R-rated movies push the boundaries of what’s acceptable on the big screen. Directors can indulge their darkest desires and wildest artistic visions without restraint. Some film buffs crave these graphic excesses, while others prefer a more subtle approach.
To determine the R-rated movies loved by audiences and hated by critics, 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 Rotten Tomatoes audience score and Tomatometer score. 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.
Moviegoers want escapism, but critics demand artistry. This leads to some major disconnects between Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer scores and audience ratings. In some cases, the ratings gap spans over 70 percentage points.
Two genres highlight this critic/audience divide: stoner comedies and gritty gang films. Movies like “Up in Smoke” or “Wet Hot American Summer” score big with audiences looking for laughs. But critics crinkle their noses at the lowbrow humor. On the flip side, gritty dramas about crime life like “Green Street Hooligans” and “Belly” thrill mainstream crowds. (Also See Most Successful R-Rated Movies.)
Here is a list of the movies audiences love but critics hate:
50. Beerfest (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 34 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (198,870 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 41% (108 reviews)
- Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar
49. Up In Smoke (1978)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 35 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (63,014 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 47% (19 reviews)
- Directed by: Lou Adler & Tommy Chong
48. Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
N/A
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 35 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (336,882 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 52% (153 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul McGuigan
47. Young Guns (1988)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 35 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (62,468 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 41% (37 reviews)
- Directed by: Christopher Cain
46. Elite Squad (2007)
Source: Courtesy of IFC Films
N/A
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 36 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (16,956 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 51% (35 reviews)
- Directed by:José Padilha
45. Bad Boys (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 36 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (660,960 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 42% (64 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Bay
44. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
Source: Courtesy of USA Films
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 37 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (39,687 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 38% (76 reviews)
- Directed by: David Wain
43. The Program (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 37 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (12,026 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 43% (21 reviews)
- Directed by: David S. Ward
42. A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 37 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (22,431 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 43% (100 reviews)
- Directed by: Shainee Gabel
41. Spun (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Amuse
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 38 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (56,701 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 37% (79 reviews)
- Directed by: Jonas Åkerlund
40. The Chumscrubber (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Go Fish Pictures
N/A
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 38 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (39,537 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 37% (60 reviews)
- Directed by: Arie Posin
39. Running Scared (2006)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 38 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (135,422 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 41% (131 reviews)
- Directed by: Wayne Kramer
38. Blood In, Blood Out (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 39 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (49,219 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 55% (11 reviews)
- Directed by: Taylor Hackford
37. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 39 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (279,451 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 50% (70 reviews)
- Directed by: Terry Gilliam
36. Men of Honor (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 39 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (77,333 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 42% (106 reviews)
- Directed by: George Tillman Jr.
35. Green Street Hooligans (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Freestyle Releasing
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 40 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (219,919 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 47% (64 reviews)
- Directed by: Lexi Alexander
34. Equilibrium (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 40 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (268,231 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 41% (91 reviews)
- Directed by: Kurt Wimmer
33. Great Expectations (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 41 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (47,565 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 37% (35 reviews)
- Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
32. Life as a House (2001)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 41 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (57,073 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 47% (105 reviews)
- Directed by: Irwin Winkler
31. Two Can Play That Game (2001)
Source: Gallo Images / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment
RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 21, Vivica A fox during the SA Sports Awards from Sun City Superbowl on August 21, 2011 in Rustenburg, South Africa Photo by Frennie Shivambu / Gallo Images
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 42 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (34,139 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 41% (63 reviews)
- Directed by: Mark Brown
30. Waiting… (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
N/A
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 45 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (233,462 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 30% (92 reviews)
- Directed by: Rob McKittrick
29. Party Monster (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Strand Releasing
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 46 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (36,831 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 29% (79 reviews)
- Directed by: Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato
28. All About the Benjamins (2002)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 47 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (34,521 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 30% (76 reviews)
- Directed by: Kevin Bray
27. The United States of Leland (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Classics
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 47 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (30,380 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 34% (93 reviews)
- Directed by: Matthew Ryan Hoge
26. Waist Deep (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Rogue Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 48 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (94,165 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 28% (76 reviews)
- Directed by: Vondie Curtis-Hall
25. Underworld (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Screen Gems
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 48 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (496,020 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 31% (162 reviews)
- Directed by: Len Wiseman
24. The Butterfly Effect (2004)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 48 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (623,433 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 33% (172 reviews)
- Directed by: Eric Bress & J. Mackye Gruber
23. Poetic Justice (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 49 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (38,446 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 34% (32 reviews)
- Directed by: John Singleton
22. Friday After Next (2002)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 49 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (135,097 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 26% (72 reviews)
- Directed by: Marcus Raboy
21. Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Overture Films
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 49 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (517,395 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 26% (162 reviews)
- Directed by: F. Gary Gray
20. Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 49 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (65,851 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 31% (26 reviews)
- Directed by: Paris Barclay
19. Man on Fire (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 51 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (423,695 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 38% (169 reviews)
- Directed by: Tony Scott
18. Half Baked (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 52 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (194,284 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 29% (24 reviews)
- Directed by: Tamra Davis
17. How High (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 53 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (67,118 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 26% (57 reviews)
- Directed by: Jesse Dylan
16. The Players Club (1998)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 54 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (29,485 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 31% (16 reviews)
- Directed by: Ice Cube
15. Poolhall Junkies (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 54 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (20,258 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 33% (43 reviews)
- Directed by: Mars Callahan
14. Next Friday (2000)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 55 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (181,653 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 21% (66 reviews)
- Directed by: Steve Carr
13. Bad Boys II (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 55 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (502,048 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 23% (185 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Bay
12. Super Troopers (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 55 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (262,930 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 35% (89 reviews)
- Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar
11. Angel Has Fallen (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 55 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (14,674 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 38% (188 reviews)
- Directed by: Ric Roman Waugh
10. The Five Heartbeats (1991)
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 56 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (19,059 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 39% (18 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Townsend
9. For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (2012)
Source: Courtesy of ARC Entertainment
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 57 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (28,154 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 20% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: Dean Wright
8. Jigsaw (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 57 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (29,519 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 32% (90 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael & Peter Spierig
7. Harlem Nights (1989)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 59 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (34,486 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 21% (34 reviews)
- Directed by: Eddie Murphy
6. The Life of David Gale (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 62 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (60,988 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 19% (157 reviews)
- Directed by: Alan Parker
5. The Boondock Saints (1999)
Source: Courtesy of Indican Pictures
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 63 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (335,578 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 28% (29 reviews)
- Directed by: Troy Duffy
4. A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996)
Source: Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 08: Actor Martin Lawrence attends Bad Boys For Life photocall at the Villamagna Hotel on January 08, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 64 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (14,709 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 12% (26 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Lawrence
3. Grandma’s Boy (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 69 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (226,305 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 16% (62 reviews)
- Directed by: Nicholaus Goossen
2. Belly (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 71 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (34,290 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 16% (19 reviews)
- Directed by: Hype Williams
1. Shottas (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Destination Films
- Audience score less Tomatometer score: 72 ppts.
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (10,275 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 19% (16 reviews)
- Directed by: Cess Silvera
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