 

 

10. Eames: The Architect & The Painter (2011)

 

 

Eames: The Architect & The Painter is a documentary film about the life and work of Charles and Ray Eames.

 

The film is narrated by James Franco and is a mixture of Franco’s narration and archival footage from his office, interviews, and other conversations.

 

The film uses a lot of photographs and guest interviews to give us a peek into the ingenuity of the designs, creations, and art pieces that the couple created.

 

Their industrial designs, furniture designs, and architectural work through the 1950s, 60s, and 70s are explored in the film.

 

 

11. Pineapple Express (2008)

 

 

Pineapple Express is a stoner comedy that is once again written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. It is also produced by them and Judd Apatow.

 

The film received positive reviews for the most part. The performance of James Franco was especially hilarious. Seth Rogen plays a process server whose job it is to serve court notices.

 

While he visits his drug dealer, James Franco, for his special delivery of weed, they witness the murder of a drug lord at the hands of a crooked cop.

 

Now they both are being chased by the cop to silence them. During the table read before filming, Rogen felt that Franco was sounding funnier as the drug dealer hence, he switched roles to become the process server.

 

 

12. Tristan + Isolde (2006)

 

 

Tristan + Isolde is a romantic drama that is inspired by the medieval romantic legend of Tristan and Isolde.

 

The film was a long-time project by Ridley Scott that he wanted to direct. However, he and Tony Scott produced it with Kevin Reynolds as the director.

 

The film is set in a period when Great Britain was not created as yet, and the different clans and tribes were constantly at war with the English and Irishmen.

 

Tristan is like an adopted son to Marke, the Duke of Cromwell. He falls in love with the Irish girl Isolde.

 

However, Isolde is given in marriage to Marke. Tristan sacrifices his love for the betterment of Marke and his dukedom.

 

 

13. The Iceman (2012)

 

 

The Iceman is a biographical crime film about the infamous hitman Richard ‘The Iceman’ Kuklinski. The film was inspired by the novel The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer, written by Anthony Bruno.

 

Kuklinski worked in a mob-run porn film lab as a technician. When that business was shut down, he is offered the job of a hitman, which he takes up.

 

He successfully assassinated several people before he had a falling out with his mob boss and decided to freelance.

 

The most fascinating thing about the life of Richard Kuklinski was the fact that he led a dual life.

 

His family had no idea about his true profession as a hitman. He was a complete family man who loved and protected his family till the end.

 

 

14. Howl (2010)

 

 

Howl is a drama that explores the rise of the Beat Generation. The story has three simultaneous events being covered.

 

One is the obscenity trial of 1957, the second is a dramatic retelling of Allen Ginsberg’s life and the inspiration behind the poem, and the third is the poem Howl.

 

In 1955, Allen Ginsberg released his collection of poems titled, Howl and Other Poems. This publication triggered a counterculture that became famous as the San Francisco Renaissance.

 

It debuted at the 1955 Six Gallery Reading and ruffled many feathers, and led to an obscenity trial in 1957.

 

 

15. This is the End (2013)

 

 

This is the End is an apocalyptic comedy written, directed, and co-produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The film was a fun project that had Goldberg challenge all characters with increasingly ridiculous scenes.

 

He had a bet to make the maximum number of actors say no to his stunts. Only James Franco and Seth Rogen agreed to all demands.

 

The story is a simple plot where all friends gather in LA for James Franco’s housewarming party. As luck would have it, the apocalypse strikes and they are the few survivors.

 

 

16. The Great Raid (2005)

 

 

The Great Raid is a war drama that depicts the events that led to the rescue mission of 500 American troops that were held in the Japanese POW camps in the Philippines.

 

The plot is based on the account from The Great Raid on Cabanatuan by William Brauer and Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides.

 

During WWII, in the Japanese POW camp in the Philippines, many American forces were held captive in deplorable living conditions.

 

As the 500 soldiers were losing hope of ever being rescued, a company led by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci and Captain Robert Prince launched a rescue mission.

 

While some critics felt that there was no character development in the story. Chicago Sun-Times review praised the film for concentrating on the war effort, and not the unnecessary stuff.

 

 

17. Homefront (2013)

 

 

Homefront is an action drama that was co-produced by Sylvester Stallone based on a story he had for a long time.

