It’s shocking just how different critics’ opinions of a film can be from audiences, as proved by the massive disparity of certain movies’ scores on Rotten Tomatoes. These were movies that, for one reason or another, ticked all the right boxes for professional critics and left general audiences feeling disappointed or, in some cases, downright hateful toward a release. Whether it was remakes of beloved classics, movies that didn’t line up with audience expectations, or franchise entries that went in surprising new directions, there are plenty of movies that divided critics and viewers.
Some of the most controversial movies ever split critics and audiences and have remained highly divisive. While a high critic score doesn’t automatically make a movie great, the fact that these films have received such a disproportional reaction from critics and audiences means that they each have something interesting to offer and were well worth checking out just to learn what all the fuss was about. Movies with high critic and low audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes point to everybody’s tastes being different, and that just because a critic is praising a movie does not automatically mean everyone will like it.
|
Movie |
Critics Score |
Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
|
King Kong (2005) |
84% |
50% |
|
Sausage Party (2016) |
82% |
52% |
|
Antz (1998) |
92% |
52% |
|
Ad Astra (2019) |
83% |
40% |
|
Ghostbusters (2016) |
74% |
49% |
|
It Comes at Night (2017) |
88% |
44% |
|
Uncut Gems (2019) |
91% |
52% |
|
Under the Skin (2013) |
84% |
55% |
|
Spy Kids (2001) |
94% |
47% |
|
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) |
91% |
41% |
10 King Kong (2005)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 84% / Audience 50%
After powerfully bringing to life J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth with The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson set his sights on a remake of the 1933 big monster movie classic King Kong. This visually spectacular production was a hit, with critics impressed by its spectacular visuals, which, at a budget of $207 million, made it one of the most expensive films ever made. Critics praised King Kong for its epic sense of adventure, strong performances, and recapturing the spirit of the original movie.
However, audiences were not so won over by Jackson’s King Kong, as its bloated, more than three-hour runtime was perceived by some as overindulgent. There was also a feeling that Jack Black had been miscast as the dubious film director Carl Denham and that coming just two years after Return of the King, Jackson hadn’t given himself enough time. Despite these criticisms, King Kong was not badly received by audiences; it just did not receive the same kind of widespread acclaim it did with critics.
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Peter Jackson’s King Kong is a remake of the 1933 film of the same name. When enterprising filmmaker Carl Denham (Jack Black) decides to travel to the mysterious skull island, he hires naive young actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) to star in the film he intends to make. Denham’s crew of actors discovers the island’s big secret: Kong, a 25-foot-tall giant ape. Denham’s ambition gets the better of him, and he exploits Darrow’s bond with Kong to kidnap him, bringing him back to New York to exploit him for profit.
Director Peter Jackson Release Date December 14, 2005 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Fran Walsh , Philippa Boyens , Peter Jackson , Merian C. Cooper , Edgar Wallace Cast Naomi Watts , Jack Black , Adrien Brody , Thomas Kretschmann , Colin Hanks , Andy Serkis , Kyle Chandler Runtime 187 minutes Franchise(s) King Kong Sequel(s) King Kong vs. Godzilla Budget $207 million Main Genre Adventure Expand
Related Jack Black’s Most Underrated Role Is The Villain In This 2005 Movie With 84% On Rotten Tomatoes
Jack Black is best known for his roles in comedies and family-friendly animation, but his most underrated role was in Peter Jackson’s King Kong.
9 Sausage Party (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 82% / Audience 52%
Audiences found it tough to accept Sausage Party as its style made it seem like a lighthearted kids’ film, almost akin to a Pixar movie, while its content was extremely vulgar and truly for adults only. This disconnect between style and content made for uncomfortable viewing, and likely a few shocked parents who accidentally allowed their child to watch anthropomorphic food products engaging in sexually charged acts with one another. With the likes of Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, and Jonah Hill among the voice cast, Sausage Party took the humor of Judd Apatow’s movies and repackaged it as animation.
While this raunchy comedy received a mixed reception from audiences, critics were far kinder to Sausage Party and praised its subversion of genre expectations. Sausage Party mixed its profane humor with a surprisingly touching story of self-discovery as supermarket products were shocked to discover their horrific role in the eco-chain of existence. While Sausage Party was not to everyone’s taste, it still managed to become the highest-grossing R-rated animated movie of all time (via Hollywood Reporter) until it was surpassed by Demon Slayer: Mugen Train in 2020.
