Most Divisive Broadway Shows: Critics vs. Audiences

These are the Broadway shows where critics and audiences see things very differently. We measure the gap between our aggregated CriticScore (from professional reviews) and audience ratings (from ShowScore, Mezzanine, and Reddit). A large gap means one group loved a show the other didn't, whether it's a crowd-pleaser critics panned or a critical darling audiences shrugged at. Sorted by the size of the disagreement, these shows spark the most heated debates about what makes great theater.

144 shows | Last updated: November 2026

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1

Brooklyn Boy Broadway play

Brooklyn Boy

Closed Mar 2005, after 1mo

2

Pygmalion Broadway play

Pygmalion

Closed Dec 2007, after 2mos

3

High Fidelity Broadway musical

High Fidelity

Closed Dec 2006, after <1mo

4

Hamlet Broadway play

Hamlet

Closed Dec 2009, after 2mos

5

Souvenir Broadway play

Souvenir

Closed Jan 2006, after 2mos

6

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Broadway musical

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Closed Sep 2006, after 1+yr

7

Stick Fly Broadway play

Stick Fly

Closed Feb 2012, after 2mos

8

Les Misérables Broadway musical

Les Misérables

Broadhurst Theatre

Closed Jan 2008, after 1+yr

9

Don't Dress for Dinner Broadway play

Don't Dress for Dinner

Closed Jun 2012, after 2mos

10

Diana, The Musical Broadway musical

Diana, The Musical

Closed Dec 2021, after 1mo

11

That Championship Season Broadway play

That Championship Season

Closed May 2011, after 2mos

12

Barefoot in the Park Broadway play

Barefoot in the Park

Closed May 2006, after 3mos

13

Wonderland Broadway musical

Wonderland

Closed May 2011, after 1mo

14

A Naked Girl on the Appian Way Broadway play

A Naked Girl on the Appian Way

Closed Dec 2005, after 2mos

15

[title of show] Broadway musical

[title of show]

