Though they might not have quite as much power as they used to, as streaming services have eradicated the need for many audience members to listen to them, critics were once able to make or break a movie, and they had a similar amount of power when it came to actors too. There are movie stars who were at the height of fame for a couple of years, but if critics didn’t like them, they’d seemingly disappear off the face of the Earth.
However, there are actors who are somehow able to overcome the critics’ nasty words and come out of the other end on top of the world. Despite having such scathing words written about them, these actors’ movies make hundreds of millions of dollars at the worldwide box office, and it also goes to show that critics aren’t always right.
Jim Carrey
Though he has seen critical acclaim with some of his dramatic roles, Jim Carrey hasn’t had as much success with his comedies. Carrey infamously received two thumbs down from Siskel and Ebert for his role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and they tore into the film.
However, in something that they rarely ever did, the two infamous reviewers dedicated a whole show to Carrey to discuss how they initially misunderstood the actor and have since come around to his movies.
Tyler Perry
Being the creator of the character Madea, Tyler Perry has directed tons of films about the character and regardless of what critics think, there are still loads of hilarious scenes in the movies.
It doesn’t seem to matter what critics think, as Perry is one of the most influential people in the world. Directors must see something that critics don’t, as he has worked with the crime auteur David Fincher for Gone Girl, and with Adam McKay in Vice.
Adam Sandler
It may have something to do with all of the jokes that haven’t aged well, but ever since he transitioned from Saturday Night Live to a movie star seemingly overnight, critics have never been on board with his sense of humor.
However, Sandler has always been one of the biggest box office draws, especially in the '90s. His balance of humor and a heartwarming narrative, as seen in Big Daddy and 50 First Dates, are huge box office draws, and many of the movies hold up too. And every now and then, just sometimes, Sandler blows critics away with some surprising dramatic roles.
Zac Efron
Though he is gaining increasingly great roles, Zac Efron has had an uphill battle with the critics. Starting out in High School Musical, the actor became a teenage heartthrob and the crush of millions of teens, but he wasn’t quite perceived the same way by middle-aged movie critics.
He didn’t do himself any favors with them by starring in movies like Hairspray and 17 Again. However, Efron has carved out a great place for himself in comedies and is starting to see a lot of critical success with the Neighbors series and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile
Ryan Reynolds
At one point in time in the 2000s, Ryan Reynolds was all over every movie, whether it was a Christmas comedy or another superhero film, but he struggled to ever find the perfect role or even a decent one. It wasn’t completely his fault, as the writer completely botched X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the special effects ruined Green Lantern, though there are ways it could have been good.
However, the public has spoken and the box office sales for his movies speak for themselves. These days, critics have come around to him thanks to the unrivaled Deadpool movies.
Nicolas Cage
As most of the actors hated by critics tend to be comedy performers, Nicolas Cage is one of the few “dramatic” actors on the list, and certainly the only one to have an Academy Award in his cabinet.
It isn’t his acting that has been consistently criticized, but his actual movie choices. But Cage’s movies are so bad they’re good, as nobody likes Fire Birds or Vampire’s Kiss, but people love to watch them, and the classic alphabet scene from the latter has millions of views on YouTube.
Vince Vaughn
It might be the remake of Psycho that critics never forgave him for, but for one reason or another, Vince Vaughn has struggled to impress reviewers ever since the beginning of his career.
Even discounting some of his worst movies such as The Internship and The Break Up, the actor has some incredible comedies that have become cult classics, including DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story and Old School. It remains a mystery why they are disliked by critics.
Gerard Butler
People don’t realize it, but Gerard Butler is low-key one of the most successful action movie stars, as he’s the lead in the Has Fallen series, has a main role in the How To Train Your Dragon franchise, and is the face of 300.
However, not all of those movies have been received well by critics, and his output outside of huge franchises hasn’t impressed them either, as movies like Bounty Hunter and Law Abiding Citizen have received negative reviews. Still, they were box office hits regardless.
David Spade
It says a lot about what critics think of an actor when their most celebrated role is an animated llama in The Emperor’s New Groove. Due to his excessive work with Adam Sandler and other members of the Happy Madison crew, he hasn’t fared well amongst professional critics, as he has been accused of using his movies as excuses to go on vacation.
That's especially with projects such as Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2. But when it comes to general movie audiences, Spade is one of the most popular actors in the world, and his animated work is incredible.
Kevin James
First starring in Hitch, which received moderately positive reviews, critics believe Kevin James has made one misstep after another with his movie career. With movies such as Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Zookeeper, James had gotten into a rhythm of playing the comically overweight employee who finds himself in unusual situations, and critics don’t like it.
However, those movies, along with his many collaborations with Sandler and even David Spade, James has become a brand, and love it or hate it, it’s worth billions.