2025 Movies Where Critics and Audiences Disagreed the Most

In August 2024, Rotten Tomatoes launched a new rating system called the “Popcornmeter.” This new feature is designed to complement their existing “Tomatometer,” which converts professional critic reviews into a percentage score to determine if a movie is good or bad. If the score is below 60%, the film is considered “Rotten”; above, it’s labeled as “Fresh.” The Popcornmeter functions similarly but relies on reviews from verified users who watch movies in theaters or at home via streaming services and have paid for their tickets. Now, movies can also be categorized as “Verified Hot,” a new label similar to the existing “Certified Fresh” designation.

After running for several months, we now have the chance to examine how critics’ and audience’s preferences align (or don’t) – specifically, those reviews that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, which may not be a completely accurate representation of everyone’s opinions. However, it is intriguing to observe when their ratings correspond and when they differ.

In 2025, numerous high-profile films share very close Tomatometer and Popcornmeter ratings; for instance, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” boasts a 86% Tomatometer score from critics and a 92% Popcornmeter score from audiences. However, quite a few of the year’s standout films exhibit significantly varying scores based on opinions between reviewers and viewers. This disparity can be seen in both underperforming and successful box-office films. Some movies gained more favor among critics while others resonated more with audiences. Frankly, some of these score differences are quite unexpected! As a result, here’s a list of 15 studio films from 2025 that have the most significant differences between their Tomatometer and Popcornmeter scores.

2025 Movies With the Biggest Differences in Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer and Popcornmeter Scores

28 Years Later

Title Meter – 89 out of 100 (Critics’ Rating)

Popcorn Meter – 63 out of 100 (Audience Rating)

Difference – 26 points

Critics seemed to appreciate Danny Boyle’s daring remake of his “28 Weeks Later” zombie film. However, the general public appears to have mixed feelings, as suggested by their Rotten Tomatoes reviews. Frankly, this is not surprising since the movie takes some unexpected leaps in its final act, which strays far from tradition. It’s quite possible that these unconventional elements might confuse some viewers.

Black Bag

Title Meter – 96 points

Popcorn Meter – 70 points

Difference – 26 points

This one caught me off guard a bit. _Black Bag_ is among the top-rated movies of 2025 according to critics, but viewers who rated it on Rotten Tomatoes seemed less enthusiastic overall. It’s possible that audiences had a different expectation, perhaps anticipating something more intense and action-packed rather than the dialogue-heavy domestic drama that it ultimately became?

The Amateur

In the world of film criticism, it’s a significant gap between the opinions of amateur and professional reviewers:

The Amateur – 88 percent

Professional Critics – 61 percent

That’s a whopping 27 percentage points difference!

Rami Malek shines in The Amateur, a film that left the general public raving with nearly 90% giving it a positive review on Rotten Tomatoes. However, professional critics were less impressed, rating it only slightly above average at 61%. Could it be that these seasoned critics desired something more innovative from this Taken-like revenge thriller?

Captain America: Brave New World

In some instances, the general public may favor a superhero movie over the critics’ preferences, as seen in the case of “Captain America: Brave New World”. This film garnered impressive ratings on the Popcornmeter but received a more moderate Tomatometer score. Interestingly, both audiences and critics held similar views on “Thunderbolts”, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” from Marvel, and “Superman” from DC.

*Assuming you meant Thunderbolts (2024) by Marvel Studios, as there is no such movie named Thunderbolts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet.

Karate Kid: Legends

Title Meter – 58% (Tomatometer)

Audience Meter – 90% (Popcornmeter)

Difference – 32% points

I was quite surprised by this. I thought that “Karate Kid: Legends” would just be a dull rehash of an old classic film, and many critics shared my sentiment. However, it seems that the majority of audiences who rated the movie on Rotten Tomatoes didn’t agree with us. In fact, they gave it one of the highest scores of any title in this list. It may not have impressed film critics, but it certainly seemed to appeal to dedicated “Karate Kid” fans.

I Know What You Did Last Summer

Originally titled “Tomatometer,” this film received a 37% approval rating. However, I prefer calling it the “Popcornmeter” since it scored 69%. A difference of 32 points isn’t too shabby! You might recall that I enjoyed watching ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ (2025). As you can see, not everyone in my circle felt the same way. While some colleagues disagreed with me, a fair number of moviegoers gave it positive reviews. Despite the playful tone of this sequel and its surprising climax twists, I can understand why it might not appeal to every viewer’s preferences.

