10 Movies With Rotten Tomatoes Scores That Feel Completely Wrong

As a lifelong Marvel fan who grew up watching the Avengers assemble on the big screen, I was initially thrilled when “Thor: The Dark World” hit theaters. However, upon revisiting it years later, I can’t help but be disappointed by its 67% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Compared to the other Thor movies and even some of the lesser-regarded entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), I feel that “The Dark World” falls short in terms of character development, cohesive storytelling, and overall entertainment value.

Growing up, I remember being captivated by Chris Hemsworth’s portrayal of Thor and his journey throughout the MCU. However, “The Dark World” seems to be a step back from the character growth we saw in the first Thor film and the subsequent appearances in other movies like “Avengers: Infinity War.” The movie feels disjointed and lacks the emotional resonance that made earlier entries in the series so memorable.

In addition, I find it hard to believe that a movie with such a low score on Rotten Tomatoes could have been certified fresh by 203 critics. It’s clear that some of these reviewers must have enjoyed the film ironically or for other reasons not related to its quality as a piece of cinema.

That being said, I still appreciate “Thor: The Dark World” for introducing us to new characters like Lady Sif and the Collector, and for setting up plot points that were later explored in subsequent movies. But if we’re going to be honest with ourselves, it’s not one of the MCU’s best offerings.

On a lighter note, I can’t help but wonder what Thor would think about his own movie being so poorly received. Maybe he’d just shrug it off and move on to the next adventure, confident that he’ll always be able to find a way to please the people of Midgard (or Earth, for those of us who aren’t Asgardians).

It’s common knowledge that Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t serve as the ultimate authority on film critiques, but it undeniably plays a crucial role in kick-starting discussions. This online platform collects and consolidates movie reviews and ratings into two straightforward categories – “fresh” or “rotten.” Despite its scientific appearance, film appraisal is more of an art than a science, which means the scores can sometimes be quite unexpected to the eye.

When you look up a movie online, you’ll usually find its Tomatometer score, shown as a percentage. This percentage indicates the proportion of reviews that were generally favorable. To discover the movie’s average rating on a scale from 1 to 10, you may need to explore further within the site. It’s worth noting that most critics believe no film is flawless; therefore, while you might come across movies labeled as “100% fresh,” it’s unlikely to find one with an average score of 10 out of 10.

To put it another way, these numbers (reviews and ratings) don’t give the complete picture about a movie. Just like movies themselves, reviews are highly contextual. Many reviews on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes were published when the movie first came out, but some movies gain more appreciation over time. Conversely, some movies find their audience years later, causing their scores to change significantly – for better or worse. Additionally, the scores can be influenced by the total number of reviews considered. Some movies struggle with obscurity, while others benefit from it.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast who has spent countless hours poring over film reviews, I must say that it’s no secret that Rotten Tomatoes isn’t flawless – but delving into the specifics of its ratings can be quite intriguing! Here are ten films with surprising Rotten Tomatoes scores, and my best guesses as to why they landed where they did.

1. The Room (2003) – Surprisingly Low: This cult classic has a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, despite its passionate fanbase. The movie’s low-budget production values and unconventional storytelling might have deterred critics who were accustomed to slicker, more polished films.
2. Get Out (2017) – Surprisingly High: With a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Jordan Peele’s horror masterpiece was widely praised by both audiences and critics alike. Its unique blend of humor, social commentary, and suspense likely resonated with reviewers, making it a critical darling.
3. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) – Surprisingly Low: This DC Comics blockbuster has a 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, despite its star-studded cast and massive budget. Critics may have been turned off by the film’s dark tone, convoluted plot, and overabundance of action sequences.
4. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Surprisingly High: With a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this timeless drama has proven to be a critic favorite for its powerful performances, compelling storytelling, and thought-provoking themes.
5. Troll 2 (1990) – Surprisingly Low: This infamous horror film has a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s gained cult status over the years due to its unintentional humor and bizarre performances. Critics likely found the movie too campy and poorly made to take seriously.
6. The Dark Knight (2008) – Surprisingly High: Christopher Nolan’s Batman sequel has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks to its gripping story, memorable performances, and masterful direction. Critics praised the film for elevating the superhero genre to new heights.
7. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) – Surprisingly High: With a 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this raunchy animated comedy was widely praised by critics for its biting satire, clever writing, and hilarious characters.
8. Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) – Surprisingly Low: This infamous horror film has a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s gained cult status over the years due to its inept production values and bizarre performances. Critics likely found the movie too campy and poorly made to take seriously.
9. Pulp Fiction (1994) – Surprisingly High: Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks to its innovative storytelling, memorable characters, and sharp dialogue. Critics praised the film for redefining the crime genre and showcasing Tarantino’s unique vision.
10. The Roommate (2011) – Surprisingly Low: This horror thriller has a 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, despite its star-studded cast. Critics may have been turned off by the film’s predictable plot, unconvincing performances, and lack of suspense.

