Most of the hottest and profitable film franchises of all time have been hated by critics, and a few have earned nothing however “Rotten” scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Vital success is just one half of filmmaking, and critics do not all the time align with what sells tickets. Moreover, the fashionable types of movie criticism have made films much more divisive.
Rotten Tomatoes is probably the most distinguished supply of movie criticism as we speak, however its metric is misunderstood. Not like different ranking programs which depend on a scale of high quality, an RT rating merely represents what share of critics appreciated the movie. Within the parlance of the web site, a “Rotten” film is a movie that earns a share under 60.
Film franchises are all about being profitable, thus a sequence will proceed to pump out sequels so long as they flip a revenue. Sometimes, a well-liked franchise will probably be launched by a traditional movie with good evaluations, just for the sequels to collapse. Nevertheless, there are quite a few franchises that began “Rotten” and stayed “Rotten” in all of the sequels.
Underworld (2003-2016)
Making an attempt to seize the recognition of the Resident Evil movie franchise, the primary Underworld film arrived in 2003. The Kate Beckinsale car issues a world during which vampires and werewolves battle for monster supremacy. The primary film turned a shock $90 million hit (Field Workplace Mojo) regardless of poor evaluations, and a sequel adopted a couple of years later.
The primary movie earned an abysmal 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it by no means acquired higher throughout 4 Underworld sequels. Although the third movie would earn a rating equal to the primary, the franchise cratered with a shockingly-low rating of 17% within the second movie. Regardless of this, each movie within the sequence turned a good revenue on modest budgets.
Pumpkinhead (1988-2007)
Pumpkinhead may not be probably the most well-known horror film franchise of all time, however it has a robust cult following. The supernatural story of terror is headlined by the titular creature, a manifestation of revenge that turns into an unstoppable killing machine. The surprisingly emotional first film is headlined by Lance Henriksen as a grieving father.
The primary film earned a modest 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, one thing that wasn’t uncommon for horror films from that period. Nevertheless, the straight-to-video sequel had a rating within the teenagers, and even the made-for-TV third and fourth movies solely eked out scores within the 20s. The lore and results make Pumpkinhead a well-liked sequence, not essentially its total high quality.
The Transporter (2002-2015)
Jason Statham franchises aren’t often identified for his or her top quality, however The Transporter is certainly one of his most constant sequence. Within the movies, Statham performs the title character, a mercenary who will transport something for a value. Throughout three bog-standard motion affairs (and a reboot), the titular driver shoots his method by numerous baddies.
The primary two films in The Transporter franchise practically earned “Recent” scores on Rotten Tomatoes, touchdown someplace within the 50s. Nevertheless, the third film stumbled to a 40%, and the ill-advised reboot dipped all the best way into the teenagers. The scores for the primary two Transporter films are a bit unfair, and they’re truly glorious motion romps.
The Has Fallen Trilogy (2013-2019)
Olympus Has Fallen was launched a 12 months after the extraordinarily related movie, White Home Down, nevertheless it turned the franchise as a substitute. The Gerard Butler sequence follows a Presidential safety officer who stops varied international threats. It delivers traditional tacky motion, and the primary film practically had a “Recent” rating when it earned a 50%.
A fourth movie within the Has Fallen sequence is presently in growth.
The franchise’s wonderful field workplace numbers continued within the sequel, although the ranking dropped under 40%. The third movie did a bit worse on the field workplace, however had a barely improved ranking from critics. Not one of the Has Fallen films are gems, however they discovered an viewers as a result of they hit all the correct beats for an over-the-top thrill experience.
The Firefly Household Trilogy (2003-2019)
Rocker-turned-filmmaker Rob Zombie has all the time been divisive in his cinematic endeavors, and his Firefly trilogy represents his most interesting work. Beginning with Home of 1000 Corpses, the sequence follows the evil exploits of three deranged murderers. All three of the grindhouse films have the identical blood and guts, and acquired progressively higher scores from critics.
Home of 1000 Corpses earned a “Rotten” 22%, however The Satan’s Rejects cracked a 50% rating. Nevertheless, it was the long-awaited threequel, Three From Hell, that just about jumped into “Recent” territory with 58%. Critics weren’t meant to get Zombie’s strategy to horror, however the legion of followers who love the cult classics clearly take pleasure in his bombastic and violent model.
The Chronicles Of Riddick (2000-2013)
Although Vin Diesel is most well-known for headlining the Quick & Livid sequence, it is not his solely franchise. The Chronicles of Riddick tells varied tales of the title character, a super-powered antihero from a distant planet. The sequence began with the horror movie, Pitch Black, however blossomed into one thing extra.
Pitch Black and Riddick each earned practically “Recent” scores of 58%, however the center movie sagged. The Chronicles of Riddick was probably the most lore-centric movie within the sequence, however solely earned a 29% from critics. Not one of the movies have set field workplace data, although demand for extra Chronicles continues. A fourth film has been in growth for years.
Alex Cross (1997-2012)
The Alex Cross franchise is a bit looser than others, however the trilogy of movies is united by the title character from the James Patterson novels. Alex Cross is a forensic psychologist who solves circumstances as a detective in Washington D.C. His first adaptation got here with 1997’s Kiss the Women, and Morgan Freeman starred as Cross.
Aldis Hodge performs the title character within the TV sequence, Cross.
Freeman returned for Alongside Got here a Spider, however was changed a decade later by Tyler Perry in 2012’s Alex Cross. Aside from the third movie, which bombed, the Alex Cross sequence has been field workplace gold. Sadly, not one of the movies might crack a rating above 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the ultimate movie incomes a measly 11%.
Ace Ventura (1994-2009)
Jim Carrey was on high of the world within the mid Nineties, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective helped make the funnyman a family title. Carrey brings all of his goofy attraction to the unorthodox sleuth who makes use of his connection to animals to unravel crimes. Regardless of its overwhelming recognition, Ace Ventura solely acquired a middling 48% rating from critics.
The ill-advised follow-up, When Nature Calls, was understandably slapped with a 23% rating, however grossed over $200 million (Field Workplace Mojo). No third film ever got here, although a film following Ace’s son was launched in 2009 to “Rotten” evaluations. Although Ace Ventura: Pet Detective hasn’t aged effectively, its poor ranking exhibits failings within the Rotten Tomatoes metric.
The Twilight Saga (2008-2012)
There is not any denying that Twilight was a cultural phenomenon within the late Aughts, however not one of the movies had been “Recent”. The teenage adventures of Bella Swan and her love triangle with a vampire and werewolf made horror romance common once more, and it performed out throughout 5 films. The primary was a field workplace bonanza, however critics gave it a 48%.
Not one of the sequels matched the primary movie’s low bar of high quality, till Breaking Daybreak – Half 2 wrapped every thing up with a 49%. The sequels oscillated, dropping into the 20s earlier than bouncing again up into the 40s. The Rotten Tomatoes scores had been a good evaluation of the movies themselves, although the backlash towards Twilight was method overblown.
The Leprechaun (1993-2018)
Regardless of having eight possibilities to get it proper, the Leprechaun sequence has by no means had a well-reviewed entry within the sequence. Turning folklore into horror, the cheeky sequence follows an ornery leprechaun who punishes individuals for stealing his gold. The primary film scored a 35%, and none of its copious sequels would ever do significantly better.
The 2018 reboot scored a forty five%, however the one authentic sequence film to get close to a “Recent” ranking was Leprechaun 4: In Area with a 44%. Tongue-in-cheek horror is the guts of the film franchise, however darkish humor is all the time divisive with critics. Nevertheless, like most horror icons, the Leprechaun has legions of followers who’re eagerly awaiting his return.