Snow White

Title Ratings: Tomatometer – 38%, Popcornmeter – 70%

Difference: 32 points

The months leading up to Disney’s release of “Snow White” posed a challenge to the saying that all publicity is good publicity. There was a lot of chatter surrounding the casting, the political views of the stars, and the use (or lack thereof) of CGI Dwarfs in the film. Surprisingly, despite all this controversy, the general audience showed significantly more excitement for this live-action remake than professional critics did. The Popcornmeter score almost doubled the Tomatometer score, suggesting that negative publicity may have deterred some potential viewers. However, those who attended the screening seemed to enjoy it.

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The release of “Snow White” by Disney tested the adage that all publicity is good publicity as there were numerous discussions about casting choices, the political leanings of the stars, and whether or not CGI Dwarfs were used in the film. Interestingly, despite these controversies, the general audience appeared to be far more eager for this live-action remake than critics. The Popcornmeter rating nearly doubled the Tomatometer score, hinting that negative publicity may have discouraged some potential viewers. Nevertheless, those who attended seemed to appreciate the film.)

The Alto Knights

Tomato Rating – 39%

Corn Rating – 71%

Difference – A significant leap of 32%

I watched the movie “The Alto Knights“. It was quite an unusual film, featuring Robert De Niro playing two entirely unrelated gangsters for no clear reason. I doubt that anyone, apart from the most dedicated De Niro fans, would feel strongly about it. However, this high Corn Rating implies that there might be more die-hard De Niro fans than I had initially assumed.

Flight Risk

Tomato Rating – 29%

Popcorn Rating – 62%

Difference: +33 points

Regarding Flight Risk, it wasn’t met with much acclaim by critics when it premiered in January. However, those who actually watched it seemed more enthusiastic, although their collective reviews still only managed a “fresh” score of 62%.

Presence

Tomato Score – 88 out of 100

Popcorn Score – 52 out of 100

Difference – 36 points

This is another significant difference in scores that I had anticipated. The movie Presence had a cryptic promotional strategy and an unconventional long-take aesthetic, which may not have been fully understood from the trailers. Given this atypical approach, I would have wagered it would turn off some viewers seeking a more traditional horror film like The Amityville Horror, and judging by these numbers, my guess was correct.

A Minecraft Movie

Tomatometer Rating – 48%

Popcorn Rating – 85%

Difference – A significant gap of 37 points

The Minecraft Movie sparked quite a frenzy at the cinemas; with viewers quoting lines, throwing popcorn, and behaving as if they were at a rock concert rather than a film adaptation of a pixelated game. Given this level of enthusiasm, it’s no surprise that they awarded it high marks. The Popcorn Rating seems to have a soft spot for chicken jockeys.

A Working Man

* Tomatometer score – 47%
* Popcorn score – 87%
* Difference in scores – 40 points

In simple terms, Jason Statham’s movie “The Beekeeper” received a positive response from both critics and audiences, despite being released in January. The film about a beekeeper with a knack for fighting was well-received, especially considering its genre. A year later, the team attempted to recreate this success with another thriller titled “A Working Man,” focusing on a blue-collar character seeking revenge violently. While audiences still enjoyed it, critics were less impressed compared to “The Beekeeper.”

In other words, while both films starring Jason Statham received positive feedback from viewers, “A Working Man” was not as well-received by critics as “The Beekeeper.

Love Hurts

In general, the critical reception for the movie “Love Hurts” wasn’t exactly glowing. Frankly, I can agree with that assessment. Although it didn’t receive any Oscars, the audience on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a score of 60%, which is as low as you can get without being labeled as “Rotten”. However, this was still 42 points higher than its Tomatometer rating.

Critics didn’t love “Love Hurts”, but audiences gave it a slightly better review. Despite not getting any Oscars, the movie got a score of 60% on Rotten Tomatoes from paying viewers, which is quite low, but not as bad as its Tomatometer rating. The difference between the two ratings was 42 points.

Smurfs

Tomatometer Rating – 21%

Popcornmeter Rating – 65%

Difference in Ratings – 44 points

I recently ran into a movie critic who had just watched Smurfs. When I inquired about their opinion, they simply replied: “Disastrous.” It appears that this negative sentiment is shared by most professional critics on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it’s a different story among the general public. Those who didn’t enjoy Smurfs: “Get lost, Smurf!”

Hurry Up Tomorrow

In the array of films launched this year, it’s evident that Hurry Up Tomorrow, the rock musical biopic penned, produced, and performed by The Weeknd, has experienced a significant difference in opinions. While many critics might struggle to find kind words for it, fans of The Weeknd seemed delighted just to witness him and enjoy his music. This discrepancy between professional critiques and audience reactions amounts to nearly a 50-point gap on the review scale.

