20 2000s Movies Audiences Loved, But Critics Hated

9. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

When Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl released back in 2003, it was the definition of a summer blockbuster. Critics loved it, audiences loved it, it spawned an instantly iconic character in Captain Jack Sparrow, and it made a load of money.

By the third entry in the franchise, however, critics had tired of the antics of arguably Johnny Depp's greatest character. The charm had worn thin, while the film itself was overstuffed, filled with too many characters both old and new, and a slog of a storyline within a runtime that was way too long.

While anyone would struggle to argue that At World's End didn't need to be nearly three hours, the property still had enough in the tank to entertain audiences. It still had that blockbuster vibe that just can't be bought, and though it was undoubtedly the weaker of the three initial entries, its bombastic eccentricity and downright ridiculousness hadn't yet outstayed its welcome.

Proof that audiences did in fact have their limit on the franchise came four years later, with the disappointing Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom-less On Stranger Tides. Had Pirates of the Caribbean ended at three films, it likely would have been classed among the mainstream as one of the most entertaining and successful trilogies of all time.