Movie critics are said to be experts at providing reviews of films, yet even the experts sometimes miss the mark. Here you will find a list of some of the greatest movies that received rotten reviews.
Casablanca
Casablanca is a 1942 romantic noir classic featuring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid. The film takes place during World War II and tells the story of an American expat (Bogart), who must decide between his love of a woman (Bergman) or helping her husband (Henreid). The well-loved film may have been a hit, but that didn’t stop the rotten review it received.
“The love story that takes us from time to time into the past is horribly wooden, and clichés everywhere lower the tension.” – New Statesman
Titanic
Director James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic features Leonardo DiCaprio as a poor and struggling artist who falls in love with a wealthy society girl played by Kate Winslet. The film won several awards, such as Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and more. Yet not everyone fell in love with the love story as it unfolded on the misfortunate ocean liner.
“What does $200 million buy? The 3-hour-and-14-minute ‘Titanic’ unhesitatingly answers: not enough.” – Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Gladiator
Director Ridley Scott’s 2000 historical drama film, Gladiator, features a star-studded cast with actors such as Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, and more. Crowe plays as Maximus, a former Roman General who seeks revenge against the corrupted emperor Commodus (Phoenix) who murdered his wife and son. Despite the overall praise and positive reviews, not everyone was a fan of the film.
“By the end of this long film, I would have traded any given gladiatorial victory for just one shot of blue skies.” – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump (1994) featuring Tom Hanks is a dramatic romance that received high praise from nearly anyone who watched the film. The movie tells the story of a simple-minded, yet sweet Alabama boy who falls in love with his best friend, Jenny. As important events in history unfold throughout the film, he continues to love her and makes various attempts to save her. Unfortunately, not everyone who watched the film fell in love.
“It is… glib, shallow, and monotonous, a movie that spends so much time sanctifying its hero that, despite his ‘innocence,’ he ends up seeming about as vulnerable as Superman.” – Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment
Star Wars
Nerds and movie buffs alike rejoice over films like George Lucas’s Star Wars (1977). The film features Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, James Earl Jones as Darth Vader, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, and Harrison Ford as Han Solo. The first of an epic movie series takes place in a galaxy far, far away and takes viewers on an unforgettable adventure filled with action, love, and drama. Yet, there are those who verbally hated the film.
“It’s an assemblage of spare parts – it has no emotional grip… an epic without a dream.” Pauline Kael, The New Yorker
