27 Movies With Low Rotten Tomatoes Scores That Prove Critics Know Nothing

    Justice for the 1999 cinematic masterpiece The Mummy starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.

    Andy Golder
    by Andy Golder

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Earlier this year, we asked the BuzzFeed Community about which movies they love that critics did NOT love. We got so many good answers that we decided to put them all together in one post. Here are some of movie critics' most egregious failures to recognize genius!

    1. Hocus Pocus (1993) — 37% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters
    Disney / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "I dare you to find someone who does not automatically start singing when they hear 'Come Little Children.' The Sanderson sisters are icons to millennials."

    —Kate

    2. Cruel Intentions (1999) — 55% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Selma Blair and Sarah Michelle Gellar in the infamous kissing scene
    Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "Cruel Intentions is a brilliant movie and has a mediocre Rotten Tomatoes rating."

    —joaqamole

    3. Venom (2018) — 30% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Venom grabbing a man by the throat in a convenience store
    Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "Venom is so underrated! It was very well done and it's one of my faves."

    —indiav2

    4. Jennifer's Body (2009) — 45% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Megan Fox as Jennifer standing outside a burning building
    20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

    —ISLANDMISS

    "Totally underrated."

    —murrays3

    5. Hook (1991) — 29% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Robin Williams as Peter Pan standing with the Lost Boys
    Tristar / Everett Collection

    "Dustin Hoffman IS Captain Hook. And the late Robin Williams is THE PAN. Lost Boys, Tink, and Neverland are all there, plus some great new additions to the lore, like the iconic Rufio."

    —Kate

    6. Hot Rod (2007) — 39% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Rod yelling "cool beans" a little too loudly
    Paramount

    "Hot Rod fully deserves to be a cult classic. I will die on this hill."

    —Razmatini

    7. The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018) — 49% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Kate McKinnon, Mila Kunis, and Sam Heughan holding their hands up in surrender in a scene from the movie
    Lionsgate / Everett Collection

    "Sure, it’s not exactly Citizen Kane, but I cracked up through the whole movie. Kate McKinnon could read the tax code and make it hilarious. I also don’t think it’s any stupider than some male-centric movies that critics seemed to love."

    —marinas6

    8. The Greatest Showman (2017) — 56% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Zendaya and Zac Efron on the trapeze during "Rewrite the Stars"
    20th Century Fox

    "One of my favorite movies ever, but it has a criminally low Rotten Tomatoes score."

    —[deleted]

    9. The Perfect Score (2004) — 16% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Chris Evans in a scene from the movie sitting in a classroom and taking notes
    Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "What’s not to love? It has a great cast, a hilarious script, and an awesome message. It’s the ultimate feel-good movie. When I was a speaker at graduation, I literally made a speech about this gem of a film."

    —andies478465f2a

    10. Empire Records (1995) — 29% on Rotten Tomatoes

    The cast of Empire Records, including Liv Tyler and Renée Zellweger, in a scene from the movie
    Warner Bros.

    "'Damn the man! Save the Empire!'"

    —MissMaryFaith

    11. Baywatch (2017) — 17% on Rotten Tomatoes

    The Rock and Zac Efron wading out of the ocean
    Paramount

    "It’s hilarious, the story is well constructed, it keeps what’s best about the TV show while mocking the things that should be mocked, and the cast is really, really ridiculously good-looking."

    —murrays3

    12. Christmas With the Kranks (2004) — 5% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen in a scene from the movie
    Sony Pictures

    "I don't get why it has such bad reviews! I watch it year-round, and every time I watch it I think, Wow, that's me and my husband."

    —Katie

    13. Brother Bear (2003) — 37% on Rotten Tomatoes

    The animated bears in a scene from the movie
    Disney

    "Brother Bear is one of the best Disney movies, but it has a low Rotten Tomatoes rating. I highly recommend it to anyone."

    —BubblegumDay

    "And the soundtrack is fire."

    —ljk

    14. Grandma's Boy (2006) — 16% on Rotten Tomatoes

    The cast of Grandma's boy
    20th Century Fox

    "It has to be one of my favorite comedies ever. This just goes to show that film critics do not know or understand audiences, and we don't always need a deep, meaningful film full of nuance and metaphors. Sometimes we just want to laugh at dick jokes and stoners."

