Twitter Users Ponder Critically Reviled Films That They Love

By Petr Knava | Social Media | October 29, 2021 |

So, we’re all in agreement that 2006’s Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell-starring Miami Vice is a damn good film, right? We’re all in agreement on that, no? No? Still no? It’s okay. I’ll wait. You’ll come around. I know I’m sort of expected to hold that opinion, huge Mann stan that I am, but though it may not be his best, I still think there’s a lot to love in that typically melancholy and lyrical movie. It might not be to everyone’s tastes—in fact a number of people I know that are usually fans of Mann’s work have told me multiple times they just can’t crack through Miami Vice’s cool, reflective shell—but I genuinely love the film. It’s Heat or Collateral, but it’s great anyway. I am aware that I’m in the minority though. And you know what, that fuc*ing rocks! I’m happy here, knowing I’m right, waiting for the newly converted acolytes to gradually walk through the door one by one. Come on in, come on in, pull up a chair, here’s your complimentary shirt ‘n’ shades combo.

Miami Vice was the first film I thought of in response to the following Twitter prompt about films that were universally panned, but which you yourself can’t help but think are great:

What’s a critically reviled film that you think is great.
Not like, “it’s a guilty pleasure”, but a movie you’re like, “what is wrong with everyone? This is good.”
— Dan Thomas (@ItsDanThomas) August 29, 2020

As always, we occasionally stray a bit from the strictest interpretation of the question in some of the answers, but here are a few interesting ones:

I'm not sure if it was reviled but I feel like Soapdish never gets enough attention
— John Minus the Soul (@DonCoyote) August 31, 2020

It's too long and it's too loose, but there's a terrific 90-minute movie within the 150-minute LONE RANGER.
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) August 31, 2020

Cutthroat Island pic.twitter.com/sG3d9fUvX0
— Emily “spooky season” Panic (@aprettybigmouth) August 31, 2020

Does Titan AE count? I'm scared of getting into "unknown gems" territory instead of "I love them despite all the hate" territory
— Kyle🌱 (@KylePlantEmoji) August 31, 2020

Hot Rod.
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) August 31, 2020

A Goofy Movie. I know it’s going to shock a lot of people to find out that this perfect movie was critically reviled, but I’m sorry to inform everyone that movie critics are in fact soulless hacks
— Scary Gothmother, MD (@jenny2x4) August 30, 2020

Chronicles of Riddick
— Eoin Higgins (@EoinHiggins_) August 31, 2020

I don't know whether dog lovers feel the same way, but Beethoven is a film that makes me feel good whenever I watch it! It's the perfect Fall movie, due to the abundance of colourful leaves and sweaters. And where else do you see 1960's everyman Dean Jones playing a villain? pic.twitter.com/u0zokEiIHM
— Ryan Scary 🎃👻🧛🏻 #LiscarysAreCool (@LudwigVonDrake8) August 30, 2020

Grease 2. I do see its, uh, flaws but it genuinely gives me great joy, and the music is brilliant, and Michelle Pfeiffer just glows.
— Jane🕷️ (@janeskyn) August 30, 2020

The answer here is always Jonathan Glazer’s BIRTH. pic.twitter.com/SvqZH4rHz9
— Glenn Dunks (@glenndunks) August 31, 2020

Shock Treatment (1981).
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) August 31, 2020

Death To Smoochy

A hilarious and creative dark comedy about the greed behind children's TV. It has amazingly complex performances from Robin Williams & Edward Norton. As well as a rare directorial turn from Danny Devito. But the ad campaign sold the movie 100% wrong.
— Caped-Joel Daly (@CapedJoel) August 31, 2020

Super Mario Bros.

Let me finish. Its a HORRIBLE adaption of the source material. But as a stand-alone pseudo sci-fi adventure its fun! I love that weird humor and irreverence like Big Trouble In Little China. Plus the OST is dope AF.
— Aaron Cooper (@aarxn82) August 31, 2020

Observe and Report.
John Carter.
The Lone Ranger.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
All About Steve.
— Anne Billson (@AnneBillson) August 30, 2020

pic.twitter.com/It7G7mv7ZK
— R🎃ss Killer (@rosstmiller) August 30, 2020

I, Robot. It's not at all a "worthy" adaptation of Asimov's work—I remember hearing that it was a generic action flick that was retooled at the last minute—but it has a few references here and there, and I think it's genuinely a fun, relatively intelligent action movie.
— Ada Powers (@mspowahs) August 31, 2020

