The best movies leave a mark but that mark isn't always a good one and can see audiences completely divided over what they think is a great movie and what is a bad movie. The movies that divide fans are also ones that create conversation and seemingly become popular amongst viewers for simply being somewhat controversial marmite releases.
Redditor waldripsir sought the help of other viewers to understand why some movies are both loathed and loved. From badly marketed horror movies to movies that seek to shine a light on social issues, here are just a few films that Redditors would class as marmite movies.
Joker (2019)
Stream On HBO Max
2019's Joker was a highly anticipated movie but upon its release, it was met with mixed opinions with the Joker prequel answering many pointless questions that left some fans disappointed. The movie saw Joaquin Phoenix interestingly depict how the Joker had become such a villain whilst simultaneously humanizing him.
But other fans felt as though the movie's need to excuse the Joker's behavior resulted in the 'super' element being lost which is why some fans failed to connect. UpperHesse shared that their own "personal criticism is this: why make superhero/supervillain movies, without 'super' in it aka the fantasy elements?" The movie replaced the fantasy element with a more humanized villain story which led to the main reason many fans loved the Joker himself but not so much the movie.
Fight Club (1999)
Stream On Tubi TV
David Fincher's Fight Club continues to toy with viewers' emotions today with many still struggling to understand the purpose of the movie and what the ending was meant to symbolize but for others, the movie has become a cult favorite with many resembling it to a cinematic art form. The movie is filled with clever dialogue and contains one of the most complex plots seen in cinematic history with an incredible twist, which resulted in many fans being seriously impressed with this unusual flick.
However, other viewers failed to warm to the movie's characters and viewed it as nothing more than a tale of toxic masculinity. SEAsportsguy explained how this led to "others appreciat[ing] the art but [refusing] to spend time with these characters" whilst other viewers completely resonated with the intricate characters, resulting in a divided audience.
Promising Young Woman (2020)
Stream On HBO Max
2020's Promising Young Woman was always going to attract attention but many female viewers felt as though the movie was an empowering watch through the way it portrayed a very real depiction of what many women encounter in day-to-day life.
However, others described the movie as being too explicit in its representation of sexual assault especially through the main characters' ploy to lure men home in a bid to scare them. For one Redditor and their boyfriend, the movie "made [them] grimace at each other [and they] almost walked out at that ending." But for many SA survivors, the movie resonated with them, making them feel heard and understood which is why it had such mixed reviews.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Stream On Amazon Prime
The iconic Napoleon Dynamite continues to be a popular quirky high school comedy for many fans but for others the movie was just that little bit too unique, leaving some unable to connect with the main character. The movie made a name for itself within the world of cult classics due to it being highly quotable and completely individual.
Some viewers felt the movie was so offbeat that they couldn't make any sense of it. Many even likened it to the Monty Python films with MachineGunTeacher explaining that "there’s something about the humor that’s like Monty Python, you either get it or you don’t." It's safe to say that this obscure flick left some fans crying with laughter and others completely confused.
Into The Wild (2007)
Stream On Netflix
Into The Wild encourages its viewers to go on their own adventure of self-discovery, free from belongings and technology. For some fans it didn't inspire them but rather acted as a cautionary tale, resulting in it being a highly divisive movie. Into The Wild provides its viewers with an insightful story based on the truth that many fans found moving and inspired some to immerse themselves within nature.
However, others felt that whilst it contained some beautiful cinematography, it was also a story of warning that actually represented the main character as a very naive individual. Redditor polarpenguinthe explained how viewers "think he is a woke adventurous or [they] think he is a blind moron. There's no in-between," which is why the movie created a complete divide between viewers.
La La Land (2016)
Stream On Hulu
The Oscar winning La La Land is a great movie to get viewers in the mood for spring with many of its aesthetically pleasing scenes featuring sunlight and sundresses. The movie adopted an old Hollywood style and through visually stunning musical numbers created a great love story that some fans unfortunately felt was mediocre at best.
Redditor waldripsir explained how they had "never met anyone who's balanced about it" with many fans feeling that in terms of cinematography the movie was brilliant. But unfortunately for others, the movie lacked in everything else with many claiming that it was seemingly unmemorable, especially with its lack of a happy ending, which is just another reason why some fans love to hate this musical flick.
Midsommar (2019)
Stream On Kanopy & Showtime
Ari Aster's Midsommar continues to be a divisive movie between fans, some think the movie moved too far away from the general conventions of horror to be considered good whilst others welcome the refreshing change. The movie proceeded to push the boundaries of the horror world by placing the story within a somewhat beautiful environment that wasn't synonymous with the darkness that usually follows that of terror.
Some fans found this a refreshing change as it made the plot even more terrifying with fans being unable to identify the fear. But others like ConceptJunkie shared that "even people who think it was not a good movie [...] do think it had exceptionally good cinematography," which is why the films continues to tear fans apart.
Lost In Translation (2003)
Stream On Tubi TV & IMDb TV
Lost In Translation is one movie that launched Scarlett Johansson's career and whilst it has become something of a cult classic, it has also faced some criticism. Many fans loved it for its unique story and eventual friendship between the two main characters brought to life through its beautiful cinematography
Many fans found the movie to be a somewhat poetic depiction of two souls healing together whilst others couldn't warm to the movie due to its controversial representation of Japanese culture. Redditor sleepy55 was just one fan that explained that they "love[d] the movie but the criticism about the portrayal of Japanese people are 100% justified and detract from how great the movie could be."
Mother! (2017)
Rent On Apple TV
For many horror fans, Mother! looked as though it was going to be an interesting and welcomed addition to the world of cinematic horror but unfortunately, it was marketed wrong which left some fans pleasantly surprised and others greatly disappointed.
The movie lived up to its expectations as a psychological thriller with many fans feeling completely disturbed after watching it but for horror fans, it replaced the element of terror so commonly seen in horror with a more biblical and poetic angle. Mother! was littered with several hidden stories as recognized by Linubidix who labeled it as an allegory before suggesting that "If you're into that, cool. If you're not it's going to be like pulling teeth."
The Tree Of Life (2011)
Stream On Hulu
2011's The Tree Of Life surpassed the requirements of a movie for many fans by offering an enriching experience instead. This visually stunning movie left a mark on many of its viewers through its complex reflection of growing up, which is why some viewers labeled the movie as an unforgettable one.
However, instead of being an enjoyable watch for some, it made some question their entire existence, resulting in an uncomfortable viewing experience for those looking for cinematic relief. The movie had a different impact on every viewer with -Hypocrates- explaining that "it's definitely down to personal taste" with some fans feeling enriched and others completely confused.