10 Sci-Fi Movies Critics Were Way Too Harsh On

From underrated gems to unexpected classics, the critics don’t always get it right...

Pandorum Movie
Overture Films

Science fiction is undoubtedly one of the most popular film genres today, but its popularity stretches way back to before the modern day blockbuster was even a thing.

The truth is that sci-fi has always captivated the masses, forcing us all to question things in ways we hadn't thought of before, shocking us with special effects we hadn't seen before and even thrilling us just because it can. Some of the greatest films of all time have even managed to do all three of these things, rightfully winning adoration from the public and acclaim from critics for pulling it off.

That said, not every film in the genre receives those admirable levels of praise. Be it the fact that they were too caught up in the basics of their own plot, the one-dimensional characters who defy logic for no reason other than the plot's requirements or just the painful fact that the ideas they pose aren't as cutting edge as they could have been years before their release, some films fail to make an impression on critics in spite of their interesting ideas.

Sometimes, however, you might just find yourself disagreeing with said critics. On that note, let's take a look back at some of the films that were far better than their critical reputation ever gave them credit for.

10. Last Action Hero

Pandorum Movie
Columbia Pictures

It's interesting that some of Arnold Schwarzenegger's most enjoyable movies were the ones that critics didn't like - Terminator aside of course - but one case in which the negative feedback never fully felt justified was that of the Last Action Hero.

Released in 1993, many had predicted it would be the next big summer blockbuster, but the baffling decision to open a week after Jurassic Park - a decision that Schwarzenegger apparently advised against - resulted in it underperforming (which was unheard of for an Arnie flick in the '90s). That aside, the negative reception certainly didn't help matters.

It was torn apart by critics because it failed in its attempts to be a big-budget parody, with some criticising it for missing all the points it was supposed to make and others just finding it too chaotic and messy. But really though? What more do you expect from a tongue-in-cheek parody masquerading as an action movie?

It is what it is, and for what it was, Last Action Hero was a pretty fun adventure that, while not as intellectual as it tried to be, still provided enough thrills and spills to entertain. And it's worth it alone just to hear Arnold Schwarzenegger say 'Rubber baby buggy bumpers'?

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Patterson is an experienced writer with an affinity for all things film and TV. He may or may not have spent his childhood obsessing over WWE.