Josh Hutcherson Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked", a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted related superlatives. This week, I'm profiling the work of Josh Hutcherson-whose latest project "Five Nights at Freddy's 2" releases in theaters on Thursday. 

Josh Hutcherson's Filmography Ranked:

13.Tragedy Girls (D+)

12.The Kids Are All Right (C-)

11.Detention (C-)

10.RV (C)

9.Journey to the Center of the Earth (C)

8.Kicking & Screaming (C)

7.Red Dawn (C+)

6.The Beekeeper (B)

5.The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2 (B)

4.The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1 (B)  

3.The Hunger Games (B)

2.The Disaster Artist (A-)

1.The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (A)

Top Dog: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

While The Hunger Games franchise has displayed an impressive level of consistency through its first five films, Catching Fire reached heights that none of the other entries have. Francis Lawrence made such an impression with this electrifying, emotionally charged masterclass in blockbuster filmmaking that they haven't let anyone else direct a Hunger Games movie since (that streak will remain intact as Lawrence is returning for next year's Sunrise on the Reaping).    

Bottom Feeder: Tragedy Girls (2017)

I watched Detention last week in preparation for this piece and while I found it to be a pretty obnoxious mess of a horror comedy, it's easier to sit through than Tragedy Girls. Aside from a couple good kills, this slasher satire is a completely worthless affair filled with grating characters and enough eye roll-worthy meta jokes to fill a dozen movies.      

Most Underrated: The Disaster Artist (2017)

Much like the book it's based on, The Disaster Artist expertly threads the needle between detailing the insanity/hilarity of the chaotic production of the singular cult classic The Room and telling a surprisingly touching underdog story of a man living out his dreams to be a movie star against all odds. 

Most Overrated: The Kids Are All Right (2010)

As a Sundance-launched dramedy from 15 years ago, The Kids Are All Right has unsurprisingly faded into obscurity. However, it still managed to get nominated for multiple Oscars including Best Picture and that's enough for me to still declare it overrated. Lisa Cholodenko's film about a lesbian couple (Julianne Moore, Annette Benning) whose lives take a sudden turn when their children (Mia Wasikowska, Hutcherson) request to meet their biological sperm donor father (Mark Ruffalo) is a dull indie that takes a couple of bizarre, contrived turns that undermine its attempts to find the heart and humor in the inherently uncomfortable relationship dynamic that drives its narrative.