Top 10 Overrated Movies
Published on August 25, 2008 - 500 Comments
There’s no top 10 movie list that can cause more angry responses than a top ten “overrated” list. The problem is that every movie fan has their own personal list of most overrated movies. This doesn’t mean all these movies are terrible – in fact many of them will be personal favorites of other movie fans. That being said, even good or fun movies can be badly overrated. This is a list of the ten most overrated movies in modern times. This list contains a competition - further details at the bottom of the list.
After a dozen amazing movies, this was the one that Denzel Washington finally won an Oscar for. Really? Aside from the fact that this rehashed plot is nothing close to original, it feels like this movie received the attention it did because Denzel played a bad guy and that was out of character. This had the same effect that Wayne Brady as a psycho did for the Chapelle’s Show: it might be wildly popular because it’s out of character, but that doesn’t mean the movie was that good. In fact, it was very average, at best.
This isn’t a bad movie. In fact, it’s pretty good and definitely entertaining, but for all the hype that this film received it definitely qualifies as overrated. This movie is on the IMDB Top 250 list, but the dialogue isn’t overly impressive (and only a precursor to “Pulp Fiction,” which is much better), and a lot of this film is based on “tricks” like the non-chronological order and flashbacks, which are used as style choices to hide plot deficiencies. This is a good movie, but it’s hardly a best 200 ever.
Whales. Whales can connect with unknown aliens who are absolutely unstoppable, and are the only species who can save Earth, forcing time travel to 1980’s America. A very campy movie with a plot that questionable doesn’t even begin to describe. Let this one die quietly, bring back KHAN!
It seems like everyone loves this film, but once again this movie is overrated. It’s slow, and takes a long time to play out with intermittent scares. A fairly smart movie (but not overwhelmingly brilliant as many claim) with a legitimately decent twist, but the balance just isn’t right. A little too long and boring, with a twist ending that while decent, was actually not hard to figure out very early on in the film. The ending sequence is impressive, but like many other overrated films this is a decent movie that took too long and lost track of its balance.
A lot of Al Pacino movies are overrated, and it’s not hard to argue that Pacino is consistently one of the most overrated actors in Hollywood. Look he’s screaming and cussing. I’d say again, but when did Pacino stop long enough to start up “again?” While this was a breakthrough film in the sense of violence, one has to wonder how this movie got its status. The F-word is used endlessly (so much for intelligent dialogue), the violence is way over the top, and there really are much better written drug, Mafia, or violent movies. This film might be legendary, but it’s hard to argue that this movie would still hold up if it was a brand new release.
Not even going into the incredible stretching and disregard for historical truth this film reveled in, keep in mind that this was the movie that kicked the butt of “Saving Private Ryan,” “Dark City,” “American History X,” and “The Big Lebowski,” all around the awards shows, but admit it – 9 out of 10 of you had completely forgotten that this movie had ever even existed until it just appeared on this list. Ten years later and this film’s competitors will be remembered for years or even decades to come, while this movie made it’s chick flick splash and then promptly disappeared once the next one came out.
Okay, even with admitting that 2002 was a down year for films; is that really an excuse for “Chicago” to win best picture? This was an entertaining picture, but “Best Picture?” Really? “The Pianist,” “Igby Goes Down,” “Gangs of New York,” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” were all excellent movies, and it’s hard to accept that “Chicago” was the best of the crop here. This film was fun if you like a musical, but it’s hardly a best picture.
Another very long, absolute clichéd romantic chick flick, except girlfriends went so nuts over this one that it shattered records for money brought in over an insane 9 month theatre running. This movie is the biggest moneymaker of all time? Really? “Titanic” was a long and boring soap opera without good acting, flat cardboard characters, and the all time cliché of a tragic love story between two star-crossed lovers. This is one of the most overrated films of all time, and you could even make a case for this one as number one, except that there are enough people who agree with this assessment to bring it down the overrated list.
There were sections of this film that were hilarious, but there were twice as many that weren’t funny at all. Even worse, as any late night store clerk can attest, these types of jobs provide tons of funny and ridiculous stories that could have been used in this movie, but were barely even touched, instead opting for a lot of cussing and explicit sex jokes. Other parts, like Jay cussing everyone up, just aren’t that funny. This was an impressive independent film, but nothing that should have achieved the near epic status it enjoys.
Anyone who isn’t blown away by star power will see this for what it is: a sad boring film that doesn’t do “Heart of Darkness” any justice. This was terribly acted, stilted, and somehow managed to be ludicrously over dramatic without any drama. Yet this movie is widely considered one of the 100 best of all time and is lauded for its star power. “Apocalypse Now” is terribly overrated, and is on the top of this list as an example of a terrible movie that is lauded for its status over the film itself.
If this list reaches 300 comments, one commenter will be selected at random to win a mug, shirt, or cap from the List Universe Store. The winner must be a registered user. As usual, comments must be related to the list and not designed just to increase the count or your chances of winning. Every comment is counted - so you can comment more than once. For those who can’t wait to get some merchandise, the store prices have now all been discounted! So be sure to check it out. All products sold at the List Universe Store are of a high quality. Shipping takes 7 - 11 days.
Contributor: Shane Dayton
Related Lists5 Reasons That We Love Cheesy Horror MoviesTop 10 Worst Scenes In Movies Top 10 Favorite Films of JFrater Top 10 Depressing Scenes in Cinema |
SubscriptionsLike this article? Subscribe to the RSS feed to keep 'em coming, or subscribe via email: |
If you find this site helpful, please leave a donation so you can enjoy the spirit of giving too.
Email This Post
1. Brendan - August 26th, 2008 at 3:14 am
One Pacino that isn’t overrated. SERPICO!!!
I disagree with Clerks but other than that pretty good list.
2. Ruairi - August 26th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Scarface?!?!?!?!
3. warrrreagl - August 26th, 2008 at 3:22 am
I guess my definiion of “overrated” is way different from yours, because I disagree with almost this entire list.
It’s a clever way to get hundreds of comments, though.
4. christopherborne - August 26th, 2008 at 3:25 am
Scarface and Clerks are NOT overrated. One movie that is though: The Godfather.
5. jfrater - August 26th, 2008 at 3:30 am
For the record guys - and to show that I am not biased when I publish submissions - 5 of the films on this list are favorites of mine!
6. emmstein - August 26th, 2008 at 3:30 am
I love half of these.
7. Matheusvalente - August 26th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Al Pacino might no be the most versatile actor one can find, but the guy has great importance in the cinema… as a fan of Godfather you are, Jfrater, how could you say that? hahaha
8. Rlemass - August 26th, 2008 at 3:35 am
Couldn’t agree more with Reservoir Dogs. Way overrated.
Al Pacino has an amazing presence on screen, not to mention charisma. I wouldn’t say HE is overrated. Some of ‘his’ movies might be though.
Agreed with Apocalypse Now too actually.
9. carpe_noctem - August 26th, 2008 at 3:37 am
Jamie, in my less than triumphant return to listverse, I must say, I love your ways to get hundreds of comments
And I love a lot of these, but I must admit, they really do belong in their overrated status. Reservoir Dogs is a personal favourite of mine, but it isn’t in the same league as Tarantino’s other movies (I feel) and Training Day has a great portrayal of Denzel Washington (and proves he can actually act in more than one role) it lacked a lot of important details, and yet is still a personal favourite of mine.
