Top 10 Divisive Movies

The original “Superman” is a perennial classic and “The Quest for Peace” was an undeniable flop, but the verdict is still out on “Man of Steel.” Some enjoyed Zack Snyder’s gritty take on Superman’s origins, praising the action and the darker depiction of the character. Meanwhile, old school fans argued that the film failed to capture the joy, humor, or optimism we associate with Superman. They also couldn’t get past the fact that our hero causes so much destruction when he’s supposed to be a symbol for hope. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the reboot made more than enough money to launch the DC Extended Universe.
 

Jim Carrey was Hollywood’s biggest comedic star in the ‘90s, but some believed “The Cable Guy” would kill his career. Upon initial release, practically everyone thought this comedy was mean-spirited and Carrey’s character was a grating, unlikable villain. Over the years, though, more people have developed a fondness for “The Cable Guy.” Part of this might be because director Ben Stiller has gained a dedicated following with films like “Zoolander” and “Tropic Thunder.” Audiences have also become more open to black comedies about awkward characters. While the film still has its haters, at least Carrey starred in a certified winner the next year with “Liar Liar.”
 

When moviegoers talk about the worst Best Picture winners of all time, “Crash” is guaranteed to come up. Aside from beating out “Brokeback Mountain” and “Munich,” Paul Haggis’ drama was seen as preachy and manipulative by many. If you ask enough people, though, you might be surprised to find that “Crash” does have a passionate legion of admirers. They really connected with the film’s depiction of race in 21st century America and saw themselves in various characters. Some would even argue that “Crash” deserved Oscar’s top honor. To date, audiences still crash into each other over this polarizing film.
 

Director Stanley Kubrick initially conceived this science fiction fairytale back in the ‘70s, but he died before the film could see the light of day. Thus, Steven Spielberg decided to bring his friend’s dream project to life. Although Spielberg did his best to represent Kubrick, numerous individuals thought that “A.I.” was uneven, unfocused, and downright artificial. Yet, other audiences felt the film perfectly blended Spielberg’s whimsical heart with Kubrick’s artistic mind. While “A.I.” has prompted no clear consensus, people generally seem to agree on two things: Haley Joel Osment’s performance as David was phenomenal and the ending probably could’ve used a rewrite.
 

It’s not surprising that one of the most controversial movies of all time is also one of the most divisive. Despite being heavily protested and even banned in some countries, “The Passion of the Christ” was a monumental box office hit. Many had a spiritual connection to the biblical epic, admiring the audacity it required to portray Jesus’ crucifixion in such a graphic manner. At the same time, the film was also described as an overly violent guilt trip, solely focusing on how Jesus died as opposed to how he lived. Although individuals continue to defend “The Passion,” they are less likely to do so for its director, Mel Gibson. 
 

Christopher Nolan has developed a distinctive filmmaking style that’s made him one of the most ambitious storytellers in the business. By the time “Interstellar” came out, however, a lot of people were starting to get tired of his style. They felt his latest sci-fi epic overdosed on pretentious dialogue, droned on for too long, and had more plot holes than wormholes. On the other hand, diehard Nolan supporters saw this as one of his best endeavors yet, praising the film’s ideas, visuals, and themes. Even if “Interstellar” is Nolan’s most divisive outing, many are still eager to see what he gives us next.
 

Shortly after its release, a fair amount of people complained that “American Sniper” didn’t factually depict US Navy SEAL Chris Kyle or the Iraq War. On top of that, the use of an evidently plastic baby doll in one scene took quite a few audience members out of the movie. Regardless, these criticisms didn’t stop the film from becoming the biggest domestic hit of 2014 and scoring a slew of Oscar nominations. While some can’t get past its inaccuracies, a majority of moviegoers seemed to think this biographical war picture did a genuine job at capturing Kyle’s spirit.
 

Being the highest-grossing movie of all time, it’s safe to say that “Avatar” has its fans. As James Cameron’s blockbuster broke records left and right, however, some audiences just couldn’t understand what the fuss was all about. They argued that the environmental message was recycled and that the characters were one-dimensional, amounting to one of the most overhyped movies ever. Even if its story didn’t impress everybody, many moviegoers were blown away by the film’s revolutionary visuals and heart-pounding action nevertheless. Considering how divided people are on “Avatar,” it’ll be interesting to see if its sequels will capture the same box office magic. 
 

A favorite at the Sundance Film Festival, this indie comedy quickly exploded as a cultural phenomenon. People everywhere were constantly quoting their favorite lines and buying the film’s trendy merchandise. The bigger and bigger “Napoleon Dynamite” became, though, the more and more people began to question why. In their eyes, the film was just plain stupid. There was no story whatsoever and the titular character wasn’t compelling in the slightest. While this comedy’s brand of humor is an acquired taste to say the least, there are plenty of film buffs out there that would vote for Pedro in a heartbeat.
 
Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
“Spring Breakers” (2012)
“Juno” (2007)
“Watchmen” (2009)
“Inherent Vice” (2014)
“Natural Born Killers” (1994)
  

It’s obvious that director Terrence Malick didn’t set out to tell a flowing narrative with “The Tree of Life.” The film isn’t driven by story so much as it’s driven by visuals and emotions, offering an otherworldly experience. So naturally, this movie wasn’t meant for everyone. You’re either going to interpret “The Tree of Life” as a deep, meaningful cinematic achievement or as an artsy-fartsy piece of tripe. One way or the other, people tend to walk away from the film asking the same question: “what was the deal with those dinosaurs?”
 
Do you agree with our list? What do you think is the most divisive movie ever? For more divisive Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.