The 10 Most Overrated Movies of the 21st Century

Every so often, a movie lands with sky-high praise, only to leave us wondering what all the fuss was about. The 21st century has no shortage of films that rode waves of critical or fan adoration but didn’t quite deliver the goods. These aren’t flops—just movies that promised greatness and fell short of their glowing reputations.

I’ve rounded up 10 films from the 2000s onward that feel overhyped. Whether it’s weak storytelling, overhyped visuals, or unearned awards, these movies didn’t match their buzz. Let’s dive in.

The Revenant (2015)

Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s ‘The Revenant’ follows Leonardo DiCaprio’s frontiersman fighting for survival after a bear attack. Its brutal visuals and DiCaprio’s Oscar-winning performance earned massive praise and three Academy Awards. The snowy landscapes are breathtaking.

But the story drags with a thin plot stretched over two and a half hours. Its gritty realism overshadows a lack of depth, making its heavy acclaim feel like more sizzle than substance.

Crash (2004)

Paul Haggis’s ‘Crash’ weaves stories of racial tension in Los Angeles, with a cast including Sandra Bullock and Don Cheadle. It won three Oscars, including Best Picture, beating ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ Its bold take on prejudice sparked big reactions.

However, its heavy-handed approach and simplistic stereotypes weaken the message. The melodrama feels forced, and its upset win over stronger contenders inflates its status.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

This Queen biopic, starring Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, rocked the box office with $900 million and four Oscars, including Best Actor. Malek’s electric performance and the concert scenes, like Live Aid, thrilled audiences.

Yet, the film glosses over Mercury’s life with a sanitized script and historical inaccuracies. It leans too hard on nostalgia, making its awards haul feel more like fan service than cinematic brilliance.

Joker (2019)

Todd Phillips’s ‘Joker’ stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, a loner descending into madness. Its gritty take on the iconic villain earned $1 billion and two Oscars, including Best Actor. Phoenix’s raw intensity carries the film.

But it borrows heavily from older films like ‘Taxi Driver,’ offering little new. Its shallow dive into mental illness and society’s ills feels overpraised, especially against ‘Parasite’ that year.

The Shape of Water (2017)

Guillermo del Toro’s ‘The Shape of Water’ follows a mute janitor, played by Sally Hawkins, who falls in love with a mysterious amphibian creature. Its fairy-tale romance and lush visuals won four Oscars, including Best Picture, and widespread critical acclaim.

But the simplistic plot and predictable romance lean heavily on style over substance. Its quirky premise feels overstretched, and the heavy praise as a profound love story seems inflated compared to its shallow narrative.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ follows a fading actor, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and his stuntman, Brad Pitt, in 1960s LA. Pitt’s charm and the Manson-era backdrop earned two Oscars and tons of praise.

The meandering plot and self-indulgent runtime dilute its impact. Its nostalgic vibe is fun but feels overhyped as a deep masterpiece compared to tighter Tarantino works.

Gravity (2013)

Alfonso Cuarón’s ‘Gravity’ stars Sandra Bullock as an astronaut stranded in space. Its stunning visuals and tense survival story won seven Oscars, including Best Director. The space sequences are a technical marvel.

Yet, the thin characters and repetitive plot lean too much on spectacle. Its near-universal acclaim oversells a visually impressive but emotionally shallow experience.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ tracks a Mumbai teen, played by Dev Patel, on a quiz show tied to his life story. Its vibrant energy and underdog tale won eight Oscars, including Best Picture, and grossed $370 million.

The fairy-tale plot and convenient flashbacks feel contrived, and its poverty depiction borders on cliché. Its massive awards sweep seems disproportionate to its lightweight story.

American Sniper (2014)

Clint Eastwood’s ‘American Sniper’ follows Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, through Iraq War missions. Its intense action and Cooper’s performance earned $547 million and six Oscar nods, with huge patriotic buzz.

The film’s one-dimensional view of war and Kyle’s psyche lacks nuance, leaning on heroics over depth. Its cultural hype as a definitive war film feels overblown.

La La Land (2016)

Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’ is a musical about dreamers, played by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, chasing love and fame. Its colorful style and 14 Oscar nominations, with six wins, made it a darling of awards season.

The chemistry fizzles, and the story feels like a shallow nod to old Hollywood. Its near-sweep and Best Picture mix-up hype outweigh its modest emotional impact.

Which of these films do you think got too much love, or did I miss an overhyped movie? Share your thoughts in the comments!