Sometimes movies can capture our hearts while leaving out hugely important things, but you have to admit, for a movie to be critically acclaimed world-wide, it has to be doing something right, despite the fact Titanic could’ve been told in 9 seconds: Man and woman meet, sex insues, boak sinks, fat woman gets yelled at, death, end.
10. downhighway61 - August 26th, 2008 at 3:38 am
I completely agree with Clerks. Completely and whole heartedly. I thought it was boring.
11. jfrater - August 26th, 2008 at 3:40 am
carpe! Hey - welcome back! Hope you had a great holiday!
Matheusvalente: I didn’t write the list! I love Scarface and REALLY love the Godfather.
12. Saint Splattergut - August 26th, 2008 at 3:40 am
OMG… film school made me watch Apocalypse Now and I kept wondering, is this it? I haven’t read the book, to be honest… but I was thinking the whole time to myself, “How can this a great movie?”
I did like the opening sequence, though.
13. Matheusvalente - August 26th, 2008 at 3:47 am
“Titanic could’ve been told in 9 seconds”
Well, that’s not the main point in cinema… some filmes could have been told in 3 seconds and they’re fantastic. Titanic is overrated for the imensous popularity it got by the time of its release(mostly due to the enormous production and marketing) but nowadays, look at how Titanic is the most used exemple of “Bad filme”. Very common to see someone: “Man, you suck, you’re not fit for Ingmar Bergman, go see Titanic”.
Well, I am fit for Bergman and still consider Titanic a great filme and major breakthrough in many cinematographic areas(visual effects are brilliant).
14. romerozombie - August 26th, 2008 at 3:48 am
10. Never seen it
9. Agreed, it was alright, but it didn’t blow me away
8. NSI
7. Ace twist, couple scary moments, but I hate Nicole Kidman. I DON’T CARE THAT YOU’RE AN OZZIE
6. NSI, and I never want to. Looks so masculine and posturing. Interest in the film has been kept alive by rappers appearing on Cribs
5. NSI. Thank God, I hate Shakespeare
4. NSI. Renee Zellweger. Vomit
3. Bloody chick flicks
2. C2 was better
1. So boring, I turned it off
15. Trigun472 - August 26th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Good list imo. I agree with pretty much every choice.
16. blundellisgod - August 26th, 2008 at 4:01 am
Clerks was made for $600 dollers, why is it above titanic on this list? Also where is independance day please?
17. Drogo - August 26th, 2008 at 4:07 am
I saw Titanic three times. First with friends, to see the special effects of the sinking. 2nd was because mom needed someone to go with her. 3rd was with a buddy who’s girlfriend ordered him to see it while she was out of town, so they could talk about it when she came home (You had to know her). The best I could say is “it was o-kay.”
18. Juan - August 26th, 2008 at 4:07 am
Once was enough for each of these films for me.
Overrated indeed!
19. Drogo - August 26th, 2008 at 4:12 am
I had a grammar mistake. whose not “who’s”
20. inanytime - August 26th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Apocalypse Now was good. godfather should be on the top.
21. rushfan - August 26th, 2008 at 4:23 am
Brave, Shane, very brave. Well-written list, I really enjoyed it. You pretty much had me agreeing with you at each description whether I like the movie or not. Good job.
22. sarahenity - August 26th, 2008 at 4:24 am
blundellisgod - “Clerks” was not made for $600. It was made for $27575.
To quote Wikipedia (which I hate to do);
“The film is in black-and-white and roughly edited due to a very modest budget of US$27,575. To acquire the funds for the film, Smith sold a large proportion of his extensive comic book collection in 1993, maxed out eight to ten credit cards with $2000 limits, dipped into a portion of funds set aside for his college education and spent insurance money awarded for a car he and Jason Mewes lost in a flood. The film was shot in 21 straight days (with two “pick-up” days).”
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerks]
The film was also shot in the convience store where Smith worked, and was only availiable for shooting at nights while the store was closed, which explains why the shutters are closed the entire movie.
Sorry… Kevin Smith fan.
I agree with most of the choices on this list though, but you’re right it’s going to stir up a bit of controversy. Some people get pretty aggressive over their movie favourites (as I do with music :P).
23. Garrett - August 26th, 2008 at 4:34 am
Big Lebowski
Spaceballs
Star Wars
24. astraya - August 26th, 2008 at 4:53 am
For the record, I did not submit this list, but if you looked at the “contributed by” line, you already know that. I think it was brave of Jamie to publish another movie popularity list so soon after mine. It does raise the question (again) of immediate popularity v lasting popularity v critical acclaim.
Also for the record, I love Shakespeare in Love, liked The Others and Chicago and tolerated Clerks. I loathe Pulp Fiction. That would be no 1 on my list.
I guess Randall will show up soon. Then it will be on for young and old.
sarahenity: I think that blundellisgod was being ironic.
Welcome back carpe. Where did you go? Maybe you said, and I wasn’t paying attention.
25. MadMup - August 26th, 2008 at 4:56 am
I completely agree with you on the whole list (especially Clerks!), except for Star Trek IV. Where’s your sense of fun, man!
26. Captain Supremo III - August 26th, 2008 at 4:58 am
Try every lord of the rings film for the DEFINITION of overrated. I bet less than 5% of the people who went to see it had even read the book and that an even lower percentage of people even knew the book existed.
Brainwashing anyone?
27. Swifty66 - August 26th, 2008 at 5:00 am
You know, movies don’t have to be good for people to love them and there is really no shame in that! Not every movie has to make you think to be entertaining. Its just like music- sometimes you just like the song because it reminds you of something, or it’s catchy, or you like to dance to it. It doesn’t necessarily have to be deep! I personally love the Star Trek movie because I love all the characters and I think it’s funny. I don’t really care how “good” it is!
28. Peri - August 26th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Only 23 comments on the list so far and it seems the only controversy is what DIDN’T make the list!
29. thematic - August 26th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Okay I know it is your opinion but Scarface and Apocalypse Now, overrated? I disagree, but good effort on the list even if there are far more deserving movies that could’ve been included, such as Jurrasic Park, Independence Day and The Da Vinci code.
30. alakdan13 - August 26th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Scarface might be a typical gangster movie but imagine if somebody else played Tony Montana. Scarface is a classic because Al Pacino was so damn good. Godfather overrated? For me it is the best movie ever made, nuff said..
*I think Casablanca is a very overrated movie.
31. kittym - August 26th, 2008 at 5:05 am
I love quite a few of these movies, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t overrated. I had to agree with almost all of the explanations, and I could not possibly agree more with that stupid Titanic film. The actual ship sank faster than that movie took to explain it! I do disagree with Al Pacino being overrated, however. Some of his films — yes. The actor himself — no. To me he has too much presence and charisma to be considered overrated, but again, that’s just my opinion.
Good job, Shane! Can’t wait to read the controversy this will undoubtedly stir up!
32. sarahenity - August 26th, 2008 at 5:06 am
astraya - lol. i probably should have picked up on that. i’m just gunna go ahead and blame my lack of sleep and current medications for that one.
33. Tsasil - August 26th, 2008 at 5:11 am
I agree that Scarface is grossly overrated, but not that Al Pacino is. He made the movie into a reasonably entertaining gangster flick, without him it never would have got the attention it has now.
