News that the upcoming D23 Expo might offer an Indiana Jones 5 trailer has provided fans with plenty of excitement. The new film has gone through more than its share of setbacks and it still has to face the very real scrutiny that will surely be leveled at it upon its release. The sequel has already divided fans, some of whom feel it's unnecessary and doomed to fail.
However, one thing that can be counted on regardless of the hype that follows any given film's release is that opinions will indeed vary. Some films are immediate classics to some, while the very same films can be reviled by others. While some of these opinions may be justified, Redditors have offered their take as to which films they feel are unfairly hated.
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008)
Nineteen years after the last installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford returned for more. The film failed to win over fans, but Redditor Pandalorian defends the entry, stating, “Sure the movie didn't turn out to be as good as any of the original three, but I still thought it was good and it still felt like an Indy movie…”
Because of its divisive nature, some Indy fans refuse to acknowledge Crystal Skull as a legitimate entry. While it may not have reached the same heights as the previous three films, there’s no doubt that it retains a certain number of fans. There are many aspects of Crystal Skull that still showcase classic Indy, so perhaps naysayers would do well to revisit the film.
Waterworld (1995)
This Kevin Costner epic was the most expensive movie ever made at the time of its release. With a price tag of $175 million, audiences were ready for a true spectacle. Unfortunately, the apocalyptic survival story bombed. Years of ridicule followed, but the film earns Redditor death_pheasant’s vote for unwarranted hate, saying “I’m not afraid to say it. Waterworld.”
Not only did the failure of Waterworld make studios more cautious about the budget for a time, but it also marked an end to Costner’s string of success from the late 80s to mid-90s. Perhaps today with the issue of climate change a real concern, Waterworld could find a more receptive audience. A new TV series based on the concept is currently in the works.
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
The continued popularity of both the Predator and Alien franchises was enough for someone to decide that a film starring both would be a hit. Alien vs. Predator performed decently enough at the box office, but it still doesn’t get much love from fans of both franchises. Redditor texasvapor disagrees with the hate with a simple, “Alien Vs Predator.”
As far as sci-fi horror goes, it’s hard to get two better antagonists than the Xenomorph and the Predator. It’s completely understandable why the initial belief was that this film would find a solid audience, and though it failed to fully win over its core demographic, it did find enough success to merit a sequel. The film very well could find a bigger fanbase in time, especially if the concept is ever rebooted.
Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
Few film franchises elicit more disagreement than Star Wars does. By the time the third entry in the prequel series arrived, fans were feeling a little let down by the whole thing. But Redditor actualsnow disagrees: “Revenge of the Sith. I feel like I was one of the few ones to appreciate how it tied the two Star Wars stories together.”
Over time the Star Wars prequels have managed to gain a little more acceptance than they initially did upon their release. Love it or hate it, the prequels address a challenging storyline and provide fans with the complete story of Darth Vader’s rise and Anakin’s fall. Revenge of the Sith may not be a perfect film, but it’s arguably the best of the entire prequel series.
The Village (2004)
Five years after M. Night Shyamalan stunned audiences with The Sixth Sense, he returned with The Village. The thriller performed well at the box office, but many dismissed it. Redditor LurkerSociety feels this comes down to a bias against Shyamalan, “The Village. I think it gets a lot of hate because people don't like the director.
Shyamalan has indeed been given a lot of chances by audiences. The Sixth Sense so impressed people that when that level of entertainment wasn’t repeated, frustration set in. Whether or not The Village is a good film is a matter of opinion, but LurkerSociety might be on to something when they say the film was unfairly assessed by a large portion of the public.
The Green Hornet (2011)
With acclaimed filmmaker Michel Gondry and Seth Rogen onboard, The Green Hornet should have been a total hit. Unfortunately, this cinematic adaptation of the famed comic book hero was a failure. Redditor JustinPM has stuck with it, however, proclaiming, “I’m probably on an island with this opinion, but I really liked The Green Hornet.”
Rogen has previously spoken about the studio involvement in Green Hornet, which he feels ultimately ruined the film. It’s not hard to believe that there’s greatness in what many viewed as an overstuffed, dull adaptation of a very interesting character. It might not be the greatest superhero movie ever made, but it certainly is far from the worst.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
After winning the best screenplay Oscar for Juno, Diablo Cody returned with this demonic possession horror comedy. The film did not land well with audiences, many of whom weren’t expecting this direction from Cody. Redditor Captain_ Sparky feels differently, however, saying, “I feel that Jennifer’s Body gets a lot of undue criticism.”
As far as the genre goes, Jennifer’s Body is completely faithful. Mixing elements of traditional slasher horror with nods to classics like Heathers and The Evil Dead, it’s hard not to feel that the film was disregarded simply because it wasn’t Juno 2. Unfortunately, that was the risk that this niche genre film had to take - and which it didn’t manage to overcome.
Wild Wild West (1999)
It’s easy to understand why Will Smith’s steampunk western isn’t more widely known. The film was a major bomb at the box office and critics mercilessly pummeled it. Audiences certainly weren’t much kinder to it, either, yet Redditor Freakears disagrees with this, saying, “Wild Wild West. It’s entertaining if nothing else.”
There have been numerous times over the years where a film didn’t find success upon its initial release, yet became far more appreciated in later years. Wild Wild West, while far from a perfect film, could indeed be such a case. It’s campy, odd fun, and remains miles away from the sort of films that typically find success today.
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008)
Despite its brilliant F. Scott Fitzgerald story, superb cast that included Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett plus direction from David Fincher, this tale of a man who ages in reverse struggled. Redditor [deleted] finds this unfair, saying: “One of the most beautiful, heartbreaking films I've ever seen and everyone ridicules me for feeling that way.”
There is indeed plenty to find beautiful and heartbreaking in Benjamin Button. That being said, the film is hardly upbeat and this could account for the general lack of interest. Still, it doesn’t deserve any hatred and [deleted] surely isn’t alone in feeling deeply moved by what remains a compelling bit of filmmaking with some fascinating visual effects.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The arrival of The Blair Witch Project was a major turning point for independent film as well as the catalyst for the found footage horror genre. Yet regardless of its tremendous success, there remains no shortage of haters, much to the disdain of Redditor Codex_Gigas who said, “It’s actually a really neat little horror movie.”
In some ways, The Blair Witch Project was a victim of its success. It’s often the case that the more popular a film is, and the more it’s praised for how frightening it is, the more that contrarian voices will be heard. The film’s hype prevented many from suspending their disbelief, denying them the opportunity to watch a truly original and terrifying film unfold.