Numerous movie enthusiasts, including the Watch With Us crew, frequently look to Rotten Tomatoes scores as benchmarks for a film’s caliber.
Indeed, high positive ratings typically indicate a movie that’s worth your time.
However, art is inherently subjective, and critics can occasionally have different perspectives than the general audience.
This month, while you’re scrolling through Netflix, consider not skipping movies just because they have lower ratings. We’ve compiled a list of three films that critics dismissed but that we truly enjoy—and we believe you might too.
‘Wet Hot American Summer’ (2001)
Rotten Tomatoes score — 39 percent
The Watch With Us team has a well-documented affection for Wet Hot American Summer, though critics weren’t fond of this comedic ensemble. The humor may be slapstick and the characters outrageous, but that’s precisely what makes it enjoyable. The story revolves around summer camp staff and campers at Camp Firewood on their last day of summer as they navigate crushes, conflicts, and bizarre supernatural events.
If you’ve experienced the summer camp life, you’ll resonate with it. And if you enjoy seeing Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, Ken Marino, and Bradley Cooper in 1970s camp attire, it becomes even more delightful.
‘Hancock’ (2008)
Rotten Tomatoes score — 42 percent
Hancock premiered in the same year as Iron Man, around the time the superhero genre began evolving. Will Smith plays John Hancock, a heavy-drinking, memory-impaired superhero whose chaotic rescues often lead to more destruction than salvation. As he begrudgingly partners with PR specialist Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) to mend his public image, the story takes a turn—especially with the introduction of Ray’s enigmatic wife Mary (Charlize Theron).
Smith and Bateman share a humorous and heartfelt camaraderie, while the chemistry between Smith and Theron injects a surprise romantic tension. The movie creatively fuses grounded elements with comic spectacle, delving into the emotional toll of being super in a mundane world. Although Hancock may not reach the heights of Tony Stark, the film provides a quirky perspective on superhero lore—and it merits a second chance.
‘Austin Powers in Goldmember’ (2002)
Rotten Tomatoes score — 52 percent
Perhaps it’s sentimentality, but it surprised us to discover that Goldmember has such a low rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The final film in the Austin Powers series is beloved in our hearts, especially due to Beyoncé Knowles‘ portrayal of the blaxploitation-parody character Foxxy Cleopatra. When Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) and the Dutch supervillain Goldmember (also Myers) kidnap Austin’s (Myers) father, legendary spy Nigel Powers (Michael Caine), Austin teams up with Foxxy to save the day—and perhaps address some father-son issues while he’s at it.
Filled with over-the-top comedy, bizarre gadgets, and a plethora of Myers’ characters, Goldmember is delightfully absurd. It serves as a whimsical farewell to the series and, in our view, remains a true gem.
