8 Shockingly Good Movies With 30% & Lower Rotten Tomatoes Scores
If you've been avoiding these films because of their low scores, now is the time to give them a chance – because in this case, the critics were dead wrong.
Critics are often wrong, and a low score on Rotten Tomatoes isn't always an indication of a bad movie. Despite their low ratings, some films are surprisingly entertaining, original, or just plain fun.
Here are eight good movies that deserve a second chance.
1. 'The Boondock Saints', 1999
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 26%
After the resounding success of Quentin Tarantino's early movies in the 2000s, a wave of imitators flooded cinema, attempting to outdo Tarantino in wit and cruelty.
So it's not surprising that when The Boondock Saints was released, critics called it another Tarantino ripoff and gave it a mere 26% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fortunately, however, viewers saw something different in Troy Duffy's crime comedy – a special mood that was not very similar to Tarantino's. The Boondock Saints, having reached VHS, quickly acquired cult status – well deservedly so.
2. 'The Chronicles of Riddick', 2004
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 28%
Although Vin Diesel is best known for his role in the Fast & Furious franchise, it was his portrayal of Riddick that brought him universal recognition, though not critical acclaim.
Despite its low scores from critics, The Chronicles of Riddick significantly expands the dark cinematic universe, turning an intimate story into an epic sci-fi adventure. The movie captivates with its large-scale battles and various locations and worlds, each with its own distinctive features.
3. 'The Hunted', 2003
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 30%
After failing to catch a sophisticated killer in the Oregon wilderness, FBI agents turn to L. T. Bonham, a former elite special forces training expert, for help. Only Bonham can track down Aaron Hallam, his best student, who knows how to survive in extreme conditions.
This thriller, directed by the great William Friedkin, who made The Exorcist, and starring Benicio del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones, didn't receive positive reviews from critics or audiences, who gave it 47% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Nevertheless, more than 20 years later, The Hunted looks like a worthy thriller with a crushingly dark atmosphere and brilliantly staged fight scenes.
4. 'Sucker Punch', 2011
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 22%
The life of a 20-year-old patient in a mental hospital turns into a fantasy where she faces creepy zombie soldiers and demon samurai.
Sucker Punch took the idea that Snyder's movies look like video games to the extreme. The $82 million action film embodies the spirit of crazy shooters – the main characters fight legions of monsters to hits from the 60s and 70s.
Unfortunately, Sucker Punch didn't receive a warm welcome from critics or viewers. But there is definitely something to see: Nazi zombies, katanas, dragons, and giants.
5. 'Seventh Son', 2014
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 12%
Almost no one remembers Seventh Son anymore, but at the time, it was a highly anticipated fantasy movie.
However, the prolonged filming and the bankruptcy of the special effects company led to a predictable outcome: even before Seventh Son was released, the losses were estimated at $85 million.
Nevertheless, Seventh Son is a worthy representative of 2010s fantasy: with Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, and Ben Barnes in the lead roles, as well as gloomy landscapes and medieval costumes, it creates an atmosphere of a mysterious, magical world.
6. 'Hook', 1991
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 29%
Steven Spielberg's Hook is a fantasy about what would happen if Peter Pan grew up and forgot how to believe in miracles. Robin Williams plays the adult Peter Pan, who is forced to return to Neverland to save his children and face his sworn enemy, Captain Hook.
While viewers loved the movie, critics did not. Despite receiving several Oscar nominations, Hook received one of the lowest scores of Steven Spielberg's entire career.
Nevertheless, the movie has everything we love Spielberg for: adventure, magic, and a warm, optimistic finale.
7. 'Warcraft', 2016
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 29%
Video game adaptations typically receive negative reviews from critics, and viewers usually don't find them enjoyable. Warcraft is an exception: despite being panned by the press, it was a hit with fans of the original game.
Director Duncan Jones made a huge fan movie, not caring too much about those unfamiliar with the world of Warcraft. This approach was, of course, doomed to receive low scores from critics.
Unlike other attempts to bring games to the screen, this movie doesn't try to please fans and attract a new audience simultaneously. It resonates most with those who were waiting for the Warcraft adaptation.
8. 'The Life of David Gale', 2003
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 19%
The Life of David Gale was a hit with the viewers but smashed by critics – this time for reasons that are unclear. The courtroom psychological drama from Oscar-nominated director Alan Parker was considered by critics boring and manipulative.
However, the viewers were much more favorable to it – with 81% on Rotten Tomatoes – and their assessment of The Life of David Gale was definitely more accurate.
