10 2025 Movies That Critics Hated but Audiences Loved

As the digital era has further individualized and separated audiences into distinct niches and hyper-specific appeals in a film, the divide of opinions between people has never been greater. One of the most immediately noticeable examples is film critics and general audiences, with reception towards a film often wildly varying between these two groups. 2025 continued this trend, seeing the release of many films that absolutely missed in the eyes of critics but aligned exactly with their dedicated audiences.

A multitude of reasons can be behind a film's stark difference in critics' and audiences' scores, whether it's audiences loving the style and strengths of a long-running franchise or an overall appeal to general tastes over that of critics. It isn't the be-all-end-all answer as to what people should think about a film, as opinions will fluctuate and differ from each individual person, but these films showcase a larger trend of connecting with audiences without having to adhere to the standards of film critics.

10 'Tron: Ares'

Critics Score: 53%, Audience Score: 84%

Tron has always been a franchise that has been more suited to the whims of audiences than critics, so it would make sense that Tron: Ares would similarly land more with the former than the latter. What is surprising is that it achieved the highest audience score out of any film in the Tron trilogy, with its 84% towering over Tron: Legacy's 64% and the original Tron's 69%. The film amplified core aspects of the franchise, resulting in a double-edged sword of further alienating critics while further appealing to audiences.

Critics weren't fans of the film's storyline and pacing, yet audiences were quick to ignore any issues with the story when the striking visuals and outstanding soundtrack from Nine Inch Nails did all the heavy lifting. However, a high reception from audiences who experienced the film doesn't inherently result in box-office success, and Tron: Ares still wound up being one of the biggest box-office disappointments of 2025.

9 'A Working Man'

Critics Score: 47%, Audience Score: 87%

Jason Statham's distinct style of gritty, hardened thrillers has helped him achieve a dedicated audience of those who simply love to see him lay waste to bad guys with his distinct charm and screen presence. A Working Man delivers all the grimy Statham action and tension that audiences want from him, yet critics were simply expecting more than yet another Statham action film that feels indistinguishable from his previous works.

Especially when compared to previous Statham critical hits like The Beekeeper or Wrath of Man, A Working Man simply lacked the personality and flair that make Statham work in the eyes of critics. However, in the eyes of audiences, A Working Man fully delivered on the style of no-nonsense action and anger that has made Statham one of the most bankable action stars of the modern day. Audiences loved the simple, fun, popcorn energy, not needing much more than what they already loved.

8 'Sneaks'

Critics Score: 29%, Audience Score: 72%

In an animation industry continuously dominated by the major studios, a smaller-scale animated film attempting to hone in on a more dedicated audience is respectable in and of itself. However, Sneaks was far from an independent darling animated film in the eyes of critics, who saw it as little more than a generic Toy Story riff with lackluster animation and a dated sense of humor.

However, audiences were much kinder to the lighthearted family film, being able to forgive more traditional flaws with its animation and original when its core messaging was still impactful and effective at the end of the day. Combined with a true care and appreciation for shoe culture that isn't really seen in modern films, especially animated films, it isn't a surprise that the audience Sneaks was made for actually connected with it.

7 'A Minecraft Movie'

Critics Score: 48%, Audience Score: 84%

Easily standing as one of the most recognizable divides between critics and audiences in 2025, A Minecraft Movie showed exactly how much success a film could have by appealing to its dedicated audience above all else. Putting aside all the memes, quotable lines, and outrageously disruptive theater experiences that the film spawned, A Minecraft Movie's overwhelming love for the game of Minecraft made it a hit for audiences who grew up with the game.

However, critics had a much more jaded opinion towards A Minecraft Movie as a whole, not jiving with the reheated Jack Black style of comedy and simply not having an emotional connection to Minecraft as a video game experience. Without this preexisting understanding of Minecraft's creativity-fueled brilliance, the film adaptation's usage of memes and goofy humor is all that is left over, leaving it a sour experience for many critics.

Critics Score: 58%, Audience Score: 90%

The latest film in the classic family kung fu franchise, Karate Kid: Legends brought together different generations and eras of the franchise into one cohesive story, making it a big love letter hit for fans. Alas, it wasn't enough to garner appreciation from critics. Critics were not a fan of how the film overwhelmingly relied upon the nostalgia factor of Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, not doing enough to give it an identity and strengths.