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Written by and starring Seth Rogen, Sausage Party follows a group of anthropomorphized food from a supermarket who inadvertently learn the truth about what happens to food after it’s bought from the store, and set out on a quest to attempt to keep themselves from being bought and eaten. Rogen stars as Frank, that titular sausage, with an ensemble cast that includes Michael Cera, Kristin Wiig, James Franco, Bill Hader, Salma Hayek, and Jonah Hill.
Director Conrad Vernon , Greg Tiernan Release Date August 12, 2016 Studio(s) Sony Distributor(s) Sony Writers Evan Goldberg , Ariel Shaffir , Kyle Hunter , Seth Rogen Cast Kristen Wiig , Michael Cera , Craig Robinson , Salma Hayek Pinault , Bill Hader , Seth Rogen , Paul Rudd , Edward Norton , Jonah Hill , James Franco , Danny McBride Runtime 89minutes Budget $19 million Expand
8 Antz (1998)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 92% / Audience 52%
DreamWorks Antz was released as computer-generated animated kids’ movies took off following Toy Story. Although Antz received near-universal praise from critics, it was a different story for audiences, and it has failed to become a beloved classic like its main competitor, A Bug’s Life, Pixar’s film with a similar premise. With Woody Allen in the leading role of an anxious worker ant, the disparity between critical acclaim and audience indifference was understandable. While Antz was marketed as a children’s movie, adult viewers and lovers of Allen’s unique brand of neurotic comedy were likely to get more out of it.
Antz had impressive animation for its time, a fantastic voice cast featuring the likes of Allen, Gene Hackman, Sylvester Stallone, and Christopher Walken, and an enjoyable sense of humor. Although it’s the story of a worker ant discovering his alienation from his labor may have featured just a tad bit too much Marxist philosophy and radical politics to garner mainstream audience acclaim. In truth, Antz was an unusual film and felt slightly less palpable to audiences than Pixar’s A Bug’s Life.
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Director Eric Darnell , Tim Johnson Release Date October 2, 1998 Studio(s) DreamWorks Animation , Pacific Data Images Distributor(s) DreamWorks Pictures Writers Todd Alcott , Chris Weitz , Paul Weitz Cast Woody Allen , Sharon Stone , Jennifer Lopez , Sylvester Stallone , Christopher Walken , Dan Aykroyd , Anne Bancroft , Danny Glover , Gene Hackman Runtime 83 minutes Budget $42-105 million Main Genre Adventure Expand
7 Ad Astra (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 83% / Audience 40%
While critics loved Ad Astra, audiences were divided over this psychological sci-fi thriller that followed Brad Pitt as an astronaut in space searching for his lost father. With space as a metaphor for loneliness, isolation, and unresolved family issues, critics connected with technical realism and humanity at the center of its story, while many viewers failed to connect with Pitt as Major Roy McBride. With long sequences that barely connect to the plot, the disparity appears to be the audience’s frustration with a film that valued artistry over narrative substance.
Critics and film lovers could enjoy the way that Ad Astra paid homage to other works, such as Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, while to the everyday audience member, these appeared less like compelling hidden details and more like pretentious indulgence. Director James Gray aimed to create a realistic sci-fi film with Ad Astra, but in the process, it ended up alienating some viewers. It’s truly a love-it-or-hate-it kind of movie, but those who connect with it will do so deeply.
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Brad Pitt stars in Ad Astra as astronaut Roy McBride, who embarks on a mission to Neptune to find his missing father (Tommy Lee Jones) in the outer reaches of space. Liv Tyler and Donald Sutherland appear in this 2019 sci-fi movie directed by James Gray.
Director James Gray Release Date September 17, 2019 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century , Disney Writers James Gray , Ethan Gross Cast Anne McDaniels , Liv Tyler , Ruth Negga , John Ortiz , Loren Dean , Kimberly Elise , John Finn , Brad Pitt , Tommy Lee Jones , Jamie Kennedy , Donald Sutherland , Greg Bryk Runtime 124 minutes Budget $87.5 million Expand
6 Ghostbusters (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 74% / Audience 49%
The female-led reboot of Ghostbusters was one of the most notorious examples of critics and audiences having wildly different reactions to a movie. While Ghostbusters was well-received by critics who praised its humor and the comedic talents of its cast, certain viewers had a vitriolic reaction to the film, and an online hate campaign led to its trailer becoming the most disliked movie trailer in YouTube history. As one of the most divisive films in living memory, Ghostbusters highlighted the way some viewers were dissatisfied with the modern movie trend of rebooting once male-dominated franchises with a new all-female cast.
