Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

20 Worst Movie Leaders

Features
By Joshua Winning published 22 October 2010

Con Dem Nation? Try this lot…

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Independence Day (1996)

The Leader: President Thomas Whitmore, faced with invading aliens who are systematically destroying every country’s capital in a worldwide take-over.

Why So Bad? Because his cheesy leadership speeches are so horrendous that he’ll make you want to side with the enemy if it’s a chance to get away from him.

If They Were In Charge Of The Coalition Government: He’d either find a miracle cure for insomnia (long, looooong speeches), or he’d be the only person left in the party - for obvious reasons.

Latest Videos From

Hoosiers (1986)

The Leader: Coach Norman Dale, whose inspirational leadership boosts a basketball team all the way to state championships.

Why So Bad? Two words: filthy, temper. When Dale doesn’t get things his way, he throws a hissy fit that even Family Guy ’s Stewey would be proud of. Then he hires an alcoholic as his co-coach and, we have it on good authority, employs basketball strategies that are about as likely to succeed as Tinkerbell is to become the next heavyweight boxing champion.

If They Were In Charge Of The Coalition Government: Every time he doesn’t get his way, expect an eruption in scale and might to challenge a volcano.

Oliver! (1968)

The Leader: Fagin, an old Jewish gent who leads a group of street urchins in London town.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Why So Bad? Stealing, and absolving young children of their innocence through a life of crime, Fagin is an opportunist who pickpockets and dabbles in further murkier crimes in order to get a roof over his head every night.

If They Were In Charge Of The Coalition Government: We'd all be very, very poor.

Labyrinth (1986)

The Leader: Sarah, on the verge of teendom and convinced that everybody is against her – especially her stepmother.

Why So Bad? Aside from being a whiny little brat, she suffers classic teen symptoms – namely moodiness, arrogance, petulance and a belief that it’s her against the world. Also, she basically uses everybody.

If They Were In Charge Of The Coalition Government: “It’s not fair!” would follow every crushed proposal, paired with the threat of a sulk.

Last King Of Scotland (2006)

The Leader: Dictator Idi Amin, the Ugandan leader who kept his followers in fear during his ‘70s reign.

Why So Bad? Aside from being an unpredictable element with a heck of a temper, Amin’s punishment for those who betray him is way and above the severity of their offence. Just take the grisly demise of Kay, Amin’s youngest wife.

If They Were In Charge Of The Coalition Government: We’d all be afraid to leave our houses every day. Really, let’s not go there.

Police Academy Series (1984-94)

The Leader: Lieutenant Thaddeus Harris, employee at the police academy.

Why So Bad? He’s not known as ‘Mr Nasty’ for nothing. Finding himself surrounded by buffoons, Harris rightly sets out to show up just how idiotic the trainees at the academy are. Sadly, his grand evil schemes generally always come back to bite him in the behind.

If They Were In Charge Of The Coalition Government: Harris’ attempts to discredit members of parliament would result in some seriously sticky situations.

Dick (1999)

The Leader: Another US President, this time a real one – President Nixon. You’ve probably heard of him.

Why So Bad? Where to begin… He kicks the dog, he is adamant that Watergate never happened, and, most shockingly of all, breaks poor Michelle Williams’ teen crush heart. Also, he eats hash cookies. Naughty president, very naughty.

If They Were In Charge Of The Coalition Government: Haven’t we already been there?

King Kong (2005)

The Leader: Filmmaker Carl Denham leads a band of filmmakers to a remote island in order to make a movie.

Why So Bad? Aside from leading his band into certain peril, Denham learns absolutely nothing from his awful jungle experience. Capitalising on his discovery, he drags Kong back to New York as a spectacle that people pay to see. He should’ve been crushed in the ensuing chaos. Sadly, he wasn’t.

If They Were In Charge Of The Coalition Government: He’d install a glass wall in the side of the House of Commons and charge people to watch the government worker bees go about their business.

