15 Movies the Critics Got Wrong

Jim Carrey became a superstar for his all-in, rubber-faced, butt-cheek-talking performance of the titular character, who helps the animal woes of the likes of Courtney Cox, Sean Young, and Dan Marino.

Why it's good: Carrey’s hilariously manic energy as Ventura matched that of his In Living Color characters Fire Marshall Bill and Vera de Milo. Alllllllrighty then!

Natasha Lyonne stars in this light and frothy comedy about a teenager who is sent to rehab for being a lesbian.

Why it's good: Critics who balked at the queer and campy film completely missed the deadpan charm exhibited by not only Lyonne but also co-stars Michelle Williams, Cathy Moriarty, Bud Cort, Mink Stole, RuPaul, Melanie Lynskey, and Clea DuVall.

From David Letterman’s cameo to Chris Elliott’s daffy lead performance as the fancy Nathaniel Mayweather, the aquatic fantasy comedy is a uniquely hilarious adventure.

Why it's good: Director and co-writer Adam Resnick worked with Elliott on Late Night with David Letterman and short-lived series Get A Life and their singular brand of comedy carries over to the big screen. Appearances by Andy Richter (as Kenny), Alfred Molina, and Russ Tam add to the fun. “You wanna buy a monkey?”

This murder mystery ensemble comedy starring Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Martin Mull, Christopher Lloyd, and other ’80s comedy staples was based on the popular board game.

Why it's good: In a clever conceit, the film had three different endings depending on what theater you saw it in (all endings are available on DVD). Pitch-perfect camp, including groan-inducing one-liners and sight gags, make this film an ideal midnight movie. There’s also talk of a remake.

Attractive youngsters who unwittingly escaped a gory end are eventually hunted down by Death in entertainingly complex ways. Former X-Files writers/producers James Wong and Glen Morgan kicked off a franchise that had no discernable villain but fate itself.

Why it's good: The elaborate suspense/action set pieces from the first two films are more impressive than most, in particular the intricately crafted highway scene that opens the second film.

Pittsburgh welder Alex (Jennifer Beals) pursues her dream to be a dancer while dealing with her dramatic friends and suitor Nick (Michael Nouri) in this Adrian Lyne-directed and Simpson/Bruckheimer-produced drama about a “small-town girl on a Saturday night, locking rhythm to the beat of her heart.”

Why it's good: While critics rejected the MTV-esque mixture of slick, sexy images set to slick, sexy music, audiences loved it.

Tom Green’s late ’90s MTV success led to a big screen comedy to rule them all. He stars as skateboarder Gord, who is creates his own cartoon show, finds love with a cripple, and torments his father (masterfully played by Rip Torn).

Why it's good: This deeply polarizing film gets major points for railing against the norms of studio comedies, becoming something that’s part gross-out, part insanity, and dare I say part brilliant.

Sandler’s juvenile Happy must trade his love of hockey for golf in order to win a championship to help pay his grandmother’s back taxes.

Why it's good: The film’s supporting cast is its strong suit; Carl Weathers as Happy’s tutor Chubbs and Christopher McDonald as dastardly villain Shooter McGavin are standouts, but Ben Stiller’s evil retirement home manager and Bob Barker playing himself nearly steal the show in what may be Sandler’s best comedy.

Heathers director Michael Lehmann and screenwriter Daniel Waters teamed up once again with this ambitious comedy about a cat burglar forced to steal priceless works by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Why it's good: The over-the–top, cartoonish vibe rubbed many the wrong way, but the film succeeds largely on its own infectious energy and on star Bruce Willis’ charm. Supporting turns by Danny Aiello and especially Richard E. Grant and Sandra Bernhard as tongue-lashing villains help turn a star's pet project into an entertaining ride.

Francis Ford Coppola adapted the S.E. Hinton novel in this teen drama about the conflict between two groups of ’60s Tulsa youth, the well-to-do socs and the wrong-side-of-the tracks greasers.

Why it's good: The melodramatic art film’s future-star-laden cast includes C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Tom Cruise. Enough said? Stay gold, Ponyboy.

Take one part Arnold Schwarzenegger, one part Alien, and a dash of The Most Dangerous Game, and you have Predator, a clever and suspenseful tale of a human trophy-hunting alien invader.

Why it's good: Critics had had enough of the omnipresent Arnold in the late ’80s, but he’s in classic alpha male form here, along with fellow future governor Jesse Ventura and the amazing Carl Weathers.

Bill Murray’s selfish television exec Frank Cross gets a wake-up call when he’s visited by three ghosts in director Richard Donner’s ’80s take on the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol.

Why it's good: The sly Hollywood behind-the-scenes setting was ahead of its time, and supporting performances by Karen Allen, Carol Kane, Bobcat Goldthwait, Alfre Woodard, and David Johansen are both hilarious and heartfelt. Critics should have put a little love in their hearts.

The Wachowski brothers followed up their much-maligned Matrix sequels with the even more maligned adaptation of Japanese anime series Speed Racer.

Why it's good: The hyper-cartoonish style of the film -- balked at by some -- was deliberate. While the film is a tad too long, its masterful opening backstory sequence, a standout performance by star Emile Hirsch, and great turns by John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, and Christina Ricci make Speed Racer a cult film in the making. 

Carl Reiner directed this absurd ’80s comedy about a coach forced to teach a rag-tag bunch of kids in summer school. Mark Harmon starred as the affable Mr. Shoop and his fellow teacher Ms. Bishop was played by a shoulder-padded Kirstie Alley.

Why it's good: The now-beloved, superbly executed music montages, plus horror film and Fangoria magazine worshippers Chainsaw and Dave (Dean Cameron, Gary Riley) have earned the film many fans over the years.

After the all-too-soon cancellation of his TV series Twin Peaks, David Lynch created an R-rated big screen prequel that showed the last seven days of series icon Laura Palmer, turning down the quirk and amping up the horror.

Why it's good: This descent into high-school hell is a tragically phantasmagoric epic that contains an extreme performance by Sheryl Lee as the doomed homecoming queen.