One’s tastes in a movie will always be subjective. Even the most critically acclaimed film has its detractors. The same is true for the other side of the coin, too. Just because a movie is widely panned doesn’t mean it is hated by everybody.
It’s one of the things that makes movies so magical: they’re able to elicit completely different reactions from everyone who has watched them.
With that said, and in honor of a certain recently released film, today we’re going to talk about several movies that left audiences completely divided.
Screamers
Sometimes, you’re just ahead of the times. That was the case with 1995’s Screamers, a film that was mostly panned upon release.
Even the film’s biggest detractors can’t deny that there was something special there. Yes, it’s stylish and flashy, sometimes to a fault, but if you’re willing to put up with its flaws, you’ll be thoroughly entertained.
Crash
Is it Oscar bait? Yes. Does it have its fans? Also yes.
You can make the argument that the divide when it comes to assessing a film like Crash is because of how easy it is to mock it for winning Best Picture. Here’s the thing, though: it didn’t have that warm of a reception in 2004 to begin with.
Hail, Caesar!
It feels weird to call a Coen Brothers movie divided, especially given how stacked this cast was, but that’s exactly what happened with 2016’s Hail, Caesar!
Yes, it’s very much a movie made for Hollywood, but we’ve seen that several times before. Perhaps this was a case of too many expectations, given the Coen Brothers’ pedigree, and people were a little let down.
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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Speaking of a movie made for Hollywood, this feels like the right time to talk about Quentin Tarantino’s most recent release.
Personally, I love this film and think it’s a wonderful look at the industry with great characters. Well, mostly great; Margot Robbie’s Sharon Tate sometimes feels like she has nothing to do. That said, I know some people who absolutely hated this movie and its bloated runtime. Their loss, if you ask me.
Mother!
Look, Mother! is probably the most Darren Aronofsky film to ever exist. It was always going to be divisive, but I’d argue he takes things to a whole new level here.
There are the heavy-handed biblical themes, the bait-and-switch people felt from marketing and trailers, and the constant allegories that beat you over the head.
The Last Jedi
Ohhhh, boy. We’re going there, folks. There are some people, like myself, who love this movie and think it’s one of the best Star Wars films ever made.
Then there are others, including a very vocal part of the internet, who think this is the worst film of all time. I’ve heard all the reasons, including the sudden introduction of fuel in the Star Wars universe, Rey’s family heritage, how they used Luke, and the fate of Snoke. Here’s the thing, though: the whole point of the film was letting go of the past, and I feel like Rian Johnson did a great job of that while also delivering a beautiful film.
But that’s just, like, my opinion, man.
Digger
The current hot topic in the movie industry, Digger is the type of movie that people will be talking about for quite some time.
I won’t spoil it, but there’s a massive twist in the film that reveals what’s really happening. I’ve read so many stories of people being so confused, turned off, and impatient with the movie that they leave right before said twist. People who stayed have been impressed, while others, well, they walked out upset with the film.
The Green Knight
I remember there being so much hype leading up to the release of The Green Knight. It looked incredible, promising a vision of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
That said, this felt like a textbook example of audiences not getting what they were expecting. The Green Knight isn’t packed with the action we were expecting, especially in the wake of something like Game of Thrones. It was a slow burn that frustrated some moviegoers.
Fight Club
The debate around Fight Club has become quite interesting over time.
Is it a satire of toxic masculinity and consumerism? That’s my takeaway from it, but others point to the film as the glorification of violence that actually enables both of those things. Personally? I love this movie and its satirical messaging.
Saltburn
I’ll never forget how heated some debates over Saltburn got.
Yes, there’s a lot of provocative imagery on display, and sometimes that results in the actual substance getting lost in the shuffle, but I promise there is substance here and an incredible story being told. Not everyone was able to look past some of its shock value, though.
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