For years, Megan Fox's rise and fall as a Hollywood starlet has been one of film's most controversial topics, because it centers around how viewers, directors, and the media treat celebrities. It's true that, for a majority of her duration in the spotlight, Fox's acting was viewed as sub-par (if largely due to her being typecast in roles bereft or nuance or character).
However, when Fox has found herself in roles befitting of her talents, it becomes clear that she's as ambitious an actress as many of today's most-lauded leading ladies. Here are 10 of Fox's best (and worst) films, ranked according to Rotten Tomatoes.
BEST: The Dictator (2012) - 57%
Sacha Baron Cohen's 2012 film The Dictator was no different than his previous films in terms of its no-holds-barred approach to satire -- it stars him as the oppressive, egotistical dictator of Wadiya, a fictional African nation -- but like with many of his previous efforts, the provocative tone didn't stop it from being a box office success.
In terms of critical reception, although Fox's self-parodying cameo was praised by (among others) venerated film critic Roger Ebert, pundit opinions on the film itself were pretty split. Many felt the film was a more-than-appropriate entry in Cohen's comedic omnibus, but others thought it was poorly plotted and overly controversial. This divide resulted in Tomatometer-certified critics giving The Dictator an average score of 57 percent.
WORST: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) - 21%
Produced by Michael Bay, 2014's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles served as a feature film reboot of the reptile-centric series of the same name. It stars Fox as a reporter who discovers a group of vigilante ninja turtles while on the hunt for a big story. As she realizes her role in creating the turtles, she also has to protect them from a greedy villain and his deadly plan.
While it didn't receive overwhelmingly negative reviews, critics branded the film as forgettable and trite.
BEST: Above The Shadows (2019) - 57%
2019's Above the Shadows is a romantic drama revolving around Holly, a woman who has become invisible to the world, and Shayne, the one man who can see her. Fox appears in a minor role as Juliana, Shayne's ex-girlfriend.
The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics for its story and themes, and currently holds a 57 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating.
WORST: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009) - 20%
2009's Revenge of the Fallen was the second entry in Michael Bay's blockbuster franchise, Transformers. It follows Sam Witwicky (the main character from the previous film), who discovers he's being pursued by a horde of murderous Decepticons seeking a fuel-harvesting device. With the help of skilled mechanic Mikaela Banes (Fox), as well as a slew of government-employed Autobots, Witwicky has to keep an ancient evil known only as "The Fallen" from destroying humanity.
While the film received praise for its action sequences and special effects, critics found it lacking in almost every other category of merit, with Rolling Stone calling it "the worst movie of the decade".
BEST: Transformers (2007) - 57%
The original Transformers film fared far better than its sequels. The star-filled action flick begins with the warring armies of Decepticons and Autobots tracking the Allspark, an ancient artifact with the power to create life, to Earth. Both sides are determined to find it before the other side does, but as it turns out, the only person who has access to the knowledge of the Allspark's location is high-school student, Sam Witwicky.
Transformers received mixed-to-positive reviews -- while the film's visual effects received heavy praise, its characters and story polarized critics.
WORST: Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen (2004) - 14%
Starring a then-unknown Megan Fox alongside Hollywood superstar Lindsay Lohan, 2004's Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen was yet another entry in a line of moderately successful Disney musicals being released at the time.
Despite it making back its budget at the box office, the film received negative reviews from critics for its formulaic plot and unsympathetic characters, and currently holds a 14 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating.
BEST: Friends With Kids (2012) - 67%
The romantic comedy Friends With Kids follows Jason and Julie, platonic best friends who decide to have a child together first and then find their individual soulmates, believing their method to be better than the alternative of having to both sustain a loving relationship and raise children at the same time.
Fox appears as Mary Jane, an actress who Jason falls in love with. The film received positive reviews for its performances and directing, and currently holds a 67 percent Rotten Tomatoes score.
WORST: Jonah Hex (2010) - 12%
Starring Josh Brolin as the titular DC Comics bounty hunter and Fox as his gun-wielding love interest, 2010's Jonah Hex was a massive failure, both critically and commercially.
Fox has even attempted to distance herself from the film in recent years, claiming "no one should ever see that movie" during a panel at WonderCon 2016.
BEST: Think Like A Dog (2020) - 70%
A straight-to-video debut that was missed by many due to its more family-oriented nature, Lionsgate's Think Like a Dog follows a young science whiz who discovers he can communicate with his dog telepathically and hijinks ensue. Josh Duhamel and Megan Fox star as the boy's parents.
The film currently holds a 70 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks to critical praise directed at its humor, charm, and nostalgic feel.
WORST: Passion Play (2011) - 3%
The 2011 romantic drama Passion Play stars Mickey Rourke as Nate, a jazz musician who, while stranded in the desert, discovers Lily (played by Fox), a winged sideshow performer. The two form a strange relationship as the story becomes "them against the world."
Passion Play received almost entirely negative reviews from critics and currently holds a 3 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating. The site's critics consensus asks "what [the film's] stars were thinking," a fitting statement for what was perhaps Fox's greatest career misstep.