    —angelav45d8cf1a3

    15. Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999) — 46% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Denise Richards in a scene from the movie performing in a beauty pageant with a model of Mount Rushmore on her head
    New Line Cinema / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "Drop Dead Gorgeous is my all-time favorite movie. It has Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Denise Richards, Kirstie Alley, and Brittany Murphy, along with many other familiar faces. It’s absolutely hysterical."

    —miafayediann

    16. Newsies (1992) — 39% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Christian Bale and the cast of Newsies selling newspapers
    Disney / Everett Collection

    "Terrible reviews but a huge cult following. I still play the soundtrack to this day."

    —baobaopanda

    17. She's the Man (2006) — 43% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum on the soccer field in a scene from the movie
    DreamWorks / Everett Collection

    "It is genuinely one of the few movies that make me laugh out loud every few minutes, and Amanda Bynes is SO good in it."

    —brennaboo

    18. National Treasure (2004) — 46% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Nicolas Cage holding the declaration of independence during the heist scene
    Touchstone Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "It’s truly just a delight to watch. Ridiculous and campy, but delightful. Not to mention that the music in it is fantastic lol."

    —KateDayJob

    19. Spice World (1997) — 35% on Rotten Tomatoes

    The Spice Girls in a scene from the movie
    Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "SPICE WORLD, OMMMGGG. A masterpiece if there ever was one. 'It must be so hard for you, Victoria. I mean, having to decide whether to wear the little Gucci dress, the little Gucci dress, or...the little Gucci dress!'"

    —surfingrockets

    20. Jumanji (1995) — 54% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Robin Williams protecting the kids during a scene in the movie
    Columbia Tristar / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "It has a rotten score of 54% but is beloved. Beloved, I say!"

    —takerbobpooh

    21. The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001) — 60% and 47% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Rick, Evie, and Jonathan standing in the desert
    Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "Despite the cheesiness, they're super-fun movies with lovable characters, and The Rock is a scorpion monster. What more could you want?"

    —lilymorgan940

    22. The Princess Diaries (2001) — 48% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Anne Hathaway as Mia being escorted by Hector Elizondo off the bleachers
    Walt Disney Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "I find it appalling that The Princess Diaries has a low rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It's a great teenage romantic comedy, and Mia is an amazing lead character."

    —isabelavidaldea

    23. Wet Hot American Summer (2001) — 36% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Chris Meloni as Gene in the training montage scene
    USA Films / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "Wet Hot American Summer is legitimately one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Christopher Meloni is absolutely perfect, and the rest of the cast kills it in every scene. The fact that it only got 36% on the 'Tomatometer' but a 76% positive audience score says it all."

    —kemiller618

    24. Josie and the Pussycats (2001) — 53% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson, and Tara Reid as Josie and the Pussycats
    MCA / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "Josie and the Pussycats is a fantastic time capsule into the early 2000s and a lot of fun."

    —rachelc43

    "Brilliant film! Love the guy who plays Dujour as well! Top campy comedy!!"

    —PengiSheen81

    25. Space Jam (1996) — 43% on Rotten Tomatoes

    Bill Murray and Michael Jordan in a scene with Bugs Bunny
    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "It is a cinematic masterpiece. Rotten Tomatoes can choke on it."

    —regz123455

    26. Armageddon (1998) — 38% on Rotten Tomatoes

    The drilling/astronaut crew walking to the space shuttle in Armageddon
    Touchstone Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "It has EVERYTHING you want in a film — action, adventure, romance; it's scary AND hilarious; and it's got Bruce Willis and Steve Buscemi. I am willing to die on this hill alone."

    —rewildingwolfling

    27. Penelope (2006) — 54% on Rotten Tomatoes

    James McAvoy and Christina Ricci playing a game of chess together in a scene from the movie
    IFC Films / Courtesy Everett Collection

    "Penelope, starring Christina Ricci. It is such a good film about learning to love yourself. I can't believe how many people never heard of it and how low its score is."

    —cyawill02