Critics Hated These Movies. Decades Later, They're Worth a Second Look

Haters Gonna Hate

Sometimes, the critics just don’t get it. They celebrated movies that were utter garbage upon release and excoriated others that didn’t deserve it. Hey, critics are human, and they make mistakes like anyone else.

Speaking of mistakes, here are movies that critics slammed when they first hit theaters but have since earned a much better reputation. Whether it’s because they were ahead of their time or just misunderstood, these films have become beloved by many people whose curiosity was aroused when they heard “the worst movie ever made.”

'The Shining'

1980
Director Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel is considered one of the greatest horror movies ever made . However, when it was first released in 1980, critics gave it a resounding “meh.” Gene Siskel wrote in his review that the movie was "a crashing disappointment,” saying that “it contains virtually no thrills." Mr. Siskel, millions of people who got severe PTSD from watching "The Shining" would like a word.

'Fight Club'

1999
David Fincher’s adaptation of the Chuck Palahniuk novel is considered an edgy commentary on consumerism and masculinity. However, upon release, many critics simply didn’t get it and completely overlooked that it’s a satire, criticizing the violence and nihilism instead. “’Fight Club' is the most frankly and cheerfully fascist big-star movie since ‘Death Wish,’ a celebration of violence in which the heroes write themselves a license to drink, smoke, screw and beat one another up,” Roger Ebert said , missing the point entirely.

'Blade Runner'

1982
Over the past 40 years, Ridley Scott’s sci-fi noir “Blade Runner” has been called one of the most influential movies of all time. Indeed, many other science fiction movies followed its grey, rainy lead, making every location look like the Los Angeles of the future depicted in Scott’s film. As hard as it may be to believe, it was a box office failure, and critics overall didn’t care for it. The Los Angeles Times criticized the movie's slow pace by referring to the film as “Blade Crawler.” How clever.

'The Thing'

1982
Like “Blade Runner,” John Carpenter’s ultra-gory remake of the 1950s film “The Thing” was not appreciated upon release. Critic Roger Ebert referred to it as a “barf-bag movie,” dismissing it as “a geek show, a gross-out movie in which teenagers can dare one another to watch the screen.” With time, the movie was eventually recognized as the horror masterpiece we know it to be, and now it’s a beloved cult classic and a triumph of practical effects.

'It's a Wonderful Life'

1946
Yes, really. It’s hard to imagine the Christmas season today without viewing the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which has become as regular a part of holiday traditions as egg nog. However, when it came out, the critical reception was lukewarm. What was really noteworthy, was that the movie was also panned by the FBI . They released a memo characterizing the film as communist propaganda that depicted the banker character, Mr. Potter, as an Ebeneezer Scrooge type. Somehow, the movie became beloved anyway, and we’re sorry if that made J. Edgar Hoover sad.

'Heathers'

1988
We hate to keep picking on the late Roger Ebert, but he was one of many critics who saw "Heathers” and didn’t get it. While he praised some aspects of the film, he gave it one of the most backhanded compliments in the history of cinematic criticism by saying, “After having weathered the eight-part ‘Friday the 13 ^th ’ series and countless other Dead Teenager Movies, I have grown so hardened to the sight of adolescent movie corpses that this film seems only a little more cynical than most.”

'Office Space'

1999
Mike Judge’s comedy about cubicle life is a beloved satire to anyone who’s ever spent eight hours a day in open-plan purgatory. Critic Stephen Holden wrote in the New York Times that the main characters were underdeveloped to the point where audiences wouldn’t care if they lived or died, and that the only redeeming factor is the stapler-obsessed character Milton. “In the unlikely event that 'Office Space' spawns a sequel, let's hope we see a lot more of Milton, who is the movie's only inspired creation,” he wrote . Perhaps his crabby demeanor can be attributed to a severe case of the Mondays.

'Showgirls'

1995
Critics pilloried “Showgirls” when it came out, and to be honest, they were right. Kenneth Turan wrote in the Los Angeles Times that it "set new low standards for demeaning treatment of women on film" and that it ultimately added up to “everything you feared it might be and less.” Despite the well-deserved critical scorn, the movie has refused to go away. While the passage of time has not revealed this movie to be an under-appreciated gem — because it isn’t — people keep watching it anyway.

'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'

1998
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is a book written by journalist Hunter S. Thompson, and it was considered impossible to adapt for the big screen. Monty Python’s Flying Circus alumnus Terry Gilliam took a crack at it in 1998 , and the critics were unanimous in their distaste for this psychedelic adventure. Stephen Hunter of the Washington Post said that the movie “is like being forced to listen to bad heavy metal music turned up to 11 while fat guys in Bermuda shorts compete in a puking contest in the john (extra points for an interesting spatter pattern).”

‘Heaven’s Gate’

1980
Upon its release, “Heaven’s Gate” was described as the worst movie ever made. New York Times critic Vincent Canby famously described it as “an unqualified disaster" and compared it to "a forced four-hour walking tour of one's own living room." While it is indeed very long at almost four hours, and the pacing is not exactly what one would describe as “brisk,” the movie is nowhere near as bad as its reputation suggests. In later years, it was re-released and screened at the Venice Film Festival and the New York Film Festival to great acclaim. In 2013, New York Time critic Manohla Dargis said , “The film’s scope, natural backdrops, massive sets, complex choreography and cinematography are seductive, at times stunning, and if you like watching swirling people and cameras, you may love it.” We highly recommend seeking out the Criterion Collection’s 2012 Blu-ray release of the director’s cut if you’re curious about this much-maligned film.

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