ThumbScore Data

Audience vs Critics:
The Biggest Disagreements

Where do everyday viewers and professional critics see movies completely differently? We compared ThumbScore (what real people think) with critics scores (Rotten Tomatoes + Metacritic average) across 10,983 films to find the most controversial ratings.

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Gap over 30 points
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Audiences rate higher
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Critics rate higher
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Movies Where Audiences and Critics Disagree

Some of the most interesting movies are the ones where professional critics and everyday audiences see things completely differently. A film might get trashed by reviewers but become a beloved audience favorite, or it might earn critical acclaim while leaving regular viewers cold.

ThumbScore tracks what percentage of real Google users liked a movie, while the Critics Score averages ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. When the gap between these scores is large, you have found a truly controversial movie rating. Films that critics hate but audiences love often include crowd-pleasing blockbusters, nostalgic favorites, and genre films that connect with viewers on a personal level. Meanwhile, movies critics love but audiences don't tend to be arthouse films, slow-burn dramas, or experimental works that critics appreciate for craft but general audiences find inaccessible.