Top 10 Most Polarizing Franchise Movies of all Time

A huge misstep or an overlooked gem? Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Most Divisive Movies In A Franchise.



For this list, we’re looking at franchise films that split fans, critics, or both down the middle. Simultaneously loved and hated, these instalments tend to be heavily debated.

Billed as Ridley Scott's long-awaited return to sci-fi, this ambitious prequel to "Alien" is a technical marvel, but the story can be hit or miss. Raising interesting philosophical questions on humanity's origins and purpose, "Prometheus" cannot seem to decide whether it’s an exhilarating action flick or a pensive drama. The acting is generally solid, with Michael Fassbender's chilling performance as the android David standing out in particular, but these supposedly intelligent characters often behave in ways that make little to no sense. Littered with plot holes and potentially interesting but unexplored concepts, "Prometheus" works better as a visual feast than a thought-provoking sci-fi thriller. Then again, some think it’s brilliant, faults, ambiguity and all..

John Carpenter and Debra Hill envisioned "Halloween" as a collection of unrelated horror films set around October 31st, but Michael Myers had grown too synonymous with the franchise. The only instalment without the legendary serial killer, "Season of the Witch" introduces a sinister mask-maker who wants to restore Halloween to its cultist glory days. While not lacking in gruesome deaths, "Halloween III" cannot even be classified as a slasher and sticks out like a sore thumb among the entries in the franchise. Taken on its own, "Season of the Witch" is a chaotic and entertaining celebration of everything associated with the holiday - but is it really "Halloween" without Michael Myers?

The blue pill is starting to sound pretty good. The Wachowskis captured lightning in a bottle with "The Matrix," but the sequels struggled to live up to expectations. "Revolutions" might be considered the weakest of the trilogy, but the cracks started to show with "Reloaded." For the most part, "Reloaded's" action sequences are creative and a blast to watch – especially the freeway car chase – but the film is bogged down by too many long-winded scenes that add nothing to the story. The visuals might be stunning, but the plot wastes a LOT of time before getting to the point.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has hit more than a few home runs, but there have been a couple of throwaway films. Bringing to a close "Phase One," the first “Avengers" marked the point when the MCU truly started to come together; by contrast, "Age of Ultron" felt more like a stepping stone to bigger and better things. The characters still play off each other brilliantly, but too much time is spent establishing future movies and the humor often felt inorganically injected into scenes that didn’t call for it. After five solo outings, "The Avengers" was a gratifying payoff, but many feel that "Age of Ultron" is far less vital of an entry.

Francis Ford Coppola's first two "Godfather" movies are timeless classics. The third film? Not so much. Released 16 years after the previous installment, "Godfather: Part III" qualifies as bad only if held to the lofty standards set by its predecessors. Older but not necessarily wiser, "Part III" concludes Michael Corleone's story arc in a natural and satisfying way, but a couple of odd creative choices drag the entire experience down. Robert Duvall's absence is felt whenever George Hamilton has a scene, while the less said about Sofia Coppola's performance, the better. Even divisive films can earn an Oscar nomination for "Best Picture."

Depending on someone's tolerance for irritating sidekicks, Steven Spielberg's sequel is either a mistake or a delightfully dark adventure. Regarded as the original trilogy's black sheep, "Temple of Doom" garnered a mixed reception upon release, primarily due to the over-reliance on violence. Kate Capshaw's performance and Short Round have not improved with age, but the film has nonetheless amassed quite a following over the years. As a goofy roller-coaster ride through a North India laced with black magic and child slavery, "Temple of Doom" is an inventive romp with a unique tone that sets it apart from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "The Last Crusade."

Robert Downey Jr.'s third solo venture works better as a stand-alone story than an "Iron Man" sequel. Directed by Shane Black, a PTSD-suffering Tony Stark goes into hiding after stupidly goading a terrorist into an attack. Spending most of the story without the power suit, "Iron Man III's" action scenes pivot around Tony outwitting the villains rather than relying solely on technology, while Black's trademark wit is a welcome change of pace from Marvel's typical humor. "Iron Man III" plays it fast and loose with the source material, with one particular reveal essentially crapping all over a popular comic book villain. To be fair though, this twist is pretty funny.

Setting the tone for the entire DC Extended Universe, "Man of Steel" split critics right down the middle, but fans were generally kinder. Following in the footsteps of Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" trilogy, Superman's big cinematic comeback coincided with a shift towards a more somber tone. Replacing the superhero's traditional optimism with brooding and even more brooding, "Man of Steel" lacks the human touch often associated with Superman, but the explosive fights are visceral and entertaining. Depending on who you ask, "Man of Steel" is either a fantastic return to form or a complete betrayal of Superman's legacy.

Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy garnered near-universal critical acclaim, but the final film experienced almost instant backlash from audiences. Focusing more on Bruce Wayne than Batman, "The Dark Knight Rises" lives firmly in the shadow of 2008's "The Dark Knight," and this fact was not helped by numerous plot holes and a chaotic third act that substituted the main villain with a far less interesting alternative. In terms of pure spectacle, "The Dark Knight Rises" contains some of Christopher Nolan's best work, but everything else tends to have its detractors. If anything, "The Dark Knight Rises'” reputation has arguably worsened since 2012.





Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Jurassic World” (2015)



“Mission: Impossible 2” (2000)



“Terminator Salvation” (2009)

The best entry since "The Empire Strikes Back" or the worst film to ever be screened in theaters, "The Last Jedi's" divisiveness is arguably more interesting than the actual movie. Critics showered Rian Johnson's "Episode 8" with praise, but audiences were torn on Luke Skywalker's depiction, the film's treatment of Snoke, and anything that has to do with Rey. "The Last Jedi" played around with expectations and dismissed many fan theories, but not every surprise was appreciated. Next to "The Last Jedi," the reaction to "The Phantom Menace” seems almost tame.