The 8 Biggest Movies of 2006, and Whether They Were Any Good

The eight biggest worldwide earners of 2006, smallest to largest, next to their movie.guru scores. Money talks. It just doesn't always have taste.

Number one made a billion dollars, and critics still want a refund.

1. 8
   Mission: Impossible III (2006)6.4

   The most underrated Mission, because Philip Seymour Hoffman is terrifying.

   Lowest gross here at $398.5M worldwide on a reported $150M. Still a 6.4 movie.guru score and a 7.0 Guru's Take. Hoffman makes Cruise's sprinting look like actual panic.
2. 7
   300 (2006)6.9

   Audiences loved the abs. Critics saw a slow-motion screensaver.

   Audiences beat 84% of movies, critics just 39%. Metacritic 52. Best gross-to-budget ratio here: $456.1M worldwide on a reported $65M. Guru's Take: 5.6.
3. 6
   X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)5.3

   The trilogy ender that mostly ended the trilogy's goodwill.

   A reported $210M budget, $460.4M worldwide, and a 5.3 movie.guru score, under the 5.5 median. Still an A minus CinemaScore. Crowds forgive anything with Wolverine in it.
4. 5
   Cars (2006)7.7

   Good, not great. Pixar coasting in a very nice paint job.

   The only A CinemaScore on this list and a 7.7 movie.guru score. Guru's Take is 6.0. Paul Newman gives it a soul. Mater mostly gives it toy sales.
5. 4
   Night at the Museum (2006)4.9

   A 4.9 movie that made $574.5M. Families are undefeated.

   42% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics beat only 28% of movies. Still $250.9M domestic. Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney steal every scene they're in from Ben Stiller.
6. 3
   Casino Royale (2006)8.7

   The best movie of 2006's top eight, and it isn't close.

   8.7 movie.guru score, 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, Guru's Take 8.8. Daniel Craig rebooted Bond and Mads Mikkelsen made poker scary. $606.3M worldwide, and it deserved more.
7. 2
   The Da Vinci Code (2006)4.1

   The worst movie here made the second most money.

   4.1 movie.guru score, 25% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a B+ CinemaScore, lowest of the eight. Also $801.3M worldwide. Ian McKellen is having fun. Nobody else got the memo.
8. 1
   Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)6.1

   Critics were half right: gorgeous mess, legit fun anyway.

   Tops for 2006 at $1.066B worldwide on a reported $225M. Critics beat 37% of movies, audiences 71%. Davy Jones looks incredible. The plot feels like three drafts stapled together.

$462.17 says someone in the comments calls The Da Vinci Code underrated and gets buried by a Casino Royale fan within the hour.

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