Tommy Boy – 39 Percent

One fascinating aspect of Rotten Tomatoes is often the gap between professional critics’ scores and audience opinions. The 1995 comedy “Tommy Boy” serves as an excellent illustration of this phenomenon. Despite garnering just 39% positive reviews from 44 trusted critics, it boasts a 90% positive rating on Popcornmeter based on over 250,000 user ratings. Given the film’s enduring popularity and the esteemed career of its star, Chris Farley, it seems that the critical perspective three decades ago may not have fully captured the movie’s charm.

The Mighty Ducks – 27 Percent

Nowadays, it appears that fans of “The Mighty Ducks” can’t get enough of the film, yet it only boasts a 27% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One possible explanation is that Rotten Tomatoes has only compiled 30 trusted reviews for this timeless classic. Additionally, it’s worth considering that some of the movie’s enduring appeal might be due to nostalgia. However, recent retrospective reviews seem to be shifting the narrative gradually. Among all the scores tallied up until 2009, only one was fresh, but since then, more positive evaluations have surfaced from viewers who can now assess the film with hindsight.

Batman – 77 Percent

Over time, superhero films have significantly progressed, yet the 1989 Batman featuring Michael Keaton continues to captivate audiences. Despite being frequently cited and admired as a benchmark, it has an unexpectedly average rating of 77% fresh, based on 141 reviews from trusted critics. The average score aligns with a 7 out of 10, which isn’t poor by any means, but seems surprising given the film’s grand reputation.

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift – 38 Percent

If you view Tokyo Drift as just any movie, its 38% positive rating might seem reasonable. But if you assess it based on Fast & Furious series standards, it warrants more praise. Newcomers to the franchise may not understand this score’s context. However, it’s important to note that at the time, Tokyo Drift failed to meet fans’ expectations of more Dom and Brian. Looking back now, though, it offers a fun spin-off and showcases early-2000s nostalgia at its finest.

National Treasure – 46 Percent

The acclaim for National Treasure has grown significantly since its debut, to the extent that a 46% fresh rating appears misleading. In contrast, The Popcornmeter presents a more balanced assessment — 76% positive feedback based on over a quarter of a million user reviews. These ratings don’t seem biased or excessively favorable; instead, fans have given the film an average score of 3.8 out of 5 stars, while critics have rated it only 5.3 out of 10. However, this is an exceptional scenario where movie enthusiasts are seeking a touch of lightheartedness and quirkiness in their entertainment.

The Beekeeper – 71 Percent

If you caught this year’s action thriller “The Beekeeper” featuring Jason Statham, I’m sorry to say that it missed the mark. The film could have been an entertaining mix of fun, whimsical, and even cartoonish, or it could have served as another copycat of “John Wick.” Regardless, a mediocre experience might have been acceptable. However, instead of finding the right balance, it overplayed its outlandish concept while undermining its serious scenes with unoriginal world-building details. In doing so, it exposed some questionable social and generational biases that were far from attractive.

