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 onRotten 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 ofthe most controversial moviesever 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.
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Under the Skin (2013)
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47%
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10King Kong (2005)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 84% / Audience 50%
After powerfully bringing to life J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth withThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy, Peter Jackson set his sights on a remake of the 1933 big monster movie classicKing 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 themost expensive films evermade.Critics praisedKing Kongfor its epic sense of adventure, strong performances, and recapturing the spirit of the original movie.
However, audiences were not so won over by Jackson’sKing 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 afterReturn of the King, Jackson hadn’t given himself enough time. Despite these criticisms,King Kongwas not badly received by audiences; it just did not receive the same kind of widespread acclaim it did with critics.
King Kong
Cast
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.
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.
9Sausage Party (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 82% / Audience 52%
Audiences found it tough to acceptSausage Partyas 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 Partytook the humor ofJudd Apatow’s moviesand repackaged it as animation.
While this raunchy comedy received a mixed reception from audiences, critics were far kinder toSausage Partyand praised its subversion of genre expectations.Sausage Partymixed its profane humor with a surprisingly touching storyof self-discovery as supermarket products were shocked to discover their horrific role in the eco-chain of existence. WhileSausage Partywas not to everyone’s taste, it still managed to become the highest-grossing R-rated animated movie of all time (viaHollywood Reporter) until it was surpassed byDemon Slayer: Mugen Trainin 2020.
Sausage Party
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.
8Antz (1998)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 92% / Audience 52%
DreamWorksAntzwas released as computer-generated animated kids' movies took off followingToy Story. AlthoughAntzreceived 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. WithWoody Allen in the leading role of an anxious worker ant, the disparity between critical acclaim and audience indifference was understandable. WhileAntzwas 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.
Antzhad 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,Antzwas an unusual film and felt slightly less palpable to audiences than Pixar’sA Bug’s Life.
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 83% / Audience 40%
Whilecritics lovedAd 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 thatAd Astrapaid homage to other works, such as Stanley Kubrick’s2001: A Space Odyssey, while to the everyday audience member, these appeared less like compelling hidden details and more like pretentious indulgence. DirectorJames Gray aimed to create a realistic sci-fi film withAd 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.
Ad Astra
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.
6Ghostbusters (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 74% / Audience 49%
The female-led reboot ofGhostbusterswas one of the most notorious examples of critics and audiences having wildly different reactions to a movie. WhileGhostbusterswas well-received by critics who praised its humor and the comedic talents of its cast, certain viewers had a vitriolic reaction to the film, andan 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,Ghostbustershighlighted the way some viewers were dissatisfied with the modern movie trend of rebooting once male-dominated franchises with a new all-female cast.
The originalGhostbustersmovies 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 ofGhostbusters, and the studio decided to later revive the franchise with a direct sequel toGhostbusters IIthat featured appearances from some of the original cast. Whether the failure of thisGhostbustersreboot came down to misogyny or mediocrity depends on whose being asked about it. Still, either way, the femaleGhostbustersnever got a sequel and has been ignored by subsequent installments.
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Ghostbusters reboot director Paul Feig has addressed the controversy surrounding the movie, including reactions to its trailers.
5It Comes At Night (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 88% / Audience 44%
It Comes at Nightwas 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 Nightwas truly unconventionaland 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 Nightdid not need traditional villains to be genuinely scary.
It Comes at Night
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.
4Uncut Gems (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 91% / Audience 52%
Uncut Gemswas 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 Gemsfeatured 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 ofUncut Gemswas also part of its appeal, as the dark nature of its character made for difficult but engrossing viewing.
Not only didUncut Gemspowerfully 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 Gemsbrought to mind the great psychological thrillers from the 1970s, where characters likeTaxi Driver’sTravis Bickle didn’t have to be likable to become cinematic icons.Uncut Gemscertainly wasn’t for everybody, but the critical acclaim was warranted, as movies don’t have to be comforting to be compelling.
Uncut Gems
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.
3Under The Skin (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 84% / Audience 55%
WhileUnder the Skinstood 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 toUnder the Skin, it also appeared in many of the best films in the 2010s rankings and was even included on theBBC’s 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Centurylist.Johansson’s intense and unusual performance also alienated viewerswho 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.
Under the Skin
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.
2Spy Kids (2001)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 94% / Audience 47%
Robert Rodriguez kick-started hisSpy Kidsfranchise back in 2001with 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 Kidswas 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.
WhileSpy Kidsreceived universal praise from critics, viewers have had a mixed response, likely because it was entirely kids’ focused. From its acting, dialogue, and imagery,Spy Kidswas not aiming for broad appeal and had less to offer grown up viewers than other family-friendly series likeHarry Potteror Pixar movies. The kid-centric appeal ofSpy Kidslikely 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.
1Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critical 91% / Audience 41%
Star Wars: The Last Jediwasthe most divisiveStar Warsmovieever 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 ofThe Last Jedi’sRotten Tomatoes score was from genuinely disappointed viewers or a targeted online review-bombing campaign (viaQuartz) 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 toThe Last Jedi’sdivisive nature. At the same time,critics praisedThe Last Jedi’saction sequence and sense of humorand highlighted how it did not simply repeat aspects fromThe Empire Strikes Backin the same wayThe Force Awakensdid withA 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.
