20 2000s Movies Audiences Loved, But Critics Hated

6. House Of 1000 Corpses

More so than in any other genre, horror has looked to the past for inspiration, homages, and outright rip-offs. 90% of slashers copy the formula laid down by John Carpenter in 1978's Halloween, while the vast majority of zombie flicks can trace their roots back to Night of the Living Dead.

In 2003, with House of 1000 Corpses, Rob Zombie was not exactly hiding his influences. His directing debut, in the eyes of the critics at least, played out like a slasher knockoff with little new or enticing to bring to the table.

However, the clichés and over-the-top gore and torture that critics found played out and gratuitous resonated much more with audiences. Largely, this may be because the mainstream cinema-goer has an easier time accepting certain faults because it's what they are expecting to see, and so without the tropes and the wince-inducing violence, many likely would have been left disappointed. 

The film, much like its sequels, plays off as something of a precursor to the ultraviolent types like the Terrifier franchise, taking glee in making the audience feel as uncomfortable as possible. It proves that Rob Zombie is certainly an acquired taste, but one that most critics will never actually acquire.