Apocalypse Now overrated? Heart of Darkness must be one hell of a book, because I love Apocalypse Now, but I’ve never read the book. I can imagine it ruins a lot of the experience of the movie
One movie I think is missing here: The Shawshank Redemption. It’s a great movie, but it has been on number 2 in the IMDB top 250 for ages and I don’t think it deserves to be the second best movie in history…
34. DoppHopper - August 26th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Yea, its a pritty fair list if you ask me. Its this kind of destructive hype thats made my friends and I wary of any film coverage, cos you also get the underrated films like Boondock Saints and Sean of the Dead.
35. Brady69 - August 26th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Clerks isnt exactly rated as such an epic movie because of its content, Which i actually find hilarious, But more for the effort that Kevin Smith put in to actually film the movie.
36. Gecko - August 26th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Hmmm. I guess I’m kinda lucky I haven’t seen any of those movies, or any over-rated seeming movies.
Good job on the list!
37. Tsasil - August 26th, 2008 at 5:15 am
28. Peri: That’s because there are so damn many! Look at the IMDB top 250 and almost everyone can pick about 100 movies that don’t belong there. The funny part is that almost everyone picks different movies
38. Jody K - August 26th, 2008 at 5:17 am
Two Films that I will just never understand the high regard for:
Singing in the Rain
Akira
With all the hype on these movies, I thought they would be better. I fully expected Singing in the Rain to be on this list.
39. AmazingThor - August 26th, 2008 at 5:22 am
I would add:
6th Sense: It has the same problem as the Others. When you first watch it, it is sppoky and tricks you in the end. However, upon repeated viewing it is just slow and boring.
Star Wars: Yes I mean the first one. A New Hope. There’s no denying that its a fun movie with groundbreaking FX, but ultimately it’s kids’ stuff. The only Star Wars movie that I think deserves it’s acclaim is Empire.
I think all Kevin Smith movies are over rated.
I actually think Reservoir Dogs deserves it’s status as an all-time great, as does Pulp Fiction. But every Tarrantino movie since needs to be on this list. He just keeps making worse and worse parodies of himself each time.
40. Milos - August 26th, 2008 at 5:23 am
Hmmm.. Very arguable list, and i disagree with each and every choice of the author, except for “Chicago”. One of the worst lists on this site.. I vote for it to be deleted.
41. Fromthefuture - August 26th, 2008 at 5:24 am
I agree with number four….LOTR should have won ‘best film’ all three years, 01′,02′,03′.
42. Cheeshygirl - August 26th, 2008 at 5:24 am
I’ve seen about half of these movies and pretty much agree with the assessments. I look forward to the comments to come.
43. tapdiva2003 - August 26th, 2008 at 5:28 am
I totally agree with Scarface. I actually bought it before ever seeing it because it was only 3 bucks at Blockbuster. It was horrible! The acting was the worst I’ve seen! I do disagree with Chicago. I thought the acting was awesome. Plus, when you can do the movie better than the broadway show, you have done something right!
44. Cheeshygirl - August 26th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Oh, and to Garrett:
Spaceballs?!?!?! Overrated?!?!?! I’m not generally a repeat movie watcher (except for the kiddie movies constantly playing at my house) but I can watch Spaceballs over and over and never get tired of it. I won’t even argue The Big Lebowski (although I could) or Star Wars (you didn’t specify which one), but Spaceballs? Did we see the same movie? Maybe you got the porn version ……
45. astraya - August 26th, 2008 at 5:31 am
I liked Empire strikes back, but I have never understood the acclaim for it, consistently rating higher than ANH. The two stories (Han and co in the asteroid field, and Luke meeting Yoda) unfold at two different speeds. And then there’s the uncompleted ending.
Re ANH: after Luke escapes from the Death Star, he makes the jump to hyperspace and arrives at Yavin. How does the Death Star follow him there? Come to think of it, was it built orbiting Alderaan, or how did it get there?
46. KneeDeep - August 26th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Oh god. As an avid reader and first time poster I’ve gotta say this: Why the hell do I care what films you think are overrated?? It’s all down to opinion and I’m not interested in yours. What next? a list of your favourite cheeses or your daily hygene routine? stick to lists that contain facts, far more interesting than what you think about a bunch of movies.
On the whole though, great site.
47. F. McClure - August 26th, 2008 at 5:34 am
10. Walk the Line
9. Star Wars
8. Half-Baked
7. Kill Bill Vol. 1
6. Kids
5. Natural Born Killers
4. Scarface
3. The Godfather Trilogy
2. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
1. TITANIC
48. Tsasil - August 26th, 2008 at 5:35 am
44. Cheeshygirl: I actually agree that Spaceballs is not that good… but then again; it isn’t meant to be good, it’s meant to be funny, and I’ve never met anyone who thinks it’s *good* though funny as hell.
49. Boddekker - August 26th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Thank you for “Apocalypse Now.” I’ve thought I was the lone voice in the wilderness on this one. I remember walking out of a theater some thirty years ago, listening to the two friends I’d seen it with talk, wondering if they’d just seen the same movie I’d had to sit through.
50. SlashBeast - August 26th, 2008 at 5:36 am
I agree with most of your list, especially Shakespeare in Love, Titanic, Chicago and Apocalypse Now - Finally someone else besides me thinks that film is overrated.
I also agree that the first Star Wars is often held as the best but it pales in comparison to the true masterpiece which was The Empire Strikes Back.
51. Beck - August 26th, 2008 at 5:38 am
I hated Titanic. It was so overrated.
52. fishing4monkeys - August 26th, 2008 at 5:40 am
GREAT LIST!!! Finally someone has the guts to call Scarface overrated!!
Allthough i’d order the list like this:
#1: Scarface
#2: 300
#3: Titanic
#4: Fight Club
#5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10: I don’t know…
53. fishing4monkeys - August 26th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Wait…scratch that…I’d put the Godfather Trilogy at #1 and move everything else down a notch. I’d add include star wars but people pretty much all agree that it’s gone consistently downhill.
54. fishing4monkeys - August 26th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Also I’ve never seen pulp fiction but I’m sure I’d think it’s overrated from the clips I’ve seen.
55. gav - August 26th, 2008 at 5:44 am
I like how after each movie is slated for being bad, the option to buy it is given! ‘This movie is boring and slow…’ Great sales pitch!! haha
56. KneeDeep - August 26th, 2008 at 5:45 am
54: If you’ve never seen pulp fiction you can’t call it overrated.
57. leinad - August 26th, 2008 at 5:45 am
i like more than a couple of the movies here, but definately they are overrated. you could even make a top 20 most overrated films only with what the oscars have awarded in the last decades.
58. Sharki - August 26th, 2008 at 5:45 am
I agree with some of the picks. “Reservoir Dogs” isn’t just overrated, it’s unwatchable. Same goes for “Clerks”, in fact I’ve never been able to sit through that whole movie. I like Kevin Smith as a personality, he’s great when does talk shows or commentaries on DVDs, but I’ve never cared for him as a film maker.
And I’ve never understood the love affair for Stark Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
59. astraya - August 26th, 2008 at 5:48 am
KneeDeep: Welcome. This site’s got it already - http://listverse.com/food/10-g.....hould-try/
60. fishing4monkeys - August 26th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Sorry for the quadruple post but I gotta do this.
@KneeDeep:
Do you have am mental problem? Are you going to dribble? Seriously! You’re an “avid reader” and you haven’t managed to figure out yet that a lot of these lists are based on opinion!? Why do you think people comment on this site!? To share their opinions about the list! If all the lists were just quoted facts then no one would have much of an opinion to share because you can’t disagree with universal fact! You should stay an avid reader but please don’t post ever again unless you have something minutely useful to add.
