From a Dustin Hoffman performance described as 'less witty than a stunned mollusc' to a 1970s TV show featuring chimpanzees in human clothing, Guardian readers have shared their most atrocious viewing experiences. The roundup follows the newspaper's series of zero-star reviews, which have included films such as The Lego Movie and Waterworld.
Olly, 47, from Birmingham, recalled the 'excruciating' experience of watching Playmobil: The Movie. He said the best part was the opening scene, where Anya Taylor-Joy sings about imagination before police arrive to inform the characters that their parents are dead. 'That was by far the biggest laugh,' he said, as the rest of the film tried to outdo itself in garishness and loudness.
Catherine, from Massachusetts, described Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp as 'the single worst piece of garbage ever inflicted on TV viewers'. The 1970s show featured chimpanzees dressed up and given things to chew, while humans dubbed in cheesy dialogue. 'My eyes (and brain) still ache,' she said.
Ke, from Ireland, had a more positive take on a zero-star film: Waterworld (1995), starring Kevin Costner and Dennis Hopper. Despite the film's reputation, Ke found it 'unintentionally hilarious' and a 'five-star bonding experience' with a friend. 'Hopper's gloriously over-the-top performance made it feel like he was in on the joke,' he said.
Will, from London, criticised Ricky Gervais's Netflix series After Life, calling it 'awful' and saying the humour relies heavily on the c-word. He described the protagonist as 'rude, obnoxious, hurts and upsets people, but his wife died, so it's OK'. Will also noted that the character commits serious crimes, such as threatening a child with a hammer, which are barely mentioned again.
Finally, a former journalist recalled reviewing the play Moonshine by Snoo Wilson at Hampstead theatre in 1999. The theatre was only a third full for the second performance, and the play was 'an absolute disaster on every level – incomprehensible plot, stultifying dialogue, a set design that might have been the product of a freshers' week post-pub round-table'. At the interval, most audience members had already left.
