10 Great Movies That Critics Thought Were Just Average

Summary

• Critics can be wrong about movies: Saw, The Shining, Alien, and Psycho were initially panned.
• Taste is subjective: Some movies are divisive, like Star Wars, Forrest Gump, and Fight Club.
• Movies can improve over time: Titanic and Dirty Dancing were initially met with mixed reviews but are now beloved.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

You are watching: 10 Great Movies That Critics Thought Were Just Average

Movies are subjective in many ways, but most of the time, there is a consensus about movies that work and those that don’t, and occasionally, the critics get it really wrong. Movies exist as a way to entertain, engage, and present ideas to an audience. This could be through exciting action stories, gripping horrors, charming romance, or a variety of other methods. However, while the movies can be subjectively good or bad, there is an entire profession built around critiquing these projects and determining their overall quality.

When it comes to making any recommendation, taste is subjective. This is true for food critics, and it’s certainly true for movie critics. However, with the help of websites that compile and collect dozens of reviews, it can be helpful to get a general idea of what many people are thinking at a glance. But even the vocal majority can get something considerably wrong. This is clearly seen with several movies that currently stand out as some of the best and most celebrated of all time, but upon their initial release, critics just didn’t get the movie, and the response was lukewarm to negative.

10 Saw

Horror is potentially one of the most subjective areas of film. Within one genre, there are countless horror subgenres, and while there exists a dedicated fanbase who praise and embrace shocking body horror films with glee, there is another side who reject those same films, while lauding psychological horrors. These divisions exist across the board in horror fandom, with slashers, supernatural, found footage, paranormal and sci-fi horrors all having their own audience.

For the ultra violent and gory Saw, it appears that critics largely fell into one of two camps. Either they praised the film for its clever storytelling and twists, or they found it tiresome, disturbing, or too focused on symbolism. On Rotten Tomatoes, Saw currently maintains a 50% critics score, while the audience is much more favorable with a score of 84%. However, many lists of the greatest horror movies and franchises will include Saw thanks to the ingenious and innovative story, and the creative twists throughout.

Related
10 Amazing Horror Films That Critics Thought Were Average

Not every horror movie is appreciated fully in its time, with several fantastic films in the genre getting only mixed to average reviews.

9 The Shining

Stanley Kubrick is one of the most divisive filmmakers of all time, having created several movies that earned praise and criticism in equal measure. However, when his masterpiece, The Shining, was released in 1980, it failed to resonate with critics of the time. The film was an adaptation of a novel by Stephen King, who had recently seen huge success thanks to the 1976 adaptation of another novel, Carrie. King and Kubrick clashed in their ideas for The Shining, and critics appeared to stand with King as they struggled to understand the film and its motivations.

The Shining was a slow burn horror which was released in an era where that was not the standard. The film was full of bizarre and jarring imagery which put viewers at ill ease, but this was also unusual for horrors at the time. The characters were weird, and ultimately, these details added up to result in critics finding the movie boring, or overly experimental. Popular critic, Gene Siskel, remarked in his own Chicago Tribune review that the movie was “a crashing disappointment,” a sentiment which was echoed by many other critics at the time.

8 Alien

Alien may have been the movie that made Ridley Scott a household name, but when the movie initially released, it was viewed as largely mediocre and unimaginative. Numerous critics from various publications compared the film to poorly constructed horror flicks that were purely built to get cheap screams. Vincent Canby of the New York Times gave the film an overtly average review where he pointed to the areas where the film was lacking.

See more : Biosphere Movie Ending Explained, Plot, Cast, Trailer and More

It’s an old-fashioned scare movie about something that is not only implacably evil but prone to jumping out at you when (the movie hopes) you least expect it.

Despite Sigourney Weaver’s outstanding performance, early critics failed to see anything that elevated the film, but upon further reflection, potentially brought on by the success Alien had at the Awards season in 1980, the movie was soon receiving overwhelming praise. Now, Scott, Weaver and Alien are all held in the highest regard when it comes to sci-fi and horror. However, it’s astonishing to think that anyone could have watched the incredible sci-fi horror and special and practical effects of Alien and not find it groundbreaking.

Related
10 Movies That Critics Either Loved Or Absolutely Hated

The most divisive movies ever split critics, creating two groups of those who either loved or hated the movie, for sometimes mysterious reasons.

7 Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock is another popular horror director who built his reputation on pushing boundaries and building suspense in his works. While Hitchcock had a strong track record, Psycho hit a nerve with early reviewers, which resulted in reviews that went so far as to call the movie “A blot on an honourable career” (via The Financial Times). The movie’s actors, story, and twist ending were all regarded as some of Hitchcock’s weakest work to date.

However, today, Psycho is held in the highest regard, often lauded as Hitchcock’s most influential and enduring work, and it remains a film which is often held as inspiration for aspiring horror creatives. The movie appeared to be shocking enough that some reviewers refused to watch it in its entirety, and it certainly broke new ground on things which had never been done before in film, such as the first toilet flush to appear and be heard audibly on film (via CBR). Potentially, the critics of the time were too sensitive to fully appreciate the genius and vision of Psycho.

