13 movies critics adored – but audiences told them they were wrong

At its best, film criticism can deepen or enrich a viewing experience, help people understand the wider context of a film, or even explore a personal connection to the subject matter.

For many people, however, the purpose of film critics is to act as something like consumer advice gurus – someone to turn to when you need to simply know whether a film is worth watching.

Unfortunately, critics and viewers don’t always agree.

There are plenty of instances in which critics have poured scorn on a great film, only for audiences to embrace it as a classic.

But there’s also the other type of disagreement: when critics heap praise on the next cinematic masterpiece, only for