Aliens (1986)

The Leader: Tough to pick just one, with Ripley the only clear-headed one in a scrum of military idiots. But we’ll go with Carter J. Burke, who takes Ripley and some marines to planet LV-426 to look for life.

Why So Bad? Godammit he’s a smug, manipulative, dishonest SOB! Having lured everybody to LV-426 under false pretences, Burke’s real agenda surfaces – he wants the xenomorph for a pet. He’ll even kill a woman and a child to get it.

If They Were In Charge Of The Coalition Government: He’d be importing xenomorphs by the spaceship load as Britain’s newest weapon against the enemy.

The Naked Gun (1988)

The Leader: Detective Frank Drebin. In short, he's a walking disaster.

Why So Bad? Though it’s his job to protect the citizens of Los Angeles, Drebin generally causes more harm than not. A gormless klutz with zero self-awareness, he’s straddled the queen, corrupted crime scenes and put poor Officer Nordberg through more pain than a pigeon caught in a combine harvester.

If They Were In Charge Of The Coalition Government: Full body armour would be advisable – you never know what’s going to happen when Drebin’s around.

  • 1
  • 2

Current page: Page 2

Prev Page Page 1
Joshua Winning
Social Links Navigation

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.  

Latest in Movies
Grogu being painfully adorable in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy compares Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau to George Lucas
 
 
Mando and Baby Yoda in The Mandalorian and Grogu trailer
Star Wars Movies The Mandalorian knows Grogu "will outlive him" so he's "making sure" he "can survive without him"
 
 
andy serkis
Fantasy Movies Andy Serkis says he doesn't see a difference between game and movie acting: "Hollywood is using video game engines"
 
 
Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin unmasked in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies Pedro Pascal wants to keep playing the Mandalorian for as long as the "many bodies we put into the suit can take it"
 
 
Robert Pattinson in The Batman
DC Movies The rumors are true: The Batman 2 is set in winter as Matt Reeves delivers perfect first look
 
 
Idris Elba, Nicholas Galitzine, and Camila Mendes in Masters of the Universe
Adventure Movies New Masters of the Universe TV spot gives us our first glimpse at He-Man riding Battle Cat
 
 
Latest in Features
The official Summer Game Fest logo in shades of purples and blues, with a pink circle surrounding the event's title
Games Summer Game Fest schedule 2026: Dates, times, and where to watch the showcases
 
 
Fox McCloud's rival Falco sitting in the cockpit of an Arwing in a screenshot taken from Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 Star Fox 64 remains one of Nintendo's greatest action games, and its Switch 2 remake will prove it to a new generation
 
 
Adeline Rudolph as Kitana in Mortal Kombat 2
Action Movies Mortal Kombat 2 ending explained: who fights, who dies and every fatality
 
 
Bond peeks around a corner at a guard in 007 First Light
Action Games 007 First Light's License to Kill system adds nuance to its escalating action as "Bond won't shoot an unarmed man"
 
 
MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Commander deck and boosters on a wooden table
Tabletop Gaming MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Commander decks, ranked
 
 
An older Makoto wars a hat and glasses, with neon lights behind him in Stranger Than Heaven
Action RPGs Stranger Than Heaven offers the grounded refresh I've been desperate to see from Yakuza RPGs for years
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Grogu being painfully adorable in The Mandalorian and Grogu
    1
    Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy compares Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau to George Lucas
  2. 2
    Switch 2 Star Fox pre-orders are cheaper than I thought, but I'm prepared to pay full price to snag that cosplay-friendly bonus
  3. 3
    Valve commits to a reservation system for today's new batch of Steam Controller stock
  4. 4
    PS5 sales are 42% behind PS4 at this point in the generation, and it's got nothing to do with the price increase
  5. 5
    The wands are on lockdown: HBO's Harry Potter TV show is having to microchip props in order to track them

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...