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

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 24%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 84%

Allan Moyle’s coming-of-age comedy follows the employees of a little independent record store as they attempt to help their boss raise funds to buy the place, keeping it out of the hands of looming mega-chain Music Town in the process. 

With things not going to plan, the well-meaning but dim-witted Lucas (Rory Cochrane) takes their savings to Atlantic City where his plan to double the cash on the gaming tables backfires, leaving their beloved record shop in deep trouble.

What The Critics Said:

While the film’s soundtrack was widely praised, the film itself was not. Director Allan Moyle escaped criticism for the most part, with most reviewers blaming the material he was working with for the movie’s many failings. 

Carol Heikkinen’s script was labelled a weird late-entry in the counterculture genre, with Variety’s Ken Eisner accusing the writer of boiling the evils of capitalism down to a tepid battle between a minority-free group of teens and a snivelling suit. 

Why We Love It Anyway:

Perhaps the screenplay would have benefitted from a few tweaks, but in spite of its weaknesses the young ensemble cast of Empire Records give their all to the story. 

All were relative unknowns at the time, but Liv Tyler and Renee Zellwegger both pulled off charismatic performances in contrasting roles, and Robin Tunney introduced herself to the world at large by shaving her head and becoming the shop’s resident Goth. Their collective efforts are more than enough to keep you interested in their fates and, despite the soppy set-ups, you find yourself invested in the potential romances, too.