Broadway Smash Hits that got terrible reviews ?

This is just out of my curiosity. I am sure there are some members out there who can answer me.
Which were the shows in the last, let's say 20 years, that although were trashed by the critics, were beloved by the public and became great success stories ? I saw Cameron Makintosh on a Les Mis video saying that Les Mis were savagely attacked by the critics, but the public thought otherwise, but other than that I don't know of any other show. I'm sure there must be more. Thanks

Take care

Titanic

Okay. If you think Wicked got terrible reviews, you may need your head checked.

Yes, a lot of the reviews were mixed, some positive. Most of them all had praise for Chenoweth. The reviews were not terrible. Mixed to positive in my opinion.

I wouldnt really call Titanic a "smash hit"

Mamma Mia got pretty lame reviews. That could probably classify as a smash hit.

Les Miserables got mixed notices in London, but the New York critics loved it. The all-powerful Frank Rich of the Times began his review, "If anyone doubts that the contemporary musical theatre can flex its atrophied muscles and yank an audience right out of its seats, he need look no further than the Act I finale of Les Miserables." He goes onto say "The ensuing fusion of drama, music, character, design and movement is what links this English adaptation of a French show to the highest tradition of modern Broadway musical production." Most of other NY critics similarly raved.

Rich gave mixed-to-negative reviews, however to several long-running hits: 42nd Street (3,486 performances); Brighton Beach Memoirs (1,530); The Will Rogers Follies (963); I'm Not Rappaport (890); Into The Woods (765); Starlight Express (761); The Secret Garden (706) and Agnes of God (599).

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LOVE to Secret Garden!!!

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Thank you all, but especially Margo ! Yes, I knew that Cam Mak was talking about London mainly, but I had the feeling that probably the New York critics would be on the same wavelength. Thanks for clearing that up ! So, after all, the critics DO have a lot to say about a show's success !

Take care

Updated On: 1/26/05 at 08:29 PM

ITW got mixed reviews (some fairly positive), all of which praised Sondheim, but some (including Rich) found the book overly dense narratively and lacking in focus and found the evening to be overlong.

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Boy From Oz

Boy From Oz and Wicked got mediocre reviews..

Mamma Mia got negetive reviews and shows no signs of dying..

Isn't it odd that the original "Into the Woods" got mixed reviews and was a hit, while the 2002 revival got raves (even Brantley gushed all over it), and could barely last 6 months?

The 2002 revival did win the Tony award for Best Revival

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The 2002 revival did win the Tony-and it was terrific-but it lost all of its $6 million advance.