10 Times Film Critics Actually Changed Their Mind
9. Leonard Maltin Re-Evaluated Alien 25 Years Later
Leonard Maltin is one of America's most recognisable and respected film critics, though that didn't stop him dropping the ball in a major way when reviewing the original 1979 release of Ridley Scott's Alien.
Maltin's initial review was sharply negative:
"Space-age horror film reverts to 1950s formula story, but adds stomach-churning violence, slime, and shocks. Still, this is some people's idea of a good time."
However, when Ridley Scott re-released the film for its 25th anniversary in 2004, Maltin decided to revisit the sci-fi classic and realised he was wrong.
While Maltin has generally pushed back against those who have challenged his negative reviews for the likes of Taxi Driver and Blade Runner, he conceded that Alien is indeed a great film and gave it a strong endorsement in a new review. Of the change of heart, he said:
"I'm a wimp, and when it first came out, it scared the hell out of me. I found it too upsetting so I gave it a review that reflected that. Twenty-five years later, Ridley Scott tweaked it and reissued it theatrically. When I saw it again, I thought it was masterful and I completely changed the review to three-and-a-half stars."