Common sense might tell you that a film with a relatively mediocre average rating from critics is not worth watching, but sometimes common sense can be wrong. Critics’ opinions may vary, meaning that while a film’s Metacritic score can be a good indicator of a film’s relative quality, it should never be followed too closely. There is every chance that one of your future favorite films will receive a less than outstanding score on Metacritic, or, conversely, you may not like a movie that critics rated.
To highlight this, here are 10 movies that have a Metascore of just 50 but are better than you might think. It’s easy to see why some of them are divisive or may not be for everyone, but their low ratings shouldn’t discourage potential viewers who think any of them look interesting otherwise.
‘Super’ (2010)
Before sending any guardians of the galaxy or Suicide Squad cinema, James Gunn made a darkly funny and very violent superhero movie called Super. Calling it a superhero movie is a bit of a stretch, as it’s more about a terribly violent vigilante who thinks he’s a superhero, but it does use some of the genre’s tropes while brutally subverting others.
It may have seemed too gruesome and dark to some critics, resulting in an average score of 50 on Metacritic. Those who don’t like the idea of seeing a man beat up criminals with a wrench may want to skip this, but those who want an entertaining and uniquely satirical take on the superhero genre may well find a lot to like here.
‘Tombstone’ (1993)
It’s not entirely clear why the classic 1993 Western tombstone has only 50% average rating on Metascore. It’s a movie that has funny characters, good action, and an overall entertaining take on a known story. Wyatt Earp and the now-legendary shootout at the OK Corral.
tombstone not a perfect movie, and perhaps it’s the kind of western that would be better if it were under two hours long rather than over two hours. But in the end, it’s a well-made, brilliant western with an incredible cast, including Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxtonand never better Val Kilmer, among many others. What’s not to like?
‘Clerks III’ (2022)
After two mostly well received Clerks cinema, Kevin Smith completed a nearly 30-year streak Clerks III, and his perception was certainly more disjointed. It’s easy to say that the critical consensus split right down the middle because, after all, it does have a 50% average of those critics that have been picked by Metacritic.
While still a comedy, it has sadder and darker parts than the first two. Clerks movies that deal with middle age and aging in amazing detail. If some viewers and/or critics find this too off-putting, that’s understandable, but for those who want the series to take a different direction and mix more drama with comedy, Clerks III it is an interesting and often delightful film.
“Life Force” (1985)
There is a surprising amount of horror movies that combine vampires with science fiction. life force is one of the most striking examples. The plot concerns vampires who are literally from outer space and what happens when they come to Earth to enslave the human race by infecting them.
It’s a very sloppy and sometimes clunky film, but it’s also easy to appreciate for being unique and ambitious when it comes to mixing horror, sci-fi, action, mysticism, and even romance. Some people like it and some don’t, but its scatter of response means it’s worth watching for fans of 1980s horror so they can see which side they’re on.
‘Labyrinth’ (1986)
David Bowie he has appeared in a surprising number of films during his acting career, but none of his roles are as well known as that of Jareth, the Goblin King, in labyrinth. He is the main villain of this family fantasy movie which is about a young girl who has to save her little brother from a fantasy realm after he is captured by goblins.
It’s a cult classic, but it’s ubiquitous, so it’s understandable why critics haven’t flocked to it in the same way that the general public has. However, a 50% average may be too harsh for something so unique and creative, and it’s hard to hate a film in which Bowie delivers such great campy performances.
“Young Guns” (1988)
Young shooters Western featuring (unsurprisingly) young icons from the 1980s. The film centers on a young man who wants revenge on an elderly man who kills his mentor, and so he assembles a small squad to hunt down the killer, and the group administers justice as they see fit in the lawless West.
The less-than-surprising critical acclaim may have to do with the fact that most film critics (especially in the 1980s) are older, and this film will naturally appeal to younger audiences. For those who are young or otherwise feel young at heart, Young shooters really provides a good dose of action/western excitement and it’s fun to see so many recognizable actors like Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevezand Kiefer Sutherland back when they were all in their early 20s.
‘Red State’ (2011)
Clerks III far from the only Kevin Smith film to cause controversy, as red state proves. Like this 2022 movie, this one also has a Metascore of 50%, which may have been due to how unexpectedly different red state taken from most of what Smith did before or after.
This may be the only Kevin Smith film that eschews comedy entirely and is instead a violent action/thriller that revolves around a dangerous fundamentalist church and its terrifying leader. Even if you don’t enjoy it, red state a film that is hard to resist, meaning that its seemingly average Metascore doesn’t quite portend the experience it ends up giving.
‘Crash’ (1996)
David Cronenberg a director who is no stranger to challenging critics and the general public with his 1996 film. crash be perhaps his most difficult. It explores a group of characters who all have an oddly erotic fixation on car accidents, making for a film that treats intimate relationships in a way that few other films can claim to.
It’s the kind of film where some are going to tap into or admire a controversial subject, while others may reject it entirely. It’s hard to imagine that you fall somewhere in between with a movie like crash, but between the two extremes is where his Metascore ends up: exactly 50%. It’s worth the risk for brave viewers, even if some end up not liking what they see.
“American Ultra” (2015)
American Ultra it’s just a fun, fresh movie. It seems like it probably won’t be anyone’s all-time favorite or anything, but it’s weird to think that someone could walk away from it without getting any enjoyment out of it…although it’s clear that some critics were disappointed given its average Metacritic score of 50%.
This is a film about a young slacker who eventually finds out that he is a sleeper agent and has impressive physical abilities that he never knew he had before. He is targeted for murder and ends up on the run with his girlfriend, becoming entangled in many comedic scenes in the process. Again, it’s not a great movie, but it’s far from bad and worth watching for anyone who wants something light and fun.
‘Blonde’ (2022)
Unboxing Marilyn Monroe a tragic life in a sense that was far from historical certainty, Blonde turned out to be one of the most controversial and divisive films of 2022. Those who expected to see a traditional biopic were disappointed at best and shocked or outraged at worst, and even those who had some idea of what they were getting into might find it too controversial. .
Of all the films with Metascore, 50%, perhaps, Blonde is one of the most understandable. It will shock everyone who watches it very much, but someone will like the gloom and gloom of the plot, and someone will find it too unpleasant. It’s a difficult film to watch and evaluate, which makes the mixed critical response understandable.
Source: Collider