6 Titanic

However, it is not only horror films that critics may initially react negatively towards before having a change of heart. Occasionally, epic blockbusters can also be misjudged. By 1997, James Cameron had already proven his abilities when it came to sci-fi epics, but his ability to write emotional and dramatic films was less widely accepted. His box-office shattering Titanic, which would go on to become the highest grossing movie of all time for over a decade, was initially in receipt of mixed reviews, with some high praise, but also some scathing reviews.

Kenneth Turan of the LA Times wrote one such review which was titled “‘Titanic’ Sinks Again (Spectacularly).” As if the title was not critical enough, Turan went on to berate Cameron’s ability to write emotional stories. However, the film’s reception in the following months and years have clearly set it apart as one of the greatest, and most profitable films, of all time.

Related
10 Criticisms Of Great Movies That Don’t Hold Up

While there are plenty of criticisms that can be targeted at great movies, sometimes they don’t always hold up when properly examined.

5 Star Wars

Star Wars is now one of the biggest franchises in all of film, with multiple mainline trilogies, spin-off movies, live-action TV shows, spin-offs and cartoons, but when the first movie came out in 1977, the film had an uphill climb. Establishing a sci-fi opera in a landscape where that didn’t exist was no easy feat. While the film, of course, had some advocates and fans from the start, there were critics who had very little positive to say about the ambitious film.

Pauline Kael of The New Yorker wrote a scathing review where she stated; “It’s an epic without a dream.” Some other reviewers took a similar stance, which highlighted a lack of story beneath a shiny exterior. Star Wars surely has its flaws, but there is no denying the overall success and affection that fans hold for the films, with the franchise enduring 50 years later and still releasing new projects.

4 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi epic was another recipient of mixed reviews, where his film 2001: A Space Odyssey was concerned. When the movie hit theaters in 1968, critics struggled to understand and make sense of the feature. The Hollywood Reporter recounts a moment when, during the New York premiere of the film, the entire audience of 250 people stood up and walked out early. Potentially, the groundbreaking themes and exploration of AI as a villain before the concept of AI was widely discussed made the movie a hard sell for audiences.

Now, the movie is widely regarded as a masterpiece, but as was often the case, Kubrick’s genius was misunderstood. Kubrick left many aspects of his work open to interpretation, with unusual imagery and messages in his films. This has resulted in enduring discussions about his films and the deeper meanings they contain, with the ending of 2001: A Space Odyssey standing out for its powerful and symbolic final sequence.

Related
10 Movie & TV Reboots That Were Criticized By The Original Creators

Reboots tend to be some of the most highly criticized movies and shows. In some cases, the original creators have been the harshest critics.

3 Forrest Gump

While many critics praised Forrest Gump and the associated performance of Tom Hanks, the movie also garnered some less favorable press. Reviewers pointed to the characters lack of intelligence, and his sheer emptiness as being a vapid and hollow basis for a feature film. They remarked on the lack of storytelling and depth, as they struggled to find meaning and purpose in the story.

However, as the awards season came around and the film received outstanding critical success and an array of awards, including Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role, the film was reassessed. Ultimately, Robert Zemeckis’ vision and storytelling were largely praised, and today, the film is one of the most often referenced and quoted within the landscape of film and TV. The simplicity, and the symbolism worked in favor of Forrest Gump, against all odds.

2 Fight Club

Fight Club is one of the most contentious films ever released, with critics hailing and haranguing the project in equal measure. While some praised the acting of Edward Norton and Brad Pitt as the central figures in the story, others suggested the film glamorized violence. The film’s simple premise, with a man who goes into the community and sets up a fight club, and the rapid growth of this pointless club of brutal battery struck a nerve with reviewers.

David Fincher, the director, was also not averse to being controversial. The movie was intentional and purposeful in its approach to violence, the male psyche, and duality. The movie’s twist ending cemented the story as one of the most mind-bending and thrilling movies of the 1990s, and established Fincher’s strength as a director even more than his previous work. While the film remains contentious to a degree, the quality and storytelling are deserving of praise.

Related
15 Movies That Have The Same Rotten Tomatoes Critic & Audience Scores

Very few movies have the exact same critic and audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Here are some examples movies that accomplish the rare feat.

1 Dirty Dancing

While Dirty Dancing remains a guilty pleasure for many, the film was initially met with mixed reviews. Despite Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze’s remarkable chemistry, some critics struggled to connect with the story as they felt it lacked one in the first place. Renowned film critic, Roger Ebert gave the film a negative review due to the film failing to follow any specific thread.

However, despite some negative reviews, many were positive, embracing the fun, frivolity, and performances of the cast. While the movie is not a musical, it requires the same amount of suspended belief in order to fully enjoy the narrative with expert dancers bursting into a spontaneous performance at the drop of a hat. The movie was designed to make people feel good, and decades later, it continues to do just that.

Source: https://www.kidsland.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment