Let’s face it: none other can spark such passionate and often hilarious disputes as films with which critics and viewers are just on different planets. It is a continual battle of opposites – while one camp uses Rotten Tomatoes scores as their ultimate bible, others keep clinging to their popcorn and the good-feeling theory. Sometimes critics bash a movie only for audiences to turn it into a cult classic, and sometimes fans groan while critics shower the film with rave reviews. And actually, that big gap is half the joy of being a film buff. So prepare your metaphorical score cards – here are 10 of the biggest critic-vs-audience splits, going off the top for maximum suspense.
10. Twilight
Indeed, this is the film that gave rise to a thousand memes and divided pop culture itself. Featuring sparkly vampires, intense teenage glares, and a love that made viewers ready to fight wars for either Team Edward or Team Jacob, Twilight turned into a phenomenon. Critics were less than impressed, scoring the movie a cold 49%, whereas the audience gave it a much more heartfelt 72%. That is a 23% difference solely due to the team embracing 2 of the swooning teens (and adults who secretly watched it again and again). Perhaps the critics were just unable to move beyond Edward’s shining, or maybe they underestimated the axis of angst and vampire-love. On the whole, Twilight demonstrated that fan allegiance can be brighter than reviews.
9. Drag Me to Hell
Sam Raimi’s coming back to his horror roots was what fans needed to hear, and critics, I think, too, as they were delighted to give Drag Me to Hell a staggering 92%. The applauded its cheesy energy, the old-school approach to jump scares, and Raimi’s clever combination of disgusting horror and slapstick comedy. The fans, though, were not so enthusiastic. At 62%, the audience votes were mixed – some loved the nostalgic horror style, whereas others were longing for a scarier and simpler effect. Moreover, that demon goat with a speaking voice probably caught the attention of a few people as well. It is one of those movies where the critic’s head and the popcorn’s heart just wanted absolutely different things.
8. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
It was expected that the comeback of one of the greatest cinema heroes would unite fans after Indy’s fourth mission, but, on the contrary, it divided them with the most vehement protests of the 2000s period. Reviews were somewhat positive, providing the film with a 78% score, yet it reached only 53% among the audience. A large part of this discrepancy could refer to the phenomenon known by three words: “nuking the fridge.” Adding to this, aliens, some suspicious CGI, and Shia LaBeouf casually swinging through trees with monkeys, and you will get a division brewing. Critics claimed that it was enjoyable, trashy entertainment, while fans were outraged, claiming it was a betrayal of Indy’s character.
7. Playing With Fire
Sometimes, our critics require cleverness and skill; nevertheless, the audience often simply wants to watch John Cena making a mess with soap and laughing at it. This firefighter family sitcom was severely criticized by critics who gave it a 24% rating and called it dumb and predictable. On the other hand, viewers were significantly more satisfied with a 77% rating. The film indulges in slime, slapstick, and tender childhood moments—exactly the kind of movie families would choose for a night stay-in with kids. It is one of those instances when success doesn’t hinge on critical acclaim.
6. Harlem Nights
Eddie Murphy’s 1989 satire, which he penned, helmed, and led the way, had an ultra-glam, all-star lineup that incorporated Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. Despite great audience reviews at 80%, it was panned by the critics at 25% for the uneven pace and lack of novel gags. One of the times when the box office power, interaction, and socio-cultural importance were more powerful than the technical flaws in the film. Fans of the genre were less interested in critics’ reviews-they were only excited to witness the greats performing live and the place being lit up by them for the next few hours.
5. Venom
Fans were excitedly bewildered once Tom Hardy accepted the role of Eddie Brock in the Venom movie, and it was exactly what Venom did— nothing less than crazy. Critics were negative, and the film received only a 30% rating, while it was called noisy and shallow. However, fans flocked to it (pun intended) and raged it up to 80%. Venom, with Hardy’s crazy acting, the over-the-top action, and that unforgettable lobster tank scene, was a guilty-pleasure sensation. This kind of disconnection is typical: critics longed for a serious superhero movie, thus dissatisfied, whereas they were content with messy fun.
4. Grown Ups
Grown Ups can be considered the main example of the disconnect between critics and the audience. Adam Sandler and his comedy crew went again for a silly, easy-going flick about old pals reuniting with each other. The movie was slammed by the majority of critics at 11% who thought it was lazy and uninspired. Nevertheless, audiences gave it a decent 62%. Why? Because sometimes you don’t feel like being critical and just want to watch your favorite comedians playing and acting as if it were their own barbecue. For many people, Grown Ups was more like reading time with friends than actually watching a movie.
3. Warcraft
Video game movies only work rarely, and Warcraft is probably the best example of how divergent audiences and critics could be. Unfortunately, it was quite negatively reviewed with 28%, mentioning confusing narration and new audiences being left out. As for gamers, they were quite happy, and in turn, the audience score moved up to 76%. Knowing the lore of Azeroth and its past, the film was nothing but an inside joke. Otherwise, the viewer was probably asking themselves why the huge orcs were crying over honor. It is the perfect example of “if you know, you know”.
2. Joker
New movies had barely been talked about as much as The Joker in the last few years. Despite a 68% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, Joaquin Phoenix’s somewhat frustrating but ultimately brilliant performance in “Arthur Fleck” won him the hearts of viewers, who rated it 88% and applauded its raw and unpolished style. It was no surprise that the film became a cultural hot-button topic of morality, mental health, and violence portrayed in the film. Fans and detractors of the Joker could not evade the film, and it was that very divisiveness that made the chatter persist.
1. Wicked
The most recent addition to this list is also one of the most controversial. The movie version of the hit Broadway musical Wicked stormed the box office with a record-breaking first weekend for a musical, earning in excess of $160 million worldwide. Critics tended to lean toward positive, praising its performances and emotional resonance, yet deeming some to be overstuffed and excessively long. Audiences have supported it wholeheartedly, however, praising its commitment to the source material, its more detailed examination of Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, and the film’s unapologetic embracing of big, bold spectacle. From casting controversies to aesthetic decisions, Wicked has already made its place as a cultural lightning rod.
So what do these movies teach us? Probably, it is the fact that movie critics and viewers, from the very start of watching the film, take totally different things. Critics usually focus on the quality of the craft, tempo, and novelty, while audiences might just need a nice joke, a fantastic flight, or a tale that is their own. And that’s alright. If all the people thought alike, we would lose half the pleasure of being a movie fan. The real delight is in the debates—arguing over whether Venom is genius or trash, or whether Wicked is a masterpiece or a mess. Because, in the end, films are not meant to be liked by everyone, if not hated. They are supposed to provoke feelings. And as long as people continue to argue, the popcorn will still be that much more delicious.