20 2000s Movies Audiences Loved, But Critics Hated

As a character, Marvel's Punisher has struggled to be adapted to any screen, either big or small. It's widely accepted that Jon Bernthal's current iteration of Frank Castle is the best there has ever been, and in the likes of Daredevil and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, he has been fantastic, but even this version has struggled with his own solo projects.

This is a trend that started with Dolph Lundgren in 1990 through to Ray Stevenson in 2008. However, 2004 saw Thomas Jane's take on Castle, and though it was critically reviewed in much the same manner as any other Punisher film, this one was at least more popular with audiences.

No, it certainly didn't go as deep as a Punisher story could and should go in terms of emotional resonance and his anti-hero status, but buoyed by a strong cast, it was a definite improvement on what had come before.

There is something to be said about a comic book movie trying to operate like a comic book story, something that is often going to miss the mark with critics. This is one of a few on this list where strong action alone was enough to satiate audiences' general want to be entertained, but left critics wanting more. A lot more.