29 Movies That Critics Absolutely Hated But People Swear Are Actually Amazing

    "You will never convince me that it is not one of the greatest love stories of all time, even if it only scored 25% on Rotten Tomatoes."

    Joseph Longo
    by Joseph Longo

    BuzzFeed Staff

    We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which films with low Rotten Tomatoes scores are so much better than their ratings may lead you to believe. The responses were unique, the defenses were passionate, and the call-to-actions remain urgent. So here are 29 films that need a reappraisal ASAP:

    1. Sucker Punch (2011)

    Three characters, including Babydoll, from the film "Sucker Punch" engaging in an action scene, with Babydoll in the center foreground
    Warner Bros. Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 22%

    "I gotta be honest, I totally love Sucker Punch. I think it is such a good movie, with the different storylines/settings, and I do believe it has a deeper meaning: how the lead is coping with abuse and the death of her sister. I also love the soundtrack."

    —leiasolo7

    2. Just Go With It (2011)

    Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in a casual restaurant scene, sitting at a table with drinks and food, having a conversation
    Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 19%

    "Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Brooklyn Decker…such a fun concept and so many hilarious moments in the movie. Having a 19% on Rotten Tomatoes is a travesty!"

    —radskeleton12

    3. Amsterdam (2022)

    Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in vintage attire, walking through an Art Deco-inspired hallway, looking ahead with serious expressions
    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 32%

    "Loved that movie every minute! Love the story, loved the quirky characters, and the music. The acting was excellent, [and] the cast was wonderful. It's very relevant for the times that we are living in. It was a delightful movie about a scary part of our history. Somehow, it was poorly reviewed. I have no idea! Maybe I'll watch it again today."

    —glitterytrout78

    4. Femme Fatale (2002)

    Rebecca Romijn and Antonio Banderas are closely posing, looking directly at the camera. Romijn has curly hair and glossy lips; Banderas has a serious expression
    Warner Brothers / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 49%

    "Brian De Palma's Femme Fatale (2002) is a dreamy, gleefully implausible Eurotrash spin on mid-century film noir — a Hollywood B-movie dressed as art-house cinema. The 49% Rotten Tomatoes score doesn't surprise me, but De Palma's late-career thriller will likely be reconsidered by future movie buffs as a sly, sexy, and, yes, superbly silly ode to Hollywood's classic female archetypes."

    —deliciousfish35

    5. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

    Milo Thatch, wearing a brown tank top and glasses, shows a book to Kida, who has white hair and is wearing a blue bandeau top and jewelry, in a lush jungle setting
    Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 49%

    "Atlantis: The Lost Empire has a crazy low rating for a pretty solid movie."

    —deadpanghost898

    "It would fit right in [with] the Disney Renaissance catalogue."

    —deadpanghost898

    6. Couples Retreat (2009)

    Group shot of people, including Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, and Vince Vaughn, standing together on a tropical vacation, enjoying coconut drinks and leis
    Universal / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 10%

    "Please, regard me: rom-com about married couples going through life and choosing each other again. Rewatchable, quotable. If you gave it a bad rating, you're a problem. You're a real, real problem."

    —witchyhedgehog654

    7. The Haunted Mansion (2003)

    Eddie Murphy in a scene from "The Haunted Mansion," holding a lit torch with an expression of surprise
    Walt Disney / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 13%

    "It was spooky but fun at the same time. I was in sixth grade when it came out, and I was obsessed since Haunted Mansion is my favorite ride at Disney. I bought it the very day it came out on DVD, lol. I thought the version that came out recently SUCKED. It had a weird vibe and wasn't as pretty to watch scenery-wise. IDK why the original movie gets so much hate. It's still one of my favorites."

    —funnyyface

    8. Grease 2 (1982)

    Michelle Pfeiffer, in a black top and pink satin jacket with "Stephanie" on it, smiles with her hands on her hips
    Paramount / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 35%

    "I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Grease 2 is the superior Grease, and I will die on this hill. The songs are better. The message is better. I STILL want a reversible Pink Ladies jacket à la Stephanie Zinone. 'Til death do us part, think pink!"

    —flipswhitefudge

    9. Cabin Boy (1994)

    Person in period costume suit and curly wig, holding a hat and leaning forward with a playful expression. Looks like a classroom setting
    Richard Cartwright / © Buena Vista Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 48%

    "Cabin Boy is my favorite horrible movie."

