Let’s lay it out plain—few things get film fans fired up like a movie that experts love, but normal folks hate. It could be a big Oscar grab, a huge hit, or a small new set. Some movies just split the crowd. Here are ten films that won critics’ hearts but got hot talks among watchers.
10. Warcraft
Warcraft is a clear case of mixed feelings. Reviews from critics were low at 28% on Rotten Tomatoes, yet fans lifted it to 76%. That’s almost a 50% gap. Gamers and fantasy buffs found fun, even if experts couldn’t get past the deep CGI and thick plot. For some, it was a great story poorly told; for others, just a game turned movie.
9. Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s big stage hit landed on Disney+ with both cheers and shakes. One not happy viewer said, “I don’t get it. Is this what has people excited?” Many loved its smart talk and new take on US past, but some felt its ongoing rap and stage vibe more tiring than new.
8. It Follows
Critics loved the cool, slow feel of It Follows, naming it a smart, symbolic horror flick. But many horror fans were let down or just so-so. One said, “All this talk and it’s just… okay? Kind of slow.” The odd feel and STD link worked for some, but not for many, calling it slow and lacking chills.
7. Birdman
Birdman won with experts and took many Oscars, but not all liked where it went. One viewer said in anger, “It felt like it ended a lot. I almost left. Why was it a winner?” Some saw its artsy take on Hollywood as too proud and long.
6. Moonlight
Yes, Moonlight made a mark with its Best Picture win, and for many, rightly so. But not everyone felt it. “It was too talked up. I was tired and made myself keep watching,” shared one. The movie’s richness and quiet beauty moved critics, while some found it too slow, missing the punch they looked for.
5. The Shape of Water
Guillermo del Toro’s love tale of a mute girl and a fish-like man had folks split right from the start. A plain review said it, “the weirdest film I’ve seen—and too cheesy.” Some couldn’t get past bits like the odd one about the sea being’s looks. The mix of dream and love was magic… or just strange, based on who you ask.
4. Lost in Translation
Sofia Coppola’s blurry movie in Tokyo is a hit with critics—but also a hot spot for tough views. One called it “hard to watch, racist, and against outsiders.” While some said it was so dull, they denied seeing it to dodge fights. As some saw deep loneliness and bonding, others just saw two dull folks moving around Japan.
3. I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Charlie Kaufman’s Netflix piece puzzled many as critics called it bold and brilliant. The New York Times said it makes you question everything—even the film itself. The odd talks and shifts in what’s real made many search for meaning while watching. Kaufman fans loved it, others saw it as a mess.
2. The English Patient
A Best Picture win doesn’t mean love lasts—The English Patient shows this. Called “Oscar bait” by Popdose, now it’s more known for a Seinfeld joke than its own plot. Slow, dreamy, and serious, it charmed award folks—but had some viewers sleeping.
1. Barbie
No film lately has made talk like Barbie. Some saw it as a smart, bright view on women’s power. Others called it all show, no depth. The New York Times put it as a standout among Oscar films, noting its “wild” fans and talking back. Critics thought it safe and too real in its characters. No Oscar nods for Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig only sparked more chat on what the film did—or didn’t—do for women.
This Spanish film about drugs and gender issues got award nods, but split LGBTQ critics. One called it, “like a normal episode of Law & Order: SVU by Ryan Murphy,” for its weak acting and singing, with a tone that was off. While Karla Sofía Gascón got real praise, the tangled plot and weak trans topic talks left many puzzled.