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the Science fiction genre is a game that can drive audiences into frantic frenzy, with plots of highly advanced technology, superheroes, and space warfare still prevalent throughout the genre and its many subgenres. But sometimes, audiences and critics aren’t always in agreement in determining whether a movie is a success or an abject failure.
Here, we’ll take a look at ten sci-fi movies that sparked some debate between the two parties, leading to some debate as to where the movies lie in the sci-fi trash layers or sci-fi gold. Sometimes, these discussions can be fun and help define an iconic franchise or cult classic.
Venom (2018)
while the Spider Man The franchise was taking off thanks to Sony’s partnership with Marvel, Sony wanted to create a standalone cinematic universe, cashing in on all the intellectual property rights included in the Spider-Man deal they did in 1999. When poison (2018) was released in theaters, grossing over $800 million and comics fans got ready for the next steps in the burgeoning franchise.
Many critics pointed out a lack of focus from director Ruben Fleischer, as well as some comparing it to the film mummy (2017), regarding them being a terrible start for potential franchisees. The critical difference between those films though is that Venom has gained enough positive fan interest that sequels have been released, as well as more films planned to share the same universe.
By blood (2020)
While the box office results for bloodshot (2020) would lead one to believe that the movie was a complete failure, and one must consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business of theaters. When the movie hit streaming and digital rental services, many fans were hooked on the high-paced action of this Vin Diesel-led epic.
Unfortunately, critics tend not to enjoy these kinds of films as much as the audience. The Rotten Tomatoes critic consensus would state that “bloodshot It gives Vin Diesel a solid opportunity to immerse himself in old-school action that should please fans, even if the end result is disappointingly mediocre. in the same sentence.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) will see the tales of Leon (Avan Jogia), Claire (Kaya Scodelario), Chris (Robbie Amell) and Jill (Hannah John-Kamen) as they try to survive the wave of infection wreaking havoc in the city. This new entry in the multimedia franchise had a built-in audience of fans who were clamoring for a faithful adaptation of the popular video game franchise.
While the box office was okay, critics were harsh on the film. While allowing some credibility by staying more faithful to the source material than the Paul W.S. Anderson films, many remarks have been made against the quality of the characters and questions whether the franchise could truly make it to the big screen without great reviews.
Ghostbusters II (1989)
There has been a lot of hype surrounding the sequel to the sci-fi comedy. Ghostbusters II (1989) initially failed to live up to expectations, though in the years since its release, the film has gained recognition for being an important piece in the history of the popular franchise. There are some who cite the infamous “Auld Lang Syne” scene as carrying more weight in the post-9/11 world than it did when it was initially filmed.
However, the film is still criticized as a product of slow writing, simply retelling the first film’s plot progression with minor modifications. Many cited Dana Barrett’s (Sigourney Weaver) lack of screen time as a major concern, considering Dana’s child was in constant danger. Dana will be relegated to minor appearances though, being used only to set up the plot and wait for Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) and his friends to save the day once again.
Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)
The latest entry in the Prehistoric franchise, Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), continued to ride the wave of fan enthusiasm, becoming one of the top-grossing films at the box office of 2022. This film would earn more than $1 billion and make its mark on fans as the potential culmination of a second trilogy within the franchise, though critics share a consensus. One common complaint.
that this film would not live up to the standard set by the original producer. While many would give the film the merit of being the best of the “world” trilogy, they would declare that being the best of three critically ill films is nothing to brag about. Common complaints would include the four-year jump, which avoided the expected fallout from the previous film’s ending, as well as the abuse of longtime characters like Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum).
Morbius (2022)
Another entry in Sony’s attempt to craft their own cinematic universe, Morbius (2022), that would further engage audiences with questions about whether the film will succeed in any way, shape, or form. Concerns about the film’s delayed release, as well as the fact that lead actor Jared Leto was pulling off a terrifying performance as the Joker in suicide squad (2016), prompted many to question the quality of this movie.
And, as critics will attest, audiences were wise to exercise caution. Citing the clichéd plot and the opinion that Sony just didn’t seem to understand how to properly pull off the “mid-credits scene,” a staple of the superhero category, this film would be met with multiple nominations for the Golden Raspberries, an awards show recognizing the worst films of the year. Despite the film’s lack of quality, it soon had a cult following praising the film not for its intense action and terrifying view of humanity but for its camp and unintentional humorous dialogue. The meme culture that grows out of this next would see the film get a short re-release in theaters.
Mortal Kombat (2021)
Fans have been clamoring for a reboot in the acclaimed yet universally hated fighting franchise Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) left audiences in disgust at what Hollywood had made of the beloved video game franchise. This time around, the studio made sure to respect the other source material, including iconic characters, moves, and dialogue, while incorporating original characters to keep the story as engaging for casual audiences as possible.
Critics panned the film, noting that there wasn’t much room for character growth amid the ludicrous amounts of blood and gore produced during the epic fight scenes. Even critics who have admitted to liking fighting films have been discouraged by what they see as an over-reliance on digital effects.
Walking in Chaos (2021)
Walking in chaos (2021) features a number of fans being vocal about the many positive aspects of the film, primarily the source material on which the film is based and the performance of Hollywood star Tom Holland.
Unfortunately, with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still being felt, most of those fans chose to wait for the movie to hit streaming services, with box office returns coming in at about a quarter of the film’s budget, making it a bomb in theaters.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
MonsterVerse has been in full swing after its successes Godzilla (2014) and Kong: Skull Island (2017), and the comebacks of popular kaiju such as Mothra, Fire Rodan, and King Ghidorah thrilled audiences. Many were prepared for the epic battles that awaited them, and the addition of stars like Millie Bobby Brown drew a casual audience to enjoy the fun summer blockbusters.
Unfortunately, critics weren’t convinced by the epic scale of the kaiju battles, with some noting that the focus on human characters made the action saga come across as tedious, while others stated that despite the stunning visuals the film afforded, there was no substance to the story that kept it going. Critics attracted for a long time.
Glass (2019)
Night Shyamalan had built anticipation for this epic conclusion to his trilogy after the debut of the first film, Unbreakable (2000), nearly 20 years before the release glass (2019). And when he released the epic finale to his trilogy, audiences were in awe of the amazing performances of Bruce Willis, James McAvoy and Samuel L. Jackson as the cast shared an original take on superheroes.
Audiences may have enjoyed the epic, but critics did not. Many critics say the film was disappointing overall, and not as bad as Shyamalan’s The last air (2010), but still many associate form with the acclaimed director. There would be such harsh reviews of the film that the director would cry, “Honestly, I used to feel like, ‘Will they ever let me be any different without being thrown on the trash heap?'” Feelings of worthlessness wash over me, and to be honest, it never leaves. But anyway, the movie went on, right? It has become number one in every country in the world, and it represents my beliefs. As reported by Eric Kohn on IndieWire.