61. fishing4monkeys - August 26th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Wow a lot of comments by me…I just keep thinking of stuff to late. haha sorry ’bout that.
62. Whack-A-Mole - August 26th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Haha it’s blatantly obvious that one of KneeDeep’s favorite movies are on this list
63. fishing4monkeys - August 26th, 2008 at 5:54 am
@kneedeep: I know that…that’s why I clarified that I’ve never seen it. But I have seen quite a bit of it from youtube clips on this site and elsewhere and it just gleams of overrating by my standards.
64. Mac - August 26th, 2008 at 5:57 am
Wow, I was expecting to be totally outraged by this list but I agree with every single one. Especially Clerks. It’s not that any of these films are *bad*, per se (except maybe Titanic), but distinctly average, which is maybe a worse criticism.
I’d add Lost in Translation, inexplicably acclaimed despite its overarching themes of “Look how arthouse this is!” and “Aren’t foreigners funny?”. And also Easy Rider. What a diabolical mess that has not aged well at all. I watched it for my film degree and thought it was just terrible.
65. F. McClure - August 26th, 2008 at 5:58 am
First of all, just because a film is not to your taste does not mean it’s overrated. It just happens to run counter to what you search for in entertainment. Fight Club, Clerks and Reservoir Dogs are monumental because they do not follow the norm, and their cult status is cemented by the avowed labor that went into making those films what they are.
I thought of adding No Country For Old Men just beacuse it beat out There Will Be Blood, but then I decided that would be nitpicking, not to mention futile.
66. F. McClure - August 26th, 2008 at 6:03 am
Also, to call Titanic overrated is now officially an overused statement. Forrest Gump follows the same category.
Pulp Fiction: Overrated? Are you trying to insult EVERYONE?
67. Al Smithee - August 26th, 2008 at 6:09 am
Don’t forget, “Gone With the Wind”
68. Dani - August 26th, 2008 at 6:11 am
Lost in Translation comes to mind.
I don’t think I’ll ever get the hype surrounding that one.
69. fishing4monkeys - August 26th, 2008 at 6:13 am
F. McClure: “Pulp Fiction: Overrated? Are you trying to insult EVERYONE?”
Haha yeah actually…well not insult them I was just waiting to get a comment insulting my mom or something
I was joking about it being overrated in general but like I said later it’s just my opinion. And yeah…Fight Club is overrated. I always read about how great everybody thinks Fight Club is but I’ve only met one person who actually likes it. He always trys to get people to watch it when they’re at his house but everyone says that it’s, well, overrated.
70. Nino - August 26th, 2008 at 6:18 am
Training Day - Never saw it
Reservoir Dogs - I liked it a lot, but your right, probly overrated
The Others - Never saw it
Scarface - Its not the best movie ever, but its DAM good.
Never saw the next two.
Clerks - No. No.
Titanic - No.
71. Tempyra - August 26th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Oh God, another film list. Film lists are overrated
72. Nino - August 26th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Oh and forgot Apocolypse now, WAY overrated.
And I think Big Lebowski and Dr.Strangelove are overrated too.
73. bucslim - August 26th, 2008 at 6:23 am
Not sure I could bring myself to agree much with the author. Training Day - ok yeah, Denzel was good but not Oscar worthy. Not sure I would put any Star Trek movie on a list of overrated movie, it is what it is. Titanic, yes.
Reservior Dogs had shitty dialog huh? And it has plot deficiencies? Where? No one, to my knowledge, has ever said Clerks was an epic, except for you. It’s a damn fine movie made on a shoestring budget with actors who have never been within 500 yards of a camera or a studio. And if you don’t laugh your ass off, throughout the movie I might add, then you don’t have much of a sense of humor. Seek counseling.
And quite honestly, you really need to re-edit your comments on Apocalypse Now, because you make no sense whatsoever. This film was terribly acted? Uh, no, not really. Attack of the Clones was terribly acted. Lots of star power? Yeah, it had arguably one of the greatest actors ever. Without any drama? That’s just fucking ridiculous. What the fuck was all that shit at the end? A puppet show? Along with Full Metal Jacket, it practically redefined what a war movie is.
Most of what you listed got attention for a good reason, it deserves it. I realize Shakespeare in Love isn’t on a whole lot of top ten lists, but everything about that movie was well done, acting, direction, photography, dialog, plot and design. Should it have been best picture? Maybe not, but it deserved to be mentioned.
You don’t even go out of your way to give us any decent definition of what overrated is. The list comes off as popular movies you don’t like. You want true overrated movies? Try the most overrated movie of all time - Independence Day. That movie was hyped out of its ass, until people actually saw what a piece of dog crap it was. You can’t even escape the damn thing on cable - it’s practically on every weekend. Same goes for the Godzilla re-make. But those two monuments to hype and marketing are nowhere to be seen on your list.
This list is just crap, poorly researched, without definition and validity. We’re supposed to better than this at this site.
Thanks, now I’m grouchy.
74. Stranger8candy - August 26th, 2008 at 6:24 am
I couldn’t agree more with the films on this list. I just wish it were a Top 20 list rather than just a Top 10. So many more could be added to this excellent list.
75. Sickophant - August 26th, 2008 at 6:25 am
Dear Shane Dayton, please never contribute to this site ever again. You lack a basic grasp of the English language and have clearly misunderstood what the term “overrated” actually means. For example, Reservoir Dogs was not particularly well received when first released and has only amassed a cult following ever since; hardly liable to be termed “rated”, let alone “overrated”.
76. robneiderman - August 26th, 2008 at 6:26 am
Much agreement from me, but not all.
10. Didn’t see it.
9. Agree 100%, even about Pulp Fiction being better.
8. Probably the worst Star Trek (original crew) movie besides STV. Didn’t know it was highly rated, though.
7. I liked it. Would have made a bigger impact had I not seen the Sixth Sense first. Another one that I didn’t know was popular.
6. Didn’t see it. Doesn’t look very good.
5. Overrated. It was OK, funny, and you get Paltrow’s boobs.
4. Honestly, I can’t believe I liked it as much as I did. It was OK. Not great, though.
3. Wretched. Almost universally hated now, so no longer overrated, but used to be WAY overrated.
2. Clerks is great, but you’re right to put it on this list.
1. I tried to watch Apocalypse Now, but it was late and I couldn’t stay awake. I might try again some day, but probably not.
77. ohrmets - August 26th, 2008 at 6:26 am
YES! Thank you for putting Scarface on the list! It is WAY overrated!
fishing4monkeys : I am right there with you on Fight Club and 300. I will also throw in The Shawshank Redemption (it was good, but not nearly as good as everyone says).
78. Ghidoran - August 26th, 2008 at 6:26 am
I like Titanic, but I agree it was overrated. But now it’s too overbashed.
79. FergieCR - August 26th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Scarface is definitely overrated, so is Training Day, Clerks and pretty much all the other films. Except for Apocalypse Now. That film is definitely one of the world’s all time best you can’t compete.
80. Jackie - August 26th, 2008 at 6:31 am
I’m glad Apocalypse Now and The Others were on there. I didn’t understand why people thought those movies were so great. I had a hard time getting through AN….I remember by the end going “that’s it?” For The Others I kept waiting for it to get scary and I felt like nothing happened.
I’m not sure 8 belongs on this list just because I’ve never heard it hyped up or talked about nearly as much as the others on this list.