However, this combination of nostalgic figures, combined with some stylish and entertaining kung fu choreography, has been everything that Karate Kid fans have wanted out of the franchise for so long. Audiences never felt that a reboot needed to reinvent itself, especially when a good reinvention like Cobra Kai already exists. Instead, they wanted a return to form and a repeat of what worked well in the past. While the future of the franchise is still up in the air, audience reception has been so high that one could easily see them loving whatever comes next.

5 'The Unbreakable Boy'

Critics Score: 43%, Audience Score: 97%

The Unbreakable Boy is the type of schmaltzy, tear-jerker real-life story that aims to make its audience swell up with tears of joy with its life-affirming story. From the audience's perspective of appreciating the film for the story that it is telling, it makes total sense that it became one of the biggest audience successes on Rotten Tomatoes in 2025. Considering the love and emotional weight of the real-life story, it seems wildly jarring that the critical reception was so surprisingly low.

The negative response from critics doesn't involve the real-life story whatsoever, but instead the narrative methodology that the film uses. Critics simply found that The Unbreakable Boy wasn't taking any creative risks or dynamic storytelling decisions in bringing this real-life story to the big screen. As a result, the execution was selling the inspirational story short and felt forgettable at best and disposable at worst.

4 'Juliet & Romeo'

Critics Score: 26%, Audience Score: 80%

There have been countless adaptations of Romeo & Juliet that have graced the big screen, from critical hits and audience disappointments to critical misfires that found a niche with audiences. Juliet & Romeo is the latter, with its pop musical approach to the material largely connecting with audiences while being considered one of the worst Romeo & Juliet adaptations in the eyes of critics.

It doesn't take a lot to appeal to audiences with a musical, as a good mixture of catchy songs and effective emotional moments will be enough to sweep them off their feet and get them into the high energy that the film is going for. However, catchy audience-centric pop songs cannot be the only thing that an adaptation of the most legendary love story of all time has to offer in the eyes of critics. Even as far as Romeo & Juliet musicals are considered, critics simply saw the film outclassed by both versions of West Side Story in every possible way.

3 'Waltzing with Brando'

Critics Score: 54%, Audience Score: 93%

While a cinematic biopic exploring the life and growth of one of the greatest actors of all time seems like it would be an absolute smash hit with critics, Waltzing with Brando ironically accomplished the opposite by being a much bigger hit with audiences than critics. The major selling point to many audiences is the striking lead performance by Billy Zane as Marlon Brando, who really brings his all in an arguably career-best performance aided by some truly mesmerizing make-up work.

However, critics felt that a great performance could only do so much to elevate a film that wasn't going all the way or doing nearly enough to make Brando's life story entertaining. Waltzing with Brando goes through all the notable moments, and we see moments of the iconic actor's most legendary performances, yet critics felt that there wasn't enough reflection or messaging in the film, lacking the real emotional connection required of such high-stature biopics.

2 'Regretting You'

Critics Score: 28%, Audience Score: 85%

Considering the fact that the previous Colleen Hoover book adaptation, It Ends With Us, was a major hit with audiences while a miss with critics, it wasn't exactly surprising that the most recent Hoover adaptation, Regretting You, would find a similar divide. However, critics found this film to be even worse than It Ends With Us, with lackluster pacing and a story that simply didn't connect with most professional reviewers.

However, fans of both the previous Hoover adaptation and Hoover's books as a whole quickly fell in love with Regretting You and its pure adherence to the strengths of the source material. It found a balance of charming characters as it had them go through both painful and uplifting moments that gave audiences the exact emotional rollercoaster they wanted out of a romantic drama. While critics may have regretted experiencing the film, audiences didn't regret a single second.

1 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2'

Critics Score: 16%, Audience Score: 85%

No other film quite exemplified the divide between critics and audience in 2025 filmmaking quite like Five Nights at Freddy's 2. The already divisive original film was still a smash hit with younger audiences and fans of the franchise, while also being one of the worst horror movies of 2025 in the eyes of critics. A lot of the same love and hatred that the original received was only amplified in this double-down of a sequel.

Critics found the film to be a step down from the original, with an uninteresting story that felt as though it was going through the motions, too focused on fan service and setting up the sequel to actually be a good film itself. However, audiences loved the overwhelming amount of fan service, Easter eggs, and atmosphere, which felt like an absolute love letter to fans of the franchise. One can only imagine just how much more divisive the inevitable Five Nights at Freddy's 3 film will be.