    —adamdsmitley

    10. Sahara (2005)

    A shirtless man stands on a beach with his hands raised in a fighting stance, wearing a beaded necklace and watch
    Paramount / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 38%

    "Sahara with Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, and Penélope Cruz is one of my FAVORITE movies. Yes, the book is a thousand times better, and the movie is sorta trash, but I love it with all my heart and will watch it anytime."

    —bethygrace

    11. Catwoman (2004)

    Halle Berry in a Catwoman suit with clawed gloves, mask, and ears, crawling on a ledge in a dramatic scene
    Warner Brothers / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 8%

    "I actually love Catwoman. It's corny, it's campy, but Halle Berry and Benjamin Bratt are equally 🔥🔥🔥 in that movie."

    —gabulous

    12. Venom (2018)

    Venom, an alien symbiote with a large mouth full of sharp teeth and a long tongue, faces an unseen character. His expression appears threatening
    Columbia Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 30%

    "He deserved better than 30."

    —cobrakaier30

    13. Masterminds (2016)

    Kristen Wiig and Zach Galifianakis are in uniform, wearing safety glasses and earmuffs, at a shooting range. Kristen is smiling and gesturing, while Zach looks at her
    Glen Wilson/©Relativity Media / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 34%

    "Masterminds with Zach Galifianakis and Kristen Wiig. So many quotable and hilarious lines. I watch it any time I want to just zone out and giggle."

    —mustaaaaard

    14. The Lovely Bones (2010)

    A person wearing glasses and a dark coat in a dimly lit room. They have a serious expression and are slightly looking to the side
    Paramount Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 31%

    "I don't know why, but that film absolutely mesmerizes me. I liked the book but am much more drawn to the film. Perhaps it's Peter Jackson's fantastic, surreal scenery; it's possible that Saoirse Ronan & Stanley Tucci, among others, give such incredible performances. Brian Eno's music is also first-rate. It's just such a fascinating film."

    —fayeesnow

    15. The Wedding Planner (2001)

    Jennifer Lopez in a sleeveless dress and Matthew McConaughey in a sweater and glasses pose against a floral backdrop, her head resting on her hand
    Columbia / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 17%

    "The Wedding Planner is pure brilliance, and no one can tell me otherwise!!!"

    —justanobserver

    "I totally agree with you! J.Lo killed it."

    —emmielou1025

    16. John Carter (2012)

    A person with long hair and muscular physique is wearing warrior-like attire, holding a sword, and standing in a desert setting
    Frank Connor/©Walt Disney Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 52%

    "John Carter is one of my favorite movies and also patently one of Disney's lowest-rated movies of all time. The script wasn't great, but the characters and visuals were awesome, IMO. I think it was just a bit ahead of its time, and if they made it NOW, it would be a huge success."

    —notjessicasmile

    17. The New Mutants (2020)

    Maisie Williams, Henry Zaga, Blu Hunt, Charlie Heaton, and Anya Taylor-Joy stand outside an old brick building, dressed in casual and edgy outfits
    Claire Folger / © 20th Century Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%

    "Was it perfect? No. But the acting and special effects were amazing, considering all the delays and reshoots they went through. I think people are way too hard on this movie, but as the last X-Men installment, it was really decent."

    —Anonymous

    18. Mortdecai (2015)

    Paul Bettany, Johnny Depp, and Gwyneth Paltrow dressed formally, Depp in a green velvet suit, Bettany in a leather jacket, and Paltrow in a strapless gown
    Stephen Vaughan/©Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 12%

    "Mortdecai is a genius movie, and it's sitting at 12%."

    —Anonymous

    19. Club Paradise (1986)

    A scene from a movie featuring actors wearing casual clothes. The woman has a light-colored tank top and the man wears a patterned shirt, looking at her. Names unknown
    Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 11%

    "Club Paradise is my hands down favorite movie. Every time I see it, I can't help but laugh out loud. Granted, it may be kind of a dumb movie, but [it] had so many great one-liners and such a great cast with Robin Williams, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, and more. The great one-liners alone make this such a great, funny movie!"