81. skipps - August 26th, 2008 at 6:31 am
I expected to see The Sixth Sense here. I mean, come on… It’s much much more overrated than The Others!
82. ohrmets - August 26th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Yeah, I don’t think Star Trek IV belongs here, because almost everyone realizes that it’s pretty campy and cheesy. I’ve never heard anyone call it a great film in any seriousness. But the rest of the list is pretty spot on!
83. Dischuker - August 26th, 2008 at 6:33 am
astraya: i had to jump down immediately and respond to your comment at #24. you loathe pulp fiction?!?!? for what reason? you don’t like a good story? maybe great dialogue isn’t your cup o tea? do you hate superb acting?
i tried to defend your other list, but if i had known you felt this way about PF i may have left you out to dry.
btw, i am supremely biased about PF being a great movie, in case you hadn’t noticed.
one movie i would add to this list is “Rudy”. geez, what seemed like 9 hours of boredom for a pretty good final 15 minutes.
84. bluto - August 26th, 2008 at 6:36 am
bs Scarface Training Day and Apocalypse now are all in my top 25 movies of all time.I’m guessing this list was made by a woman or….
85. gilles - August 26th, 2008 at 6:38 am
oh my,
considering your views on abortion and death penalty and overrated movies (Apocalypse now?), i consider you a dangerous err morron. RSS is gone.
86. Stranger8candy - August 26th, 2008 at 6:38 am
I also agree that The Sixth Sense should have been on the list (that’s why it should have been a Top 20). Unbreakable was SO much better that The Sixth Sense. In fact, if a(nother) underrated list comes out, Unbreakable should definitely be number one on that.
87. skipps - August 26th, 2008 at 6:39 am
In my opinion, Little Miss Sunshine and Juno deserve to be on this list too. They were enjoyable, but are the female-leads really worthy of their Oscar nominations? Abigail Breslin was just being cute. Ellen Page, to me, was plain annoying.
88. r3vc0 - August 26th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Apocalypse Now IMHO is a fantastic film. Titanic does suck tho.
89. londonafter - August 26th, 2008 at 6:42 am
i agree with all of them, besides scarface, are you kidding???? Al Pacino an overrated actor?????
bluto: training day is an average movie, i actually found it very f*cking boring
90. Rshady - August 26th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Most of the list is fine, but Reservoir Dogs!!??? What were you smoking?
91. bucslim - August 26th, 2008 at 6:44 am
This list reminds me of forgetting to do my homework the night before and trying to get it done on the way to school.
It’s all bullshit and because it’s supposedly a subjective and ‘controversial.’
To me the only controversial thing about the list is that the author has painted himself as someone who doesn’t know much about film.
92. londonafter - August 26th, 2008 at 6:46 am
i totlly agree with Shakespeare in Love, but i think titanic should be n 1, is just a piece of sh*t!!!!!!!!!1
93. Callie - August 26th, 2008 at 6:46 am
FYI: It stopped being cool to bash Titanic like 7 years ago guys. It’s gone into relative TNT/TBS obscurity now, leave it be.
Training Day was just plain awful..I have no idea why Denzel won an Oscar for that. RARARRRRRRRRRR look I have a gun GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. He was better in John Q.
I think Reservoir Dogs is actually better than Pulp Fiction, but thats just me.
Chicago (and Moulin Rouge) pretty much brought musicals back into mainstream movie making, which I liked. I thought it was well made and fun, and I think pretty much everyone who likes musicals liked it, but I guess if you aren’t a fan of the genre you scream that it’s overrated.
Saving Private Ryan is way overrated.
94. londonafter - August 26th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Al Smithee: don’t forget gone with the wind??????are you crazy??? that is one of the best films i’ve ever seen
95. Dischuker - August 26th, 2008 at 6:51 am
callie: Private Ryan overrated? how? almost universal acclaim by the men that were on the beach that day and in the fights that surrounded it. if the point of a movie is to get you to be submersed in the story that is told, and the people that were actually in the story say it is spot on, how can you argue?
96. a fan - August 26th, 2008 at 6:51 am
I agree. Apocalypse now is such a boring film from the very start, Titanic also. I agree that Scarface is overrated but maybe in the top 20. Training day is a great movie, but,again, i agree that Denzel did not deserve an oscar for that film.
Great list!!!!
97. papabear - August 26th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Titanic-wretch.
I liked Resevoir Dogs but agree it was probably overated.
98. Daithi - August 26th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Don’t agree with some of this list, but other parts I do agree with. IMO The Exorcist is a horribly overrated movie.
99. guy - August 26th, 2008 at 6:55 am
scarface? overrated? no no no no no no. no. never.
100. Blacknimbus - August 26th, 2008 at 6:57 am
I don’t disagree with much of the list. I would have probably included Citizen Kane, though. I remember being excited the first time I was able to see it on the big screen during a Film Appreciation class. I liked the direction, but the story didn’t do a lot for me.
And I’d have included Forrest Gump and Silence of the Lambs, but then I’d be repeating myself.
Perhaps 2001 as well? I always compare that in my mind to Solyaris, though, but that’s because I’m a fan of Tarkovsky. I even enjoyed Stalker.
101. KneeDeep - August 26th, 2008 at 7:00 am
fishing4monkeys: Yes I do realise that these lists are ranked in order by the authors opinions. Many of the lists on here however are compiled from factual information that make the subjects informative and enjoyable to read. To read a list based upon someone elses (the authors) opinion on a movie is not interesting in the slightest. Thank you for your negative post though, I thought the people on this site were more intelligent than to start calling people names.
102. bucslim - August 26th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Yeah, Blacknimbus, the most widely accepted, critically acclaimed as the greatest movie of all time should definitely be on a shitty list like this.
And yes, the movie that defined science fiction movies for the next 25 years should be on a shitty list like this too.
Are you out of your mind? Re-up the meds dude!
103. Jay - August 26th, 2008 at 7:03 am
I def. agree with Clerks being over rated and not that funny.
I don’t agree with Sixth Sense being over rated, it is a great movie especially the first time one sees it.
104. Joel - August 26th, 2008 at 7:05 am
I have to admit, apart from Apocalypse Now, I would agree with your entire list. Bold move, putting a few Best Picture winners on there. Like it was said in the list description, even though the films aren’t necessarily “bad,” they don’t deserve the attention they’ve gotten. (well, the Star Trek one is definitely bad; not sure too many people will argue against that).
Example: I rented both Clerks and Reservoir Dogs based on reading positive reviews, plus friends doing the whole “you HAVE to see this movie!” thing. I was seriously disappointed. Reservoir Dogs is only interesting because it isn’t chronological, which isn’t anything new. Pulp Fiction is a much better film. Clerks is “funny” because moronic people say horribly raunchy things for two hours? I turned Clerks off 30 minutes into it because it was the same thing over and over again.
105. cparker - August 26th, 2008 at 7:06 am
There is no way that Apocalypse Now should be above Titanic! At least Apocalypse Now had those great 10 minutes of Kilgore.
106. bucslim - August 26th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Great, my favorite site has now become a salt lick for buffoons.
What’s next a list of overrated directors that includes Kubrick and Fellini?
