Bill Murray's career is remarkably consistent. He's doesn't have a truly terrible film to his name and has proven to be one of the most versatile and reliable actors in Hollywood. Most of his best work came in comedies such as Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day, but he has also taken leading roles in dramas such as Lost in Translation.
In recent years, Murray has earned a spot in Wes Anderson's Rolodex of actors; he's appeared in every Anderson film since his starring turn in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zizzou. Murray isn't batting 1.000, however, and has made a few mediocre movies. Here are 10 low points in his otherwise stellar career.
Rock the Kasbah - 5.5
Murray starred in this 2015 film as a rock manager on a USO tour of Afghanistan who finds a young girl and shepherds her through the Afghan equivalent of American Idol. It's directed by Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Bugsy, Wag the Dog) and co-stars Bruce Willis, Danny McBride, Kate Hudson and Zooey Deschanel. What could go wrong?
A lot. The film was a historic box office flop. It currently holds the sixth-worst per-theater average ever, grossing only $731 per theater in its first weekend. This would be quite the dubious achievement if another film didn't do even worse that weekend: the ill-advised Jem and the Holograms remake.
The Dead Don't Die - 5.5
Jim Jarmusch's films are an acquired taste. His wry, moody and contemplative directing style doesn't seem like a great fit for a zombie film. However, the director had great success with vampires in Only Lovers Left Alive. Jarmusch's style ultimately didn't translate to zombies.
The Dead Don't Die was criticized for a muddled tone, a refusal to acknowledge the absurdity of its premise and an excess of Jarmusch's trademark deadpan humor. Murray's performance along Adam Driver was praised for carrying the movie through its weaker moments.
Charlie's Angels (2000) - 5.5
Murray played Bosley in the 2000 film adaptation of the hit 1970s TV series. Bosley serves as mysterious millionaire Charlie's liaison to his "Angels," performed by Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu.
Critics lambasted the film for its lack of originality. Its wirework was also criticized; the absurdity of the action arguably killed the wire-fu genre in the United States. The film was McG's directorial debut and typifies the director's action-heavy and plot-light style. Murray did not appear in the 2003 sequel Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and was replaced by Bernie Mac.
Aloha - 5.4
Aloha is a deeply problematic and troubled film. The late-era Cameron Crowe film was announced in 2008 with Ben Stiller and Reese Witherspoon attached to star. It came out in 2015 with Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone in the lead roles.
Stone's character, an Air Force Pilot with one-quarter Chinese and one-quarter Hawaiian ancestry, prompted accusations of whitewashing. Stone later said she regretted being miscast. Bill Murray plays the villain: Carson Welch, a billionaire who must negotiate with the Native Hawaiian population to clear land for a space center.
Ghostbusters (2016) - 5.2
The third movie in the Ghostbusters franchise was directed by Paul Feig and starred Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Kristen Wiig. Murray does not appear as Peter Venkman, his character from the first two films. Instead, he appears as supernatural debunker Martin Theiss.
Theiss is skeptical of the quartet's ghost-catching abilities after the catch a ghost at a concert. Wiig's Erin Gilbert releases the retaliation. The ghost then throws Theiss out of a window. Murray is scheduled to appear as Venkman in the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, directed by Jason Reitman.
Garfield - 5.0
Bill Murray voiced Garfield in both live-action films featuring the character. Murray's voice performance was one of the few aspects critics considered a plus in either film. Murray's deadpan drawl and general demeanor are a perfect fit for the lazy and fat orange tabby.
Unfortunately, almost everyone else in the movie is miscast. This includes the use of real-life dogs alongside a CGI Garfield. The film was a commercial success, grossing $200 million worldwide and getting a sequel in 2006.
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties - 5.0
The sequel to 2004's Garfield ended up doing no better with critics. In some respects, it did far worse. In Two Kitties, the "action" moves to England as Garfield get mistaken for Prince XII, another tabby who has been bequeathed a castle and inheritance.
Another (human) heir to estate wants to bulldoze it to a spa resort, but there's a catch: he doesn't own the castle so as long as Prince is alive. Prince and Garfield have to work together to both preserve the castle and encourage Garfield's owner Jon to propose to his girlfriend.
Coming Attractions - 4.8
Coming Attractions is one of Bill Murray's first feature film credits. Well, it's not much of a feature film. Attractions is a series of fake film trailers spoofing various popular tropes and genres. The film is incredibly crass and vulgar, modes in which Murray can excel.
However, the film's skits are too long and lean a little too much on juvenile and gross-out humor to work at any level. Attractions (also known as Loose Shoes) is one of many sketch comedy movies that came out in the late 1970s and it is among the most expendable in the genre.
A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III - 4.8
After starring Sofia Coppola's 2003 film Lost in Translation, Murray paired with another Coppola sibling in 2012. Unlike his sister, Roman Coppola proved far less successful at directing Murray (or anybody in general here).
Glimpse stars Charlie Sheen as a graphic designer and ladies man in the 1970s who suffers from psychological problems after a breakup. Murray stars as his manager. The film is notable for being the first release by film distributor A24.
Passion Play - 4.6
Passion Play is a 2010 film that starred Murray alongside Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox. Rourke's character Nate is a jazz musician and heroin addict who falls in love with Lily (Fox), a sideshow performer with wings attached to her back.
Murray plays Happy Shannon, a gangster who orders Nate killed and then kidnaps Lily. Nate attempts to break Lily out and is successful. His success comes at the cost of his own life.