Movies With Surprising Rotten Tomatoes Scores

Batman (1989)

As a movie critic, I found myself quite astonished when I saw the Rotten Tomatoes score of 76 for this groundbreaking film that has left an indelible mark on its genre and continues to influence modern cinema. To put things into perspective, even films like “Batman Returns” (81) have a higher rating! And guess what? “The Batman” outshines both with a score of 85. Frankly, I didn’t expect that.

Empire Records (1995)

In the ’90s, I was among many who watched “Empire Records.” It’s a movie my spouse continues to reference even today. Every year, she commemorates Rex Manning Day. Sadly, its Rotten Tomatoes rating is a disappointing 31.

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 38

A casual look at most rankings of the Fast & Furious films (except for this particular one) would likely place Tokyo Drift quite high. This is the movie that introduced Han and served as director Justin Lin’s stepping stone to Hollywood. However, it ranks relatively low in Rotten Tomatoes scores among the Fast movies. Critics, it appears, were less captivated by this film compared to its counterparts.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

The Rotten Tomatoes score for “Halloween III” appears to mirror the initial reception of this film, suggesting it was perceived as an oddity within the Halloween franchise due to Michael Myers’ absence. When people would discuss it, they often did so in disbelief, asking things like “Is this really a sequel?” Nowadays, however, those conversations have shifted, with many fans appreciating its uniqueness and strange charm among slasher sequels. As such, it has gained cult status within the horror genre. However, its cult following isn’t fully recognized by Rotten Tomatoes yet.

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Hocus Pocus (1993)

Initially, “Hocus Pocus” received unfavorable reviews and poor box office performance when it debuted in theaters. However, frequent airings on Disney Channel and home video over time transformed this film into a beloved ’90s kiddie horror classic. So if you recall its theater release, a score of 40 might not seem surprising. For newer fans discovering the movie, they may find it astonishing that it didn’t receive critical acclaim initially.

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

Current Evaluation of The Hudsucker Proxy: It’s now widely regarded as one of the Coen Brothers’ masterpieces, reminiscent of old-style screwball comedies. However, when it was initially released in the mid-90s, it wasn’t well-received. Even Siskel and Ebert, known admirers of other Coens films, gave it a negative review. So, it’s not shocking that its score is quite low, or that considering its initial reception, it has managed to achieve this rating at all.

Hulk (2003)

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I must confess that the 2003 version of Hulk, in contemporary times, is often viewed as a valiant yet flawed production or an eccentric gem amidst the monotonous superhero films. However, contrary to popular opinion, this movie managed to rake in some significant revenue and garnered decent reviews! It even has the Fresh certification on Rotten Tomatoes! Quite astonishing, considering it only trails four points behind…

I’ve found this to be a fascinating case of a film that, despite not being universally acclaimed, still holds its ground in the cinematic landscape.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

As a dedicated moviegoer, I can’t help but share my thoughts about “The Incredible Hulk,” a film often overshadowed by its predecessor. This movie was produced as a louder, less captivating sequel to address criticisms towards Ang Lee’s version. Today, it’s frequently ranked among the weakest offerings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even being called the worst by some enthusiasts. Yet surprisingly, it still manages to hold a Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’s Rotten Tomatoes Rating

In a surprising twist, the movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which many find hard to appreciate, has managed an impressive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite my rather critical viewpoint (I would rate it 4 or 5 out of 10), this film is not only deemed Fresh but also “Certified Fresh,” a title that signifies the highest level of approval from Rotten Tomatoes’ critics! It’s fascinating to contemplate how such an outcome was achieved.

Jurassic Park III (2001)

In a somewhat unexpected twist, it’s worth noting that despite its widespread acclaim, Jurassic Park isn’t necessarily the highest-rated film in its series according to Rotten Tomatoes. The public generally disfavors The Lost World (54), yet it has a higher score than Jurassic Park III (49), often praised as the best sequel. Interestingly, Jurassic World Dominion holds the record for the lowest rating within the franchise at 29. This list seems to present scores that may not align with common opinions about these movies.

The Mummy (1999)

The movie “The Mummy” featuring Brendan Fraser, a beloved throwback from the late ’90s with dedicated fans sporting bumper stickers as tributes to this box-office hit, surprisingly has a lukewarm Rotten Tomatoes score of 60. However, critics were spot on with their assessment of Tom Cruise’s 2017 “The Mummy” reboot, which only managed a mere 15%.

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National Treasure (2004)

It seems that old-style adventure films, like the ones portrayed in ‘National Treasure’ and its sequel, don’t quite resonate with critics as much as they do with audiences. For instance, while ‘The Mummy’ received a Rotten Tomatoes score of 40%, ‘National Treasure’ scored lower at 46%. Even the sequel, ‘National Treasure: Book of Secrets’, managed a mere 36% on the same platform. Yet, these movies feature Nicolas Cage stealing the Declaration of Independence – an action that has left many viewers thoroughly entertained! So, critics, are you not amused?

