Quick Read
- Natalie Portman received a Worst Actress nomination at the 2026 Razzies for ‘Fountain of Youth.’
- Other Oscar winners like Michelle Yeoh, Ariana DeBose, Robert De Niro, Jared Leto, and Nicolas Cage also received Razzie nods.
- Disney’s live-action ‘Snow White’ and ‘War of the Worlds’ tied with six nominations each, including Worst Picture.
- ‘Snow White’ reportedly lost over $100 million at the box office.
- The 46th annual Razzies, which satirize Hollywood’s worst films, will announce winners on March 14.
Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman has found herself among Hollywood’s most decorated stars facing an unconventional accolade: a nomination for Worst Actress at the 2026 Golden Raspberry Awards, widely known as the Razzies. Portman’s nod for her role in the film ‘Fountain of Youth’ highlights a trend in this year’s nominations, which see numerous A-list actors and major studio releases, including Disney’s highly anticipated live-action ‘Snow White,’ targeted for their perceived cinematic failings. The Razzies, a satirical counterpoint to the more prestigious Academy Awards, aim to ‘honor’ the year’s most disappointing films and performances, with winners set to be announced on March 14.
A-Listers Face the ‘Worst’
The 46th annual Golden Raspberry Awards nominations have cast a wide net, capturing some of Hollywood’s most esteemed talents alongside box office disappointments. Natalie Portman, a recipient of an Academy Award, leads the acting nominations for Worst Actress. Her inclusion underscores the Razzies’ tradition of not sparing even the most critically acclaimed performers when their projects fall short of expectations. Joining Portman in this unexpected category are fellow Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh, nominated for ‘Star Trek: Section 31,’ and Ariana DeBose for ‘Love Hurts.’ This trio of acclaimed actresses receiving Razzie nods serves as a stark reminder that even the industry’s most respected figures are not immune to critical backlash, especially when a film’s reception or performance is widely panned.
The nominations extend beyond actresses, with several prominent male Oscar winners also making the Razzies’ list. Robert De Niro, Jared Leto, and Nicolas Cage are among the veteran actors who have received nods in various categories, signaling a year where even established stars delivered performances deemed subpar by the Golden Raspberry Foundation. These nominations often generate significant buzz, not just for the perceived ‘worst’ films, but for the willingness of the Razzies to call out major names and productions, adding a layer of ironic humor to the awards season.
Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Among Top Targets
Perhaps one of the most anticipated and subsequently criticized films of the year, Disney’s live-action ‘Snow White,’ starring Rachel Zegler, emerged as one of the biggest targets for the 2026 Razzies. The film garnered a staggering six nominations, tying with the Ice Cube–led sci-fi reboot ‘War of the Worlds’ for the most nods. Both films are in contention for the coveted Worst Picture award, a category that also includes ‘The Electric State,’ ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ (featuring Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye), and ‘Star Trek: Section 31.’
‘Snow White’s’ extensive nominations reflect its reported struggles, with estimates suggesting the film lost the studio over $100 million at the box office, making it one of 2025’s biggest flops. The film and ‘War of the Worlds’ will directly compete in several overlapping categories, including Worst Remake, Worst Screen Combo, Worst Director, and Worst Screenplay, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with both productions across multiple creative aspects. Even specific elements were singled out, with ‘Snow White’s’ ‘artificial’ dwarves receiving a unique nod for Worst Supporting Actor. Ice Cube also secured a Worst Actor nomination for his role in ‘War of the Worlds,’ further solidifying the film’s poor critical reception. In the Worst Supporting Actress category, Anna Chlumsky, Ema Horvath, Scarlet Rose Stallone, Kacey Rohl, and Isis Valverde were all nominated.
The Golden Raspberry Awards: A Hollywood Tradition
The Golden Raspberry Awards, affectionately known as the Razzies, were co-founded by UCLA film graduates and film industry veterans John J. B. Wilson and Mo Murphy. Conceived as a humorous antidote to the self-congratulatory nature of traditional award ceremonies, the Razzies aim to highlight and poke fun at the perceived worst cinematic achievements of the year. The inaugural ceremony took place on March 31, 1981, in Wilson’s living room alcove, honoring the films of the 1980 season. Since then, the Razzies have grown into an annual institution, typically announcing their nominations the day before the Academy Award nods, creating a parallel narrative of cinematic highs and lows.
The Golden Raspberry Foundation proudly states that the award ‘encourages well-known filmmakers and top-notch performers to own their bad.’ This philosophy has led to some memorable moments in Razzie history, including instances where major stars have embraced their nominations or even attended the ceremony to accept their awards. Sylvester Stallone currently holds the record as the most-awarded actor, with 12 Razzies to his name. Other famous recipients include Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Madonna, Brooke Shields, and Bill Cosby. One of the most iconic moments occurred in 2010 when Sandra Bullock famously showed up to accept her Worst Actress award for ‘All About Steve’ just one day before winning the Best Actress Oscar for ‘The Blind Side,’ demonstrating a rare display of humility and humor that resonated widely.
The Paradox of ‘Worst’ Accolades
While the Razzies are ostensibly about recognizing cinematic failures, their persistent ability to attract attention, particularly when A-list stars and major studio films are nominated, reveals a fascinating paradox. These awards, despite their negative premise, often serve to amplify discussion around the films and performances they target. A nomination, even a ‘worst’ one, keeps a film or actor in the news cycle, generating conversations and sometimes even drawing curious viewers to witness the perceived missteps for themselves.
For studios, a Razzie nomination for a big-budget production like ‘Snow White’ can underscore significant financial and critical disappointment, yet it also keeps the title relevant in public discourse. For actors, it can be a moment to display self-awareness and humor, much like Sandra Bullock did, turning a potentially embarrassing situation into a moment of endearing candor. The Razzies thrive on the contrast between Hollywood’s aspirational glamour and its occasional spectacular failures, providing a unique platform for critical, albeit comedic, commentary on the industry’s output.
The ongoing presence of the Golden Raspberry Awards within the annual awards season highlights a crucial aspect of cinematic culture: the industry’s willingness, and indeed the public’s appetite, to acknowledge and even celebrate both its greatest triumphs and its most notable missteps. By consistently targeting high-profile films and performers, the Razzies ensure that no one, regardless of their star power or budget, is entirely immune from critical scrutiny, maintaining a healthy, if sometimes brutal, sense of humility in an otherwise often self-congratulatory environment.