Critics and audiences are pretty much on the same page when it comes to approving a movie. But there can be wide gaps between the two groups, particularly over certain motion-picture genres.
To determine the movies loved by critics and hated by audiences, 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 Tomatometer score and audience score. Only films with at least 10 critics reviews, 20,000 audience reviews, Tomatometer scores of at least 75%, and audience scores of 60% or lower were considered. Cast information came from IMDb.
Nine movies on our list received a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score of 90% or above, but did not get the nod from audiences. Four of those films were among the 10 films that had the widest discrepancy between critics and audiences.
Among the genres where the two groups parted company were comedy, horror, and movies aimed at children/animation.
Among the comedies finding favor with critics, less so with audiences were “The Little Shop of Horrors,” “The Informant!,” “While We’re Young,” the rom-coms
“Cyrus” and “The Truth About Cats & Dogs.” (Also See 25 Box Office Bombs That Became Comedy Classics.)
The horror films, some gruesome others more psychological in their terror, that resonated with critics but not so much with audiences were “The Witch,” “The Blair Witch Project,” and “The Innkeepers.” (Also See The Best Horror Movies of All Time.)
Kids movies well-received by critics that left audiences wanting were the two Spy Kids movies, “Stuart Little,” “Antz,” and “Lassie.” Two beloved animated television series — “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” and “The Wild Thornberrys” — failed to find favor among audiences.
Here is a list of the 30 best movies audiences loved but critics hated:
30. Stephanie Daley (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Liberation Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Liberation Entertainment
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 31 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (51 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 59% (49,281 reviews)
- Directed by: Hilary Brougher
29. The Witch (2015)
Source: Courtesy of A24
Source: Courtesy of A24
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 31 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (331 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 59% (42,395 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Eggers
28. Sausage Party (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 32 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (237 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 50% (64,993 reviews)
- Directed by: Conrad Vernon & Greg Tiernan
27. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 32 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (230 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 51% (32,495,606 reviews)
- Directed by: Tim Burton
26. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 32 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (54 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 49% (68,199 reviews)
- Directed by: George Miller & George Ogilvie
25. While We’re Young (2014)
Source: Courtesy of A24
Source: Courtesy of A24
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 33 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (205 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 51% (20,681 reviews)
- Directed by: Noah Baumbach
24. Lassie (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 33 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (16 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 55% (33,833 reviews)
- Directed by: Daniel Petrie
23. War of the Worlds (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 33 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 75% (264 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 42% (32,518,946 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
22. Splash (1984)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 33 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (43 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 58% (123,573 reviews)
- Directed by: Ron Howard
21. King Kong (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 34 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (267 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 50% (33,766,734 reviews)
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
20. Greenberg (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 34 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (176 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 42% (36,821 reviews)
- Directed by: Noah Baumbach
19. Captain Marvel (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 34 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (542 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 45% (100,162 reviews)
- Directed by: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck
18. Drinking Buddies (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 35 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (122 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 49% (23,861 reviews)
- Directed by: Joe Swanberg
17. Noah (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 35 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (261 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 41% (122,339 reviews)
- Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
16. Teeth (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions
Source: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 35 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (70 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 45% (34,927 reviews)
- Directed by: Mitchell Lichtenstein
15. The Informant! (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 35 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (233 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 44% (359,292 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
14. Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 36 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 75% (136 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 39% (126,335 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
13. The Innkeepers (2011)
Source: Courtesy of Magnet Releasing
Source: Courtesy of Magnet Releasing
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 37 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (121 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 42% (93,108 reviews)
- Directed by: Ti West
12. Nurse Betty (2000)
Source: Courtesy of USA Films
Source: Courtesy of USA Films
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 38 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (130 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 45% (35,297 reviews)
- Directed by: Neil LaBute
11. The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
Source: Courtesy of The Filmgroup
Source: Courtesy of The Filmgroup
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 38 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (13 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 55% (54,907 reviews)
- Directed by: Roger Corman
10. Splice (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 38 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 75% (197 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 37% (252,017 reviews)
- Directed by: Vincenzo Natali
9. About a Boy (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 38 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (187 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 55% (31,164,074 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul & Chris Weitz
8. Arachnophobia (1990)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 39 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (43 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 54% (225,769 reviews)
- Directed by: Frank Marshall
7. Haywire (2011)
Source: Courtesy of Relativity Media
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Relativity Media
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 39 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (199 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 41% (43,409 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
6. Antz (1998)
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 40 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (93 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 52% (652,046 reviews)
- Directed by: Eric Darnell & Tim Johnson
5. Stuart Little 2 (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 40 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (124 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 41% (179,749 reviews)
- Directed by: Rob Minkoff
4. Hail, Caesar! (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 41 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (361 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 44% (40,924 reviews)
- Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
3. It Comes at Night (2017)
Source: Courtesy of A24
Source: Courtesy of A24
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 43 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (255 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 44% (20,197 reviews)
- Directed by: Trey Edward Shults
2. Spy Kids (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 47 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (129 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 46% (427,489 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
1. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Tomatometer score less audience score: 49 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (481 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 42% (224,249 reviews)
- Directed by: Rian Johnson