Static Media/Getty Images
Steven Spielberg is a name that is synonymous with cinematic gold. From the inception of the blockbuster with “Jaws” in 1975, Spielberg has been a consistent hitmaker, delivering classics like “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981), and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982). Even the dark and violent “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984) was a box office success, despite shocking some viewers and receiving mixed critical reviews. However, Spielberg’s seemingly flawless career has not been without its share of criticism.
In Spielberg’s filmography, “1941,” a war comedy made in 1979, sits between “Close Encounters” and “Raiders.” Despite boasting an ensemble cast of Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, John Belushi, John Candy, and Christopher Lee, the film failed to impress critics. Yet, it managed to earn three times its production budget, grossing $94 million worldwide.
Fast forward 45 years, “1941” is now one of Spielberg’s lowest-rated films on Rotten Tomatoes. However, this was just an early hiccup in Spielberg’s otherwise stellar career, as evidenced by Rotten Tomatoes’ ranking of his films.
Rotten Tomatoes’ Verdict on Steven Spielberg’s 1941
Universal Pictures
“1941” attempted to extract comedy from American post-Pearl Harbor fear, which unsurprisingly led to a less than impressive RT score. Currently, “1941” holds a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on just 28 reviews. Of these, only three are from “top critics,” two of which actually liked the film. Ian Freer of Empire even praised the film as being “blessed with the buzz of brilliance.” However, despite the comedic cast and the writing prowess of Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, “1941” was not a critical success. Vincent Canby of the New York Times described it as “less comic than cumbersome” and “as much fun as a 40-pound wrist-watch.”
Nevertheless, a 39% rating is not the worst when compared to other low scores on Rotten Tomatoes. For instance, John Travolta has seven films with a 0% rating. Even Ridley Scott’s filmography includes a regrettable 26% rated movie. Yet, 39% is not Spielberg’s lowest score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Potential Classic: Hook
TriStar Pictures
After “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” audiences questioned if the Spielberg they knew still existed. His films, once a celebration of childhood wonder, had taken a dark turn with “Temple of Doom,” which featured literal violence against children. However, much of this darkness was attributed to George Lucas’ script. Spielberg himself expressed dissatisfaction with the film, stating, “I wasn’t happy with ‘Temple of Doom’ at all. It was too dark […] There’s not an ounce of my personal feeling in ‘Temple of Doom.'”
The films that followed, “The Color Purple” and “Empire of the Sun,” were much more somber than “E.T.” or “Raiders.” Spielberg, who had become a father in 1985, seemed to have matured, leading to a shift in his creative approach. However, by the late-’80s, Spielberg was ready to bring to life his long-awaited passion project: a live-action Peter Pan adaptation. “Hook” (1991) was set to be a triumphant return to Spielberg’s fascination with childhood. Sadly, the film is now Spielberg’s lowest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes.
Spielberg’s Lowest-rated Film on Rotten Tomatoes
TriStar Pictures
As of now, “Hook” has a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 65 reviews, 18 of which are from “top critics.” The film features Robin Williams as Peter Banning, a middle-aged lawyer who has forgotten his childhood. When Captain Hook, played by Dustin Hoffman, kidnaps his children, Peter is forced to return to Neverland and rediscover his childhood. The film serves as an allegory for the loss of innocence that comes with adulthood. Despite its box office success, the film did not live up to the expectations of being a Spielberg classic.
Critics were harsh on “Hook,” as reflected by its standing as Spielberg’s lowest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times wrote, “It has clearly gotten harder for this director to break free of the lure of material things and believe in simple magic.” Similarly, Roger Ebert gave the film two stars, calling it a “lugubrious retread of a once-magical idea.”
Is Hook Really That Bad?
New Line Cinema
It may not be surprising to learn that “Hook” is Spielberg’s lowest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes. Spielberg himself admitted he lacked confidence in most of the script while filming. However, a 29% rating, while not great, is far from the worst in Hollywood. The film’s actual average rating on Rotten Tomatoes is 4.5 out of ten, a slight improvement from the 29% rating.
Years after its release, Spielberg remains regretful, telling Entertainment Weekly in 2011, “There are parts of Hook I love. I’m really proud of my work right up through Peter being hauled off in the parachute out the window, heading for Neverland. I’m a little less proud of the
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