Hudsocker Proxy! A brilliant comedy with a great story and performances, yet film critics feel the need to make it out to be a rate Coens misfire
— Guy Incognito (@HarrryGriffin) August 30, 2020

Look, you all know me. pic.twitter.com/SWuiKcwr70
— A Pup Named Scottby-Doo (@ScottNiswander) August 31, 2020

Clue. My favorite comedy of all time, and it was absolutely savaged by critics. pic.twitter.com/LzNYBwR2Ig
— Cassie Keet (@kissmycassie) August 30, 2020

The Ang Lee HULK. While I do think it’s a misfire, it’s a much better and more interesting one than anyone credits it with. Though I do wish it had Mark Ruffalo.
— Elizabeth Picciuto (@epicciuto) August 30, 2020

Low ratings, and I haven't really met anyone who seemed to like it, but I think it was pretty funny, and definitely underrated. pic.twitter.com/bHiAUAKoNQ
— Shaun Layton (@SLayton82) August 30, 2020

pic.twitter.com/oOXP8jCJyi
— 🧙‍♀️🧙‍♀️🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️batrick mchugh 🦇🦇🎃🎃🎃 (@pactorick) August 29, 2020

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
— IT'S YOUR DECISION, DANIEL (@MrKenShabby) August 29, 2020

Event Horizon
— 🎃clipping.🎃 (@clppng) August 31, 2020

Alien3 gets a lot grief, but it stands out because in spite of all the studio meddling, Fincher’s skill as a director and auteur still shines through to give us a film that explores the various horrors of being alive.
— Mikey Alexander, noted mike-anthrope (@mikeyhatesit) August 30, 2020

I genuinely love Hudson Hawk and was confused by how reviled it was. It has issues but I think how deftly it completely embraces its bizarre characters and sets up a universe with singing cat burglars (a concept I adore) and weird assassins named for candy bars is just great
— kingo's pallbearer (@goblinpunk9) August 31, 2020

Alien: Covenant is a mean, depressing film that borders on nihilism but it's oddly beautiful in a way not a lot of franchise movies dare to be, like the titular creature. Thought it made a good double bill with Blade Runner 2049. pic.twitter.com/PQ04FS0qxa
— The Spookiest Bunny (@happiestbunny1) August 30, 2020

Hook is great! Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman are terrific. The John Williams score is fantastic. The special effects are amazing. Rotten Tomato score is 29%! 😮
— James Crugnale (@jamescrugnale) August 30, 2020

Last Action Hero is really great. If you disagree I will send you hurtling into an ice cream truck which will inexplicably explode. Lodging an ice cream in the back of someone's head as I say "I iced that guy, to cone a phrase".
— Josh Elton (@OnlyJoshing) August 30, 2020

Robert Altman’s “Popeye.” A friend claims to have been at a NYE party with him. Too shy to talk to him, he told Altman’s wife that it’s his favorite of his films. She replied: “It’s his too.”
— Michael Lapinski (@m_lapinski) August 30, 2020

Josie and the Pussycats!!!!!
— Hana Michels (@HanaMichels) August 31, 2020

The Village.🥺 it was just marketed poorly, it’s such a good speculative film
— Kayla Ancrum- on deadline AGAIN🙃 (@KaylaAncrum) August 31, 2020

Nobody else seemed to like it but I thought "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" was actually pretty great. And I say that as a big fan of the books.
— Laura S. (@mrsWaif) August 31, 2020

The Wachowskis' SPEED RACER. I think it only got trashed at the time because there's nothing else like it. Still the only time someone's pulled off a live action anime. pic.twitter.com/NrLMwsQRUu
— Cryptopher Fang-non (@CNFannon) August 31, 2020

Tank Girl. It came out when I worked as a projectionist in a cinema & I would find any excuse to watch it from the projection booth. I'd love to one day see @rtalalay do a director's cut of it with the proper ending & not the animated sequences. pic.twitter.com/8UJQAMv9IW
— Tim Grey (@GreyTim) August 30, 2020

It's been a long weekend and I'm not in a mood to argue with anyone but I really liked "Showgirls," so much so that I watched it for a second time while it was still in theaters (back in the mid-90s). To me it was a great indictment of American excess and greed.
— Attila Gokbudak (@Tilly70) August 31, 2020

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