Movie critics have always been the gatekeepers of what to see and what to avoid at the box office, or at least that’s what they want you to think. Does that mean a bad review will dash hopes for blockbuster glory? We decided to take a look at the best and worst received films this decade and see if it had any bearing on their box office returns.
Only a few films in the worst reviewed category did well, and none of them cracked the $100 million landmark. Roberto Benigni’s live-action Pinocchio, was the most expensive production in Italian film history, was especially disappointing at the American box office.
There were four documentaries in the best reviewed category, which you would think might hurt the overall box office. Not so. Animated films more than made up for it by taking in hundreds of millions domestically and overseas. In total, the top ten worst reviewed films pulled in $139.3 million; the best reviewed films of the decade, $1.872 billion. That’s a pretty substantial difference.
One interesting tidbit that flew in the face of our numbers: the horror films that made each list. The terribly received One Missed Call more than quadrupled the total for Let the Right One In. We’ll only admit to seeing one of those in the theater.
Top Ten Worst Reviewed
10. Witless Protection (2008) – $4.1M
9. Redline (2007) – $6.8M
8. 3 Strikes (2000) – $9.8M
7. Strange Wilderness (2008) – $6.6M
6. Super Babies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004) – $9.3M
5. National Lampoon’s Gold Diggers aka Lady Killers (2004) -$.4M
4. King’s Ransom (2005) – $4M
3. Pinocchio (2002) – $3.7M
2. One Missed Call (2008) – $26.9M
1. Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002) – $14M
Top Ten Best Reviewed
10. The Fog of War (2004) – $4.2M
9. Murderball (2005) – $1.5M
8. Chicken Run (2000) – $106M
7. Spellbound (2003) – $5.7M
6. Let the Right One In (2008) – $2.1M
5. The Hurt Locker (2008) – $12.6M
4. Finding Nemo (2003) – $339.7M
3. The Wrestler (2008) – $26.2M
2. Up (2009) – $293M
1. Man on Wire (2008) – $2.9M
How many of these films did you see — good or bad?