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the movie “Plan 9 From Outer Space,” which was directed by Ed Wood, isn’t considered a poor film. In fact, it has a favorable score on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting that it’s not the worst movie ever made as some might believe. This is quite a change in critical perception.

Quantum of Solace (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 63%

Contrary to popular belief, Quantum of Solace, during Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond, doesn’t always occupy the lowest spot among all 007 movies. On Rotten Tomatoes, this film, which was made under challenging circumstances due to a writers’ strike, actually has a slightly positive rating.

The Sandlot (1993)

In the ’90s, few films have garnered a more passionate fanbase than The Sandlot. I personally know someone who adorned every bridal party member with a T-shirt themed around this movie – such is its impact on viewers. However, it seems that critics might not share the same sentiments, as The Sandlot only just manages to receive a positive rating with a 65 score.

Sharknado (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 75

Now, this is puzzling. The campy disaster film Sharknado, featuring twisters teeming with sharks, has a rating of 75 on Rotten Tomatoes! Can it be that the Syfy Original, which has spawned countless sequels, outranks even worse ones, has a higher score than The Hudsucker Proxy on Rotten Tomatoes? Was there an error in the system? How did this happen?!

Silent Hill (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 33

It’s no secret that most movie adaptations of video games are lackluster, so it’s possible that the poor reviews for the 2006 film Silent Hill were a knee-jerk reaction from critics. However, many critics seemed to have overlooked what made Silent Hill special – its genuinely chilling atmosphere and some truly terrifying visuals. In fact, on our list of video game movies, it ranks second!

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Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

As a devoted Star Wars enthusiast, I firmly believe that “Attack of the Clones” is the least impressive film in the epic Skywalker Saga. Contrary to popular belief on Rotten Tomatoes, where it has a 65 rating, if they had asked me, I would have given it a much lower score. In fact, it’s 13 points higher than “The Phantom Menace” on their scale, which just goes to show how subjective movie ratings can be.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

As a passionate cinephile, I find myself surprised by the Rotten Tomatoes score of “Attack of the Clones” being higher than that of “The Rise of Skywalker.” Frankly, I didn’t expect “The Rise of Skywalker” to rate as high as it did. Despite the divisive nature of “The Last Jedi,” it seemed like a more appreciated chapter compared to “The Rise of Skywalker,” which has rapidly gained infamy as one of the worst trilogy enders in cinematic history.

Step Brothers

As a devoted cinephile, I must confess that I find it downright disheartening to see a cinematic gem like “Step Brothers” languishing on Rotten Tomatoes with a mere 55 score. This film, which showcases the unparalleled comedic genius of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, is arguably their most surrealist and creatively brilliant collaboration. Yet, the cold hard facts presented on its Rotten Tomatoes page seem to betray this fact entirely. The mere thought of it leaves me yearning for a drink, preferably from the legendary Catalina Wine Mixer.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I’ve got to say that when it comes to the Terminator franchise, most folks seem convinced there hasn’t been a worthy sequel since the legendary Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which is now over three decades old. However, in contrast to this popular opinion, critics have bestowed a Rotten Tomatoes score of 70 upon Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Frankly, I’m taken aback that such agreement exists, as I always thought I was alone in my appreciation for this film!

Thor: The Dark World

The Dark World is the worst Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie or even the worst Thor film. However, according to Rotten Tomatoes, it doesn’t quite receive that harsh criticism, boasting a respectable 67 score. I would have expected it to score significantly lower than that based on conversations I’ve had.

Tommy Boy

In the peak of his career, Chris Farley’s films didn’t win over many critics. Most of his leading roles, as well as several of his supporting ones, are rated poorly on Rotten Tomatoes, even including his most renowned and widely-watched ’90s movies like “Tommy Boy”. On this particular site, it only manages a 39.

Or in a more casual way:
Critics didn’t dig Chris Farley much during his prime. Most of his leading roles and even many supporting ones got panned on Rotten Tomatoes, including the top ’90s hits like “Tommy Boy”. The score for this one is just 39 on the site.

Top Gun

The movie “Top Gun: Maverick” has been highly praised by many critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with a score of 96. However, the original “Top Gun” didn’t receive such positive reviews when it was first released. It only managed a 57 on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating that it wasn’t fresh but rather rotten. It seems that we could have used a few more daring film critics in the ’80s to appreciate this iconic blockbuster more.

Wet Hot American Summer