With 2024 kicking off, film critics are already weighing the year's cinematic offerings, and it seems some films are facing dire Reception. According to 24 Kanal, which cited Variety, ten films have been dubbed the worst of the year, with the majority falling under comedies. The recaps indicate these films fail to deliver entertainment, leaving audiences disappointed.
The full list of the worst films includes titles such as Poolman, Rumours, Reagan, The End, Lisa Frankenstein, Dogman, The Mouse Trap, Not Another Church, Harold and the Purple Crayon, and Rebel Moon: Director's Cut. Notably, the comedy Poolman—which marks the directorial debut of Chris Pine—is central to discussions about quality, primarily because it involves Darren Barreman, a pool cleaner who dreams of making his town a nicer place. Yet, his eccentricities lead to him being seen as somewhat of a local oddball.
Critics agree, as articulated by 24 Kanal, "These films are among the most boring this year. They will bring no pleasure and will only cause a desire to switch to something else." This sentiment resonates powerfully with audiences hoping for genuine laughter or intrigue.
Despite the onslaught of lackluster films, one production stands tall amid the rubble—Holope-2, the sequel to the Russian comedy hit. Data from the Unified Automated Information System of the Cinema Fund confirms this film has raked in an impressive 42.7 million rubles at the box office. While this is significant, it falls short of its predecessor, Cheburashka, which grossed 68.1 million rubles last year.
Detailed analysis explains the discrepancies, with Holope-2 drawing 161,885 viewers compared to Cheburashka’s 336,447. The first installment of Holope, released in 2020, was even less popular, gathering only 32.5 million rubles with 119,160 viewers, illustrating fluctuative audience engagement with sequels.
Additional box office highlights from the Omsk region feature adventure comedy The Bremen Musicians, which grossed 31.6 million rubles, and the short film How Much Does A Cloud Weigh?, which made 24.8 million rubles. While the animated short typically showed alongside Dune, its gross figures imply significant interest when paired with blockbuster films.
Adding to the excitement is The Non-Diamond Hand, which premiered on January 1, 2025, on the TNT channel. This new comedy serves as a parody of the classic Soviet film The Diamond Arm—though its setting remains firmly anchored in contemporary society but imagines the USSR still exists. Director Mikhail Semichev and Roman Kim take audiences on this alternate reality cruise as characters navigate humorous hijinks.
The main character, Semen Semenovich Gorbenkov, played by Timur Batuftdinov, finds himself embroiled with smugglers, who humorously replace diamonds hidden in his cast with common goods like smartphones and hairdryers.
The film's ensemble cast showcases familiar faces from TNT and Comedy Club fame, contributing to its comedic appeal. Viewers anticipate the film's humorous takes on today's culture, with adaptations of timeless quotes and situations from the original film interwoven throughout.
Early reviews showcase divided opinions. Some praise the film as this year's comedic masterpiece, branding it the best comedy. Others, conversely, criticize it for failing to capture the charm of the original classic, calling the humor poor and uninspired.
Despite its reception, fans of comedies will find plenty of comedic flair, identifiable pop culture references, and delightful performances; yet critic consensus calls for more originality. Current ratings on Kinopoisk give it about 6.4 out of 10, though this may change as more viewers cast their votes.
If you missed the television premiere, you can catch The Non-Diamond Hand on the TNT Premier online platform or through Kinopoisk's streaming service. The film holds an age restriction of 16+, so audiences should be mindful before inviting family to screen the film together.
With 2024 continuing to heat up, film enthusiasts are eager to see how these upcoming years' cinematic gems evolve and what stories merit their attention, leaving behind the not-so-great attempts.