 

The screenplay was written by Stallone for his Rambo franchise, but it never materialized. But Jason Statham loved it and agreed to play the lead role.

 

Franco portrays the drug lord and the antagonist. Statham plays a former DEA agent who comes to a small town to take care of his daughter in a safe environment, away from his dangerous past.

 

However, his small town is run by a drug lord who has links to Statham’s past and plans to exact vengeance.

 

The film hearkens to old-time action thrillers without any flashy stunts and plot twists. It evokes nostalgia without anything new to offer.

 

 

18. Flyboys (2006)

 

 

Flyboys is a historic action war drama that was set during world war I. The story revolves around the exploits of the American youth who volunteered to fight in WWI before America decided to enter the war.

 

They formed their squadron called Lafayette Escadrille and did many heroic acts of bravery. The story follows the exploits of a fictional Lafayette Escadrille pilot, Rawling who, along with Eugene Skinner, William Jensen, Briggs Lowry, Eddie Beagle, etc., join the squadron.

 

They are mentored by Reed Cassidy under the command of Georges Thenault. The characters are inspired by real-life Lafayette Escadrille pilots.

 

Their original Squadron mascots were two lion cubs named Whiskey and Soda.

 

 

19. The Interview (2014)

 

 

The Interview is an action comedy written, directed, and co-produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The film stoked an international diplomatic emergency when the North Korean foreign ministry demanded that the film should not be released.

 

A hacker group threatened terrorist attacks on all theaters that showed the film. The celebrity gossip talk show, Skylark Tonight, is approached by a fan, Kim Jong-un hoping to meet the host, Dave Skylark.

 

The show producer and Skylark are elated and hope to establish themselves as serious journalists. However, The CIA approaches them and tries to use them to assassinate the leader.

 

 

20. Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

 

 

Oz the Great and Powerful is a fantasy adventure that is based on L. Frank Baum’s Oz novels. The film was directed by Sam Raimi and became a box-office hit.

 

The sense of wonder and magic that the original Wizard of Oz had was lost in this film. Yet, this movie has its strong points as well.

 

Oscar Diggs is a small-time magician and a big-time con artist who works at a circus. He accidentally gets sucked into the world of Oz, which is in a state of chaos due to the terror spread by a wicked witch.

 

However, there are three witches in the kingdom, and Oscar has to identify the correct wicked witch and save the land as prophesied.

 

 

21. Date Night (2010)

 

 

Date Night is an action comedy film that was directed by Shawn Levy. The film boasts of a strong star cast of Oscar nominees with Steve Carrel, Mark Walhberg, James Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Taraji P. Henson, and Kristen Wiig.

 

It was a hit at the box office and received average ratings. The story is about an ordinary couple, The Foster, who lives in the suburbs.

 

They decide to reignite their marriage and go on a date night to a popular New York restaurant. As they do not have reservations, they impersonate another couple to get in.

 

The trouble starts when it turns out that the missing couple was stuck in a shady deal, and now the Fosters have to recover the stolen items.

 

 

22. True Story (2015)

 

 

True Story is a biographical crime movie. It is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Finkel, where he recounts his encounter.

 

The film offers good acting performances from Jonah Hill and James Franco, but the plot weakens its factual accuracy.

 

Michael Finkel is a New York Times reporter who has lost his job and is contacted by someone stating that Christian Longo has been impersonating him.

 

He gets curious and contacts Longo to learn that he is awaiting trial for the murder of his wife and children.

 

Slowly, throughout their correspondences, Longo manipulates Finkel to believe his innocence till the end.

 

 

23. Third Person (2013)

 

 

Third Person is a drama film that follows three different love stories that take place in New York, Paris, and Rome.

 

The film has an interesting premise with good acting, but the story is not impactful. The critics also gave it negative reviews.

 

Michael is a writer who has left his wife and is involved in an affair with a wannabe writer while in Paris.

 

Scott is a businessman who goes to Rome to steal designs from fashion houses but falls for a desperate mother who wants to rescue her daughter.

 

While Rick is stuck in a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife over visitation rights for their child. In a scene where Rick slaps his ex-wife and drags her across the floor, he accidentally stumbles.

 

The director retained the misstep as it added character to the scene.

 

 

24. Why Him? (2016)

 

 

Why Him? is a romantic comedy film co-written and directed by John Hamburg. The film was a box office hit despite the negative reviews from critics.

