Gigli: The Movie Everyone Loves to Hate—But Here’s Why It’s Not All Bad

Twenty years after its release, Gigli remains one of Hollywood’s most infamous movies. The 2003 romantic crime comedy became a legendary box-office disaster, earning only around $7 million worldwide against a reported $54 million budget. Its failure was so severe that it became closely associated with the decline of Ben Affleck’s acting career at the time, while filmmaker Martin Brest never directed another feature afterward. Yet despite its reputation as one of the worst movies ever made, Gigli is not completely without merit.

The film follows Larry Gigli, played by Affleck, a small-time mob enforcer who is ordered to kidnap Brian, the intellectually disabled brother of a federal prosecutor investigating the mob. Because Gigli’s employers do not trust him to handle the operation alone, they send Ricki, portrayed by Jennifer Lopez, to supervise him. Ricki is a confident, openly lesbian criminal contractor who immediately clashes with Gigli’s arrogant personality.

The movie was savaged by critics when it arrived in theaters. Its 6% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes reflects the overwhelming negativity surrounding it, while several contemporary reviewers described the film as painfully slow, incoherent, and unpleasant. The movie’s problematic portrayal of Brian, its awkward romantic storyline, uneven tone, and frequently clumsy dialogue all contributed to its disastrous reputation.

Still, Gigli has a few qualities that are worth appreciating. The biggest is its cast. Affleck and Lopez remain charismatic performers even when they are forced to deliver questionable dialogue. Their characters could arguably have worked better as mismatched partners in a crime comedy if the romantic storyline had been removed. Ricki, in particular, avoids some of the more predictable characteristics often associated with quirky romantic-comedy heroines.

The supporting cast also provides several memorable moments. Christopher Walken and Al Pacino appear in brief roles, and both actors bring their trademark energy to the movie. Walken gets an amusing sequence involving Marie Callender’s pies, while Pacino brings an unpredictable intensity to his scenes as the frustrated mob boss.

Some of the film’s comedy works surprisingly well. One particularly absurd sequence involves Gigli and Ricki trying to obtain a dead man’s thumb after refusing to harm Brian. Their increasingly ridiculous attempt to complete the task, followed by the problem of figuring out how to mail a human thumb, captures the kind of bizarre humor the movie occasionally handles effectively.

Brian also inspires one of the film’s better running jokes. He repeatedly asks Gigli to read to him before bedtime, but the gangster has virtually no books available. As a result, he resorts to reading whatever he can find, including product packaging and household labels.

There are even moments when Gigli unexpectedly becomes thoughtful. Ricki frequently challenges Gigli’s aggressive personality and attempts to explain the emotional insecurity beneath his tough exterior. One of her observations about men being taught to turn sadness into anger gives Affleck an opportunity to show a more vulnerable side of his character.

The relationship between Gigli and Ricki is ultimately the movie’s most interesting element. Lopez and Affleck occasionally create genuine chemistry, particularly during quieter conversations where their characters begin to understand one another. Their real-life relationship at the time also made the movie feel even more closely connected to celebrity culture.

Gigli certainly deserves much of the criticism it received, especially for its uneven writing, uncomfortable character choices, and excessive runtime. But its reputation has arguably become larger than the movie itself. Many people who mock Gigli have never actually watched it.

For viewers willing to approach it with extremely low expectations, the film may offer a few unexpected laughs, memorable performances, and surprisingly sincere moments. It is certainly not a hidden masterpiece, but it may not deserve to be remembered solely as Hollywood’s ultimate cinematic disaster.

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

My list of must-try jean trends for 2026 is growing; it currently includes all the silhouettes one denim expert revealed to me as the must-watch of the year (save for baggy jeans, because I’ve been wearing those for years). That said, one style that didn’t land on said aforementioned list, but is clearly due for big, big things this year, is flare jeans. With a growing list of celebrity fans that includes Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Cindy Crawford, Kendrick Lamar (you know that moment), and, of course, Amal Clooney, there’s no denying the retro denim style that was popular in the early aughts is back—and bigger than ever.

The fact that Clooney wore flared jeans is noteworthy in and of itself. The human rights lawyer is known for her refined dressing approach, regularly opting for billowy trousers, trendy boho blouses, and comfy sweater dresses—all staples that read elegant and timeless. So, when I spotted her earlier this year in the laid-back blues while out to dinner with hubby George Clooney, I knew I had to write about it. Of course, the fact that she wore flare jeans, the style countless celebs have worn the last few weeks, is noteworthy, too, as it further cements the style’s ‘It’ status for 2026.