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Fan-Approved R-Rated Films That Critics Panned

Fan-Approved R-Rated Films That Critics Panned

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

50. Beerfest (2006)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

49. Up In Smoke (1978)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

48. Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

47. Young Guns (1988)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

46. Elite Squad (2007)

Courtesy of IFC Films

45. Bad Boys (1995)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

44. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Courtesy of USA Films

43. The Program (1993)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

42. A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)

Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

41. Spun (2002)

Courtesy of Amuse

40. The Chumscrubber (2005)

Courtesy of Go Fish Pictures

39. Running Scared (2006)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

38. Blood In, Blood Out (1993)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

37. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

36. Men of Honor (2000)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

35. Green Street Hooligans (2005)

Courtesy of Freestyle Releasing

34. Equilibrium (2002)

Courtesy of Miramax

33. Great Expectations (1998)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

32. Life as a House (2001)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

31. Two Can Play That Game (2001)

Gallo Images / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment

30. Waiting… (2005)

Courtesy of Lionsgate Films

29. Party Monster (2003)

Courtesy of Strand Releasing

28. All About the Benjamins (2002)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

27. The United States of Leland (2003)

Courtesy of Paramount Classics

26. Waist Deep (2006)

Courtesy of Rogue Pictures

25. Underworld (2003)

Courtesy of Screen Gems

24. The Butterfly Effect (2004)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

23. Poetic Justice (1993)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

22. Friday After Next (2002)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

21. Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Courtesy of Overture Films

20. Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)

Courtesy of Miramax

19. Man on Fire (2004)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

18. Half Baked (1998)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

17. How High (2001)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

16. The Players Club (1998)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

15. Poolhall Junkies (2002)

Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

14. Next Friday (2000)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

13. Bad Boys II (2003)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

12. Super Troopers (2001)

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

11. Angel Has Fallen (2019)

Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

10. The Five Heartbeats (1991)

Frederick M. Brown / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment

9. For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (2012)

Courtesy of ARC Entertainment

8. Jigsaw (2017)

Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

7. Harlem Nights (1989)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

6. The Life of David Gale (2003)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

5. The Boondock Saints (1999)

Courtesy of Indican Pictures

4. A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996)

Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

3. Grandma's Boy (2006)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

2. Belly (1998)

Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment

1. Shottas (2002)

Courtesy of Destination Films

50. Beerfest (2006)
49. Up In Smoke (1978)
48. Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
47. Young Guns (1988)
46. Elite Squad (2007)
45. Bad Boys (1995)
44. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
43. The Program (1993)
42. A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)
41. Spun (2002)
40. The Chumscrubber (2005)
39. Running Scared (2006)
38. Blood In, Blood Out (1993)
37. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
36. Men of Honor (2000)
35. Green Street Hooligans (2005)
34. Equilibrium (2002)
33. Great Expectations (1998)
32. Life as a House (2001)
31. Two Can Play That Game (2001)
30. Waiting… (2005)
29. Party Monster (2003)
28. All About the Benjamins (2002)
27. The United States of Leland (2003)
26. Waist Deep (2006)
25. Underworld (2003)
24. The Butterfly Effect (2004)
23. Poetic Justice (1993)
22. Friday After Next (2002)
21. Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
20. Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
19. Man on Fire (2004)
18. Half Baked (1998)
17. How High (2001)
16. The Players Club (1998)
15. Poolhall Junkies (2002)
14. Next Friday (2000)
13. Bad Boys II (2003)
12. Super Troopers (2001)
11. Angel Has Fallen (2019)
10. The Five Heartbeats (1991)
9. For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (2012)
8. Jigsaw (2017)
7. Harlem Nights (1989)
6. The Life of David Gale (2003)
5. The Boondock Saints (1999)
4. A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996)
3. Grandma's Boy (2006)
2. Belly (1998)
1. Shottas (2002)

Critics and audiences have not always disagreed on movie ratings but recent data has shown that their opinions have been widening consistently in the past couple of decades. Everyone will rarely agree on which films are excellent and which ones are awful but when it comes to these two groups, their approach to how they watch and rate movies can, and often does, vary. This is why many R-rated films are panned by critics and praised by fans.

Audiences escape to the movies for a few hours to relax, a place where they can be entertained; critics are paid to do just that – criticize and provide an assessment. They also have different artistic tastes that can be subjective, which is often reflected in their critique.

To determine the R-rated films panned by critics and praised by fans, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on audience and critic reception from Rotten Tomatoes. R-rated movies were ranked based on the percentage-point difference between the Rotten Tomatoes audience score and the Tomatometer score. (Check out the most successful R-rated movies.)

Only films with at least 10 critics reviews, 10,000 audience reviews, audience scores of at least 75%, and Tomatometer scores below 60% were considered. Cast information came from IMDb. Viewers' desire for escapism and the critics' demand for artistry often lead to a large disconnect between the Tomatometer scores and audience ratings. In some cases, the rating gap spans over 70 percentage points.

Here are R-rated films panned by critics and praised by fans:

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