 

Laird Mayhew is the CEO of a video games company. He is in love with Stephanie Fleming and decides to propose to her.

 

In the meantime, Stephanie’s family arrives to meet him, and her father disapproves of Laird because of his immaturity.

 

The rest of the film revolves around the family reconciling and moving forward. In an interview, Franco disclosed that all the tattoos on him were designed by him.

 

Being an avid painter, he used all his paintings to decorate the home of his character.

 

 

25. The Company (2003)

 

 

The Company is an American drama film about ballet dancers in the acclaimed Joffrey Company. The film particularly follows the life of Loretta Ryan, her boyfriend Josh Williams, and Alberto Antonelli, the artistic director of the company.

 

The stories and scenes were all created based on the actual ballet dancers in the company. Neve Campbell, being a trained ballet dancer, took four months of training to get into her role.

 

James Franco is not a dancer, but a sous chef, and he trained at a local bistro to prepare for the film.

 

The film was met with positive reviews. The work of the director was praised for capturing the art and craft of ballet dancers to perfection.

 

 

26. Palo Alto (2013)

 

 

Palo Alto is a teen drama and the directorial debut of Gia Coppola. She also wrote the screenplay based on the short story by James Franco.

 

The film received positive reviews for the performance of the cast and the directorial work. April is a high schooler who is shy.

 

She is caught up between her unrequited crush on her classmate Teddy who is stoned most of the time, and the soccer coach, who constantly flirts with her.

 

In the film, Teddy’s bedroom is the actual room of the actor Jack Kilmer. The story is about the experiences of Franco, who grew up in Palo Alto.

 

 

27. Lovelace (2011)

 

 

Lovelace is a biographical drama based on the life of the porn star Linda Lovelace. She was the star of the hugely popular and successful porn film of 1972.

 

The film follows the life of the star from the age of 20 years till she reached 32 years.

 

Lovelace was born in a conservative Christian family with a domineering mother. Upset about her strained relationship with her parents, Lovelace discussed it with Chuck Traynor, a bar owner.

 

He used this fact to trap her in marriage and regularly abused her. He forced her to make the porn film and raked in all the money.

 

The public viewed Lovelace as they were unaware of her suffering, and she could not seek help for a long time.

 

 

28. Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

 

 

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, a 2018 Western anthology film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, explores the harsh realities of the American frontier through six interconnected tales of violence, greed, and human resilience. 

 

Each chapter unveils a distinct narrative, delving into the lives of individuals navigating the unforgiving landscape of the Wild West. James Franco portrays a Cowboy who is sentenced to be hanged for stock rustling (stealing cattle).

 

From the titular Buster Scruggs, a flamboyant gunslinger with a penchant for singing, to the desperate gold prospector in “All Gold Canyon”, the film weaves together a tapestry of human experience, capturing moments of humour, tragedy, and survival that defined the era.

 

 

29. Sausage Party (2016)

 

 

Sausage Party is an adult animated film that is based on a story by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Jonah Hill.

 

The story idea was conceived during the making of Knocked Up and Superbad as a joke between friends. The story is about a bunch of anthropomorphic food items on the shelves of a grocery store.

 

Each of the food items has a personality and identity of its own and they dream of the great beyond (that is being bought by customers).

 

James Franco is a  human drug addict who is the first to discover that food can talk and have a personality.

 

 

30. City by the Sea (2002)

 

 

City by the Sea is a crime drama that is based on the life of New York Police Detective Vincent LaMarca.

 

The role of the son, Joey, is played by Franco, and he got the role after De Biro was impressed with Franco’s performance in James Dean.

 

Joey Le Marca is a homeless druggie who is convicted of murder. He contacts Vincent LaMarca, his estranged father, for help, only to be turned down.

 

Initially, Vincent LaMarca is disappointed at the fact that his son is a murderer, just like his father was.

 

Now he has to reconcile with his past and decide his future as his son is further embroiled in multiple homicides.

 

 

31. In Dubious Battle (2016)

 

 

In Dubious Battle is a period drama that is set during the Great Depression. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name written by John Steinbeck.

 

The labor characters in the film were described sympathetically by the author. But Franco, the director, portrayed them in a devious light.

 

The story is set on farms in California during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The farmers were finding it difficult to survive on the low wages they were receiving and the poor living conditions.

