A big-budget superhero film boasting a trio of Hollywood A-listers is set to air on UK television this weekend, despite being savaged by critics and audiences as one of the worst movies ever made.
A Star-Studded Box Office Catastrophe
The film in question is the 1998 cinematic adaptation of the classic 1960s British TV series, 'The Avengers'. Despite its title, it bears no relation to the Marvel superhero franchise. Instead, it features Sean Connery as the villainous Sir August de Wynter, a madman who weaponises the weather to threaten London and the world.
Secret agents John Steed (Ralph Fiennes) and Emma Peel (Uma Thurman) are tasked with stopping him, while also clearing Peel's name after she is framed for sabotaging a government project. On paper, with such an acclaimed cast, the project seemed destined for success.
Scathing Reviews from Disappointed Fans
However, the reality was a critical and commercial disaster. On review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, fan sentiment is brutally negative. One viewer called it "possibly the worst movie of all times," feeling it disrespected the beloved original series.
Another simply declared: "IT IS THE WORST MOVIE THAT HAS EVER BEEN MADE!" Criticisms are wide-ranging, focusing on a terrible script, awful pacing, and poor casting decisions. Many reviewers admitted they could not even finish watching the film.
"The story was lame, the acting much too contrived, and the plot was utterly incoherent and forgettable," wrote one disappointed viewer. Another cited it as proof that "the wrong actors with the wrong script in a film made by the wrong people is inevitably doomed to fail."
From Big Screen Flop to Saturday TV Slot
Despite its infamous reputation, the film finds a new audience on terrestrial television. 'The Avengers' (1998) is scheduled to air on ITV4 on Saturday 10 January at 5.05pm. This broadcast offers curious viewers a chance to judge the cinematic calamity for themselves, over two decades after its original release.
The broadcast serves as a stark reminder that even the most promising projects, backed by major stars like Connery, Fiennes, and Thurman, can go spectacularly wrong, earning a place in cinematic history for all the worst reasons.
