Ever walked out of the cinema thinking, “That was incredible!” only to pull up Rotten Tomatoes and have critics ripping it apart? Or perhaps you’ve been left confused when a movie critics praise as a work of genius puts you to sleep. It’s not you—critics and viewers have been disagreeing for decades. At times, it’s expectations, sometimes taste, and sometimes… who knows? Let’s count down 15 of the widest critic vs. audience gulfs, from the moderately unexpected to the utterly stunning.
15. Dont Look Up (2021) — 23% Gap
Adam McKay’s polarizing satire on the end of the world divided opinions. Critics liked it 55%, while the audience gave it 78%. Some laughed a lot at the quick pace and the famous actors coming together, but others thought that the movie was putting its point across in a very obvious way.
14. The Greatest Showman (2017) — 29% Gap
Hugh Jackman’s musical spectacle was loved by the audience (86%) but left the critics unimpressed (57%). True, the film ignored Barnum’s unpleasant side of history, but when a soundtrack is so good, most people just don’t mind.
13. Sausage Party (2016) — 32% Gap
The critics were extremely pleased (82%), while the audience was not so impressed (50%). It appears that not everyone wanted the animated foods to behave like real people in a less-than-R-rated world.
12. Us (2019) — 32% Gap
Among the most praised movies from critics, Jordan Peele’s second horror film scored 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audience score was 61%. The movie is smart, multi-layered, and full of symbolism, but there are still those who just wanted a scary flick.
11. Passengers (2016) — 33% Gap
Critics marked Passengers with 30%, whereas the audience contributed 63%. Due to the depressing concept (Chris Pratt wakes Jennifer Lawrence up on purpose), bad reviews were the norm, but the fans were still okay with the pretty shots and the famous actors working together.
10. Noah (2014) — 34% Gap
While critics were eager to give it a 75% rating (Darren Aronofsky’s artistic take on the Bible), the audience with 41% was quite confused. Apparently, the people who were expecting an ordinary Bible story were let down by the giant rock angels.
9. Captain Marvel (2019) — 34% Gap
The critics were much more positive than the fans (79% vs 45%, respectively). Most of the supporters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were skeptical of Brie Larson’s performance, but the critics saw the film as an important step in the MCU timeline. However, the movie went on to make over a billion dollars at the box office,ce so who exactly was let down?
8. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) — 36% Gap
59% critics, 95% audiences. While the nostalgia and the colorful animation were loved by gamers, the reviewers were not impressed by the movie due to its shallow storytelling. Sometimes, your Easter eggs are enough to carry the whole game.
7. Spy Kids (2001) — 46% Gap
This one’s reversed: 93% from critics, but only 47% from the audience. Reviewers highlighted Robert Rodriguez’s creativity as a main point of the film, but some moviegoers were not enthusiastic about the thumb-people and campy CGI.
6. Venom (2018) — 50% Gap
Critics (30%) described it as a catastrophe, whereas the public (80%) loved it. Tom Hardy fighting with the inner alien inside him is exactly the kind of ridiculous situation one would expect and hope for, even if critics were not pleased.
5. Grown Ups (2010) — 51% Gap
It was negatively rated by critics (11,%), but the general public (62%) found it to be satisfactory. It’s basically just Adam Sandler and his friends going on a trip with a storyline, but for a lot of people, that’s comfortable comedy.
4. Warcraft (2016) — 48% Gap
Most members of the audience (76%) were really pleased with the fact that they were able to see the whole beautiful world of Azeroth on a big screen. On the other hand, only 28% of the critics were in favor of the film, and they called it a CGI disaster that had too much background story for the new ones.
3. Harlem Nights (1989) — 55% Gap
The crime comedy of master of comedy Eddie Murphy was given a low score of 25% by the critics, but the audience rated it 80% judging it a great movie. One of the reasons it became a fan favorite, even if it was not critically acclaimed, was the mixture of star power and fast-wittedness.
2. Playing With Fire (2019) — 53% Gap
John Cena’s family comedy was highly criticized by the critics with a low score of 24%, but it was loved by the audience, scoring 77%. Slapstick + heart = success with parents and kids, no matter what the critics said.
1. Forrest Gump (1994) — 24% Gap (The Shocker)
The most absurd one is right here. Critics were moderate (71%) in their opinion of the movie, while audiences rated it extremely high (95%). Thus, even among the most beloved movies of all time, it is still an instance of differing opinions between critics and the general public. So why do these gaps exist? Maybe critics want movies to be original or artistic, whereas the audience just wants to have fun. Nostalgia, franchise loyalty, or even day-of-release mood can all tip the scales.
Ultimately, movies are subjective—and hence the reason why arguing about them is half the fun. Whether you’re Team Critic or Team Popcorn, there’s always another debate waiting once the credits roll.