 

To aggravate matters, the management cuts farmer salaries from $3 to $1 per day, leading to protests and boycotts.

 

The film was considered the finest directorial venture by James Franco.

 

 

32. Eat Pray Love (2010)

 

 

Eat Pray Love is a biographical romantic drama based on a novel of the same name by Elizabeth Gilbert.

 

The film was successful at the box office, but it received negative reviews. Many people objected to the casting of Javier Bardem as Felipe, a Brazilian businessman, when he was a Spaniard.

 

They also opposed the casting of Mr. Spaghetti as an AS Roma fan when he was a fan of SS Lazio.

 

Eat Pray Love is the journey of self-discovery for Elizabeth Gilbert, who was married but unhappy. She sets out on a world tour to discover the three necessities for happiness, eating, praying, and love.

 

 

33. Annapolis (2006)

 

 

Annapolis is a drama set in the naval academy of Annapolis. The US Navy and the Dept. of Defense refused to approve or support the film.

 

The critics were also unhappy with the flimsy plot that lacked all the hallmarks of a good naval film story.

 

Jake Huard is a youth who dreams of joining the US Navy. Although he is selected to the Naval academy at Annapolis, he struggles to fit in with the class.

 

He lacks academically and he is constantly hazed by his instructors and mates until he decides to fight back in the upcoming boxing matches.

 

During the filming, Tyrese Gibson and James Franco had a falling out, and Gibson refused to work with Franco ever again.

 

 

34. Kin (2018)

 

 

Kin is a science fiction action film by Jonathan and Josh Baker. They made a short film titled Bag Man in 2014, and they adapted this film to make the feature-length film, Kin.

 

Critics gave the film a B+ rating with average reviews. They felt that the pacing and narrative were a little off considering the late twist in the plot.

 

The story starts with a futuristic world where Eli lives with his adopted father. One day she finds a strange weapon in an even stranger scene of battle.

 

Eli picks up the weapon and hides it. Later, Jimmy, his elder brother returns from prison and brings home trouble.

 

Eli is forced to flee with Jimmy and along the way, they bond but trouble follows.

 

 

35. Mississippi Requiem (2018)

 

 

Mississippi Requiem is a collection of four short films that were directed by Arkesh Ajay, Kelly Pike, Jerell Rosales, and Marta Savina.

 

James Franco acted in A Rose of Emily and co-wrote and produced the film through his production company Elysium Bandini Studio.

 

The film is a collection of four short films that are adapted from William Faulkner’s short stories. They were directed by four different directors into short films.

 

The short story that Franco performs is the short story, A Rose For Emily. It is the tale of an emotionally damaged young woman who lost her last surviving relative, her father at a young age.

 

This led to her becoming a recluse and insistent on maintaining the status quo on everything around her.

 

 

36. The Mad Whale (2017)

 

 

“The Mad Whale” is a 2017 film set in the 19th century within an all-female mental institution. The story revolves around a new doctor named Dr. Benjamin, who arrives at the institution with modern ideas about treating mental illness.

 

He challenges the conventional methods used by the authoritarian head nurse, Mrs. Bucket. As tensions rise and power struggles ensue, the patients of the asylum find their voices and strength, ultimately leading to a rebellion against the oppressive system.

 

The critical reaction to “The Mad Whale” was largely negative. Critics found the film’s narrative to be disjointed and the pacing uneven, resulting in a lack of emotional engagement.

 

While the film tackled important themes of female empowerment and the treatment of mental illness, many felt that it failed to fully explore or execute them effectively.

 

 

37. Queen of the Desert (2015)

 

 

Queen of the Desert is a biographical epic about Gertrude Bell, who served as an archaeologist, cartographer, writer, and British political officer.

 

The film has stellar performances from Nicole Kidman and a talented cast, including James Franco, Robert Pattinson, Damien Lewis, etc., yet the film flopped.

 

The story follows the life and work of Gertrude Bell, who is from British high society. She despises the balls and the idyllic life of gossip.

 

She travels along with her uncle to the near east, meets and embarks on many adventures. On the first day of filming, Kidman had to work with an untrained vulture who tried to peck her.

 

Kidman said that the scene was her favorite in the film.

