Everyone has guilty pleasure films. It could be a rom-com or a repulsive comedy, it could be a panned superhero film or a Star Wars prequel. We like them for many reasons: perhaps you are aware they are poorly made but the themes and characters might resonate or connect to you in a way that 'better' films do not. Or perhaps you love them because of how awful they are (Commando?).
I have selected 14 films that I know are treated harshly by critics and the internet. Some are outright bad films I enjoy, others I think are genuinely quality motion pictures. They are all blockbusters, some belong to franchises and some do not. Because when it comes to divisive films, it is the blockbusters with large fan bases that lead to never ending arguments and thus the creation of opinions that people may struggle to voice if they are a minority. If i was sat in a room with senior critics, I would be backed into a corner by myself in order to defend these films.
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 5.95 / 10. IMDb: 7.3. Metacritic: 53 /100
Curse of the Black Pearl is one of my favourite films because it is pure entertainment and escapism. Dead Man's Chest I also absolutely love for the same reason. It is a ludicrously imaginative film, staging set pieces that you would struggle to find in other blockbusters. There aren't many historically set franchises that have as much fun as these films do, even more impressive considering there are no books or comic to base the ingenious creature design and action sequences off. From Bill Nighy's Davy Jones to the triple cannons, it is relentlessly engaging in exploring the mystical mythology of the sea. There's the Kraken, a cannibal island, a three-way sword fight on a moving wheel and a chest with a beating heart in it. The music is top notch, the visuals hold up delightfully well and Johnny Depp is still fantastic. There is nothing wrong with silly.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 5.4. IMDb: 7.1. Metacritic: 50
With slightly lower ratings than its predecessor, At World's End is often considered the weakest of the three. Criticism is aimed at the massive run time and its convoluted plot and constant backstabbing and scheming. And yet that is partly why I am equally fond of this film. The extensive run time makes it feel like an epic culmination to what would have been a very solid trilogy of films, and whilst I never had any problem working out the machinations of the plot (the more convoluted the more interesting), the amount of lore, betrayals and character relations make this a fine blockbuster to re-watch. The action is more sparse, and there is a bit more surrealism to this film (multiple Jacks etc.) but in many ways, the big films that try and be different and individual are going to go down a lot more positively with me then those that stray too close to normality so as opposed to be mundane (PotC 5). And At World's End also brings satisfying resolutions to Will and Elizabeth, British soldiers Mullroy and Murtogg, Barbossa and even Jack, who ends the film alone on a tiny boat, just how we met him in the first film.
3. The Lone Ranger (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 4.86. IMDb: 6.4. Metacritic: 37
The third Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp film to make the list, The Lone Ranger is noted for being a box office disaster for Disney. It is quite incredible the film got made; a $200+ million budget for a western film? Johnny Depp's global presence was already waning so it seems a bold move. But I'm thankful this was made. For the western genre it injected with unabashed fun. The action scenes are fantastically staged and the train sequence finale when Hans Zimmer's score kicks in is simply so exhilarating it is inevitable to smile. It is bonkers, but Armie Hammer and Depp somehow make it work, and there is also a revisionist melancholy to the movie which elevates it somewhat. It is a fairly damning attack on white settlers, a ballsy message to have in a family blockbuster. Yes it is long, but Tarantino labelled it as one of his ten favourites of 2013 and if that is my only company for liking this film, then that is not too bad.
4. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 4.86. IMDb: 6.2. Metacritic: 42
Okay this is a guilty pleasure. There is an agreed consensus that Transformers (2007) is a solid popcorn action film and not overly indulgent. Revenge of the Fallen is seen as a massive joke but Dark of the Moon I have always had a soft spot for. Maybe it is because my eleven year old self was wowed by it and over the years have watched it an awful lot, to the point of being adept at quoting large portions of the film. I have zero interest in the human part of this film; they are dull and the film spends too much time in the first act with them. But admittedly Bay nails the Transformers. The CGI is still ridiculously detailed and smooth and the action is ground-shaking. The highway chase, Chernobyl encounter and the massive final battle in Chicago are rip roaring to witness. The kills are brutal and fun, and the score is also solid. The relationship between Optimus Prime and Sentinel Prime is actually quite compelling, and their final scrap is a good 'un, although it does not hit the heights of the forest clash in the second installment. It was badass when I was eleven, and it is probably still badass now. Oh, and Megatron's Mad Max inspired truck design is pretty neat.
