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Movies Audiences Love But Critics Hate

Movies Audiences Love But Critics Hate

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When it comes to motion pictures, audiences go to the cinema to be entertained, while critics watch films to evaluate them for their artistic merit. Needless to say, their opinions on what is good will often diverge.

To determine the movies loved by audiences and hated by critics, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on audience and critic reception from Rotten Tomatoes. Movies were ranked based on the percentage-point difference between Rotten Tomatoes audience score and Tomatometer score. Only films with at least 10 critics reviews, 20,000 audience reviews, and audience scores of at least 75% were considered. Cast information came from IMDb.

Of the films, actors, and directors on our list, Tyler Perry stands out for the movies he’s starred in and directed. Of the nine motion pictures on this list that scored 90 or above among Rotten Tomatoes audiences, three of them have Perry’s fingerprints on them as either director or performer. In those three movies, Perry appeared in drag as the character Madea. There was at least a 67-point differential between audience and critic approval for the three movies. Two of the Madea flicks scored above 90 among audiences.

The Perry movies are three of 16 films that have at least a 61-point differential between audiences and critics. Twelve motion pictures scored less than 20 among critics, further accentuating the approval gap between audiences and critics. (Also See R-Rated Movies Loved by Critics, Hated by Everybody Else.)

The movie with the widest chasm is “Broken Bridges,” dismissed by Rotten Tomatoes critics as “schmaltzy, predictable, and stiffly acted.” An audience member called it a “heartwarming movie of love and loss.”

50. Poetic Justice (1993)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 49 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (38,446 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 34% (32 reviews)
  • Directed by: John Singleton

49. Friday After Next (2002)

Source: Courtesy of HBO Max
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 49 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (135,097 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 26% (72 reviews)
  • Directed by: Marcus Raboy

48. Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Source: Courtesy of Overture Films

Source: Courtesy of Overture Films
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 49 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (517,395 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 26% (162 reviews)
  • Directed by: F. Gary Gray

47. Newsies (1992)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 49 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (50,594 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 39% (38 reviews)
  • Directed by: Kenny Ortega

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

Source: Courtesy of Miramax

Source: Courtesy of Miramax
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 49 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (65,851 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 31% (26 reviews)
  • Directed by: Paris Barclay

45. Courageous (2011)

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 50 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (27,707 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 36% (22 reviews)
  • Directed by: Alex Kendrick

44. Peaceful Warrior (2006)

Source: Courtesy of DEJ Productions

Source: Courtesy of DEJ Productions
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 51 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (43,049 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 25% (71 reviews)
  • Directed by: Victor Salva

43. Venom (2018)

Venom (2018) | Tom Hardy in Venom (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing and Disney+

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing and Disney+
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 51 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (40,883 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 30% (357 reviews)
  • Directed by: Ruben Fleischer

42. A Walk to Remember (2002)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 51 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (250,000+ reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 27% (103 reviews)
  • Directed by: Adam Shankman

41. The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

The Phantom of the Opera (2004) | Gerard Butler and Victor McGuire in The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 51 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (412,283 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 33% (170 reviews)
  • Directed by: Joel Schumacher

40. The Ultimate Gift (2006)

Source: Courtesy of The Bigger Picture

Source: Courtesy of The Bigger Picture
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 51 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (40,112 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 33% (60 reviews)
  • Directed by: Michael O. Sajbel

39. I Am Sam (2001)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 51 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (301,060 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 35% (145 reviews)
  • Directed by: Jessie Nelson

38. Man on Fire (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 51 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (423,695 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 38% (169 reviews)
  • Directed by: Tony Scott

37. Half Baked (1998)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 52 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (194,284 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 29% (24 reviews)
  • Directed by: Tamra Davis

36. Now and Then (1995)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 52 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (76,161 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 30% (20 reviews)
  • Directed by: Lesli Linka Glatter

35. Empire Records (1995)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 52 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (181,635 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 31% (35 reviews)
  • Directed by: Allan Moyle

34. Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 52 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (955,373 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 25% (138 reviews)
  • Directed by: Dominic Sena

33. Wicker Park (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 52 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (55,465 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 27% (135 reviews)
  • Directed by: Paul McGuigan

32. How High (2001)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 53 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (67,118 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 26% (57 reviews)
  • Directed by: Jesse Dylan

31. The Players Club (1998)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 54 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (29,485 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 31% (16 reviews)
  • Directed by: Ice Cube