107. steve wilkos - August 26th, 2008 at 7:08 am
oh list verse, you always leave me disappointed. another list that satisfies a single persons opinions
108. romerozombie - August 26th, 2008 at 7:09 am
…Don’t get me started on Kubrick…
109. romerozombie - August 26th, 2008 at 7:09 am
But Steve, aren’t ALL lists on Listvese of personal opinion? They’re always in an order of preference, so…
110. Blacknimbus - August 26th, 2008 at 7:11 am
“Yeah, Blacknimbus, the most widely accepted, critically acclaimed as the greatest movie of all time should definitely be on a shitty list like this.
And yes, the movie that defined science fiction movies for the next 25 years should be on a shitty list like this too.
Are you out of your mind? Re-up the meds dude!”
Odd reaction. I happen to like good movies, it’s just that Citizen Kane didn’t live up to the hype in my estimation. It seems to end up as number one on a lot of lists, but Touch of Evil was more interesting. Lawrence of Arabia, just to pick one of my favorites out of a hat, was vastly superior. Perhaps I missed the point of the list, but isn’t this about overrated movies and not ’shitty’ films?
I’m glad you liked it…I thought that aside from the storyboarding, it was rather bland. Greatest movie to some people, an interesting film study to me and nothing more. At least I assume that you liked it and didn’t base your opinion on a different list of movies.
It’s a pity that the internet such a lousy method of communication. This kind of list should be a fun topic of discussion, but it hardly ever ends up that way.
111. JUNQUE MAN - August 26th, 2008 at 7:11 am
One scene in Apocalypse Now, going down river and listening to AFN radio. Oh my God did that bring back memories. Loved the movie.
TITANIC-like someone said in an earlier list-THE BOAT SINKS
112. bucslim - August 26th, 2008 at 7:11 am
This should be retitled “I didn’t do any research, but here goes.” Or maybe, “I spilled Red Bull on my keyboard and this is what appeared on the screen when I wiped off the keys.”
113. Cat Skyfire - August 26th, 2008 at 7:12 am
One thing I’ve found is that quite a few movies are awesome or awful, depending on what gender is watching them. Women tend to love Titanic. Men tend to love Apocalypse Now. Both movies tend to be awful to the other gender. (I like Titanic for the historical aspect, and found Apocalypse Now to be dull with large portions of dull on a river, and no relation to Heart of Darkness in the end.) A lot of guys I know love 2001, whereas I nearly fell asleep during it…
114. Cookster - August 26th, 2008 at 7:13 am
well got to hand it to you…you are not biased…
Titanic’s production was one of the best at the that time so I guess that’s the reason for the hype. Never heard of the hype for Shakespeare In Love though.
115. bucslim - August 26th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Blacknimbus, ok I’ll spell it out for you. This is a list of overrated movies. (allegedly) Citizen Kane is regarded by many as the greatest movie ever made. So in conclusion, it shouldn’t even be mentioned on a list of overrated movies. Are we clear now?
116. The Hitman - August 26th, 2008 at 7:17 am
I agree 100% that Apocalype Now is overrated. I also think Kill Bill vol.1 and Clockwork Orange should be included. I thought all three were boring
117. watching - August 26th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Agree with Blacknimbus on Citizen Kane.
Definitely agree on Shakespeare in Love. Could not get into it at all and I usually don’t mind period pieces.
I didn’t think Training Day was particularly over rated but then I haven’t read a lot of hype about it either.
What’s with the criticism about the list writer?
118. Quiana - August 26th, 2008 at 7:20 am
God Father, extremely overrated. I agree with number ten Denzel had a ton of other great movies that got looked over ( Malcolm X maybe?) I think they just chose that one because they knew he was well over due for recognition.
119. Bob - August 26th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Better title for this list: “Top 10 Movies I Think It’d be Cool and Controversial to Say Aren’t Really That Good, Even Though They Actually Are.”
You’re welcome.
And, ooooh, so edgy beating up on Titanic. Pathetic. Welcome to the internet, dude.
120. Tempyra - August 26th, 2008 at 7:21 am
bucslim: An alternate title for this list?
“Movies I don’t like that other people do”
121. Tempyra - August 26th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Bob: Snap
122. Sedulous - August 26th, 2008 at 7:22 am
I love you for making this list. So many movies have been recommended to me, like Scarface, so I rent and watch them only to be sorely disappointed.
123. me - August 26th, 2008 at 7:24 am
fail
124. jerky - August 26th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Wow, I think you’re definition of overrated is a tad bit off. Training Day, Scarface, Resevoir Dogs and a few others(not all) in here are some of the best movies ever. How would you even know? most of the time you’re posting lists on actors and movies that are over 50 years old!!! Not every movie has to have intelligent dialogue or “the routine”, it’s what makes a unique and entertaining movie. People will pay for what they want to see, people liked Titanic, its plot and everything. I really don’t think you’re a good movie critic. This list fails. Most of lists lately have been kind of dull. I’ve sent you various suggestions, because I’m only guessing that’s what you want is suggestions from members. How about the Top 10 most influential human beings of all time or Top 10 places to hide from nuclear war…you know something along the lines of INTERESTING.
125. Blacknimbus - August 26th, 2008 at 7:25 am
“Blacknimbus, ok I’ll spell it out for you. This is a list of overrated movies. (allegedly) Citizen Kane is regarded by many as the greatest movie ever made. So in conclusion, it shouldn’t even be mentioned on a list of overrated movies. Are we clear now?”
This is all opinion, so your apparent contention that hard facts are in play here is erroneous. And you prove that in fact Citizen Kane is the most likely to be overrated because it’s generally considered to be in the top 5 if not number one of all time. How can a movie be consider ‘overrated’ unless it’s, I don’t know, actually good? I don’t think you understand what overrated actually means…it’s hardly pejorative. At least not the way you are interpreting it.
Make your own list…you seem to be bursting to share your wisdom with the world.
126. jerky - August 26th, 2008 at 7:29 am
I really can’t wait to see what retarded ass list you make next.
You should make a list of Top 10 overrated websites!!! You being #1! but it’s your list so you decide.
127. nicklogan - August 26th, 2008 at 7:30 am
why isn’t the Godfather Trilogy not there? geez, I tried watching the first one and fell asleep, I have watch the other two and found that they were all right, nothing to get all wound up about. It is a great story, the movies not so much.
128. Andrey - August 26th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Man lists about movies bring the worst in people.Didnt Jfrater said something about not wanting any more movie listes.
BTW this list is pretty good.Could have been top 15 maybe even 20 but i agree with this list. :)))
129. evolutionaire - August 26th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I wholly agree with every movie listed! …except perhaps Star Trek IV. It’s sci-fi - it’s supposed to be out there (and it really was with the whales).
130. akelly318 - August 26th, 2008 at 7:32 am
i think they’re are way more movies that were more overrated like: SNAKES ON A PLANE! lol
131. Blacknimbus - August 26th, 2008 at 7:33 am
“I really can’t wait to see what retarded ass list you make next.
You should make a list of Top 10 overrated websites!!! You being #1! but it’s your list so you decide.”
Lol…some of you guys really need to relax. This is a list about movies, not politics or religion. Save some of that vitriol…you’ll wear yourself out before you turn 18.
And ‘jerky’, they got you to click the link and make a post. Thanks for the blog traffic, I guess.
132. jst - August 26th, 2008 at 7:33 am
training day by far and above, no oscar material.
titanic, come on now. roger rabbit much better
133. Sedulous - August 26th, 2008 at 7:35 am
I love how butt hurt everyone is over there precious movies being called overrated. So many movies are so much better than all of those on this list. Somebody get these people a box of tissues….
134. Phil - August 26th, 2008 at 7:37 am
2001: mind numbing! Thats my vote.
