Gerard Butler is arguably Scotland’s biggest Hollywood star since the heyday of Sean Connery. With three big-budget movies opening in the last six months, Butler has been impossible to miss.

The Paisley-born actor, 40, is a household name in US and is emerging as a frontrunner in the awards season – not for the Oscars, in which he has no chance, but for the Golden Raspberries, the awards that honour the worst movies and performances of the year.

Butler’s mix of romantic comedies and action could see him join such legendary names as Paris Hilton, Madonna and Sylvester Stallone on Hollywood’s Roll of Shame.

“I would say he has at least a 50-50 chance,” said John Wilson, organiser of the “Razzies”, which are decided on the votes of hundreds of showbiz insiders, critics and ordinary film fans in 20 countries.

The Oscars single out individual performances, whereas the Razzies consider all the films an actor has made in a year. “We list however many crappy movies they made in one year and Gerard Butler has three titles,” said Mr Wilson.

Butler was a sexist TV presenter in the romantic comedy The Ugly Truth; he was a ruthless killer stuck inside an online computer game in Gamer; and in his new movie Law Abiding Citizen he plays a man who metes out his own justice after the death of his wife and child.

“All of those got really crappy reviews,” said Mr Wilson. One reviewer called The Ugly Truth “an insult to misogyny”, while several commentators expressed concern at his latest film’s vigilante sensibility. None has done particularly well at the box office.

“We are sending out our ballots in early January,” said Mr Wilson. “We have throughout the year compiled a list of what is likely, and he will be listed on the nominating ballot as a possible worst actor. Multiple titles do catch the attention of our voters.”

Butler could be in the running for more than one award, including Worst Picture. He was also producer on Law Abiding Citizen and Mr Wilson suggested he might also be in contention for the worst screen couple award, for The Ugly Truth, in which he co-starred with Katherine Heigl.

Last year Paris Hilton managed a hat-trick of awards for worst actress (for The Hottie and The Nottie), worst screen couple and worst supporting actress.

Some stars have seen the funny side and turned up for the awards, which began in 1981 and take place just before the Oscars. Mr Wilson said he hoped Butler would attend, if nominated. He said: “He certainly seems to have a sense of humour about himself. He hosted Saturday Night Live, here in America. He seemed to have a lot of fun.”