The original Ghostbusters movies means lot to many people who grew up watching Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis. Without any connection to original films, it appeared that audiences rejected the 2016 version of Ghostbusters, and the studio decided to later revive the franchise with a direct sequel to Ghostbusters II that featured appearances from some of the original cast. Whether the failure of this Ghostbusters reboot came down to misogyny or mediocrity depends on whose being asked about it. Still, either way, the female Ghostbusters never got a sequel and has been ignored by subsequent installments.
Related Ghostbusters Director Talks the Reboot’s Marketing Challenges
Ghostbusters reboot director Paul Feig has addressed the controversy surrounding the movie, including reactions to its trailers.
5 It Comes At Night (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 88% / Audience 44%
It Comes at Night was an excellent A24 horror that suffered from misleading marketing, which meant it was not what audiences were expecting. Although this psychological horror looked like it had all the tenets of a terrifying monster movie, the truly scary presence was paranoia and fear as it explored concepts around tension with a slow-building and unnerving atmosphere. This meant that viewers waiting for the pace to pick up and the monster to appear were left disappointed.
As a slow-burn movie with no physical threats, It Comes at Night was truly unconventional and became even more effective when viewed apart from the expectations of a traditional horror film. Toying with horror movie tropes and typical warning signs of imminent danger, director Trey Edward Shults confounded audiences’ expectations and created a tension-filled, paranoid viewing experience. With themes of fear, grief, loss, and distrust, It Comes at Night did not need traditional villains to be genuinely scary.
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Written and directed by Trey Edward Shults, It Comes At Night is a Psychological Horror film starring Joel Edgerton and Christopher Abbott. The 2017 release chronicles the fate of a family that attempts to hide in the woods away from society when the world is overtaken by a deadly virus.
Director Trey Edward Shults Release Date June 9, 2017 Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) A24 Writers Trey Edward Shults Cast Kelvin Harrison Jr. , Joel Edgerton , Christopher Abbott , Carmen Ejogo , Riley Keough Runtime 97minutes Budget $2.4–5 million Expand
4 Uncut Gems (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 91% / Audience 52%
Uncut Gems was a divisive movie that received incredible praise from critics but pushed things a little bit too far for some audience members. With Adam Sandler delivering one of his very best dramatic performances in an anxiety-inducing crime thriller by the Safdie brothers, Uncut Gems featured such a skivvy, selfish, and unsympathetic lead character that it’s easy to understand why not everybody loved this story of a crippling gambling addiction. However, the polarizing nature of Uncut Gems was also part of its appeal, as the dark nature of its character made for difficult but engrossing viewing.
Not only did Uncut Gems powerfully depict a man in the throes of gambling addiction, but his willingness to risk it all for the thrill of a bet made for a truly stressful viewing experience. Uncut Gems brought to mind the great psychological thrillers from the 1970s, where characters like Taxi Driver’s Travis Bickle didn’t have to be likable to become cinematic icons. Uncut Gems certainly wasn’t for everybody, but the critical acclaim was warranted, as movies don’t have to be comforting to be compelling.
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A crime thriller from Josh and Benny Safdie, Uncut Gems follows New York jeweler Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) as his gambling addiction forces him to associate with increasingly dangerous individuals. After receiving an incredibly rare black opal, Howard believes he can finally free himself of his mounting debts, but not without engaging in one final high-stakes balancing act while fending off violent loan sharks.
