Golden Raspberry Awards: Nominees and How They’re Chosen
The Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly called the Razzies, are a parody awards ceremony that honors the worst films and performances of the year. Nominees are chosen by a voting group of over 1,000 members from the US and other countries, who submit ranked ballots in categories like Worst Picture, Worst Actor, and Worst Director. The group is run by co-founders John Wilson and Mo Murphy, and the awards are given out in a low-key ceremony the night before the Academy Awards.
History and Purpose
The first Golden Raspberry Awards were held in 1981, in a living room in Los Angeles, to poke fun at what the founders saw as the most egregious film failures of the 1980 season. The ceremony was intentionally cheap and irreverent, with a plastic spray-painted golf ball on a film reel as the trophy. Over the years, the Razzies have grown from a small joke into a widely covered media event, but the spirit remains the same: to call out films that, in the voters’ opinion, failed spectacularly in execution, acting, directing, or writing.
The Razzies are not a “real� industry award in the sense of the Oscars or BAFTAs, but they have become a cultural touchstone. They are often mentioned in the same breath as the films they mock, and a Razzie nomination can become a permanent part of a film’s legacy. Some filmmakers and actors accept the award with humor, while others ignore it entirely. The ceremony itself has been held in various venues, including a theater in Hollywood, but it remains a small, often self-deprecating event.
How the Nominees Are Chosen
The nomination process is a two-step system. First, any film released in the US during the eligibility year (roughly January 1 through December 31) is automatically eligible. There is no entry fee, no submission process, and no studio campaign. The voting body, which is called the “Razzie Award Voting Group,� consists of members from the US and around the world. These members include film professionals, journalists, and fans who pay a small annual fee to join.
In the first round, each member submits a ballot with their choices in each category. They are asked to list five nominees per category, in order of preference. The top five vote-getters in each category become the official nominees. In the second round, the same voting group votes again to pick the winners from those nominees. The winners are announced at the ceremony, which is traditionally held the night before the Oscars.
The categories have changed over the years. The original categories included Worst Picture, Worst Actor, Worst Actress, Worst Supporting Actor, Worst Supporting Actress, Worst Director, and Worst Screenplay. Later additions include Worst Remake, Rip-off, or Sequel, Worst Screen Combo, and Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off, or Sequel. In 2020, a special “Razzie Redeemer Award� was introduced to acknowledge a past winner who had since made a great film.
Who Votes and How Can You Join?
The voting group is open to anyone who is willing to pay the membership fee. The fee is modest, and it is used to cover the costs of the ceremony and the organization. Members are expected to watch a reasonable number of films during the year, but there is no strict requirement. The group is diverse, including people from many countries, which gives the awards an international flavor.
To join, you simply apply through the official Razzie website. The application asks for your name, location, and a brief statement of why you want to vote. Once accepted, you receive ballots by email. The process is designed to be simple, and the organizers emphasize that they are looking for people who genuinely enjoy movies and want to participate in a fun, irreverent tradition.
It is worth noting that the Razzies have been criticized for their voting transparency. The exact number of voters is not published, and the identity of individual voters is kept confidential. This is partly to protect members from studio pressure or harassment, but it also means that the results can be influenced by a small, self-selected group. The organizers defend this by saying that the awards are meant to be a joke, not a scientific survey.
Controversies and Criticisms
The Razzies have faced several controversies over the years. One of the most notable was the 2022 award for Worst Actress, which was given to a 12-year-old actress for her role in a film that was not widely seen. The backlash was immediate, with many people arguing that it was inappropriate to single out a child for such an award. The Razzies later apologized and rescinded the award, stating that the nomination and win were not intended to be mean-spirited.
Another criticism is that the Razzies often target films that are simply low-budget or poorly reviewed, rather than truly “worst� in a meaningful sense. Some argue that the awards punch down, mocking films that are already struggling, rather than holding big-budget failures accountable. Others point out that the voting group is not representative of the general public, so the results can seem out of touch.
Despite these criticisms, the Razzies have also been praised for their willingness to admit mistakes. In 2023, they introduced a new rule that allows them to rescind a nomination or award if it is deemed to be “in poor taste.� This was a direct response to the 2022 incident, and it shows that the organizers are at least aware of the potential harm.
Comparison to Other Awards
The Razzies are often compared to the Academy Awards, but they are fundamentally different in purpose. The Oscars are meant to celebrate artistic achievement, while the Razzies are meant to mock failure. However, the Razzies have also been compared to other parody awards, such as the Golden Turkey Awards, which were a book and later a series of TV specials that highlighted “the worst movies ever made.� The Razzies are more systematic, with a formal nomination and voting process, but they share the same irreverent spirit.
Another comparison is to the “Worst of� lists that many critics publish at the end of the year. These lists are subjective and often based on a single critic’s opinion. The Razzies, by contrast, are a collective judgment, albeit from a self-selected group. This gives them a bit more weight, but it also makes them more susceptible to groupthink.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Golden Raspberry nominees chosen?
Nominees are chosen by a two-round voting process. In the first round, members of the Razzie Voting Group submit their top five choices in each category. The five films or people with the most votes become the nominees. In the second round, the same members vote again to pick the winners from those nominees.
Can anyone vote for the Razzies?
Yes, anyone can join the Razzie Voting Group by paying a small annual fee and applying through the official website. There are no professional requirements, but members are expected to have a genuine interest in movies. The group is open to people from all over the world.
Why are the Razzies given out the night before the Oscars?
The timing is intentional. By holding the ceremony the night before the Academy Awards, the Razzies get maximum media attention and can poke fun at the Oscars’ self-importance. It also creates a contrast between the “best� and the “worst� of the year, which makes for good headlines.
Do the Razzies ever give awards to good films?
Occasionally, a film that is nominated for a Razzie also receives Oscar nominations or critical acclaim. This is rare, but it happens. For example, in 2011, the film “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1� was nominated for several Razzies, but it was also a box office hit. More commonly, the Razzies nominate films that are both critically panned and commercially unsuccessful, which is why they are often seen as a sign of a film’s failure.
What happens if a winner refuses the award?
Most winners do not show up to accept their Razzie. In fact, the ceremony is often attended by low-level actors or representatives who accept on behalf of the winners. If a winner refuses the award, the Razzies simply move on. There is no rule that forces anyone to accept. Some winners have later made jokes about it, while others have never mentioned it.
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