135. mandysparky - August 26th, 2008 at 7:38 am
This blog is overrared…
136. missey - August 26th, 2008 at 7:38 am
I loved Titanic, I do think it’s over rated at all, ok maybe leo and kate are over rated, but not the movie its self.
I have to agree with The Others. It’s a good movie, but not great like a lot of people made it out to be.
137. ML - August 26th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Number 1 for me is “The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonsai”… My wife loves this movie and has hyped and hyped it for me to watch. But, E-V-E-R-Y-T-I-M-E we sit down to watch it, I fall asleep within 30 minutes. I’ve had to resort to watching it in chunks and still haven’t finished it.
138. A Nun O Miss - August 26th, 2008 at 7:44 am
All of these films are more than just “over-rated” they are over-played on television and over boughten at stores to this day! Stop wasting money on stupid movies and go watch a good movie like Mullholland Drive!
139. Dischuker - August 26th, 2008 at 7:45 am
we should call this list “movies that are popular that shane doesn’t like”. at least that way, people wouldn’t be offended by their baby being called overrated.
140. Mathilda - August 26th, 2008 at 7:45 am
I thought The Others was a very good film. But then, I generally prefer the older, slower-paced, atmospheric films. I do not require explosions or chase scenes every five minutes to keep my attention!
Some of the movies that I feel are over-rated are The Graduate, A Clockwork Orange, and The Deer Hunter. All three of them are supposed to be fabulous movies, and at the end of all three I wanted to demand a refund of those hours of my life that I had wasted watching them!
141. EricB - August 26th, 2008 at 7:48 am
When you think about how much money was spent to make “Clerks,” one can understand a little better why it was rated higher. They did a lot with not very much….
142. Mariya - August 26th, 2008 at 7:49 am
I disagree about “Shakespeare in Love,” I thought it was an absolutely wonderful movie….
But thank god someone finally spoke up about how overrated “Titanic” was!!!
143. loseitbonkers - August 26th, 2008 at 7:52 am
man, someone really dropped the brilliance ball on this list.
apocalypse now is nothing short of a magnum opus.
144. Quiana - August 26th, 2008 at 7:54 am
I didnt know that The Others was popular enough to be considered overrated? I loved Titanic, I’m a woman who loves her chick flicks. I thought Denzels acting was great in trainig day, the movie was just ok though. I love this site because it lets all of us voice our opinion.
145. Yikkity - August 26th, 2008 at 7:54 am
I TOTALLY agree with Scarface. Although I own it and LOVE Al Pacino I think the hype of it has led people to believe it is one of the best gangster movies off all time. To be honest I personally think Casino, Goodfellas, Heat, and Carlito’s Way was better.
146. Quiana - August 26th, 2008 at 7:58 am
140 Mathilda. I have never seen a clockwork orange and I want to see it badly because I still hear all the hype about it today. Im sad to hear its overrated
147. BrotherMan - August 26th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Finally, someone has told the world (or atleast the universe
) the truth about some of Hollywood’s supposed greatest films. Damn fine list, Shane. Damn fine indeed.
I hate Titanic. Not because of the ‘over-night sensation’ of the film. Not because of it’s place on IMDB’s list, which is way too high in my opinion. No.
The reason that I hate Titanic is because that film was so critically acclaimed that it bled over into my senior prom night. Yup, our senior prom’s theme song for 1998 could have and should have been Cindy Lauper’s song Time After Time, but nooooooo Celine Dion’s song My Heart Will Go On was the hit of the night…over-night sensation.
We sat down at a table during that song in a sort of silent protest. Not like that made any kind of difference, but hey, I enjoyed my prom night otherwise.
148. Callie - August 26th, 2008 at 8:01 am
disc-
I really think I’m the only one in the world who doesn’t like that movie..it jsut really did nothing for me and everyone else thinks it’s an uberbig deal..Just my opinion that it’s overrrated, but if I wrote this list I’d never put it on there, as I know how many people like it. Although if there is ever a “calle’s most overrated films” list, oy can bet money that’ll be number one.
And Snakes on a Plane was wonderful, and here’s why. I got what I paid for. There were snakes, and they were on a plane. Pure and simple, great movie.
149. eraserhead - August 26th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Apocalypse Now is not overrated.
“a sad boring film that doesn’t do “Heart of Darkness” any justice”
Shane: Did you even read Heart of Darkness? I’m sick of seeing movies that try and match the book page for page. They are doomed from the start. Its people like Coppola, Milius and Herr who we need writing screenplays from books. They took what was at the core of Conrad’s book and translated it beautifully to reflect the current time. I just don’t think you get it, yet. Sad and boring? Pop in an adderall and watch it again. Not the redux though…its overrated.
150. Callie - August 26th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Quiana-
Go ahead and see it, it’s reallllly good. Read the book first though, but just a warning you may have to print out an online dictionary for the first couple chapters until you understand all the words. I think you can google Clockwork Orange dictionaries.
151. Yikkity - August 26th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I TOTALLY agree with Scarface! Although I love Al Pacino and the movie I believe the hype of it all has led people to believe that it is the best gangster movie ever. To be honest…I personally believe that Heat and Carlito’s Way was better. Even Goodfellas was better
152. scaramouche - August 26th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Yeah, I think Fight Club should be on this list, way overrated. I agree with all of these choices, though. I didn’t think The Others was that popular to begin with, anyways.
Aso, if you notice, most of these movies are in frequent sydication on television…
153. toodleloo - August 26th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Great list, but you made 2 mistakes…
(1) Should be on: CLOCKWORK ORANGE - The awfulness of this movie cannot be overstated, but let me try: Awful, awful, awful, etc., etc., etc.
(2) Should be off: SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE - I still swoon thinking about this movie!
154. Quiana - August 26th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Thanks Callie, will do!! I would much rather read the book first anyway. The books are usually better.
155. Dow - August 26th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Man you have no depth of film knowledge. The vast majority of acclaimed critics, writers, and actors would heartily disagree with you. This list is too much of a 1 person perspective than a well-rounded presentation that lists on this site should be.
156. Chucklhead05 - August 26th, 2008 at 8:13 am
OCean’s Thirteen should be on this lest. It was unecessary, and I think that Titanic should be at the #1 slot. Plot? THE BOAT SANK! I only wanted to see the last 30 miinutes for the effects…
157. Dow - August 26th, 2008 at 8:14 am
JFrater–
Received the movie–Once Upon A Time in the West. Amazing.
Many thanks for the competition prize!!!!
–Dow
158. mooples - August 26th, 2008 at 8:18 am
another movie i thought was rediculously overrated was boondock saints. it’s really not even close to good. oooh they have a little saying, ooooh they’re irish (scottish? don’t care) the movie is boring.
159. Matt P - August 26th, 2008 at 8:18 am
the hype that surrounds clerks isn’t because of the intelligent dialouge, but mainly due to the fact that they only had something like $35,000 to make it, and succeded, if clerks is number 2 then by logic the blair witch project would have to be number 1, every other film i would probably agree on
160. wow - August 26th, 2008 at 8:18 am
worse list ever.
please stop watching movies.
161. Cat Skyfire - August 26th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Here’s an idea. For those who say ‘this sucks, how about a list on ____’…go create a list. Really.
162. James - August 26th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Most overrated: Dark Knight.
Nowhere near as good as Batman Begins.
