When examining a list of notorious bad movies, you’ll often find that many have relatively short runtimes. Films like The Room, <em>Troll 2</em>, and Plan 9 from Outer Space typically run just over an hour and a half, making them easy to digest, despite their questionable content.
In contrast, the following films are flawed in ways beyond their runtimes, and they all exceed 2.5 hours without justifying their length, making them particularly hard to recommend. They are ranked from the least disappointing to the outright terrible (and not in an enjoyable way).
10
‘Wyatt Earp’ (1994)
Interestingly, Wyatt Earp runs longer than three hours, arguably committing a greater runtime-related offense than the films mentioned below. However, it’s difficult to outright dislike it. Perhaps this is due to its underdog status, overshadowed by the similar yet superior film Tombstone, released the year before.
Wyatt Earp covers more than just the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, acting as a broad biopic of its titular character. However, it fails to effectively utilize its lengthy runtime. The film’s slow pace might not seem like an issue given the extensive timeline it covers, but there must be a better way to approach this subject, as Wyatt Earp ultimately becomes tedious.
9
‘Les Misérables’ (2012)
Les Misérables presents an intriguing yet chaotic film experience, with both successful and unsuccessful elements. Certain performances and sequences shine, while others feel miscast and detract from the overall quality of the film.
This adaptation is based on the stage musical inspired by Victor Hugo’s novel. Some musical numbers are well-executed, while others fall flat. The viewing experience is chaotic due to the mix of good and bad elements, making it a more interesting watch than Tom Hooper’s infamous musical adaptation of Cats, which shares similar issues.
8
‘Kinds of Kindness’ (2024)
In between two sci-fi films, director Yorgos Lanthimos released the unrestrained and unfocused film Kinds of Kindness. If you enjoy the twisted comedic elements found in some of his better works, you might find something appealing here, but it is excessively long.
The film attempts to mitigate its length by being an anthology with several smaller stories intertwined. However, it ultimately becomes tedious and frustrating to watch, likely marking it as the weakest entry in Lanthimos’s filmography over the past decade.
7
‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ (2014)
<img width="1650" height="826" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="Christian Bale as Moses on the battlefield in Exodus: Gods and Kings" data-img-url="https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/exodus-gods-and-kings.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2" src="https://static0.colliderimages.com/w…
Director Ridley Scott has created many films, some lengthy epics that justify their runtimes (like Gladiator). However, Exodus: Gods and Kings does not earn its runtime and instead presents a dreary retelling of Moses’s story that has been done better in other films.
No matter how into epic movies you usually are, it’s just not worth taking the time to battle your way through Exodus: Gods and Kings.
While many criticize the casting choices in Exodus: Gods and Kings, there are numerous other issues present, particularly concerning pacing. Even though it barely qualifies at just over 2.5 hours long, it feels exceptionally lengthy – that’s the main takeaway here.
6
‘Eternals’ (2021)
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The runtime joke about Eternals is too easy to make. The film sets itself up for criticism with its length and pacing. However, if you invest your time into watching it (which is considerable), there may be some redeeming qualities.
The visual aspects of Eternals are commendable, attempting new approaches within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Nevertheless, it struggles with introducing too many characters and concepts without providing a coherent emotional framework for them.
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The runtime for both films feels excessive for their respective genres. While superhero movies typically have engaging narratives that keep viewers invested, both films fail to deliver compelling stories that justify their lengths.
This trend continues with other lengthy films on this list that suffer from similar pacing issues or lackluster storytelling.
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The melodrama surrounding circus life fails to captivate modern audiences despite its historical significance as an Oscar-winning film.
The lengthy runtime feels even more tedious when combined with lackluster storytelling that fails to engage viewers fully.
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The film’s meandering nature detracts from its potential enjoyment as a hangout movie.
This musical struggles with pacing and coherence while failing to leave a lasting impression on audiences.
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The controversial nature of this film makes it more intriguing as a subject of discussion than as an actual viewing experience.
The original cut of Caligula deserves its infamy for being excessively graphic without any redeeming qualities.
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The latest installment in this beloved franchise disappoints audiences with its pacing and overall execution.
This fifth entry struggles to maintain engagement throughout its runtime while failing to deliver memorable moments or character development.
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