15 Overly Long Movies That Should Have Been Way Shorter

1. Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

Remember when Michael Bay decided to cast Mark Wahlberg and basically rehashed the same plot from the previous movies for a staggering 165 minutes? Let's be real, the story about Autobots, Decepticons, and humanity caught in between could have been comfortably told in a shorter time.

Even with the box office ringing to the tune of over a billion dollars worldwide, audiences and critics alike felt the running time was an overkill. Rotten Tomatoes critics were especially harsh, rating it a measly 17%. It's clear; more Wahlberg does not equal more excitement.

2. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Before we ruffle any feathers, let's make it clear: we love Middle Earth. But stretching a 300-page book into nearly 3 hours of screen time for just the first part was a step too far. The consensus from critics was that it was bloated, with the film's 64% Rotten Tomatoes rating reflecting that.

Despite it garnering three Academy Award nominations, the audience couldn't help but question the need for 169 minutes of dwarves, wizards, and a befuddled Bilbo. The film did gross over $1 billion at the box office, but perhaps a tighter edit would've made the journey less exhausting.

3. Cloud Atlas (2012)

Six interwoven narratives spanning multiple centuries and locations might sound ambitious and intriguing on paper, but the execution in the Wachowskis' Cloud Atlas left audiences divided. Some praised the bold storytelling, while others felt it was an overly complicated puzzle with a 172-minute runtime that only added to the confusion.

Despite the star-studded cast including Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, and its philosophical musings on destiny and reincarnation, the film's box office returns were disappointing at $130 million against a production budget of over $100 million.

4. The Goldfinch (2019)

John Crowley's The Goldfinch attempted to bring Donna Tartt's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to life, but with a 149-minute runtime, many felt it was a narrative maze that was hard to navigate. The story of a young boy who survives a terrorist attack at an art museum, only to steal a priceless painting and spiral into a world of crime, seemed to lose its emotional punch amidst its scattered plot.

Despite a strong cast led by Ansel Elgort, the film was a box office disaster, grossing a mere $9.7 million against a $45 million budget. Critics were equally unimpressed, as reflected in its 25% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

5. The Hateful Eight (2015)

Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight is a divisive film. Its 187-minute running time, complete with an intermission, felt like a return to the bygone era of epic cinema. Yet, despite receiving three Academy Award nominations and boasting a strong ensemble cast, the film's sluggish pace had some viewers checking their watches.

Its box office gross of $155 million was relatively modest for a Tarantino movie, and the Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 74% was less than stellar compared to his other works. It seemed that the film, much like its characters, was trapped – in its excessive length.

6. Interstellar (2014)

Christopher Nolan's space epic Interstellar certainly did not skimp on running time. Clocking in at a hefty 169 minutes, it felt like we were experiencing time dilation along with Matthew McConaughey's character. Despite the grandeur of the visual effects and the film's exploration of love and sacrifice, audiences were divided on whether the movie was thought-provoking genius or an overly long melodrama.

While it did gross over $677 million and score a respectable 72% on Rotten Tomatoes, the critical consensus suggested that the narrative didn't quite match up to its ambitious reach.

7. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

A tale of excess and decadence, Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street seemed to reflect its subject matter in its 180-minute runtime. While Leonardo DiCaprio's powerhouse performance as Jordan Belfort was widely acclaimed, the film's relentless debauchery started to feel a tad exhausting by the third hour.

Despite five Academy Award nominations and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 79%, critics felt the film could've benefitted from more judicious editing. Still, the film managed to rake in a hefty $392 million, proving that audiences weren't quite as tired of Leo's wild antics as one might have assumed.

8. Australia (2008)

Baz Luhrmann's Australia was a sweeping epic, complete with a love story, war drama, and stark commentary on racial tensions. The only problem? It was wrapped up in a bloated 165-minute package. While the visuals were undeniably stunning, and Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman delivered strong performances, critics felt the film was trying to cover too much ground. A lukewarm Rotten Tomatoes score of 55% reflected this sentiment. Despite the film's lackluster critical reception, it did manage a respectable $211 million at the box office.

9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, presented a fascinating premise. Yet, at 166 minutes, many viewers were left feeling the film was as long as its protagonist's unusual lifespan. Though it scored thirteen Academy Award nominations and earned over $333 million at the box office, some critics felt its length was a deterrent, leading to a mixed Rotten Tomatoes score of 71%. It seems that viewers were indeed interested in Button's life – just not quite for three hours.

10. The Tree of Life (2011)

Director Terrence Malick's films are known for their philosophical depth and stunning visuals, and The Tree of Life is no exception. However, the 139-minute exploration of life, death, and the nature of the universe divided audiences and critics alike. While it won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, its box office performance was less impressive, grossing just over $61 million.

The film's 84% Rotten Tomatoes score suggested that critics were more enamored with Malick's artistry than general audiences who find the movie, well, way too long and boring.

11. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Sergio Leone's gangster saga Once Upon a Time in America is a sprawling epic that traverses multiple decades, chronicling the lives of a group of Jewish gangsters in New York. While Leone's craftsmanship is undeniable and the performances, especially Robert De Niro's, are top-notch, the film's 229-minute runtime is daunting. It's not just a tale of crime and friendship, it's an endurance test for your bladder.

Although it has an 86% Rotten Tomatoes score, it's clear this film is for the more patient cinephiles, who don't mind their narratives unfolding slower than molasses in January.

12. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

With a running time of 168 minutes, this swashbuckling third installment of the Pirates series had more twists, turns, and double-crosses than Johnny Depp has scarves. However, all those plot intricacies just led to confusion and a desperate need for a breather. Even the star-studded cast and a box office haul of nearly $1 billion couldn't keep critics from pointing out the film's unnecessarily complicated and long plot, resulting in a Rotten Tomatoes score of 44%.

13. The Great Gatsby (2013)

Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel was a lavish spectacle, no doubt about it. However, at 142 minutes, some might argue it overstayed its welcome. The intricate plotlines and intense emotional swings were somehow lost in translation, to the extent that the movie felt kind of… boring. It's not that the audience didn't appreciate Leo's charm and the extravagant parties – they just wished they could've left the party a bit earlier.

14. The Last Airbender (2010)

M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender clocks in at 103 minutes, which may not seem extraordinarily long, but given the film's reception, each minute felt like an eternity. Attempting to squeeze an entire season of the beloved animated series into one feature film resulted in an overstuffed and underdeveloped narrative. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 5% and a slew of Razzie awards, the film disappointed fans and critics alike, despite grossing over $319 million worldwide.

15. Justice League (2017)

When it comes to superhero team-up movies, there's a fine line between epic and excessive. Sadly, Justice League didn't quite find that balance, clocking in at 120 minutes in the theatrical cut and a whopping 242 minutes in Zack Snyder's director's cut. The plot centers on Batman and Wonder Woman uniting a team of superheroes to save the world from the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons.

While the director's cut was better received, the theatrical release scored only 40% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its star-studded cast and a worldwide box office of $657 million, many viewers felt that the film's length detracted from the overall experience, proving that sometimes, less is more.