When it comes to movies, the only thing most people can agree on is that film is subjective.
No matter how acclaimed or criticized a movie is, different people are going to see it differently.
Even then, most projects will have a general consensus that defines them as �good�
or �bad.� But what about the films that come out and divide opinions, inspiring heated
debates that rage on for years? Here are Screen Rant�s 10 Most Polarizing Popular Movies.
Citizen Kane Widely considered to be �the greatest film
ever made,� Orson Welles� opus pushed the art of moviemaking in exciting new directions,
with aspects like shot composition and lighting adding layers to its powerful �rise and
fall� narrative. It�s used in film classes even today to illustrate how to tell an interesting
story through visuals. But even this legendary film wasn�t without
controversy. Welles based his portrayal of Charles Foster Kane on media mogul William
Randolph Hearst. Members of Heart�s camp saw the film as an attack and began a smear
campaign to disgrace Welles� name. Before the film was shown in theatres, the filmmaker
had to make cuts approved by Hearst�s lawyers to avoid further offence.
2001: A Space Odyssey An influential sci-fi epic, Stanley Kubrick�s
film pushed the boundaries of special effects technology, while attempting to tackle heady
ideas about the history and future of mankind. The movie�s supporters credit its visual
poetry, memorable soundtrack, and Kubrick�s ambitious vision, which worked together to
create a unique experience. Despite its �classic� ranking today, 2001
garnered many negative reviews upon its initial release. Detractors argued that its slow pacing
made it a boring watch, and that the story was too abstract to establish a strong connection
with viewers. And what was up with that baby at the end? We�re still trying to figure
it out.
Kids With a narrative that focused on a group of
sexually active teens abusing drugs and alcohol in New York during the AIDS epidemic in the
�90s, it�s no wonder Kids generated as much controversy as it did. Critics state
that the film is exploitive and operates more as child pornography than a coming-of-age
tale, factors which led to it receiving the rare NC-17 rating.
Still, some feel that the film delivers a powerful message that�s worth listening
too. Director Larry Clark shot the project as a quasi-documentary, giving it a sense
of raw, honest realism that made it impossible to not look at Kids as a wakeup call that
modern society so desperately needed.
Eyes Wide Shut Kubrick always found a way to split opinions,
and his last film is no different. Fans of Eyes Wide Shut view the erotic thriller as
a compelling study of the human psyche. Many praised the brave performances of then-real-life
married couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, which were considered risky due to their stature
as industry A-listers. Critics of the film believe that it suffered
from the same shortcomings of other Kubrick movies, namely that the main story is too
abstract and complex to make sense of, even when you�re paying attention. Surprisingly,
Kubrick�s filmmaking techniques also drew much ire, as he chose to film New York City
scenes in a studio, which limited the scope of those sequences.
Napoleon Dynamite This indie comedy acquired a large cult following
due to its quirky sense of humor and collection of oddball characters that gave socially awkward
geeks a new group of heroes to identify with. In particular, star Jon Heder earned rave
reviews, with his deadpan delivery becoming a quick favorite among fans.
But that weird charm alienated a wide range of moviegoers, many of whom felt that its
�comedy� was nothing more than unfunny stupidity. Accused of being hipster self-indulgence
the anti-Dynamite crowd believe that Napoleon himself is an unlikable protagonist and the
situations aren�t all that comedic, making it hard to see what we were supposed to be
laughing at.
The Fountain Director Darren Aronofsky is always trying
to do something interesting with his films, and The Fountain represents one of his most
bold efforts yet. Diving into heavy subjects like metaphysics and religious faith, the
film was visually stunning and gave cinephiles something to appreciate by standing out from
the crowd. Still, others thought that Aronofsky�s vision
was too broad for this film, which barely ran over 90 minutes. The multi-narrative style
of the plot was highly criticized, since the many transitions between time periods prevented
the director from thoroughly developing the character and thematic arcs, elements that
are necessary to make a work with these ambitions truly compelling.
Quantum of Solace Daniel Craig�s second outing as James Bond
was seen as a monumental disappointment following the acclaimed franchise reboot Casino Royale.
Critics stated that the quick-cut, Bourne-style editing made the action difficult to follow,
and longtime fans took issue with the darker portrayal of 007, saying it stripped the character
of what made him memorable. Not to mention, Dominic Greene wasn�t a great villain.
But in the years since its release, Quantum has acquired a segment of supporters who say
it�s an underrated Bond film. Craig�s performance was praised, as the actor further
put his stamp on the iconic spy by combing suave sophistication with rugged toughness.
The depiction of Bond hell-bent on revenge also made for an interesting watch against
the backdrop of a timely, politically charged plot
Avatar The highest-grossing film of all time, James
Cameron�s Oscar-nominated blockbuster drew comparisons to Star Wars after it was released.
The director once again revolutionized film technology with lush, photorealistic digital
characters and environments. Pandora was an immersive, gorgeous world that we all wanted
to visit, and the action was thrilling as well.
That said, the film didn�t suck everyone in. Many cried foul at Avatar�s story, which
was seen as derivative of other films and was told through one-dimensional characters
that were a far cry from what Cameron had delivered before. Also, that heavy-handed
anti-corporate, anti-technology message? A little hypocritical, no?
Man of Steel The building block of the long-anticipated
DC cinematic universe, Man of Steel didn�t draw the same kind of reception Marvel�s
Iron Man enjoyed. Zack Snyder�s grounded and realistic approach to telling the story
was accused of making Superman too dark and brooding (a stark contrast from Christopher
Reeve). The destructive climax also led to many claiming that the character of Kal-El
had been ruined beyond repair. But, the film has an equal amount of supporters
who state that its portrayal of Clark Kent made him more relatable and believable than
previous incarnations, giving outcasts someone to look up to. This segment also feels that
the action, while at times too much, made the film cinematic and unlike anything we�d
seen in the genre before.
Lucy Luc Besson once again delivered a slick and
entertaining genre piece with this Scarlett Johansson vehicle. The action sequences were
handled with stylistic flourishes that only the filmmaker could present, and the fun was
even complimented by some interesting studies of human intelligence and philosophical ideas.
At least, that�s what its supporters will tell you.
Lucy also drew heavy amounts of criticism, with its reliance on the disproven �10 percent
brain capacity� theory making it hard for some to take it seriously. Also, the action
was devoid of much tension. The Lucy character simply became more and more of an unstoppable
killing machine that no one could pose a threat to as she became more advanced.
Conclusion Those are our picks for the most polarizing
popular films. Which side of the debate do you fall on? Do you think there are any we
missed? Sound off in the comments below and make sure to subscribe to our channel for
more videos like this one!