Release date: May 19, 1999
U.S. box office: $474.5 million (including the recent 3D re-release)
Why it's bad: Has there ever been a worse movie that more people desperately wanted to believe was good? Now that we have distance from George Lucas' frustrating, childish, wooden and downright dull prequel trilogy, it's easy to recognize the first as the very worst. Yes, the showdown with Darth Maul is fun. Does that make up for Jar Jar Binks, Young Anakin and midichlorians? There are so many glaring missteps it's hard to believe this is one of the top 10 movies of all time worldwide. But people -- justifiably -- love the original trilogy. And even if Lucas' filmmaking felt downright square in the year of "The Matrix," "Phantom Menace" was an event too massive to miss.

- Geoff Berkshire