19 Popular TV Shows And Movies That Are Garbage, Even Though Most People Love Them

    I am NOT in the mood for your New Girl slander!

    Hannah Dobrogosz
    by Hannah Dobrogosz

    BuzzFeed Staff

    We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share the popular TV shows and movies that they think are totally overrated.

    Warning: Try not to get burned by these hot takes!

    TV shows:

    1. Parks and Recreation (2009—2015)

    Cast of Parks and Rec looking up and smiling with champagne
    NBC / Everett Collection

    "I was actually on the show as an extra. Watching Amy Poehler improv take after take was mind-blowing, but when it came to watching the actual show, I just didn't find it funny."

    —carolines4f3e1a91c

    2. Schitt's Creek (2015—2020)

    Cast of Schitt's Creek standing together and looking up
    Pop TV / Everett Collection

    "I started watching Schitt's Creek with big expectations. It's not that I can't stand it, but I made it to the middle of the second season and asked myself, 'What is so funny about all of this?' The premise is amazing for a comedy, the characters are good, but I don't know, it's just not funny at all in my opinion."

    —allydelarge

    "I just can’t get into it at all, but everyone I know absolutely loves it. It’s just not for me."

    —laurat4085a0179

    "It's just vile. I couldn't even sit through the first episode."

    —sydneym4765a53cd

    3. Stranger Things (2016—present)

    Kids of stranger things standing behind Eleven
    Netflix / Everett Collection

    "Mike and Will are annoying, and honestly, after the first season, the plot didn’t even make it worth sitting through those characters."

    —samanthab46f45c967

    "Those kids annoy the hell out of me and the show just bores me. So many people rave about it, but I think it’s rubbish."

    —ciaraannlouisew

    4. The Office (2005—2013)

    The cast of The Office posing for a christmas card photo
    NBC / Everett Collection

    "They’re just so mean to each other! I really hate the secondhand embarrassment of the show to the point where it makes me feel physically sick."

    —plthefantastic

    "The boss is such a jerk. Watching him makes me super anxious."

    —allysonw5

    "Most of the characters are unlikable and the plot lines are ridiculous."

    —emilybellew43

    5. New Girl (2011—2018)

    Fox / Everett Collection

    "New Girl is overrated. I loved Winston, Cece, and Nick, but Jess was so annoying. Her 'adorkable' grown woman persona where she dressed like a toddler and constantly whined wasn’t entertaining at all. She was so needy and her friends would drop everything to appease her. Ridiculous."

    —stephaniev23

    6. How I Met Your Mother (2005—2014)

    Cast of How I Met Your Mother at a bar
    CBS / Everett Collection

    "Maybe it's because I started watching this show recently and 2005 was a different time, but I find the show incredibly sexist and misogynistic. It had no limits when it came to the objectification of women. I am also not a fan of Ted Mosby. He seemed like a crybaby. Also, screw the writers who killed the only sane character (besides Marshall) in the final episode. The whole freaking show is based on the Mother, and they promptly killed her at the end."

    —niki_mj

    "Yesterday I randomly remembered the episode where a guy tried to get women to hook up with him by sitting on their couch naked, and apparently it worked 2/3 times. No one considered just how majorly creepy that was?! Also, there were basically no gay characters. In what world do gay people not exist?"

    —olgan4800382c8

    7. Grey's Anatomy (2005—present)

    four characters of grey's anatomy huddled and chatting
    ABC /  Everett Collection

    "I don't care how bored I get — I refuse to watch it. It's been 84 years! For the love of God, stop making more episodes!"

    —normadeguerre

    "I couldn’t stand the main character, so there was no way I'd be able to make it through the series."

    —erinkate

    "I would rather give myself dental work while blindfolded than watch it."

    —andream4a7f95864

    8. Friends (1994—2004)

    Cast of Friends in the kitchen chatting
    NBC / Everett Collection

    I don’t get the overwhelming love for Friends. The characters are self-righteous narcissists. What’s so funny about that?"

    —patrickkeown

    "Every character is beyond annoying and hard to watch. It was such a stupid show."

    —elleboogie555

    "It’s not even funny. The characters are all plain and one-dimensional, and most of them are actually really mean. I don’t understand the hype."

    —colorful_angst

    9. Glee (2009—2015)

    Glee cast singing on stage
    Fox / Everett Collection

    "I just really hate it so much. I'm so sorry, but it's like Kidz Bop as a TV show. The singing is too much for me."

    —lukkykat22

    10. Breaking Bad (2008—2013)

    Walter White trespassing
    AMC / Everett Collection

    "My family pushed me to watch it because of the impressive writing, filming, acting, etc. Though I can appreciate the effort that went into the show, I found it extremely slow, depressing, and pessimistic. I like a lot of dark dramas, but getting through this one was a struggle."

