Not every hit is a masterpiece—these 10 box office giants won big despite being critically trashed.
In a perfect world, the best films would rake in the biggest profits. But the harsh reality of Hollywood is that commercial success often has very little to do with quality. A smart release date, relentless marketing, and an established franchise name are often more valuable than a compelling script or stellar acting.
This list is a harsh reminder that some of cinema’s worst-rated blockbusters still packed theatres and raked in obscene sums of money—whether through fan loyalty, curiosity, or sheer spectacle. Here are 10 widely panned movies that still became box office juggernauts.
10. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2
Despite near-universal derision and fatigue with the franchise, the final Twilight film brought in nearly $850 million worldwide. With shoddy CGI, a shallow plot, and even visibly disinterested cast members, Breaking Dawn – Part 2 was still a commercial goldmine, mostly because it marked the end of the saga and fans couldn’t resist seeing how it would all wrap up.
9. Transformers: Age of Extinction
Michael Bay’s fourth Transformers film was slammed for its bloated runtime and mindless action, yet it became the highest-grossing film of 2014, banking over $1.1 billion globally. Critics called it incoherent, but audiences flocked to it anyway, especially in overseas markets like China.
8. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
By the fourth entry, the franchise was creaking. Still, Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow pulled in over $1 billion at the box office. Despite critics pointing to a meandering plot and tired tropes, the name alone brought massive returns.
7. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Few sequels were as criticised as Fallen Kingdom for its absurd story and underwhelming characters. Nevertheless, the dinosaur-fuelled spectacle roared past $1.3 billion, proving audiences still love prehistoric chaos, even if it doesn’t make sense.
6. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Tim Burton’s visually gaudy, narratively shallow reimagining of the classic tale confused many but still earned more than $1 billion. Critics questioned both plot and pacing, yet it kicked off Disney’s live-action remake gold rush.
5. Minions
A spin-off no one asked for, Minions relied on pure marketing genius and meme-worthy yellow blobs to conquer cinemas, making $1.1 billion. Critics noted the lack of a solid story, but the animated chaos was a family-friendly money printer.
4. The Lion King (2019)
Hyper-realistic visuals and frame-for-frame recreations of the 1994 classic couldn’t save it from accusations of being soulless and unnecessary. Still, nostalgia ruled, pushing its haul past $1.6 billion.
3. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Two iconic superheroes shared a screen for the first time—and the result was dour, confused, and humourless. That didn’t stop it from making $873 million, even if it failed to launch DC’s cinematic universe as planned.
2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Critics were divided, but fans didn’t care. This video game adaptation became a global phenomenon, making $1.36 billion, despite paper-thin plotting and a barrage of easter eggs standing in for story.
1. Transformers: The Last Knight
Perhaps the ultimate example of critic-proof cinema, The Last Knight was panned as messy and incomprehensible. But even in decline, it still grossed over $600 million, reminding everyone that Transformers is a franchise that refuses to die quietly.
