Horror movies are tricky, as there is often no ing for taste. Some people love slow, atmospheric horror movies that rely on psychological tension and the horror of the unseen. Others prefer a faster-paced and more easily explainable story, and some just want to see guts and gore.
As a result, there is often a wide divide between critics and audiences when it comes to horror movies. The 2010s were no different, as box office success and general audience reception were often at odds with critical evaluation. These are ten horror movies from the 2010s that critics hated (but audiences loved).
Insidious (2010)
The 2010s were dominated by Insidious was at the forefront. The first Insidious was a monumental success, having grossed nearly $100 million, scoring a "B" CinemaScore, and earning a very solid 6.8/10 on IMDb.
It also launched the Insidious series, which now includes one sequel and two prequels. However, the film's Metascore sits at a measly 52, with many critics criticizing the story's disappointing final act.
As Above, So Below (2014)
Critics called As Above, So Below "found-footage overkill" and "clichéd mediocrity." The critical scores suggest far worse than mere "mediocrity," as the movie has a horrible Metascore of 38 and sits at just 26% on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, the movie's 6.2/10 rating on IMDb suggests that it has generated quite a bit of a cult following throughout the years, especially considering that all the top-rated reviews are favorable and calling it "underrated."
Bird Box (2018)
Did people actually like Bird Box? Or was it all just a meme? It's hard to tell, but if IMDb proves anything, it's that people did legitimately enjoy it. The movie sits at a very solid 6.6/10, and Netflix claims that it was viewed by 80 million households in its first month of release.
However, critics claimed that Bird Box was ultimately disappointing (despite its intriguing premise and strong cast), resulting in a mediocre 51 Metascore.
Dark Skies (2013)
Dark Skies is another horror movie that has generated a decent little cult following. It sits at 6.3/10 on IMDb, and the top-rated reviews claim that the movie is "one of the most underrated sci-fi flicks ever" and "a slow-building nightmare," among other things.
The critics do not agree. The movie sits at just 41% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it " a dull, muddled effort that will bore all but the most devoted horror buffs." We guess general audiences are those devoted horror buffs.
I Spit On Your Grave (2010)
The original I Spit on Your Grave is enormously controversial, and the 2010 remake faithfully recreated both its story and its controversy. Critics called it little more than disgusting exploitation, resulting in a horrid 27 Metascore. Ebert summed it up best by calling it a "despicable remake of the despicable 1978 film."
However, the movie sits at 6.3/10 on IMDb, with s calling it "disturbing and very competent" and claiming that it's a "genuinely repulsive film - but that's a good thing!"
The Purge (2013)
The Purge was a major success when it was released in 2013. It made $90 million on a $3 million budget and launched The Purge franchise, which now includes four films (with one more in development) and a USA Network TV series.
Despite its commercial success, The Purge was critically reviled. It holds a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 41 Metascore, with many critics calling out the "numbing violence and tired clichés."
Scream 4 (2011)
Many people questioned the very existence of Scream 4. Did we really need yet another sequel, especially after Scream 3 seemed to conclude the story in a satisfactory manner?
General audiences seemed to like it well enough, judging by the B- CinemaScore, 6.1/10 IMDb rating, and $97 million in box office takings. However, its Metacritic score sits at a very disappointing 52, making it the lowest-rated movie in the franchise (Scream 3 sits just above it at 56).
The Boy (2016)
Ask general audiences, and you may find that The Boy is the most underrated horror movie of 2016. It did well enough at the box office to warrant a sequel (making just shy of $65 million), it scored a relatively solid B- CinemaScore, and currently sits at 6.0/10 on IMDb.
Ask critics and you'll get a completely different story. The Boy received horrible reviews, scoring a 42 Metascore and 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, with many criticizing the "pedestrian plot" and over-reliance on jump scares.
The Thing (2011)
remake. Critics took particular offense to this egregious mistake, resulting in a pitiful 35% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics agree that it does the "bare serviceable minimum for a horror flick" but concedes that it's "a slave to the far superior John Carpenter version."
General audiences didn't seem to mind as much, judging by the B- CinemaScore and relatively solid 6.2/10 on IMDb.
Grave Encounters (2011)
Grave Encounters is a little-known Canadian horror film about a group of paranormal investigators who are terrorized by paranormal phenomena while investigating a mental asylum. Like As Above, So Below, IMDb s claim that the movie is severely underrated and have scored it a relatively solid 6.1/10.
However, the movie's horrible 33 Metascore suggests that critics do not share their enthusiasm. In fact, it seems like they downright hated it.
