10 Critically Abused Films That We All Loved Anyway (And Why)

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 49%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 89%

Terry Gilliam’s adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s novel stars Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro as journalist Raoul Duke and his lawyer Dr. Gonzo, two friends that turn Duke’s on-the-job road trip into a psychedelic drug binge. Based on Thompson’s real experience travelling to Vegas to cover a story under the influence of a hefty drug cocktail, the Fear and Loathing film aims to capture the hectic nature of so-called gonzo journalism, a term that Thompson himself coined. 

What The Critics Said:

While most reviews of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas were forced to admit that the film was at least great to look at, most critics concluded that the engaging visuals were not enough to make up for a largely aimless and repetitive movie with little to no character development. Veteran film critic Roger Ebert gave the film a damning one star and dubbed it a horrible mess of a movie that is devoid of any shape, trajectory or purpose.

Why We Loved It Anyway:

Both Rotten Tomatoes Critic Reviews and Audience Reviews refer to Fear and Loathing as a thoroughly bizarre movie, though the latter group overwhelmingly see this as a good thing. Many even refer to Gilliam’s surreal mood piece as a misunderstood masterpiece, with both the director and Johnny Depp hailed as perfect choices for the wacky source material, their talents combining to create an unforgettably hypnotic movie that ranks among their best work.