It is not uncommon for critically panned movies to become box-office hits and cult classics. John Carpenter’s The Thing, often considered one of the most influential movies of all time, a horror movie that will always be a classic, was initially written off when it was released in 1982. Reᴀssessment led to its acceptance as an immortal cult classic.

Critics often hate movie masterpieces upon release, only to be proven wrong when these movies find their audiences and inspire filmmaking for years to come. Some of the greatest directors in film history, including Alfred Hitchcock, David Fincher, and even Stanley Kubrick, have been victims of such critically flat reactions. Initially unimpressed, critics have embraced such films in later years.

One such example in recent years came from director James Wan, who has an interestingly diverse roster of films in his repertoire. He’s made the two DCEU Aquaman movies, Paul Walker’s last Fast & Furious movie, and a couple of Conjuring and Insidious films each. However, the other James Wan horror franchise proved critics wrong and is still going strong.

Critical Reaction To The First Saw Movie Was Not Positive

They Dismissed It As Torture Porn

Torture porn has been around since the conception of horror movies, as extremism and violence have been trademarks of the genre since its birth. However, James Wan’s sophomore feature film is credited with bringing the term into the 21st Century in a mainstream capacity. Saw is such a gory and gruesome film that there’s no better term to describe it.

At least that’s how critics reacted to Saw. They were quick to dismiss Leigh Whannell’s screenplay and James Wan’s direction, claiming it was poorly written with forgettable characters, and that its aim was to sensationalize violence. Most critics could only see the extreme violence in the film and refused to engage with its unique premise and its great villain twist.

Saw was seen as an excuse for deviant filmgoers to celebrate excessive violence, which made critics uncomfortable. Giving it poor ratings, some critics even claimed that it was a derivative film and didn’t offer much new to audiences. Let alone franchise potential, they saw no potential in the twisted and grisly thriller that’s celebrated as a cult classic today.

Not every critic hated Saw though. Some lauded it for its unique ideas, especially the unprecedented sources of gore and shock. However, the movie was unanimously considered a B-tier film without much reason to invest in it or be moved by it. No major critic saw enough cinematic quality in Saw to recommend it or consider it a great film.

Saw Defied Critics To Become A Huge Success

It Achieved Milestones At The Box Office

Despite critics’ skepticism regarding Saw, the film proved everyone wrong and made an astounding amount at the box office, becoming a bona fide hit and box-office success. James Wan became a household name overnight, and every horror fanatic started gushing about how unique Saw is. It rejuvenated a genre that was still finding its footing in the 21st Century.

With a budget of around a million US dollars and global box-office earnings of around 104 million US dollars, Saw was a significant hit with audiences. It became the most profitable horror movie after the turn of the century, and since Scream, which helped reshape genre expectations with its character of Ghostface. There was no doubt about Saw‘s commercial success.

Critics couldn’t have been more wrong about Saw. Viewers found elements of it to be compelling, and its use of uniquely gory means of violence captivated an entire generation of horror movie buffs. While it was often treated as a taboo film due to its extremism, the box office numbers proved that there were enough people who enjoyed such films.

Saw Wasn’t Just A Commercial Hit – It’s A Legitimately Great Horror Movie

It Continues To Enthrall Audiences Two Decades Later

While Saw‘s commercial success doesn’t necessarily prove its cinematic merit, it is a genuinely fascinating horror movie that didn’t deserve to be critically panned upon release. The climactic scene changed millennials’ lives as kids, and is still considered one of the greatest ending twists in film history. With palpable dramatic tension, the film keeps you glued to your seat.

From the bone saw to the toilet lid, Saw has no dearth of murder weapons, and is an exploration of the human psyche under great stress. Watching the two protagonists unravel as they realize the gravity of their situation will satisfy any fans of the thriller genre. Both Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell deliver compelling performances that convey their anxiety.

With a contained plot and just a few twists, Saw is as much a tense thriller as it is a psychological horror film. Yes, the violence is real and extreme, but the psychological trauma of the characters’ experience and of the fabled Jigsaw Killer’s reputation is perhaps the most terrifying aspect of the premise.

Saw can also be considered a great crime movie where the villain wins, because it has a significant number of crime thriller elements. From morally questionable characters and a central mystery, to surveillance and intervention by the police, it follows the structure of a crime thriller, but has the texture of a horror film, which earns it great respect today.

Saw’s Later Movies Justified Their Bad Reviews

They Don’t Have The Same Impact

While Saw definitely packs a punch and proves its critics wrong, the same isn’t true of its sequels. The earlier sequels continue the legacy of both Jigsaw as a killer, and the movie as a тιԍнт and contained thriller with a hooking premise. However, that’s not for long, as Jigsaw dies in the third film, and the franchise loses structure.

The Saw franchise has some frustrating movie plot holes that become bigger and harder to ignore with every pᴀssing film. The shift in subgenre from psychological horror and crime thriller to police procedural, with no Jigsaw, severely hurts the franchise’s potential. The latter films in the franchise are messy and incoherent, filled with retcons that are hard to follow.

So, the later Saw movies do justify their poor reviews, as is witnessed by the decline in box-office collections as well. Some of the sequels are dismissed by hardcore fans of the franchise as well, especially Saw 3D and Spiral: From the Book of Saw. However, the films are still worth watching because the traps become increasingly creative over time.

Spiral: From the Book of Saw is a messy horror movie with an incredible performance by Chris Rock. Similarly, Saw 3D has some of the best traps in the franchise. Jigsaw‘s retcons introduce plot holes, but its laser trap makes up for them. Fans of the Jigsaw traps always have something to look forward to in the sequels.

Saw X Proves The Original Movie’s Magic Hasn’t Run Out

It Rejuvenated The Franchise

The most recent entry in the franchise, 2023’s Saw X, is one of the best horror prequels of all time, as it goes back to a time when Jigsaw was alive, and follows his activities before his notoriety in the States. Tobin Bell’s Jigsaw is the best part of the franchise, and Saw X further proves that.

Bell’s unforgettable performance in the film shows a vulnerable side of Jigsaw that we barely get to see in the previous films. By going back in time, Saw X finally circumvents some of the issues created by the sequels and works within a cleaner timeline. While it has flaws, the film is a fantastic return to form for the franchise.

Saw X has one of the greatest Jigsaw moments, where he successfully predicts the actions of the antagonists and wins a dangerous gamble, proving how intelligent he is. The character gets fleshed out with a glimpse into the past, and without most of the recurring characters, the film focuses more on Jigsaw, something the franchise should have done long ago.

Finally, Saw X also has incredible Jigsaw traps, a straightforward and emotionally charged narrative, unbelievable twists, and anxiety-inducing set pieces. It has all the elements that made the first Saw film such an iconic classic, and since the next film is supposed to continue as a prequel, there is hope for Saw XI as well.