30. Poolhall Junkies (2002)

Source: Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

Source: Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 54 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (20,258 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 33% (43 reviews)
  • Directed by: Mars Callahan

29. October Baby (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Provident Films

Source: Courtesy of Provident Films
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 54 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (32,465 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 25% (40 reviews)
  • Directed by: Andrew & Jon Erwin

28. Next Friday (2000)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 55 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (181,653 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 21% (66 reviews)
  • Directed by: Steve Carr

27. Daddy’s Little Girls (2007)

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 55 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (225,961 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 26% (54 reviews)
  • Directed by: Tyler Perry

26. Bad Boys II (2003)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 55 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (502,048 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 23% (185 reviews)
  • Directed by: Michael Bay

25. P.S. I Love You (2007)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 55 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (254,242 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 25% (104 reviews)
  • Directed by: Richard LaGravenese

24. Super Troopers (2001)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 55 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (262,930 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 35% (89 reviews)
  • Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar

23. John Q (2002)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 55 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (169,554 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 23% (132 reviews)
  • Directed by: Nick Cassavetes

22. Stomp the Yard (2007)

Source: Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 08: (from left to right) Producer Rob Hardy, director Sylvain White and producer Will Packer attend the after party for the world premiere of Screen Gems Stomp The Yard at Boulevard 3 on January 8, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Source: Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 57 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (468,003 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 25% (89 reviews)
  • Directed by: Sylvain White

21. Meet the Browns (2008)

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 57 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (29,772 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 33% (58 reviews)
  • Directed by: Tyler Perry

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

Source: Courtesy of ARC Entertainment

Source: Courtesy of ARC Entertainment
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 57 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (28,154 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 20% (49 reviews)
  • Directed by: Dean Wright

19. Jigsaw (2017)

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 57 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (29,519 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 32% (90 reviews)
  • Directed by: Michael & Peter Spierig

18. Harlem Nights (1989)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 59 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (34,486 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 21% (34 reviews)
  • Directed by: Eddie Murphy

17. One Night with the King (2006)

Source: Courtesy of 8x Entertainment

Source: Courtesy of 8x Entertainment
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 59 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (31,224 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 19% (26 reviews)
  • Directed by: Michael O. Sajbel

16. Sweet November (2001)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 61 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (94,658 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 15% (98 reviews)
  • Directed by: Pat O’Connor

15. Step Up (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 62 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (615,716 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 21% (108 reviews)
  • Directed by: Anne Fletcher

14. The Life of David Gale (2003)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 62 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (60,988 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 19% (157 reviews)
  • Directed by: Alan Parker

13. 8 Seconds (1994)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 63 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (56,357 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 31% (13 reviews)
  • Directed by: John G. Avildsen

12. God’s Not Dead (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Pure Flix / Quality Flix

Source: Courtesy of Pure Flix / Quality Flix
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 63 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (41,442 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 12% (26 reviews)
  • Directed by: Harold Cronk

11. The Boondock Saints (1999)

Source: Courtesy of Indican Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Indican Pictures
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 63 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (335,578 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 28% (29 reviews)
  • Directed by: Troy Duffy

10. Drop Dead Fred (1991)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 66 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (198,550 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 11% (37 reviews)
  • Directed by: Ate de Jong

9. Madea Goes to Jail (2009)

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 67 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (44,777 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 29% (52 reviews)
  • Directed by: Tyler Perry

8. Madea’s Family Reunion (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 67 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (40,213 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 26% (58 reviews)
  • Directed by: Tyler Perry

7. Grandma’s Boy (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 69 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (226,305 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 16% (62 reviews)
  • Directed by: Nicholaus Goossen

6. Facing the Giants (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Destination Films

Source: Courtesy of Destination Films
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 69 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (88,240 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 16% (25 reviews)
  • Directed by: Alex Kendrick

5. Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 71 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (89,176 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 16% (115 reviews)
  • Directed by: Darren Grant

4. Belly (1998)

Source: Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment

Source: Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 71 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (34,290 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 16% (19 reviews)
  • Directed by: Hype Williams

3. Grind (2003)

Grind (2003) | Grind (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 71 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (52,896 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 8% (74 reviews)
  • Directed by: Casey La Scala

2. Out Cold (2001)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 76 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (47,265 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 8% (49 reviews)
  • Directed by: Brendan & Emmett Malloy

1. Broken Bridges (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Classics

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Classics
  • Audience score minus Tomatometer score: 82 ppts.
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (20,344 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 5% (21 reviews)
  • Directed by: Steven Goldmann
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