TheMovieman

I got a copy of The Cell and after watching it, and not caring for it that much (giving it a 5/10 mainly for the visuals), I was surprised that I initially gave it a 8/10 on IMDb. Outside of some of the effects, it's just a downright stupid movie.

So, are there movies you liked upon first viewing but watching years later decidedly changed your mind?

How about the opposite, movies you didn't like but second viewing now like?

Same situation for me, here, as I watched Virtuosity, a movie I gave a 4/10 now rate a 6/10. Still not that good per se, but a lot of fun watching Russell Crowe camping it up and on the whole, fairly entertaining.

Brack

Virtuosity was a fun movie. Denzel hadn't really hit mega-star levels at the box office, and Russell Crowe was relatively unknown and made a great villain. Really enjoyed it at the time and still think it's pretty decent.

Back to the topic at hand, I didn't care for Blade Runner when I first saw it, but have liked it more with each viewing. I remember liking ID4 when it came out, but mostly find it pretty laughable when I see on cable or whatever. It's not a terrible movie, but pretty average overall. I'm sure there's plenty more, but those two come to mind off the bat.

Crocker Jarmen

First time I watched The Big Lebowski back in 1998 I thought it was an absolute piece of shit and an endurance test to get through.

Years later, I noticed it is actually a very funny movie full of great characters and visuals and energy. I've enjoyed it many times since.

I don't know, maybe I still had Fargo hangover and resented the Coen brothers doing a movie that was more silly. Maybe I was in a bad mood that day. Glad I gave it a second chance a realized I was wrong.

Why So Blu?

Amazing Spiderman.

Mondo Kane

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
First time I saw it (Under the influence) I thought it was the greatest thing ever (Drugs are bad, kids)
I still absolutely love the opening 20 minutes, but it all just goes downhill once the old man and his sons show up. I just wish Russ would've come up with a different "Adventure" for that trio of girls to embark on.

I remember re-watching Come and See with my dad (Who had never seen it) about a year ago and that one almost had me re-thinking my highly-praised opinion of it. But that was mostly because of the first hour (Where nothing really happens) unlike the conclusion which remains as some of the most perfect filmmaking I've ever seen.

And even though I haven't seen it since it's theatrical release (And post-Oscar win) I get a STRONG feeling that The Artist might qualify.

I'll also join in with the Virtuosity love. I've always had a soft spot for that one since it's HBO premier.

Hazel Motes

Hated A Clockwork Orange now love it.
Hated Mulholland Drive now love it.
Hated Old Joy now love it.
Loved Episode III, now hate it.
Loved Batman Forever, now hate it
Disliked Clerks 2, but its watchability won me over.

Tom Banjo

There was a time in my testosterone-loaded high school days where I called Braveheart my favorite movie. Now I can't look past the historical inaccuracies. Not to mention the frikkin' score has Irish uillean pipes rather than Highland bagpipes.

RichC2

That's funny you mention The Cell, I liked it a decade ago and just rewatched it the other day, it aged better than I anticipated.

I didn't like Lebowski the first time I saw it but now think it's tremendously well made.

I didn't like Pulp Fiction when I was a kid but like it now.

Draven

Hated the original Austin Powers when I saw it in theaters but after watching it on video I realized it's hilarious. I have no idea what was wrong with me originally.

There's a few common ones that haven't aged well. I liked Independence Day a lot in the theater and at home, but it's tough to get through now. The characters are just such stereotypes. I think I was too impressed by the effects at the time.

RocShemp

I hated Road To Perdition when I saw it at the theater. Found it predictable and boring. For some reason, it really grew on me when I rented it and now it's a BD that I love watching.

DJLinus

A friend lent me Super Troopers when it first came out on DVD and I didn't think it was funny at all. Several pay cable viewings later and now I love it. (I don't know why I gave it more chances. Maybe as background noise?)

coli

Pulp Fiction is a movie that just didn't work for me when I saw it, but the 2nd time I watched it I absolutely loved it. I think its all about expectations as I didn't watch it til DVD, so I kept hearing how great the movie was and built it up too much in my head.

Star Wars Episode III:Revenge of the Sith is a movie I really liked in the theater, and then I got it on DVD and started to hate it after multiple viewings. I guess it was just that maybe I wanted it to be a great movie so I sort of blocked all of the bad things I saw in the movie theater.

Batman Returns was a movie I almost walked out of the theater in 1992. God, I absolutely despised that movie. I didnt watch it for about 20 yeras, and gave it another shot a few years ago as I actually think it holds up better then Batman '89.

Ash Ketchum

I saw David Lynch's BLUE VELVET in a theater when it came out and wrote in my journal, "Vile!"

But the imagery in it kept haunting me and I realized I had to give it another chance. So I went to see it again the next time it came to a theater in NYC and I'm very glad I did. It's a work of art. A difficult one, to be sure, but sometimes art is supposed to be difficult.

I've revisited plenty of movies I initially liked and was disappointed the second time, but I've forgotten which films those are.

GoldenJCJ

I LOVED The Departed the first time is saw it. On subsequent viewings it hasn't held up to being quite the masterpiece I thought it was.

When I saw Burn After Reading in the theater I thought it was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I couldn't stop laughing. When I re-watched it on DVD I don't think I even cracked a smile. It's no where near as funny as I originally thought. It must have just been the mood I was in when I first saw it.

inri222

Hated Spring Breakers the first time I saw it. Upon second viewing I think it's a really good film and IMO Harmony Korine's best.

dugan

Traffic. The first viewing impressed me with its scope. The second viewing revealed how unfocused it was.

EddieMoney

Drunk

mrhan

I think it's gotten better over time. I just it watched again a few weeks ago and the dialogue was even funnier.

Mr. Flix

I wanted so badly to believe that M Night's early successes weren't a fluke that I convinced myself that The Village and The Happening were good movies. I was half right with the first one but dead wrong on the second.

Got so caught up in the hype of Phantom Menace that I thought it was wonderful and convinced a friend to come see it with me (first time for him, second time for me). I apologized to him afterwards.

First time I saw Shawshank, I thought it was thoroughly mediocre. Forgive me, internet.

Mike86

Liked Man of Steel the first time I saw it at the theater. Saw it a second time and still liked it but didn't love it like the first time. The more I've seen it since buying the Blu-ray and catching it on HBO the more evident the problems become. I wouldn't say I hate it but it's a very flawed film.

I also enjoyed Revenge of the Sith a lot upon first viewing. It probably is the most watchable of the Prequel Trilogy if I was ever forced to pick one to watch, but it's a pretty shitty film none the less. I think a lot of the reason I liked it so much initially was due to the experience I had with my friends and the crowd at the theater.

EctoCooler

Almost walked out of Big Fish in theatres, thought it was treacly and insufferable, but now I think it's Burton's most moving film. I think one's relationship with their father has a great deal to do with how you respond to the story.

Shannon Nutt

I didn't like Unforgiven when I first saw it in the theater. I saw it a second time (in theaters) and loved it. It just was such an atypical Western, I didn't "get it" the first time through.

I absolutely HATED David Lynch's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me for years. Now, after about a dozen viewings, I think it's one of his masterpieces.

Giantrobo

Ghostbusters....Didn't like it when I first saw it but after seeing it over the years...I still don't like it, but I can appreciate why some thinks it's all that.

devilshalo

X-Men and X-Men 2.

inri222

Loved it the first time and I agree about the whole masterpiece thing.