In an era of Rotten Tomatoes dominances and sometimes importance when it comes to the success of a film.
Despite the fact, I think the algorithm is all wrong and it should be a 50/50 split so anything 50% and below should be rotten and 50% up is fresh.
This idea came from when ScreenRant Editor/Social Media Stephen M. Colbert posted this question and I was utterly shocked by A Knight’s Tale is rotten on Rotten Tomatoes.
So I decided to look and see what other films that I enjoy and are certified rotten but they shouldn’t be.
Notable mention includes Suicide Squad (27%), Batman v Superman (28%) and most recently 2019 adaptation of The Lion King (52%).
A Knight’s Tale (2001) – 58%
The film that sparked the idea and I can’t understand why A Knight’s Tale is only at 58%!
Granted it’s on the higher end of rotten, but rotten all the same and it just shouldn’t be.
The film had a promising, young leading man in Heath Ledger, who is one of the best actors of our generation and would have had more Oscars to his name. Ledger had a fantastic supporting cast including Alan Tudyk and Paul Bettany.
The film’s funny and incredibly entertaining with a great love story and story about friendship with the inclusion of modern beats like Queen’s We Will Rock You and the dance scene using David Bowie’s Golden Years.
If the film was released today and I can it being around the 70-85% bracket become certified fresh.
American Pie 2 (2001) – 52%
American Pie is an iconic in the teen sex comedy genre, even though it’s not better or iconic I do think the sequel is as good.
It still has that quality of the original of jokes and the soundtrack is utterly awesome. Meanwhile, the story focuses on how friendships change once you leave high school and go into college.
You start growing up and just need one last great time with your closest friends before you become adults and grow apart.
Elsewhere, seeing the love story between Jim and Michelle grow is sweet and shows that while Nadia was Jim’s ultimate lust girl, Michelle is his soulmate.
If the film was released today as a sequel to an iconic teen sex comedy I do think it’ll have some issues as we’re the Time’s Up/MeToo era and films like Blockers and Booksmart does the genre well.
Then some of the jokes would full flat and would probably offend people. So I don’t see the percentage growing that much but a 60-63% rating is possible.
The Girl Next Door (2004) – 56%
Another teen sex comedy/coming-of-age that doesn’t get the respect and is forgotten which is a massive shame as I rewatched the film yesterday (25th July) and it’s a forgotten gem.
It’s a truly beautiful love story and it was the first film that I saw that openly talked about the porn industry. Additionally, this movie is sexy and handles the sex scene beautifully, the movie makes you full in love with the lead Eliza Cuthbert.
It’s also funny and the satirical look at the sex education.
If the film were to come out today it possible it would get a lower rating but I think the way they handle Cuthbert’s character would bring in it up to a possible 65-69%.
The Lone Ranger (2013) – 31%
Honestly, I don’t get the 31% rating I highly enjoy this film.
The Lone Ranger is incredibly entertaining it showcases why Armie Hammer should be a leading man and carries the film, the action is brilliant and has funny moments.
The only thing that ruins it is the back-and-forth in the eras and Johnny Depp as Tonto.
I believe a rating of 61% is so much fairer.
King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (2017) – 31%
If you don’t like this movie then you’re wrong.
It’s Lock, Stock in Arthurian lore, a great performance by Charlie Hunnam and an all-round entertaining film with some off CGI granted.
However, I think 31% is an unfair score and do believe if the behind the scenes issues this film had and was released on time and focus making one film instead of thinking of a franchise.
On the other hand, we could have Idris Elba as Merlin!!
So I believe the film should’ve just gotten into the fresh rating of 60-63%.
Space Jam (1996) – 43%
This 43% rating is utterly disrespectful to a truly iconic kids movie.
Space Jam had the best of both worlds, Looney Tunes, basketball legend Michael Jordan and we can’t forget the massive tune of Quad City DJ’s Space Jam.
It also had a great Seal song Fly Like An Eagle and while R Kelly is a complete piece of shit, I Believe I Can Fly is a classic.
Jordan can’t act for the life of him but that doesn’t matter because it’s about the Looney Tunes and the first time I was introduced to Bill Murray.
So this movie sure is a 75% rated film at least.
Taken (2009) – 58%
The reason we have older actors doing action films and began this sub-genre for Liam Neeson.
It’s just a great example of how to do an action film.
So the 58% is a low score and should be a 65-70% rated film.
The Mummy (1999) – 59%
When researching I was generally surprised to see The Mummy was rotten because it’s hard to understand and shows that maybe the site should change things.
Because Universal turned their classic horror characters and gave new life to it with new generations by basically making it an Indiana Jones film.
Brandon Fraser is the perfect Indiana Jones character and it was the film everyone fell in love with Rachel Weitz. Additionally, it was funny, action-packed and good time movie.
So if it was coming out this summer I do think it would a massive success and get a fresher rating of 75-80%.
Scooby-Doo (2002) – 30%
This is the lowest rated film on this list and while I thought it would be rotten when researching but I did think it would’ve been high 50’s and not 30%.
The casting is perfect Freddie Prize Jr is the perfect Fred and Matthew Lillard is the animated Shaggy come to life. Furthermore, it gave boys there first crush in Linda Cardellini’s Velma and planted the seed of is Velma sexy? Turned out, yes she is.
It’s just a shame we ever have gotten that R-rated idea James Gunn was floating around with this cast and while I couldn’t see until a few years later it could’ve been fresh and different.
It hopefully something we could see in the future.
It kept the heart of the cartoon and was perfect for kids and for that and if it was released today I could see it being a 60-65% fresh movie.
Saban’s Power Rangers (2017) – 50%
2017’s Power Rangers is another great example of how the Tomatometer needs to change as it split the critics straight down the middle and is a lot better than we all thought.
A large part is because it had the heart of the 90s show and the young cast were fantastic making future stars of Naomi Scott and Dacre Montgomery and tackled social issues like Becky G’s gay Yellow Ranger and then you had RJ Cyler’s autistic Blue Ranger.
The only downside was Elizabeth Banks’ Rita Repulsa. who was in a completely different movie but that shouldn’t knock the percentage down that much and if the film was more loved we could’ve had a sequel that could’ve been released this year.
So I believe a rating of 65-70% is fairer.
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