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Using data from Rotten Tomatoes, PrettyFamous calculated which movies have the largest disparity in critic versus audience ratings. To be considered, a movie had to receive a Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score of 60 or lower and a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score (based on critic ratings) of at least 80.
From comedies to horrors, the critics rated each of these very diverse films significantly higher than audience members did.
Cocoon
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 80 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 60 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 20"Cocoon" is Ron Howard's 1985 sci-fi classic about a group that stumbles upon mysterious Alien pods that bestow eternal life. The film went over better with critics than the general public, possibly because the critics took into account Ron Howard's impressive career when scrutinizing the film.
Bowfinger
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 80 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 60 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 20"Bowfinger" was written by Steve Martin and directed by Frank Oz (best known as the voice of Yoda from the Star Wars franchise). It also features a star studded cast: Heather Graham, Eddie Murphy, Robert Downey Jr. and Steve Martin. Critics appreciate Martin's witty script, but audiences expected much more from Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy.
A Prairie Home Companion
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 81 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 59 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 22"A Prairie Home Companion" was written by classic storyteller Garrison Keillor and directed by Robert Altman (known for Academy Award-nominated-film Gosford Park). The film also features one of the most star-studded ensembles: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Woody Harrelson, Lily Tomlin and Tommy Lee Jones, to name a few. Perhaps because this movie was Robert Altman's last film, critics were more apt to give it a higher ranking than audience members.
The Tree of Life
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 84 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 60 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 24Although critics called "The Tree of Life" a "brilliant achievement" and even "a cinematic masterpiece," audiences were not wowed by the 1950s tale of a dysfunctional family starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. The film was nominated for three Oscars, including best director (Terrence Malick) and best picture.
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 86 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 60 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 26This kids movie was directed by Peter Lord, of "Wallace and Gromit" fame. Critics enjoyed listening to actors Jeremy Piven, Martin Freeman and Hugh Grant do their best British pirate accents, but audiences weren't as enchanted by the "plunderful life" of the misfits.
Ghost Town
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 86 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 60 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 26In "Ghost Town," Ricky Gervais stars as Bertram Pincus, an ordinary man who dies an ordinary death. Fortunately, he is resuscitated - but comes back to life with the somewhat irritating ability to see ghosts. One critic applauded "Ghost Town" as "the big screen's best use of the talents of the sarcastic, ever put-upon Mr. Gervais."
The Truth About Cats & Dogs
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 84 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 56 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 28"The Truth about Cats and Dogs" is the 1996 version of the 1897 play "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand. The genders are reversed in this version, and Uma Thurman and Janeane Garofalo star as two unlikely friends. This was Janeane Garofalo's first major role in a film, and she went on to star in cult classics like "Wet Hot American Summer" and "Dogma."
In Good Company
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 83 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 54 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 29Dennis Quaid plays Dan, a successful businessman who is unexpectedly demoted from his high-profile job. The kicker: his new 26-year-old boss (played by Topher Grace) is also sleeping with his daughter (Scarlett Johansson). One critic went so far to say that "In Good Company" was "not only the best American picture of 2004, but also the most grown-up movie to come from Hollywood in recent years."
Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 81 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 50 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 31"Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" is the third installment of the gritty series created by director George Miller. Mel Gibson plays the original Mad Max and this story follows him to a band of abandoned children in the post-Apocalyptic desert. While audiences were not wild about this installment, Director George Miller got it right when he came back with "Mad Max: Fury Road" in 2015. This sequel has a 97 percent rating by critics and 86 percent by audience members on Rotten Tomatoes.
Crocodile Dundee
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 89 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 58 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 31A lousy 58 percent rating from audience members might leave you wondering what exactly critics saw in the 1986 film "Crocodile Dundee," a film starring actor Paul Hogan as an Australian outdoorsman bumbling his way through New York City. Despite the simple "fish out of water" plot, critics saw it as a "charming outback fairytale."
Freaky Friday
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 88 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 57 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 31"Freaky Friday" is a remake from the 1976 film with the same title. Critics enjoyed Jamie Lee Curtis' emotional portrayal of a mother trying to maintain a relationship with her hot-headed teenage daughter (played by Lindsay Lohan). Neither film did well with the audience; the original version has a 58 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 83 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 51 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 32Another remake of a classic film, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is Tim Burton's exploration into Roald Dahl's fantasy land of sweets. Johnny Depp made some interesting character choices playing Willie Wonka, claiming that he wanted to be like "a stoned George Bush," which turned some people off of his performance.
King Kong
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 84 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 50 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 34This 2005 remake of the 1933 classic was legendary director Peter Jackson's first film after his giant success with The Lord of the Rings series. It was certainly no "Return of the King," but critics agreed Jackson did an excellent job staying faithful to the spirit of the original film.
The Little Shop of Horrors
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 92 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 55 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 37The oldest film on this list, the original "The Little Shop of Horrors" was released in 1960, and possibly has such a high rating with critics on Rotten Tomatoes because they view it as a classic. According to IMDb, the film was shot in only two and a half days, on a budget of $22,500.
Arachnophobia
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 91 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 53 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 38"Arachnophobia" was director Frank Marshall's first feature-length film. Critics thought the film was more than just a horror flick with creepy, crawly spiders, and found Jeff Daniels' portrayal as scaredy-cat Dr. Ross Jennings engaging.
About a Boy
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 93 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 54 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 39"About a Boy" features a young Nicholas Hoult doing his best to help his mother (Toni Collette) who is coping with serious depression. Hugh Grant appears as the love interest, but there is much more to this film than a simple love story. As one critic wrote, "mainstream comedies should all be this funny and tender."
Stuart Little 2
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 81 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 41 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 40The original "Stuart Little" only received a 66 percent rating from critics, but critics enjoyed the squeaky, intelligent mouse's second adventure much more than the audience. One audience member stated, "Man, I can't believe I actually watched this. Disney is totally cashing in on idiots like me."
Antz
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 95 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 51 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 44"Antz" is the second ever computer animated film after "Toy Story." But, unlike "Toy Story," this film was never in contention to be one of the best films of all time. Critics thoroughly enjoyed Woody Allen's performance as Z, the self-reliant worker ant, but audiences were unenthused.
Spy Kids
**Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer:** 93 **Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score:** 45 **Critic vs. Crowd Disparity:** 48The original "Spy Kids" was widely approved of by critics and trashed by audiences. Why did critics like the film so much? The film "fulfills kids' empowerment fantasies and features enough techno-wizardry and cool f/x to satisfy those weaned on videogames" one critic wrote. Although audiences did not rate it highly, the film was successful enough to spawn 3 sequels.
Critic vs. Crowd Scores
[Research Thousands of Movies on PrettyFamous](http://movies.prettyfamous.com)Correction: This story originally incorrectly identified the mother in 'About a Boy' as played by Sharon Small. The character of Fiona Brewer was played by Toni Collette.