    —Anonymous

    20. Van Helsing (2004)

    A person holding a crossbow and aiming, wearing dark and rugged medieval-style clothing with long hair, in a tense action scene
    Universal / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 24%

    "Critics didn't like it, and it didn't do well enough in theaters for the planned franchise, but it's awesome. Great action, fantastic effects, and simply a very fun movie!"

    —Anonymous

    21. The Great Gatsby (2013)

    Leonardo DiCaprio in a tuxedo with a bow tie, smiling against a festive background with fireworks
    Warner Bros. Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 48%

    "I know it was met with polarizing reviews upon its release, but it really is a great adaptation and builds upon the visual and metaphorical grandeur described in the novel. The story itself plays up the fantastical idea of these characters and this world they inhabit with the mysterious and nouveau riche Jay Gatsby and the residents of West Egg; the old school, high society types of Daisy and Tom Buchanan and East Egg; and the poor working class of George and Myrtle Wilson living under the watchful gaze of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg in the Valley of Ashes. I could go on and on about why the movie is fantastic and should be recognized as the best adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel."

    —Anonymous

    22. Hoodwinked! (2005)

    Red Riding Hood character riding a bike, carrying a basket and books, in a forest setting
    The Weinstein Company / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%

    "It was such a classic in my house growing up, and my siblings and I still quote it regularly to each other. I was shocked when I heard a lot of people didn't like it."

    —Anonymous

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

    Hilary Swank wearing a stylish black hat and coat, holds papers while Gerard Butler, in a leather jacket, looks on. They are outdoors with a blurred background
    Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 25%

    "You will never convince me that it is not one of the greatest love stories of all time, even if it only scored 25% on Rotten Tomatoes."

    —Anonymous

    24. Bewitched (2005)

    Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell sit on a porch. Nicole is dressed in a light jacket and pink top, while Will wears a brown jacket over a blue shirt
    Columbia / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 24%

    "Why it still gets the hate it does is beyond me. Will Ferrell wasn't afraid to make fun of how he was seen at the time, and Nicole Kidman gives the kind of performance that you'd have wanted if she'd been cast in a genuine Elizabeth Montgomery biopic."

    —Anonymous

    25. Glitter (2001)

    Mariah Carey smiles and talks with fans in a lively nightclub setting, wearing a headscarf and casual attire. Several people surround her, engaged in conversation
    20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved.

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 6%

    "I don't care what anyone says: Glitter remains one of my favorite movies of all time. If nothing else, Mariah remade some amazing '80s hits and sounded amazing. The supporting actors were all great, and the story was solid and even partly true, especially the beginning of her career where she started off as a background singer for a woman who can't sing! The film is an absolute gem, and I will accept no Glitter slander!

    —Anonymous

    26. Battleship (2012)

    Rihanna in a naval uniform operates a large ship-mounted machine gun with an intense expression amidst a rainy backdrop
    Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 34%

    "It's really better than most people think. Give it a chance; you may be surprised. If it's on broadcast TV, chances are I'm watching it. It's a good escapist movie."

    — Anonymous

    27. Jupiter Ascending (2015)

    Channing Tatum is seated in a room, wearing a sleeveless, textured top, displaying a tattoo on his right arm. He appears to be in mid-conversation or thought
    Murray Close/© Warner Bros. Pictues / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 28%

    "Is it ridiculous? Yes, but it's a fun ridiculous. Honestly, if it were a novel instead, it would be all over BookTok. Instead, it's a delightfully weird movie with Eddie Redmayne having a blast chewing the scenery and Channing Tatum looking far hotter than he normally does."

    — Anonymous

    28. The Postman (1997)

    Kevin Costner holds a rifle, while Olivia Williams stands beside him, looking in the same direction, in an outdoor setting
    Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 14%

    "So many people like to throw shade at The Postman despite the fact that they've never actually seen it. They just heard that Waterworld was bad (I disagree), so they lump them together. The Postman is a really good post-apocalyptic movie with a solid plot and great scenery."

    — Anonymous

    29. Finally, A Cinderella Story (2004)

    A woman with long blonde hair, wearing small red novelty glasses, holds a decorative cup with a straw
    Warner Brothers / courtesy Everett Collection

    Rotten Tomatoes score: 11%

    "Jennifer Coolidge did NOT give us the camp performance of a lifetime in A Cinderella Story for it to get a measly 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. We need JUSTICE."

    —Anonymous

    Responses were edited for spelling, length, clarity, and grammar.