6. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
What it’s About: Taking place after the events of “Man of Steel,” Superman is held accountable for the destruction and death throughout Metropolis during his epic battle with Zod to save said city. Batman also becomes convinced that Superman is a threat to humanity with Lex Luthor not helping the situation.
What Audiences Loved About It: One of the most polarizing movies of the 21st century right next to “The Last Jedi,” people either loved it or hated it with the same amount of passion. Audiences mostly loved the long-awaited clash between two of the greatest superheroes the world has ever known.
The underrated complex themes that were hidden under the weighty story and action sequences were also appreciated. The performances were unanimously praised with Ben Affleck’s turn as Batman being singled out. The movie’s epic scope and setup for what would be the subsequent “Justice League” was enjoyed by many. Audiences also found the picture to be ‘misunderstood’ and a vast improvement on “Man of Steel.”
What Critics Hated About It: The failure to juggle the movie’s many unnecessary ambitions. Critics felt that there was just too much going on, which made the end product an excruciating mess. The lack of humor and bland storytelling made the movie a chore to sit through. The sometimes hard to follow and convoluted storyline mixed with the lack of fun and mostly uninspired action scenes was a common complaint.
Although the performances were praised, the characterizations were another issue next to some questionable CGI overload. Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor was also criticized for being too similar to Heath Ledger’s Joker in “The Dark Knight.” To say that critics hated “BvS” would be an understatement, as it’s one of the most savaged high-profile releases in a long time.
7. The Greatest Showman (2017)
What It’s About: A musical on the life and times of P.T. Barnum and his creation of the Barnum & Bailey Circus that became a world sensation.
What Audiences Loved About It: The pure entertainment factor. A fun movie that offers a wide range of emotions that’s both inspiring and touching. The perfect cast and engaging characters that are easy to root for.
Audiences especially loved the music and sequences that capture the magic of the musicals of old. Not to mention the flawless directing by Michael Gracey and technical craftsmanship. Audiences saw it as the perfect movie for its Christmas time release and a masterpiece of note.
What Critics Hated About It: The predictable and manipulative storyline that offers the same old tired themes of family, friendship, and believing in yourself in the most cliché of ways. Critics found parts of the movie too embarrassingly cheesy and messy with a thin plot that offers no depth or insight whatsoever.
The lack of faith in audience intelligence and constant spoon-feeding was also highly criticized. Gracey’s flashy direction was mostly praised, as were the some of the technical aspects, but ultimately it was viewed as ‘style over substance’ musical that’s idiotic and hypocritical to a fault.
8. Me Before You (2016)
What It’s About: Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, a young cheerful woman becomes a caregiver for a cynical wealthy banker who’s been paralyzed from a motorcycle accident.
What Audiences Loved About It: The romance between the two characters that was made stronger by the shared chemistry between the two actors. Emilia Clarke’s performance made a strong impact for her unforgettably quirky character. Audiences also found the love story extremely touching and its message of ‘live life boldly’ inspiring. The movie’s controversial ending was also another aspect audiences responded warmly to.
What Critics Hated About It: The sappy and predictable love story of two different people from two different worlds who enrich each other’s lives. Critics hated the manipulative storyline, the unnecessary melodrama with the obvious and cheesy love ballads to match.
Ironically, some critics criticized Clarke’s performance and her limited range and acting eyebrows. The controversial ending and its relationship with people living with a disability was also an issue, although it popped up with some audiences as well. All in all, critics saw another by-the-numbers romance movie that failed to bring anything new to the table.
9. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
What it’s About: The sequel to “Kingsman: The Secret Service” sees the Kingsman teaming up with their American counterparts to save the world from a ruthless drug cartel.
What Audiences Loved About It: While both audiences and critics agree that the sequel wasn’t as good as the original, audiences still found lots to enjoy in this surprisingly successful series. Everybody loves a good spy movie, and audiences were thoroughly entertained.
The ridiculous star-studded cast was also appreciated, as was the humor, action sequences, and diverse characters. Even though audiences pointed out flaws, “The Golden Circle” still offered some good enough old-fashioned escapism.
What Critics Hated About It: The 141-minute runtime and uneven pacing made the movie feel even longer for some critics. Even critics who enjoyed the first film felt that the sequel loses it in every possible way.
From the silly and unbelievable action sequences to the forced humor and poorly written script, “The Golden Circle” garnered some harsh criticism for just about everything. Not even its A-list cast could soften the blow for what’s said to be a ‘dumb’ and ‘overblown’ sequel.
10. The Accountant (2016)
What it’s About: A public accountant with high-functioning autism who makes a living uncooking the books of dangerous criminal organizations around the world that are experiencing internal embezzlement.
What Audiences Loved About It: They loved the film’s fresh and unique premise that pinned some thrilling action with an engrossing lead character. Audiences loved the movie’s balance of drama, action, and humor, and its unpredictability and satisfying conclusion. Ben Affleck was praised for his committed performance with some people calling it the actor’s best work. The handling of his character’s autism was also praised along with the movie’s intelligence and perfect cast.
What Critics Hated About It: Critics found it to be another disposable thriller that failed to deliver on its interesting concept. While the movie had promise and all the right ingredients to make something truly special, it gets messy, uneven, and collapses under its own weight.
Critics also found the story to be all over the place, unnecessarily convoluted, and in need of some streamlining and editing down. Those who looked closely found some plot holes and inconsistencies. While Affleck’s performance was praised, the movie on a whole was viewed as a disappointment.