 

 

38. Deuces Wild (2002)

 

 

“Deuces Wild” is a 2002 film set in 1958 Brooklyn and revolves around two brothers, Leon and Bobby, who are members of a street gang called the Deuces.

 

The brothers find themselves caught in a turf war with a rival gang the Vipers, led by Marco. As tensions escalate, they must navigate the dangerous world of gang warfare while dealing with personal conflicts and the growing influence of drugs.

 

The audience reception of “Deuces Wild” was mixed. While some appreciated the film’s nostalgic portrayal of 1950s Brooklyn and its stylish aesthetic, others found the plot to be cliched.

 

Critics criticized the film for its excessive violence and predictable plot. However, it has since gained a cult following among fans of gritty urban dramas and 1950s nostalgia.

 

 

39. King Cobra (2016)

 

 

King Cobra is a biographical crime drama that is set against the backdrop of the gay porn industry. The story is based on the novels, Cobra Killer: Gay Porn, Murder, and the Manhunt to Bring the Killers to Justice.

 

James Franco portrays the antagonist, but the film flopped. A seventeen-year-old teen agrees to star in a gay porn film made by director Stephen Kocis.

 

The film becomes immensely popular, and the director rakes in large profits. When the teen learns that he is not being paid well compared to his success, he fights with the director.

 

At the same time, a rival porn filmmaker gets jealous over his success leading to deadly consequences. Though the film was marketed as a biography, the central character denounced the film as a fiction that mocks the queer community and the porn industry.

 

 

40. Your Highness (2011)

 

 

Your Highness is a fantasy comedy action film that was written by Danny McBride and Ben Best. The film was a box office bomb that even the critics were unhappy with.

 

They felt that the scatological jokes were tasteless and juvenile. The director disclosed in an interview that the script was just a general direction of the story, and most dialogues were improvised.

 

Fabious and Thadious are brothers, and they are forced to come together to work and defeat an evil sorcerer Leezar.

 

Fabious is a strong and capable brother, while Thadious is a lazy loser who tries to get away from responsibility.

 

Your Highness has few jokes to offer, and the lead actress Natalie Portman accepted that she took the film for the paycheck.

 

She was waiting for another film of hers to get the nod from studios, so she needed the money.

 

 

41. Whatever it Takes (2000)

 

 

Whatever It Takes is a teen comedy that is a modern retelling of the play Cyrano de Bergerac. The film was a flop, but it was nominated for three Teen Choice Awards.

 

The story was old, the jokes were flat, the performance was passable, and overall it was an average film.

 

Ryan is a geeky kid who has a crush on the popular girl, Ashley. To help him get Ashley, her cousin, Chris, agrees to help Ryan in exchange for his help to date Maggie.

 

Ryan helps Chris get Maggie while Ryan catches Ashley’s attention. However, things are not the same as he imagined.

 

The movie was filmed in Torrance High School where She’s All That was filmed. Jodi O’Keefe plays the mean girl in both films.

 

 

42. Good People (2014)

 

 

Good People is an action film that is adapted from the novel of the same name written by Marcus Sakey.

 

The film is set in London, and it is a crime caper that has been criticized for its thinly fleshed characters.

 

It is difficult to invest emotionally in a film that could have been an engrossing tale. Tom and Anna are a couple who are living in London and renovating their house.

 

They are heavily in debt. One day they discover their tenant died from a drug overdose, and he hid a stash of cash in the house.

 

The couple used this cash to clear their debt, but the cash was ill-gotten by the tenant who betrayed his friends and stole from a drug dealer.

 

Now both parties are chasing the couple to recover the cash and police are also involved due to apprehending the crooks.

 

 

43. Every Thing Will Be Fine (2015)

 

 

Every Thing Will Be Fine is a Canadian-Swedish film directed by Wim Wenders. The film was released at the Berlin Film Festival and received its US premiere at the Toronto Film festival.

 

Alexander Desplat added music to the film a week before its release. The story revolves around a writer, Tomas, who accidentally causes the death of a little child while his brother survives.

 

This accident causes emotional upheaval in the lives of all those involved. Tomas becomes depressed and breaks up with his girlfriend.

 

The mother of the child suffers guilt and self-blame, while the surviving brother grows up into a troubled teen.

 

 

44. Blood Heist (2017)

 

 

Blood Heist is an action film directed by Jenna Cavelle, and she co-wrote the script along with Jay Davis and Amber Viera.