As good as Heath was his performance was quite similar to Brandon Lee in The Crow. (Another movie overrated due to death. The film would have been better if it didn’t have to work around his mid shoot death.)
163. JB - August 26th, 2008 at 8:22 am
119. Bob:
I vote for your title.
I didn’t know Star Trek IV was rated at all. Is one of the worst Star Trek movies, many people agree.
Even Titanic and Shakespeare in Love are what they wanted to be: bad twee commercial films.
About Apocalypse Now … let me see…
Nerdy guy: Hi Shane!
Shane: Hi. I’m going to see Apocalypse Now couse I’ve just read Heart of Darkness
Ng: I don’t know what Heart of Darkness is but the movie is much better. Is so good that you’ll have to boot your eyes out after watching it.
Shane: Don’t worry I just want to see some action with a famous cast without wondering if the movie is telling me any deeper message. So I will enjoy it for sure…
¬¬
130. akelly318:
snakes on a plane will never be rated enough XD
164. MT - August 26th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Cool. Another list guaranteed to generate a lot of responses. Add these movies to the next list:
Fight Club
Do the Right Thing
Shawshank Redemption
Star Wars
Pulp Fiction
Metropolis
A ClockWork Orange
165. Thomas - August 26th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Where is Batman : The Dark Knight ?
166. warningdontreadthis - August 26th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Seriously who wrote this list?
I need to kick his(her) ass.
167. Cambrex101 - August 26th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I love Shakespeare in Love, Titanic and Reservoir Dogs!
And I think that MT (comment 164) is absolutely wrong about most of the movies he suggested.
I suggest Forrest Gump.
That movie isn’t even good, but everyone loves it.
Whyyyyyyyyyy?
168. Marcelo - August 26th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Your forgot The English Patient. One of the most boring filmes I’ve watched. Everybody loved it. I felt like an alien when I told people what I think of the movie at the time, almost just like Elaine in Seinfeld that was ostricised and lost her job because of her dislike of the movie.
169. Cdavis - August 26th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Awesome list!! Not only clerks, but ANY kevin smith movie is overrated.
170. Sgt. Batguano - August 26th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Love the list even though I don’t agree with Reservoir Dogs, Star Trek IV (campy fun), Clerks, and Apocalypse Now. If you remember that Apocalypse now was in 1979, just a short time after the US finally got out of Vietanm. That was pretty cutting edge stuff for the day (IMDB has Kramer vs. Kramer & the Muppet Movie as the top grossing films of 1979).
Chicago is a great example of many movies that I classify as overrated. The whole time I watched it kept thinking, “This is a decent movie, but I am not sure why it is so hyped.” Moulin Rouge is one of the few movies in the last ten years that I bailed on…in fact, give Nicole her own section. Her bad acting in Eyes Wide Shut really stands out in a film filled with faults and disappointments.
Shakespeare in Love – Turd.
Garrett: Interesting call on Star Wars. I like the film, but the acting is awful!
Skipps: Good call on Little Miss Sunshine. I like dark comedies, but not depressing comedies (John Cusack I’m looking right at you).
I am in the tank for Kubrick (note my handle) but I understand that he does not have universal appeal. I was recently flipping channels and came across Path of Glory (1957). I missed the opening credits and was not familiar with the movie but I still found it compelling. I thought the battle scenes were very impressive for the time and the subject matter (WWI). It was only at the end that I saw it was directed by Stan the Man.
171. Ravyn - August 26th, 2008 at 8:36 am
I love alot of these movies…. am I overrated? But then I do tend to like alot of movies. I don’t know, maybe it is just me. I don’t listen to what other people say good or bad, I will watch the movie for myself and make my own decision.
172. tractorbeam - August 26th, 2008 at 8:37 am
so reservoir dogs is overrated and pulp fiction isn’t. ok.
well, i for one do not agree
173. Andrea - August 26th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Hopefully this hasn’t been mentioned already, but who really reads the comments down here anyway? Cloverfield was highly, highly overrated. I was totally let down when I saw that movie, as was about everyone who bought into the hype on the internet. Bad acting, weak plot, and the monster was not even that cool
174. Ren - August 26th, 2008 at 8:41 am
I think that the Godfather and the Dark Knight are very overrated but are still very good. I disagree with Clerks and Reservoir Dogs but I haven’t seen most of the others except for Scarface which I agree is overrated but still good. Clerks is one of my favorite movies.
175. BOOOOO - August 26th, 2008 at 8:45 am
other than training day and chicago, you are an idiot.
176. Sharki - August 26th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I actually enjoyed “Shakespear in Love”. I think the only reason it catches so much flack is because it won Best Picture, an honor it really didn’t deserve.
177. REHuntJr - August 26th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Forrest Gump is overrated. The gimmick of inserting Tom Hanks into historical footage is cute but the story is as light as the feather that opens and closes it. It’s also extremely anti-intellectual … All the good things happen to the stupid guy while all the bad things happen to the smart girl. Hmmmm.
Crash is also overrated. It could have been a Lifetime made-for-TV movie and no one would have known the difference.
178. Dischuker - August 26th, 2008 at 8:50 am
this might be heresy to some, but i got blade runner for winning a competition here, thanks jayfray, but it was pretty bad. fell asleep twice.
179. misterscratch - August 26th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Star Wars is not overrated. Love it or hate it, it permanentaly changed the film industry and the series is still remains a benchmark for all scifi films.
Star Trek IV should not be on this list, not because its a good movie (it ain’t) but because it is not overrated. Who is overrating this movie? It didn’t win awards, doesn’t appear on any top scifi film lists and I don’t think it is even a favorite among Trekkies. What it does have the distinction of being is the highest grossing Trek film, but that isn’t saying much.
Crash should take its place, this is my pic for worst Best Picture. Titanic is overrated, no doubt, but it is an entertaining movie for what it is and what it tries to be. I don’t agree with it winning Best Picture, but I can understand why, it is old-fashioned Hollywood spectacle that made a lot of money. Crash on the other hand is garbage, poorly written, heavy handed trash. Racism is bad? Gee, thanks for letting me know, Haggis.
180. MovieCritic - August 26th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Seriously, who wrote this claptrap. They should never be allowed near a keyboard or movie theater ever again. Dear god.
181. lukeg37 - August 26th, 2008 at 8:53 am
I 100% agree with Scareface… actually should have been #1 on the list. Goddam I do I hate the fandom surrounding this flick. Yes it was a good movie for its time in history but good god everywhere I go its Scareface poster this, scareface t-shirt that. Why they hell does every gangster wanna be badass hold this movie in such high regard. IF you never saw this movie 15 plus years ago and are just watching it for the first time today you would be completely dumfounded. That last statement really constitutes everything on this list. Everyone one of the forementioned movies are GOOD flicks but unless you were one of the special first ones to see then they just dont hold up againts the hype.
182. Cheeshygirl - August 26th, 2008 at 8:59 am
I’m actually surprised at some of the meanness flying from the fingers of some of the regulars here at ListVerse. Telling people not to post their opinions, calling them buffoons, and generally bashing the list writer isn’t necessary. Geez, you guys should know better. Most of the lists on here are based on opinions and the great thing about this site is that we can all agree to disagree and enjoy the friendly and mostly intelligent banter. Well, at least, it used to be that way. Seems like some of the newer commentors are rubbing off on the veterans, IMO. Meh, what can you do? I think I’ll just slink back over to the forums and IRC and leave you all to duke it out here. *retreats to her comfy home away from home*