When a huge “hype” begins to surround a film, I tend to back away from it, unless the premise truly enthrals me. It is only common knowledge that there are heaps of films each year which are overrated by the institutions and the fans. Many of you are likely to disagree with me here, especially with regards to choice number 4…but it’s only my opinion/taste in film.
Without further ado, here are 10 “popular” films that I wasn’t wild about…
10. The Hangover/Part 2/Part 3 – I’ve had plenty of hangovers more pleasant than this one.
9. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Don’t get me wrong, it was a good film, but honestly, what makes it so special (and inexplicitly overrated) above the rest?
8. Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) – The fights are pretty lacklustre, despite the film’s ‘original’ premise.
7. The Shining (1980) – The novel by Stephen King was good. The film, not so much.
6. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – Extreme artificiality like this only works for me if it plays off something real and honest. The characters were all flat, unconvincing, and the lack of depth led to a lack of any drama.
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – The most mundane film I’ve sat through. Stanley Kubrick’s filmography continues to uninterest me.
4. Marvel (Almost everything the institution produces)– The Avengers, Iron Man, Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy… It’s not that I don’t give the films a chance (trust me, I have…), I just haven’t found joy in any of them. A good example of Hollywood playing it safe – mediocre superhero films that earn far too much money.
3.The Notebook (2004) – Overrated is not even the word…The only film I have ever experienced people telling me “I have not lived” until I see this. Well, I saw it, and didn’t think anything of it.
2. Lord of the Rings (Entire Franchise) – Has never managed to hold my attention, nor captivate me. Not my ‘cup of tea’ really, as clichéd as it sounds. Similarly, “The Hobbit” didn’t do anything for me either. I can only take from this that little men with humongous feet just aren’t my ‘type’.
1. The Breakfast Club (1985) – Unpopular opinion alert. I have no clue as to why this is considered a classic among its genre. The dialogue feels forced, and it’s very hard to connect to any of the characters when they’re all walking clichés.
Now, I’d love to hear what popular films you are not ‘wild’ about…Do you agree with my choices? Comment below!
Georgina Reviews 
I’ve seen most, and I’ll disagree with LoTR. I loved the movies. But then an epic medieval fantasy isn’t everyones cup of tea (bagful of popcorn in your case).
Similarly, I think the breakfast club was pretty nice for film of the eighties. But yes, overrated, very much. And regarding Shawshank, I found the climax very, very, good, but it didn’t do justice to the accolades either.
Nice post.
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Thank You very much! Great to hear your thoughts. Yes, with Shawshank, I found that too, but just wasn’t as ‘special’ as everyone had hyped it up to be.
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What a creative idea! I really enjoyed reading this, and was surprised by some of the unique choices on here! (I personally really like 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, and most of 4). Will you be doing a list of films that you like but aren’t so popular with the mainstream?
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Thank You! Glad you enjoyed the read. Ooo, that’s a great idea, sure! Will start that as soon as I can!
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I do agree with alot of these Hangover one i did enjoy but dislike sequels, 9,8,7,6 are all films i could watch, the Shinning grows on me every time i see it though, but the mini series is a good watch too.
5 i didn’t understand the hype, Marvel has got very tiring for me but i do like GOTG and Thor i like mythology and i know it is farfethced, Never finished The Notebook, LOTR started well but just get worse, and never seen number one
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I agree with “The Hangover”, it started off good, until the dreaded sequels came! I appreciate your opinions, thanks for reading, and commenting.
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2001 was incredibly boring! Although being a guy, I actually liked The Notebook even though I felt so bad for the character, Martha Shaw.
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As with most people who I agree with a few and disagree with a few, but regardless I love seeing sacred cows taken down, so this was fun to read! I’ve always thought Shawshank and The Breakfast Club are overrated, although it’s a long time since I saw the first of those two. I don’t have much desire to see it again!
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Haha!! Thank you. I wouldn’t waste your time on those two again…
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One that surprised me was Kill Bill. I really like it, but I never noticed that it’s really that highly regarded. Some note it as the beginning of a lesser stage of Tarantino’s career. Shawshank I agree with and Breakfast Club as well. LOTR I love yet understand your position. Grand Budapest Hotel I totally agree with you! Marvel, I love going to see those, but like Deadpool kinda pointed out, people take these superhero movies sooooo serious. I just like comic books come to life. And as a Kubrick fan I love 2001. However, I can’t disagree if one finds its boring. Cause it’s not an easy thing to get through. I’ve seen it countless times and it took me a while to finally pay attention start to finish. I should do this list myself, I know I may ruffle some feathers. Great job!
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Thank You! Great to find someone who agrees with me regarding “The Grand Budapest Hotel”! Oh they certainly do, far too seriously…Would love to see your take on this list. Let me know when it’s up!
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love it, nice post! even though I’m on a different page with a few of your choices here (the shining, lotr, grand Budapest) I always appreciate when someone’s not afraid to go against the grain of popular opinion by asserting their own views! nice work, you’ve inspired me to do the same! and I haven’t seen the sequels, but I’m with you on the hangover! pretty funny, but nearly an 8 on IMDb? no way.
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Thank You very much! I really appreciate that. Oh tell me about it…IMDb ratings aren’t particularly…accurate!
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On your list is Grand Budapest Hotel. Great cast, but just plain goofy
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Not my cup of tea! I like funny usually, (I spend my life laughing)…just this was not for everyone, I guess.
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I don’t get 2001 either?????? PAINFUL to watch. I don’t even think I made it 30 minutes through…..
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Glad I wasn’t the only one!! Definitely. Thanks for reading!
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Aside from #4 I can definitely agree with them all. I haven’t seen all of the films on the list, but most of them look like they wouldn’t be that good. Maybe the Breakfast Club would have some potential, but that’s about it. I fell asleep for all of the LOTR films and the Hobbit wasn’t any better. My list would probably go on forever for these hype films since I tend not to like a lot of them all that much. Solid list and I would definitely be interested in seeing the opposite as well!
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Thank You! Made a start on the opposite list, so will hopefully have that finished soon. Though it is a much harder list to complete. Good to hear your thoughts, as always!
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A bold list in deed. Some I disagree with is I’m not big Batman movie except for Mask of the Phantasm because I feel that all of the Batman movies he is the most uninteresting character- always overshadowed (even in the old TV show) by the villains. I’d rather see Marvel movies about heroes than movies about flashy villains. But that’s just.
Some others everyone coos over I don’t like- American Beauty, Birdman, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (hate the flying. It takes me out of the movie), Social Network, Gone Girl, Moneyball.
Feel free to hate me now.
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Thank You! I found that with Christian Bale’s Batman too, his character was montonous to some degree. I agree with Birdman, definitely overrated, but I didn’t mind it. Just felt it was far too long in length. American Beauty is one of my favourite films though! Never seen Moneyball and the Crouching Tiger one… Thanks for sharing!
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I don’t get the avengers. It’s quite bland. I love Kill Bill and Shawshank but yeah found the lord of the rings and grand budapest quite overrated. It was nice to look at but trying to find something deeper is an exercise in futility. I haven’t seen the rest though!
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Me neither, never understood the hype. Thanks for sharing!
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