5. Man of Steel (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 6.24. IMDb: 7.1. Metacritic: 55
Man of Steel is a very good superhero film. Watching it now however is actually quite painful; it is a reminder of what the DCEU could have been. If they had roughly followed the Marvel strategy of a few origin stories and then a team up, but kept their Nolan-ised tone and more intellectual storytelling, it would have worked a treat among fans. But in trying to play catch up and also to appeal to the audiences who love the light-hearted thrills of the MCU, Warner Bros. lost something great. Criticism towards Man of Steel concerns this dark tone (a departure from previous Superman films) and the massive destruction sequences of the third act. My main issue with the 'light tone' demand is that the film is set in 2013. The world of 2013 is a lot more hostile and rigid than the world of 1978. Superman's responsibility and power needs to be checked and contained by the governments of 2013, whilst his existence would only ostracise him from society. Clark Kent is different to everyone else and I think Snyder's approach at showing this inner conflict works really well with the setting. He wants to help because he can help, but he knows he will never be able to rest again after; he will always have to be there. The film is rife with religious allegory and philosophy, particularly in the Kryptonian society. And Michael Shannon's General Zod is also just a man wanting to save his planet and people, driven to extremes when it fails. The action is well done, with Snyder speeding it up to really get a feel for how gods fight so that when Supes and Zod come together at the end, it feels like we are witnessing two phenomenally powerful super-beings going at it. The visuals are clean, the score is fantastic and the use of snap-zooms I can actually get behind; emphasising the camera's struggle to keep up with the speed of Superman. As for the destruction scenes, Superman is still coming to terms with his powers and it is impossible for two gods to not break a few buildings. It is a bold picture, but I think in 20-30 years when film historians re-evaluate the superhero decade of the 2010s, Man of Steel's reception will improve due to standing out above the more 'safe' competition.
6. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Rotten Tomatoes: 7.28. IMDb: 7.5. Metacritic: 68
The reviews on the above sites are actually more favourable than other films selected, but I am still including this because the immediate responses to the prequels were often very positive, only for that to decrease with time. And because it is a prequel, Revenge of the Sith is still grouped as a 'bad' film. But I will not stand for it. Yes the acting and dialogue leaves a LOT to be desired ("you are so beautiful" ... "only because I'm so in love" ... "no no because I am so in love with you" ... "so love has blinded you?"), but this is probably the most Star Wars Star Wars film. The imagination is simply off the chain across the two and a bit hours. From General Grievous to Mustafa, the wheel bike to Boga, the wookie vehicles to Order 66, there are so many iconic designs and fresh vehicles, creatures and planets. The action is still the best in the franchise; the opening over Coruscant is still technically impressive and the multitude of lightsaber duels does not feel over done. Anakin and Obi-wan's gigantic fight may slightly drag but the first two-thirds is masterfully choreographed between a master and apprentice who know each other's every over. Yoda gets some awesome moments like flattening the two Red Guards and yes, the meme output from this film makes it tremendously quotable and entertaining, even if that was not the desired purpose. If my childhood was a film, this might be that film.
7. Godzilla (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes: 6.65. IMDb: 6.4. Metacritic: 62
This is one of those 'I really liked it' or 'I hated it- not enough Godzilla' type films. And the above scores signify that mixed response, though I still feel that they are a bit conservative. Gareth Evans' Godzilla is Spielberg meets Nolan. It takes it time, teasing the audience visually with the title character in order to create suspense, whilst also being solemn in tone and taking the creature very seriously. And it works for the most part. Perhaps Bryan Cranston should have been in it more, and maybe if Aaron Taylor-Johnson's character was a bit more likable then the film would actually be quite excellent. But because of the sparity of monsters and action, humans are a little more vital in this monster film than they are in others. But when it's good, it's great. The sound design is criminally underrated; the shot of the airport with Godzilla's foot smashing down is so forcefully felt, as is the first roar. Using darkness for the monsters is smart from a visual point of view, meaning the film will age a lot better in terms of its CGI, and also meaning the atomic breath sequence is both stunning and cathartic. It is by no means a favourite film, but this feels under appreciated.
8. Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 5.15. IMDb: 6.1. Metacritic: 48
The criticisms aimed at Godzilla were answered with this sequel, which was then pretty much annihilated critically and commercially (though Endgame contributed to the latter). Not enough Godzilla? Here is loads of Godzilla. The monster fights were neither long enough nor visible enough? Here have dozens. Human characters are boring? Here is Milly Bobby Brown and Kyle Chandler. I did find that the humans in this sequel were a tad more appealing than those in the first, but it is the monster stuff that is the big sell here. For a film called Godzilla: King of the Monsters all I want is Godzilla, monsters, and Godzilla fighting monsters. Like Pacific Rim, I just want big scale fun like a kid tipping his toy box upside down. As a fan of Rodan, Ghidorah and Mothra, this film did them justice. Their musical cues were good (as was the revivial of the OG Godzilla theme) and scenes like Rodan's flight are really cool. Whilst the huge wide shots could have lingered longer when the big beasts collide, the overall photography is pretty and the colour palettes are diverse enough to be refreshing. It is harmless fun and big screen spectacle and the people who did not like it basically missed the point of the film.
9. Prometheus (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes: 6.96. IMDb: 7. Metacritic: 65
Another polarising franchise film, Ridley Scott's Prometheus is loved and hated in equal measure. The reason I do not like the sequel, Alien: Covenant, that much is because the studios and crew listened to those that did not like Prometheus, and instead opted for a more straight forward xenomorph dominated action horror. But as I said earlier, blockbusters that are bold and daring get more respect more than those that play it safe. The film is philosophically potent with a lot going on about creation, exploration and colonisation. The practical sets look stunning and it is no surprise that a Scott film set in space is gorgeous to behold. Michael Fassbender is head and shoulders above the rest of the cast with his android David and the last forty five minutes I found equally intense on the second viewing as I did the first. It left the door open for some more fantastic lore and creativity away from the Alien films and it is a shame that we did not get Prometheus 2.
10. Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
Rotten Tomatoes: 5.9. IMDb: 6.1. Metacritic: 59
Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation and Fallout are the most popular of the Mission franchise, in part because the series found its footing and how to make it unique (hint: ludicrous stunts). If Mission: Impossible is a faithful adaptation of the TV series, then M:I 2 is balls to the wall 2000s action. John Woo brings his kinetic style to the most ridiculous film in the pantheon, staging a pretty forgettable story around some wildly entertaining action. I toy with this film if it is a guilty pleasure or not, but I do really like a lot of the stuff in this. The opening scene of Tom Cruise free-soloing a rock face is unbearably palm-sweating and the third act's motorbike chase and fist fight is deliriously fun. The long hair of Cruise, rapid cuts and self-indulgent stunt-work all amalgamates into a terrific Friday evening curry and a beer movie.
11. Spectre (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes: 6.4. IMDb: 6.8. Metacritic: 60
Skyfall was a juggernaut in 2012, critics and audiences loved it and it grossed over a billion dollars. Sam Mendes had to go bigger for the sequel which, for many, fell utterly short of Skyfall. Which is fair enough; Spectre's villain is a lot weaker and the plot is less interesting than the revenge story line at the heart of Skyfall. But because of this the film seems to be so easily discarded. It is not a bad film. The opening sequence, a four minute tracking shot followed by a helicopter fight is a cracking start to a film that goes big with the set pieces. The car chase in Rome, the brutal fist fight on the train, the plane chase in Austria and the escape from Oberhauser's compound are pure class. If the third act does not deliver on the action front as much, then you can still really enjoy the first two thirds for some quality escapism. The cinematography and direction is still assured, but a slightly hamstrung narrative does not make this a bad film.
12. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes: 6.54. IMDb: 7.8. Metacritic: 58
13. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 6.81. IMDb: 7.8 Metacritic: 66
14. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes: 6.28. IMDb: 7.4. Metacritic: 59
Grouping The Hobbit trilogy together as they all share similar positive and negatives, they make up the final part of this list. Whilst seen as enjoyable, they are too often cast aside for not living up to the almighty Lord of the Rings and of course for splitting a small book into three parts. Whilst two films would have been a better approach, what we got was more time in Middle-earth with beloved characters. There is an over-reliance on visual effects too, but I love these for being a gentler fantasy trilogy than LOTR. An Unexpected Journey has vast sentimental value, but I also love how it captures that spirit of adventure and the quest; it retains the spirit of Tolkien's novel well. It has heart and warmth and I think it is well paced. The Desolation of Smaug is a rollicking action film with tonnes of spectacle and excitement. Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch as Bilbo and Smaug is one of the best casting choices in the blockbuster era and when they come together in the third act it makes for tremendous cinema. And The Battle of the Five Armies may go overboard with effects and action, but it is still a satisfying end with some quality set pieces. The geography of the battle and the different sides are also well presented, giving it clarity. They are far from perfect, but they are far from bad. The costumes, props, make-up and sets are impressive and there are many scenes that can go toe-to-toe with some of the best in LOTR.