 

The film is about filmmakers who attempt to take realism to the next level, resulting in a disastrous ending.

 

A group of siblings, two sisters, and a brother plan a violent robbery to use the money to make an independent film.

 

They decide to make their film based on the process and events of the armed robbery. The events of the robbery go awry from the early stages.

 

The film did not make an impression on its audience or critics. It went largely forgotten and unnoticed.

 

 

45. Spring Breakers (2012)

 

 

Spring Breakers is a black comedy-crime drama written and directed by Harmony Korine. The film was praised as a stinging look at the current apathy, recklessness, and danger-seeking attitude among youth.

 

The performance of James Franco was praised for his performance as the drug-hustling rapper. The story starts with four young girls who are low on cash to go on spring break.

 

During a drug-addled session, three of them rob a restaurant and escape to Florida. While Brit, Candy, and Cotty are rash and reckless, Faith is a god-fearing Christian youth who recognizes the danger.

 

She is the first to return after a night in jail and meeting the drug-dealing Alien. The other three friends slowly descend into the chaotic and dangerous world of drugs, violence, and gang wars.

 

 

46. Memoria (2015)

 

 

Memoria is a drama based on a short story written by James Franco. The film explores the life of a kid who feels unsatisfied with the way his life is progressing but refuses to do anything about it.

 

He sets low expectations in his life and struggles to fit in with any crowd. The film was directed by Vladimir de Fontenay and Nina Ljeti, based on the short story Palo Alto by Franco.

 

Memoria received just five reviews on Rotten Tomatoes to date, which were favorable. Hence, the film is considered to have positive reviews.

 

However, the audience felt that the plot just meanders into nothing. It shows promise in the first half but eventually fizzles out.

 

 

47. Interior. Leather Bar. (2013)

 

 

Interior. Leather Bar. is a docu-fiction film that was made by James Franco and Travis Mathews. It is based on the deleted footage of the controversial 1980s film, Cruising.

 

The original film is about a serial killer who targets gay people. The current docu-fiction is a discussion on the nature of the deleted footage, whether it was homophobic or explicit.

 

It questions if the actors were comfortable with gay themes during those days, their concerns with censorship, etc. The viewers were not able to discern the point of the film.

 

They were not able to understand the need for Franco to make such a film, and it eventually tanked at the box office.

 

 

48. The Pretenders (2018)

 

 

The Pretenders is a film directed by James Franco with a screenplay by Josh Boone. The film follows the life and encounters of a young filmmaker, his photographer friend, and an actress.

 

It is a love triangle that is confusing at best. The film has a mix of fresh talent with Jack Kilmer, Juno Temple, Shaameik Moore, etc., and the old guard with Dennis Quaid, Brian Cox, etc.

 

Yet, The Pretenders is a forgettable film with nothing outstanding about it. The film received mostly negative reviews, with a few calling the film shallow, shoddy filmmaking, flat-footed performances, etc.

 

 

49. Arctic Dogs (2019)

 

 

Arctic Dogs is an animated film about a mailman from the Arctic Blast Delivery Service. The story is about a mailman who aspires to become the top dog delivery man and stumbles upon a sinister plot of world domination.

 

He and his ragtag group of friends have to foil the evil plan and save the world. The film received mixed reviews, with some critics panning it.

 

The audience gave it a rating of B- at CinemaScore, while PostTrak gave it a good rating of ‘recommended.’ The film failed at the box office and recovered only a fifth of the budget.

 

However, there were spin-offs to the film, like Arctic Friends, Puffin, and Puffins, which were released on Apple+ TV and Amazon Prime. Johnny Depp voiced Puffin in the series.

 

 

50. The Vault (2017)

 

 

The Vault is a horror film co-written and directed by Dan Bush. The film did not receive positive reviews.

 

They were average to mixed reviews that did not recommend watching the film. The film has a few goof-ups, like the bag of cash that was supposed to contain notes dating back to 1982 were notes issued in 1996.

 

The name of Centurion bank is followed by a string of roman numerals “MCMXXLIIV”. These numerals do not make sense as they should have been MCMLXXVII to indicate the year it was established.

 

The horror film is set in a bank where a robbery is underway. The robbers are led into a vault that unleashes an unknown danger upon the robbers.