The movie titled “The Beekeeper” has proven to be quite successful, earning $152.7 million at the box office compared to its production budget of $40 million. Surprisingly, it’s garnered generally favorable reviews, with a 71% fresh score on the Tomatometer, translating to an average rating of 5.9 out of 10 from 181 verified critics. However, among RT’s top critics, the movie is only certified rotten at 57%, with a 5 out of 10 average score. The real conundrum lies in the audience’s response – over 2,500 verified users on Rotten Tomatoes gave “The Beekeeper” a resounding 92% positive rating, averaging 4.5 out of 5. This situation raises questions about the online film criticism landscape.

Thor: The Dark World – 67 Percent

At ComicBook, we specialize in superhero content and understand that many Marvel enthusiasts often consider “Thor: The Dark World” as the least impressive film in the Thor series, if not the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Given this perspective, it’s somewhat surprising to see the movie scored 67% fresh by critics. While it might not have been universally acclaimed, its rating is substantial enough to spark doubts about the widespread criticism directed towards this film among fans.

As a longtime Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fan, I have to admit that I was quite taken aback when I learned that the latest addition to the franchise, “Thor: Love and Thunder,” did not hold the record for the lowest score among MCU movies on Rotten Tomatoes. With a score of only 63%, it’s actually lower than “The Marvels” (62%), “Eternals” (47%), and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (46%) – all of which are more recent films in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.

What strikes me as particularly interesting is that these low scores come from movies released in a time when the concept of “superhero fatigue” has been gaining traction in discussions about the genre. It will be intriguing to see if any of these films manage to improve their standing over time, and I’m eager to explore the reasons behind their current reception.

Growing up, I fondly remember watching each new MCU release with great anticipation, so it’s a bit disconcerting to witness this shift in critical response. However, I remain hopeful that these films will find their audience and continue to contribute to the rich tapestry of stories that make the Marvel Universe so captivating.

Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker – 51 Percent

As a lifelong Star Wars fan who has eagerly anticipated each new installment of this beloved franchise, I must admit that my initial excitement for “The Rise of Skywalker” was quickly tempered by the overwhelming consensus among critics that it is a less-than-stellar addition to the Skywalker Saga.

Granted, 522 trusted reviewers can’t be wrong, but as someone who has spent countless hours immersed in this galaxy far, far away, I find it hard to accept such a low average rating of 6.1 out of 10. I can’t help but wonder if some of those critics were simply contrarians, unwilling to appreciate the unique qualities that make Star Wars so special.

Regardless, the fact remains that “The Rise of Skywalker” is now certified rotten by Rotten Tomatoes, and I can’t deny that this news has left me feeling a bit disheartened. I sincerely hope that Disney will take this feedback to heart and approach the next chapter in the Star Wars timeline with renewed vigor and a fresh perspective, so that we fans can once again experience the magic of this iconic universe.

Step Brothers – 54 Percent

As someone who has spent countless hours watching comedies, I’ve found that they don’t often receive positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes (RT). Even a beloved blockbuster like “Step Brothers” from 2008 failed to earn the coveted “fresh” certification. The film received an average rating of 5.6 out of 10 among 203 critics, and it’s surprising to see that more and more critics have given it negative reviews in recent years. In my personal experience, I’ve found that comedies are often subjective, with audiences finding humor in different things. However, it seems that the critics on RT don’t always agree with the masses when it comes to funny movies.

Sharknado – 77 Percent

In a stunning turn of events, nothing on Rotten Tomatoes is more unexpected than the ratings for intentionally poor films like Sharknado. This notorious film boasts a whopping 77% positive reviews from 22 trusted critics, earning an average score of 6.4 out of 10. What’s even more astounding is when we delve into Rotten Tomatoes’ “top critic” section – Sharknado is a perfect 100%, with an impressive average rating of 9 out of 10 from 8 critics in this elite group.

Just like every time, it’s up to viewers to decide their take on any movie, ranging from critically-acclaimed masterpieces to straight-to-TV flops. However, reviews can spark intriguing discussions post-viewing rather than influencing decisions pre-screening. Feel free to express your opinions on platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes and keep the dialogue flowing!

2024-12-30 21:12