    —hiitsnicetomeetyou

    "I can recognize that it's a well-made show, and I like many of the people involved with the show, but I can't watch it. I have better things to do with my life than watch a bunch of irredeemable people."

    —ericar46c6bf954

    "My ex made me watch most of the first season with him and I found it so boring. Everyone kept telling me, 'Stick with it! It gets really good after the first season.' Sorry, but there's no way I am wasting any more of my life waiting for something to get good."

    —petdragon

    11. Riverdale (2017—present)

    Students of riverdale standing together
    The CW / Everett Collection

    "I tried it, I really did. I made it through three and a half seasons. The plot lines were crap and could've been created by 3-year-olds. Chad Michael Murray as a cult leader dressed like Evel Knievel trying to escape in a rocket is what got me. The only good part of that show is Cheryl and Toni."

    —frenchfriesandramen2007

    Movies:

    12. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

    Andy at her desk, and Miranda walking by
    20th Century Fox /  Everett Collection

    "Everyone raves about it, but I found it to be boring and frustrating, and nothing about Andy is compelling. Everyone really shits on Nate and I never understood why. I actually think that he’s the only good person in the movie. People call him immature and whiny, but how would you react if your long-term partner completely changed their personality and lifestyle, then totally neglected you to focus on a job and the toxic people they supposedly hate? Nate was nothing but supportive and justified. Other than the fact that Meryl Streep is a queen and Stanley Tucci is amazing in everything, I think this movie is highly overrated and hard to watch because of all of the horrible characters and the blatant fatphobia."

    —satanherself

    13. Elf (2003)

    Michael, Walter, and Buddy the Elf in the woods
    New Line Cinema / Everett Collection

    "My husband and I tried to rewatch it last Christmas to see if we could finally understand why everyone loves it. We watched 30 minutes without either of us smiling or laughing, so we turned it off. I will never force myself to try that movie again!"

    —knr8269

    "It’s a horrifically juvenile Christmas film, not a whimsical, magical tale like others portray it to be. Will Ferrell makes me want to rip my own eyes out."

    —emilyw47d8096f9

    "Literally couldn't get past the first 20 minutes. How can something be so annoying and so boring at the same time?"

    —normadeguerre

    14. The Notebook (2004)

    Noah and Allie walking down a road
    New Line Cinema / Everett Collection

    "That relationship was super toxic in every sense of the word. I can’t watch it without rolling my eyes."

    —nicolef437a56cbb

    "It’s not romantic AT ALL. Noah interrupts Allie while she’s on a date with someone else and literally threatens to kill himself if she doesn’t go out with him. It’s super predictable and the 'twist' ending isn’t even a twist. It's just sappy and glamorizes toxic relationships."

    —satanherself

    15. Paranormal Activity (2009)

    camera filming a couple sleeping
    Paramount /  Everett Collection

    "How it got all those sequels is beyond me. My sister and I watched it when we were tweens with the lights off and everything, hoping for a good scare, but ended up being bored the entire time. At the end, we were like, 'That was it?' It shouldn't be as hyped up as it is."

    —monikap6

    16. Love Actually (2003)

    Man holding card that says, "to me you are perfect"
    Universal /  Everett Collection

    "It seems to be a beloved Christmas movie for some people, but I have always HATED it. It's super creepy and misogynistic. The side plot with Andrew Lincoln obsessing over his best friend's wife (played by Keira Knightley) is super cringeworthy. I've heard people say that the part where he holds up the cards at the end is romantic, but honestly, I would've called the cops."

    —emilyg4891fd6f6

    17. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

    Superheroes gathered together
    Walt Disney Co. / Everett Collection

    "I think Endgame was pretty disappointing. When I first saw it, I was super hyped and didn’t really think about it too much. Later, I started to feel like there were too many wasted opportunities. My favorite superhero is The Hulk, and I just thought the movie really half-assed his character. Plus, he should’ve gotten to fight more."

    —6eor6e

    18. The Dark Knight (2008)

    batman
    Warner Bros / Everett Collection

    "I can see how it might make someone's list of best superhero movies, but I don't understand how it could ever end up on a list of the greatest movies of all time. It was a run-of-the-mill action movie with a predictable plot."

    —hollyp41e8af95f

    19. Finally: The Greatest Showman (2018)

    Hugh Jackman at the center of the cast of the greatest showman performing
    20th Century Fox / Everett Collection

    "Everyone lost their damn minds over this heap of trash. Yes, I will admit that the music is great. But take that away, it’s a nonsensical movie with boring and downright corrupt characters."

    —sydneyb473670251

    What's a beloved TV show or movie you think isn't worth all the hype? Tell us in the comments!

    Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.