RETROSPECT: For the Audience (or, Sandler, Snyder & Hughes)

Taking after my recent piece on Michael Bay, the following showcases the highest-rated audience scores from Rotten Tomatoes for three cinema figures who also represent a significant difference between strong audience response and divisive critical reception: actor/comedian Adam Sandler, DC Universe auteur Zack Snyder, and the late writer/director/producer John Hughes (the latter being a possible lone exception). And while that doesn't excuse the fact that many of these films are not recommended, the receptions are intriguing nonetheless. 

WRITER'S NOTE: The list of Snyder films doesn't include 2017's Justice League, as that "theatrical" version wasn't the true release. Neither will movies that Snyder served solely as executive producer be included. 

Adam Sandler 

(actor/writer/producer) 

1. Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh (2018)
Audience Score: 91%
(Critical Score: 90%)

2. Happy Gilmore (1996)
Audience Score: 85%
(Critical Score: 61%) 

3. Reign Over Me (2007)
Audience Score: 81%
(Critical Score: 61%)

4. The Wedding Singer (1998)
Audience Score: 80%
(Critical Score: 69%)

5. Billy Madison (1995)
Audience Score: 79%
(Critical Score: 41%)

6. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Audience Score: 77%
(Critical Score: 79%)

7. Big Daddy (1999)
Audience Score: 74%
(Critical Score: 39%)

8. The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)
Audience Score: 72%
(Critical Score: 93%)

9. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Audience Score: 71%
(Critical Score: 45%)

10. The Waterboy (1998) 
Audience Score: 71%
(Critical Score: 33%)

Zack Snyder

(director/writer/producer) 

1. Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021, director) 

Audience: 94% 

(Critical: 71%) 

2. 300 (2007, director/co-writer) 

Audience: 89% 

(Critical: 61%) 

3. Wonder Woman (2017, producer) 

Audience: 83% 

(Critical: 93%) 

4. Dawn of the Dead (2004, director) 

Audience: 77% 

(Critical: 76%) 

5. Army of the Dead (2021, director/writer/producer/cinematographer) 

Audience: 75% 

(Critical: 67%) 

6. Man of Steel (2013, director) 

Audience: 75% 

(Critical: 56%) 

7. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020, producer) 

Audience: 73% 

(Critical: 58%) 

8. Watchmen (2009, director) 

Audience: 71%

(Critical: 65%) 

9. Army of Thieves (2021, producer, writer)

Audience: 69% 

(Critical: 68%) 

10. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010, director) 

Audience: 63% 

(Critical: 52%) 

John Hughes

(director/writer/producer) 

1. The Breakfast Club (1985)
Audience Score: 92%
(Critical Score: 89%)

2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) 
Audience Score: 92% 
(Critical Score: 81%)

3. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) 
Audience Score: 87% 
(Critical Score: 92%)

4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) 

Audience Score: 86%

(Critical Score: 67%)

5. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
Audience Score: 85%
(Critical Score: 93%)

6. Sixteen Candles (1984)
Audience Score: 85%
(Critical Score: 83%) 

7. Pretty In Pink (1986)
Audience Score: 81% 
(Critical Score: 73%)

8. Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

Audience Score: 80%

(Critical Score: 75%) 

9. Home Alone (1990) 

Audience Score: 80% 

(Critical Score: 67%)

10. Uncle Buck (1989) 

Audience Score: 76% 

(Critical Score: 64%)