Director Josh Safdie , Benny Safdie Release Date December 13, 2019 Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) Netflix , A24 Writers Ronald Bronstein , Josh Safdie , Benny Safdie Cast Jonathan Aranbayev , Eric Bogosian , The Weeknd , Idina Menzel , Noa Fisher , Kevin Garnett , Tommy Kominik , LaKeith Stanfield , Jacob Igielski , Adam Sandler , Julia Fox , Keith Williams Richards Runtime 134 minutes Budget $19 million Expand
3 Under The Skin (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 84% / Audience 55%
While Under the Skin stood as perhaps Scarlett Johansson’s greatest sci-fi movie, it was also a deeply unconventional thriller that was far more popular with critics than mainstream audiences. As a minimalist exploration of a seductive otherworldly entity preying on unsuspecting men in the Scottish countryside, director Jonathan Glazer focused more on slow-building tension than delivering a traditional narrative. With lots of non-professional actors playing the alien’s victims, Under the Skin used hidden cameras to produce feelings of anxiety in viewers.
While audiences have had a mixed reception to Under the Skin, it also appeared in many of the best films in the 2010s rankings and was even included on the BBC’s 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century list. Johansson’s intense and unusual performance also alienated viewers who were more used to seeing her in mainstream comedies or as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a nerve-wracking film that, as its title suggests, truly got under audiences’ skin, it may not be for everybody, but it was certainly an artistic success.
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Under the Skin is a sci-fi thriller directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Scarlett Johansson. Johansson plays “The Female,” an alien from another world that hunts men in Scotland. Despite receiving high praise upon release, Under the Skin was a box office bomb, only making a little over half of its budget.
Director Jonathan Glazer Release Date April 4, 2014 Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) A24 Writers Jonathan Glazer , Walter Campbell Cast Dougie McConnell , Lynsey Taylor Mackay , Jeremy McWilliams , Scarlett Johansson , Kevin McAlinden Runtime 108 minutes Budget $13.3 million Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
2 Spy Kids (2001)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 94% / Audience 47%
Robert Rodriguez kick-started his Spy Kids franchise back in 2001 with an enjoyable release that has received far more acclaim from critics than from audiences. As a fun-filled adventure about two kids becoming spies to help save their ex-spy parents from an evil mastermind, Spy Kids was a rare kids movie as it was bursting with creativity and did not rely on crude, juvenile humor to maintain younger viewers attention. Instead, this was a heartfelt story about the importance of family unity packed with gadgetry and impressive worldbuilding.
While Spy Kids received universal praise from critics, viewers have had a mixed response, likely because it was entirely kids’ focused. From its acting, dialogue, and imagery, Spy Kids was not aiming for broad appeal and had less to offer grown up viewers than other family-friendly series like Harry Potter or Pixar movies. The kid-centric appeal of Spy Kids likely left older viewers feeling disappointed, but critics were able to see this as a rare kids’ film aimed at under 12s that actually had a positive message to spread and did so with real creativity.
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Director Robert Rodriguez Release Date April 4, 2001 Writers Robert Rodriguez Cast Alexa PenaVega , Daryl Sabara , Antonio Banderas , Carla Gugino , Alan Cumming , Tony Shalhoub , Teri Hatcher , Cheech Marin Runtime 88 Minutes Main Genre Adventure Expand
1 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 91% / Audience 41%
Star Wars: The Last Jedi was the most divisive Star Wars movie ever made, as director Rian Johnson enthralled critics and alienated viewers with the eighth installment in the space opera franchise. While critics praised the unexpected twists of the film and the surprising risks it took Luke Skywalker’s character, nostalgic viewers were horrified by how far Luke had strayed from his heroic portrayal. While it’s hard to tell how much of The Last Jedi’s Rotten Tomatoes score was from genuinely disappointed viewers or a targeted online review-bombing campaign (via Quartz) it still highlighted the movie’s controversial reception.
Factors such as the insignificance of Rey’s parents, the portrayal of Snoke, and even the casting of racially diverse actors also contributed to The Last Jedi’s divisive nature. At the same time, critics praised The Last Jedi’s action sequence and sense of humor and highlighted how it did not simply repeat aspects from The Empire Strikes Back in the same way The Force Awakens did with A New Hope. While both sides of the divide have some fair points, the massive disparity between its reception showcased it as a film that certainly garnered an emotional response from viewers.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi ActionAdventure Franchise Star Wars Platform(s) PlayStation 5 , PlayStation 4 , Xbox One Released November 11, 2019 Developer(s) Respawn Entertainment Publisher(s) Respawn Entertainment Engine Unreal Engine 4. ESRB m Expand
Sources: Hollywood Reporter, BBC’s 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century, Quartz