20 Films That Left Audiences Perplexed: A CinemaScores Breakdown

Cinemascore: F

Rotten Tomatoes: 68%

Kicking off with a Darren Aronofsky film feels fitting, as his work often dares audiences to venture into unsettling psychological territory. From Pi to Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler, and Black Swan, his films are known for their dark, graphic, and thought-provoking narratives. Mother!, despite its polarizing reception, performed reasonably well at the box office, likely thanks to its star-studded cast, including Jennifer Lawrence at the height of her Hunger Games fame. However, audiences were far from impressed, awarding it the rare and infamous CinemaScore of F, a distinction shared by only 21 other films in history.

Where to stream: Paramount+

Cinemascore: F

Rotten Tomatoes: 66%

This contemplative remake of the 1972 Russian classic, itself adapted from Stanislaw Lem’s cerebral novel, trimmed over an hour from the original runtime yet still failed to satisfy initial audiences. It’s amusing to think how general viewers would react to the original, which famously features a 10-minute sequence of a car driving through a tunnel. The film’s premise—George Clooney as a psychiatrist investigating eerie occurrences on a space station—might have led audiences to expect a sci-fi action thriller. Instead, they got a slow-burn, introspective drama.

Where to stream: HBO Max

Cinemascore: F

Rotten Tomatoes: 54%

Horror films often face a divide between critics and audiences, with the latter embracing what the former dismiss. Wolf Creek, however, flipped the script: audiences were put off by its relentless brutality and unconventional scares, while some critics praised its technical prowess. Over time, the film has gained a stronger reputation, with talks of a second sequel in the works.

Where to stream: The Roku Channel, Vudu, Plex, IMDb TV

Cinemascore: F

Rotten Tomatoes: 62%

This 90-minute psychological thriller features Michael Shannon and Ashley Judd trapped in a hotel room, consumed by paranoia about a government conspiracy involving insects. While critics praised its tense atmosphere and William Friedkin’s direction, coupled with a script by a Pulitzer-winning writer, the premise likely alienated mainstream audiences.

Where to stream: fuboTV, Showtime Anytime, Vudu

Cinemascore: D+

Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

It’s puzzling why Hereditary received such a low CinemaScore, as it’s widely regarded as one of the most gripping horror films of the last decade. While it leans more into psychological terror than gore, the trailer clearly sets the tone for what’s to come.

Where to stream: fuboTV, Showtime Anytime, Kanopy

Cinemascore: D+

Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Included for context, Battlefield Earth’s D+ CinemaScore, while poor, is still higher than those of films by acclaimed directors like Steven Soderbergh, William Friedkin, and Darren Aronofsky. Opening-night viewers of this infamous cinematic failure were let down, though perhaps not as much as they deserved to be.

Where to stream: Netflix

Cinemascore: D

Rotten Tomatoes: 69%

Mary Harron’s adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho defies easy categorization. Is it a dark comedy, a brutal slasher film, or a biting social critique? The answer is all of the above, which likely left initial audiences unsure how to react. Over time, however, its brilliance has become more widely appreciated.

Where to stream: fuboTV, Showtime Anytime

Cinemascore: D-

Rotten Tomatoes: 76%

When Eyes Wide Shut debuted in 1999, opinions were sharply divided. Was Stanley Kubrick’s final film a masterpiece or a rare misstep? Much of the confusion stemmed from the marketing, which promised a steamy exploration of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s on-screen relationship but delivered a surreal, dreamlike journey through secret societies and marital discord. Today, it’s evident that Kubrick’s genius remained intact, even if audiences needed time to fully grasp his vision.

Where to stream: HBO Max

Cinemascore: C+

Rotten Tomatoes: 20%

While a C+ isn’t stellar, it’s surprisingly decent for a film infamous for its bizarre visuals and discussions about feline anatomy. Given its pre-release reputation as a campy oddity, audiences likely anticipated a chaotic experience—and on that front, it delivers in spades, cementing its status as an instant cult classic.

Where to stream: HBO Max

Cinemascore: C+

Rotten Tomatoes: 51%

As the ninth installment of the Saw series debuted this year, with a tenth film and a TV show in development, the original remains the most critically acclaimed and fan-favorite entry. However, initial audiences weren’t entirely won over, awarding it a modest C+. Perhaps they weren’t prepared for the raw intensity of the film that birthed the modern torture-porn genre.

Where to stream: Starz

Cinemascore: C

Rotten Tomatoes: 14%

A C score feels fitting for the sixth entry in the Paranormal Activity series, which had long exhausted its novelty. By this point, audiences knew exactly what to expect and were somewhat lenient, even if the film failed to innovate or surprise.

Where to stream: Hoopla

Cinemascore: C

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights swiftly gained acclaim, performing well at the box office and securing three Oscar nominations. The C CinemaScore is perplexing, as Anderson’s unique style, though unfamiliar at the time, shouldn’t have led to such a lukewarm reception for a film that later became a cultural landmark.

Where to stream: fuboTV, Showtime Anytime

Cinemascore: C-

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

The Royal Tenenbaums is a charming and witty film, making its C- CinemaScore baffling. Audiences in 2001 clearly missed the brilliance of Wes Anderson’s quirky storytelling and richly layered characters.

Where to stream: Digital rental

Cinemascore: C-

Rotten Tomatoes: 68%

The film’s shocking ending likely contributed to its low CinemaScore, leaving audiences puzzled as they filled out their surveys. While not Martin Scorsese’s finest work, it remains a gripping and visually stunning psychological thriller.

Where to stream: Netflix

Cinemascore: C-

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Drive is an art-house film with a high-octane edge, which may have caught audiences off guard. Despite the C- CinemaScore, it quickly gained a devoted fanbase, proving its lasting appeal.

Where to stream: IMDb TV

Cinemascore: B-

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

While a B- isn’t terrible, it’s surprisingly low for a film celebrated as one of the most original and thought-provoking of the 2000s. Jim Carrey’s casting might have misled audiences expecting a typical comedy, but his performance is nothing short of remarkable.

Where to stream: Peacock, fuboTV, Showtime Anytime

Cinemascore: A-

Rotten Tomatoes: 24%

This film, which famously inspired a satirical musical number in Team America, was a hit with audiences despite its critical panning. Today, it stands as a nostalgic yet flawed reminder of early 2000s blockbuster filmmaking.

Where to stream: Digital rental

Cinemascore: A-

Rotten Tomatoes: 6%

While hindsight complicates our view of Ghost Dad due to Bill Cosby’s legacy, the film was never well-received. A notorious box office failure, it marked the end of Sidney Poitier’s directing career and Cosby’s ambitions in feature films. Despite this, opening-night audiences rated it highly, a puzzling contrast to its enduring reputation.

Where to stream: Digital rental

Cinemascore: A

Rotten Tomatoes: 35%

The third installment in the Transformers series is arguably the best of Michael Bay’s robot-filled action spectacles, but an A CinemaScore feels overly generous for a film that critics largely panned.

Where to stream: fuboTV