Throughout the last two decades, there have been many significant milestones for the entertainment industry. Many new pieces have been outstanding and remain iconic in overall pop culture. This is proven with phrases like, “I can do this all day” (Chris Evans, Captain America: The First Avenger) or references to a “choppa” (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 2: Judgement Day). These moments become memorable when they receive positive recognition and are embraced by the culture they impact. However, when there is negative commentary that has been passed down and spread to other enthusiasts, it is very unlikely for a certain piece-whether it be a movie, show or a book- to get proper reception and it gets thrown into a “pit of undeserved infamy”.
This phenomenon has claimed so many films, as well as other forms of media, particularly those that premiere in theaters. It is one thing when a movie doesn’t get the best marketing and suffers as a result. It is a completely different thing when the particular movie or series is well-known in the early stages only to later be under harsh scrutiny just from one minor detail that wasn’t expected or wanted. Promoting these kinds of negative notions can ruin the reputation of a good movie.
For example, Transformers: One, an animated film, was criticized for being “silly-looking,” “immature,” and “disappointing” from online criticisms.
Although one could easily perceive the film this way, it is the contrary with the director’s idea for the film as well as other animated films that aren’t truly “kids movies”. Transformers One was an entry into the theatrical Transformers franchise, serving as a prequel. All of this critique unfolded because it wasn’t a live-action sequel to other live-action Transformers films.
Unfortunately, it underperformed at the box office and didn’t stay long in theaters.
However, post-theater reception has been more positive, with reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb praising the film.
One reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes, Cristian, called it a “10/10 perfect movie for the family and fans!”
Markloyder from IMDb said, “A film that has soul […] not a cliche, […] we finally get a fantastically told story.”
Sophia S from Rotten Tomatoes stated, “This movie was incredible. The storyline was so good, and it’s really underrated and deserves a 2nd movie!”
This continues to hightlight how well it’s been received now that it’s out of theaters and accessible to most viewers, who can watch it without the cost of a ticket. However, film studios don’t see this the same way as consumers do and need to see the great reception live at the box office.
This includes the Transformers One producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who expressed to Screen Rant, “Number one, if we’re successful with this movie, we’re going to do a sequel for this”.
The film underperformed at the box office so that is a clue as to what could possibly end up happening. While some films and shows suffer from these negative reactions, others are clearly flawed. Some projects are “cash grabs” or just unfortunate faltering in the story. Sometimes, it can be helpful to let others know that what the film is advertising in TV, or in other forms of media, isn’t what they’re going to get. An example of this is the much disputed recent film to suffer in the box office, Snow White. Prior to post-production, there was some negative reception due to the main lead of the film expressing the big changes that were made to the classic story. It later snowballed into bad reviews after seeing that the main lead, Rachel Zegler, was not lying about these changes and is very different from the original. This resulted in empty theater seats and a quick failure at the box office. Even the main lead, Rachel Zegler, posted online of her own experience of an empty auditorium, an unexpected response for herself. Unfortunately, this isn’t what the consumer wanted and, ultimately, failed very early at the box office.
Ultimately, it is best to really see for yourself whether or not a movie is good or not. A reader who has read the main Dune entries cannot believe that Dune (2021) was horrible if another commentator states that the film was “poorly made” and “not worth it” if this specific person hasn’t read the book to see where this film is coming from. Take the time to explore and form your own opinion. There’s no harm in watching something labeled “trash” or “abominable” to see if it resonates with you. The next time you see something that piques your interest, consider exploring its positive aspects, and if it’s based on a book. read it beforehand. Even if it’s not for you, at least you’ll know for sure, rather than miss out on something you might have enjoyed due to a “harsh review”.