In Rolling Stone’s annual list of the 10 worst films of the 2016, it featured only one comic book movie adaptation which also happened to top this year’s worst list. According to movie critic Peter Travers, the unfortunate winner went to Suicide Squad, based on DC’s comic title of the same name about a secret government agency that recruits some of the most dangerous incarcerated super-villains in an effort to form a defensive task force.
The 10 films deemed "the worst" by the magazine include: 10) Office Christmas Party; 9) Allegiant; 8) American Pastoral; 7) Alice Through the Looking Glass; 6) Independence Day Resurgence; 5) Inferno; 4) Allied; 3) Collateral Beauty; and 2) Warcraft with Suicide Squad heading the list.
Suicide Squad distributed by Warner Brothers is part of the studio’s effort to create an interconnected universe of villains and super heroes. Highly anticipated when announced, and featuring a star-studded cast and high profile director, the film performed relatively well at the box office yet received scathing reviews from critics. Rumors of reshoots and last minute script changes to lighten the movie’s tone haunted production. In addition, the marketing of the film heavily teased the return of perennial Batman villain – The Joker- made popular by Batman comic books, animated films and the Oscar winning performance of Heath Ledger who portrayed the character in the highest grossing domestic DC film to date - The Dark Knight. Critics noted that the Joker had very little screen time in the film.
A sequel to Suicide Squad as well as spinoff films for several of the film's characters are already rumored to be in development.