‘Transformers’ sequel leads Razzies ‘worst-of’ list

Los Angeles — “Transformers: Age of Extinction” is rolling out with the most nominations at this year’s Golden Raspberry Awards.

The action sequel starring Mark Wahlberg alongside morphing robots led all films Tuesday with seven nominations, including worst picture, worst sequel, worst screenplay and worst screen combo.

“Transformers” is also up for worst director for Michael Bay, worst supporting actress for Nicola Peltz, and worst supporting actor for Kelsey Grammer, who was also recognized for his supporting parts in “The Expendables 3,” “Legends of Oz” and “Think Like a Man Too.”

The nominations were released to The Associated Press on Tuesday ahead of an official announcement on Wednesday.

This year’s other worst picture nominees are “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas,” “Left Behind,” “The Legend of Hercules” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

The faith-based comedy “Saving Christmas” and the Kellan Lutz action flick “Legend of Hercules” both collected six nominations, including worst actor for Cameron and Lutz.

The nominees for worst screen combo are Cameron and his ego in “Saving Christmas”; Seth MacFarlane and Charlize Theron in “A Million Ways To Die in the West”; any two robots, actors (or robotic actors) in “Transformers”; Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel in “Sex Tape”; and Lutz and either his abs, pecs or glutes in “Legend of Hercules.”

The Razzies, which launched in 1980 as a spoof of Hollywood’s awards season, added a new category this year called the redeemer award that lauds past Razzie honorees.

The inaugural redeemer award nominees are: Ben Affleck for being praised for both “Argo” and “Gone Girl” after winning the worst actor trophy in 2004 for “Gigli,” “Daredevil” and “Paycheck”; Jennifer Aniston for her Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for “Cake” following four Razzie nods; Mike Myers for earning acclaim as the director of the documentary “Supermensch” after winning three Razzies for “Love Guru” in 2008; six-time Razzie nominee Keanu Reeves for rebounding with “John Wick”; and “Twilight” star and former Razzie recipient Kristen Stewart for earning rave reviews for the indie film “Camp X-Ray.”

The Razzies announcement came ahead of Thursday’s Oscar nominations.

The winners of the 35th annual Razzies are selected by online votes from the organization’s 757 members. They will be announced at Hollywood’s Montalban Theater on Feb. 21, the night before the 87th annual Academy Awards.

While far less star-studded than other award shows, past Razzie recipients such as Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock have shown up in person to jokingly accept their gold spray-painted prizes.

A look at this year’s Razzie nominees

A look at the 35th annual Razzie nominations:

— Worst picture: “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas”; “Left Behind”; “The Legend of Hercules”; “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”; “Transformers: Age of Extinction.”

— Worst actor: Nicolas Cage, “Left Behind”; Kirk Cameron, “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas”; Kellan Lutz, “The Legend of Hercules”; Seth MacFarlane, “A Million Ways To Die in the West”; Adam Sandler, “Blended.”

— Worst actress: Drew Barrymore, “Blended”; Cameron Diaz, “The Other Woman,” “Sex Tape”; Melissa McCarthy, “Tammy”; Charlize Theron, “A Million Ways to Die in the West”; Gaia Weiss, “The Legend of Hercules.”

— Razzie redeemer award: Ben Affleck; Jennifer Aniston; Mike Myers; Keanu Reeves; Kristen Stewart.

— Worst supporting actress: Cameron Diaz, “Annie”; Megan Fox, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”; Nicola Peltz, “Transformers: Age of Extinction”; Brigitte Ridenour, “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas”; Susan Sarandon, “Tammy.”

— Worst supporting actor: Mel Gibson, “The Expendables 3”; Kelsey Grammer, “The Expendables 3,” “Legends of Oz,” “Think Like a Man Too,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction”; Shaquille O’Neal, “Blended”; Arnold Schwarzenegger, “The Expendables 3”; Kiefer Sutherland, “Pompeii.”

— Worst director: Michael Bay, “Transformers: Age of Extinction”; Darren Doane, “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas”; Renny Harlin, “The Legend of Hercules”; Jonathan Liebesman, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”; Seth MacFarlane, “A Million Ways To Die in the West.”

— Worst screen combo: Kirk Cameron and his ego, “Saving Christmas”; Seth MacFarlane and Charlize Theron, “A Million Ways To Die in the West”; any two robots, actors (or robotic actors), “Transformers”; Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel, “Sex Tape”; Kellan Lutz and either his abs, pecs or glutes, “Legend of Hercules.”

— Worst screenplay: “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas”; “Left Behind”; “Sex Tape”; “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”; “Transformers: Age of Extinction.”

— Worst remake, rip-off or sequel: “Annie”; “Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?”; “The Legend of Hercules”; “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”