Horror movies are often a hit or miss with viewers. While horror franchises such as Scream and The Conjuring have been going strong for decades, other horror films fail to meet audiences' expectations for subjective reasons. Whether it's the plot, the performances, or their general unsavoriness, these horror films go on to be negatively reviewed by critics.

Update October 13, 2023: It's Friday the 13th and Halloween season, so this article has been updated with even more horror films that critics dismissed but audiences embraced.

Ironically, sometimes, these same horror movies gather a cult following by fans who come to appreciate their unique take on the genre. Arguably, more than any other genre, there tends to be a big divide between horror fans and critics. Here are thirteen horror movies that critics hated but the audience loved.

13 Scream 3 (2000)

Scream 3 was definitely a controversial topic among audiences upon its release. It took the story to Hollywood and diverted from Scream's usual self-awareness and the whodunit formula to instead present themes of abuse and power dynamics in Hollywood. While critics tore the script to shreds, claiming that it lacked Scream's formulaic style to instead explore social commentaries that felt out of place, fans, on the other hand, loved several elements of the film.

From Jennifer Jolie's exuberance, the way it singled out abusive Hollywood execs through its fictional character, John Milton, and touching on the cutthroat lifestyle aspiring actors endure while trying to make it big in the film industry, countless fans deemed Scream 3 an ambitious redirection for the franchise.

12 I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

Not long after Scream carved a fair share out of the box office and revived horror for a new generation, filmmakers eager to jump on the renewed interest in horror adapted a young adult novel starring some of the hottest up-and-coming actors at the time. The result was I Know What You Did Last Summer, and while audiences flocked to theaters, critics did their best to discourage audiences, calling it "mostly tedious," according to Rotten Tomatoes. While it's not as cherished by horror fans as Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer was popular enough to spawn a handful of sequels, a television series, and an upcoming legacy sequel.

11 Halloween Kills (2021)

Halloween Kills quickly gained a cult following despite it being barely two years old. When it was originally released, both fans and critics tore it apart on IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, and other rating sites. Most of the backlash for Halloween Kills resulted from its bumbling plot and Laurie Strode's absence throughout most of the action, being relegated to a hospital room.

Nevertheless, loyal fans of the franchise praised it for living up to its name, with Michael Myers being the deadliest he's ever been in a Halloween movie. Once Halloween Ends was released, many fans (and even critics) reevaluated the cinematic value of Halloween Kills, specifically for actually featuring Michael Myers throughout most of its runtime as opposed to sidelining him to favor a new character, as Halloween Ends does with Corey Cunningham. Also, many were more willing to look back at the movie's commentary on mob violence.

10 Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knight (1995)

Tales From the Crypt was a popular series for HBO back in the day, so much so that it led to a theatrical movie titled Demon Knight starring Billy Zane and Jada Pinkett Smith. Critics immediately rushed to crucify the film, calling it dead on arrival. However, audiences were drawn to its blend of humor and horror and for its clever depiction of one of the first final girls of color. It remains a cult favorite for many horror fans today.

9 The Last House on the Left (1972)

The Last House on the Left remains a sensitive topic even to this day. During its time of release, it met negative criticism from audiences and critics alike, comparing the movie to an exploitation film riddled with needless violence and degradation towards its two leads, Mari and Phyllis. Through time and the growing popularity of horror and Wes Craven, The Last House on the Left has gained a cult following, with audiences and modern critics appreciating its raw depiction of vulnerable prey caught in life-and-death situations.

8 Final Destination (2000)

Final Destination is another early aught's horror flick that rode the coattails of Scream's success. Even though it was a box office hit and inspired its own franchise, Final Destination was hated by critics upon its release, mostly because they felt its plot of teens being stalked by Death was too gimmicky with an uninspired cast. Audiences disagreed, and its audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is almost double its rating on the Tomatometer. Another sequel is even in the works 23 years later.

7 Freddy Vs. Jason (2003)

Freddy Vs. Jason is more of a dark comedy than a horror movie, turning its titular villains into caricatures. Avid horror fans criticized its lack of seriousness but praised its dark comedy and the featured fight between Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees by the film's climax. Critics had virtually nothing positive to say about the film, deeming it a cinematic failure due to its convoluted plot, poorly developed characters, and the ridiculousness of having Freddy and Jason fight to the death. Yet after twenty years, the movie remains a beloved entry in both film franchises and also faired better than the following year's monster smackdown, Alien vs. Predator.

6 Jason X (2002)

Not many would have thought that Camp Crystal Lake's notorious serial killer would make his way to outer space (granted, he did make it to Manhattan at one point). Jason X feels like a combination of all the worst elements in Alien, The Fifth Element, Terminator, and other sci-fi classics; in short, it's a mess from beginning to end, and audiences loved that. While critics cited that it was the point of no return for the Friday the 13th franchise, horror fans loved its ridiculousness, from its campy characters and the brutal kills to Jason's new and improved high-tech hockey mask.

5 Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

The original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre remains one of the most shocking horror masterpieces ever. Its remake... not so much. While the film itself is a decent remake with solid performances by Jessica Biel and R. Lee Ermey, critics' consensus was that it failed to meet the ominous tone of the 1974 original, instead opting for gratuitous gore and redundant chase sequences to deliver horror.

Audiences, on the other hand, enjoyed its cohesive script, nuanced heroes and villains, and the overall seriousness of the film. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake was a big hit at the box office and ushered in a new era for horror remakes that dominated the 2000s.

4 Jennifer's Body (2009)

When Jennifer's Body hit theaters in 2009, it seemed to have all the ingredients for a successful box office run: a popular cast, brilliant screenplay, and horror-smart director. However, critics and many viewers lambasted this clever horror comedy, which has since found a devoted cult following. Although Megan Fox received a lot of criticism at the time of its release, audiences have since discovered that she is quite excellent and well-cast in the role of a sexy high schooler possessed by a man-eating demon.

The movie's exploration of reclaiming your power and discovering yourself also resonates with modern audiences, who have since declared it a feminist classic. Time has been very kind to this film, and it is now highly regarded horror satire.

3 Saw (2004)

When the first film in the Saw franchise was released in 2004, most critics called it "cruelly empty," "demented," and "more mean than profound," according to Rotten Tomatoes. Flash forward nearly 20 years and nine sequels later, proving that audiences disagreed. This small horror movie from James Wan and Leigh Whannell launched their careers and has become a favorite of many horror fans thanks to its unique premise (at the time) of mixing a police procedural and a creepy pasta-style villain with lots of gore and blood.

2 The Shining (1980)

The Shining is now regarded as one of the greatest horror films of all time, another great film from legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. Yet at the time of its release, the reviews were more mixed to negative, and the film even earned two Razzie nominations, including Worst Director for Stanley Kubrick and Worst Actress for Shelly Duvall. While it was a moderate hit at the time, it later gained a passionate fanbase and was quickly critically reevaluated to be considered a masterpiece.

1 The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter's The Thing is considered by most horror fans to be a masterpiece, and if not a masterpiece, then at least a fun watch that tops their favorite horror films lists. However, this beloved classic received an icy reception from critics when it was released in 1982, which hurt its box office. Time labeled Carpenter's first studio film as “an exercise in abstract art” while Roger Ebert called it “a great barf-bag movie." Today, there are fan sites devoted to the movie, and it celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022 with a theatrical re-release, thanks to Fathom Events.