The top 5 money-making 2000s movies that critiques disliked, ranked by box office

The movies of the 2000s witnessed remarkable financial success in the cinema industry. With groundbreaking technological advancements and visually captivating blockbusters, this era resonated with audiences, leading to the emergence of billion-dollar movie hits. However, not all highest-grossing films of the 2000s appeased the critical eyes. Despite their box office triumphs, some of these movies were considered disappointments by critics, resulting in mixed reviews and unflattering opinions. Let's explore the top five highest-grossing films of the 2000s that fell under the critical radar.

5. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Worldwide Box Office: $760,006,945 USD

Based on Dan Brown's controversial mystery novel, "The Da Vinci Code" follows a Harvard professor unraveling a religious secret guarded by a clandestine society for centuries, which potentially challenges Christianity's foundations. Despite its financial success, critics deemed director Ron Howard's interpretation underwhelming. The film earned a mere 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Score of 46 on Metacritic. Critics argued that Howard failed to effectively capture the captivating essence of Brown's thought-provoking book. Among the thrillers of the decade, this movie stood out as one of the least acclaimed.

4. 2012 (2009)

Worldwide Box Office: $791,217,826 USD

In 2009, the concept of the forthcoming apocalypse in 2012 still haunted the minds of some individuals. Sensing an opportunity, Hollywood capitalized on this fear by producing "2012," a catastrophic epic directed by Roland Emmerich. The film portrays a struggling writer's journey to protect his family amidst a series of global disasters that threaten human existence. While the movie performed tremendously well at the box office, amassing close to $800 million in international revenue, critics were less enthused. They criticized Emmerich's direction as dull, the story as excessively bloated, and the runtime as unnecessarily long. Although disaster epics can be striking, their impact relies heavily on a well-crafted script, something that critics believed "2012" lacked. Consequently, the film holds a disappointing rating of 39% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Score of 49 on Metacritic.

3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Worldwide Box Office: $836,303,693 USD

Except for its initial installment, Michael Bay's "Transformers" franchise didn't attain high critical acclaim. In "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," the film's protagonist, Sam Witwicky, attempts to lead a normal life but is drawn back into the war between the Autobots and Decepticons, relying on his friends for protection. Despite its staggering box office success, "Revenge of the Fallen" is far from being considered one of the best action movies of the 2000s, or even a good one. Critics heavily criticized its excessively loud tone and inadequately written script. With appalling ratings of 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 35 on Metacritic, the film clearly failed to impress the discerning eyes of critics.

2. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)

Worldwide Box Office: $886,686,817 USD

Before its decline, Blue Sky Studios created the immensely successful "Ice Age" animated movie franchise. Within this franchise, "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" stands as the highest-grossing installment, captivating audiences with prehistoric adventures. The film portrays the beloved prehistoric crew venturing into an underground world in pursuit of saving Sid the sloth from the clutches of a dinosaur kidnapper. Critics awarded this movie a decent rating of 46% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Score of 50 on Metacritic, appreciating the impressive animation and the fun design of dinosaurs. However, they also criticized the predictable storyline and forgettable characters, regarding it as more suitable for younger audiences.

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

Worldwide Box Office: $960,996,492 USD

Following the unexpected success of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," audiences and critics had high expectations for its sequels. Financially, the sequels met these expectations, particularly "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." The movie, the third installment of the series, portrays the pirates' journey to the edge of the world in search of the missing Captain Jack Sparrow, amassing nearly a billion dollars worldwide. However, while audiences adored the film's epic action and intricate story of deceit and betrayal, critics found these very qualities tiresome. Many felt that the simple charm that distinguished the original had dissipated. Despite the polarizing opinions, "At World's End" undeniably left an indelible mark as one of the highest-grossing 2000s movie spectacles.

In conclusion, the highest-grossing films of the 2000s didn't always garner critical acclaim. Despite their financial triumphs, movies like "The Da Vinci Code," "2012," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs," and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" bore the weight of critical disapproval. Nevertheless, these movies retain their status as unforgettable contributions to the cinematic landscape of that era.

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