Closed Oct 2008, after 3mos

16

Dog Day Afternoon Broadway play

Dog Day Afternoon

Closed Jul 2026, after 4mos

17

Elling Broadway play

Elling

Closed Nov 2010, after <1mo

18

Wicked Broadway musical

Wicked

23 years on Broadway· From $89 ↗

Most reviews from 2003

19

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club Broadway musical

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

Closed Sep 2025, after 1+yr

20

The Cherry Orchard Broadway play

The Cherry Orchard

Closed Dec 2016, after 2mos

21

Glory Days Broadway musical

Glory Days

Closed May 2008

22

The Lyons Broadway play

The Lyons

Closed Jul 2012, after 3mos

23

The Road to Mecca Broadway play

The Road to Mecca

Closed Mar 2012, after 2mos

24

Bye Bye Birdie Broadway musical

Bye Bye Birdie

Closed Jan 2010, after 3mos

25

The Fear of 13 Broadway play

The Fear of 13

Closed Jun 2026, after 2mos

26

Stranger Things: The First Shadow Broadway play

Stranger Things: The First Shadow

1+ year on Broadway· Closes Jan 3, 2027· From $62 ↗

27

Finding Neverland Broadway musical

Finding Neverland

Closed Aug 2016, after 1+yr

28

Godspell Broadway musical

Godspell

Closed Jun 2012, after 7mos

29

Ragtime Broadway musical

Ragtime

Lyric Theatre

Closed Jan 2000, after 2yrs

30

Beetlejuice Broadway musical

Beetlejuice

Closed Mar 2020, after 11mos

31

Butley Broadway play

Butley

Closed Jan 2007, after 3mos

32

The Little Mermaid Broadway musical

The Little Mermaid

Closed Aug 2009, after 1+yr

33

Wanted Broadway musical

Wanted

Just opened· From $63 ↗

34

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Broadway play

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Closed Mar 2013, after 2mos

35

Bridge & Tunnel Broadway play

Bridge & Tunnel

Closed Aug 2006, after 7mos

36

Legally Blonde Broadway musical

Legally Blonde

Closed Oct 2008, after 1+yr

37

Chaplin Broadway musical

Chaplin

Closed Jan 2013, after 4mos

38

The Great Gatsby Broadway musical

The Great Gatsby

2+ years on Broadway· From $62 ↗

39

Cyrano de Bergerac Broadway play

Cyrano de Bergerac

Richard Rodgers Theatre

Closed Jan 2008, after 2mos

40

Good Vibrations Broadway musical

Good Vibrations

Closed Apr 2005, after 2mos

41

The Kite Runner Broadway play

The Kite Runner

Closed Oct 2022, after 3mos

42

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Broadway musical

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Closed Jan 2011, after 2mos

43

Irving Berlin's White Christmas Broadway musical

Irving Berlin's White Christmas

Closed Jan 2010, after 2mos

44

9 to 5 Broadway musical

9 to 5

Closed Sep 2009, after 5mos

45

Lysistrata Jones Broadway musical

Lysistrata Jones

Closed Jan 2012, after 1mo

46

Pretty Woman: The Musical Broadway musical

Pretty Woman: The Musical

Closed Aug 2019, after 1yr

47

The Collaboration Broadway play

The Collaboration

Closed Feb 2023, after 2mos

48

Ragtime Broadway musical

Ragtime

Neil Simon Theatre

Closed Jan 2010, after 2mos

49

The Anarchist Broadway play

The Anarchist

Closed Dec 2012, after <1mo

50

Ghost The Musical Broadway musical

Ghost The Musical

Closed Aug 2012, after 4mos

51

Well Broadway play

Well

Closed May 2006, after 2mos

52

Evita Broadway musical

Evita

Closed Jan 2013, after 9mos

53

Lennon

Closed Sep 2005, after 1mo

54

Beaches, A New Musical Broadway musical

Beaches, A New Musical

Closed May 2026, after 1mo

55

Speed-the-Plow Broadway play

Speed-the-Plow

Closed Feb 2009, after 4mos

56

The Parisian Woman Broadway play

The Parisian Woman

Closed Mar 2018, after 4mos

57

The Addams Family Broadway musical

The Addams Family

Closed Dec 2011, after 1+yr

58

The Outsiders Broadway musical

The Outsiders

2+ years on Broadway· From $87 ↗

59

MJ The Musical Broadway musical

MJ The Musical

4+ years on Broadway· From $67 ↗

60

Miss Saigon Broadway musical

Miss Saigon

Closed Jan 2018, after 10mos

61

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Broadway musical

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

Closed Jan 2012, after 1mo

62

Gettin' The Band Back Together Broadway musical

Gettin' The Band Back Together

Closed Sep 2018, after 1mo

63

The Cottage Broadway play

The Cottage

Closed Oct 2023, after 3mos

64

Jekyll & Hyde Broadway musical

Jekyll & Hyde

Closed May 2013, after 1mo

65

Grease Broadway musical

Grease

Closed Jan 2009, after 1+yr

66

Mrs. Doubtfire Broadway musical

Mrs. Doubtfire

Closed May 2022, after 5mos

67

Misery Broadway play

Misery

Closed Feb 2016, after 3mos

68

The Lightning Thief Broadway musical

The Lightning Thief

Closed Jan 2020, after 3mos

69

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Broadway musical

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Closed Jan 2018, after 9mos

70

Rock of Ages Broadway musical

Rock of Ages

Closed Jan 2015, after 5+yrs

71

Bonnie and Clyde

Closed Dec 2011, after <1mo

72

In Transit Broadway musical

In Transit

Closed Apr 2017, after 4mos

73

The Notebook Broadway musical

The Notebook

Closed Dec 2024, after 9mos

74

Dividing the Estate Broadway play

Dividing the Estate

Closed Jan 2009, after 2mos

75

Translations Broadway play

Translations

Closed Mar 2007, after 2mos

76

Guys and Dolls Broadway musical

Guys and Dolls

Closed Jun 2009, after 3mos

77

A Few Good Men Broadway play

A Few Good Men

Just opened· Closes Jan 10, 2027· From $134 ↗

78

Romeo and Juliet Broadway play

Romeo and Juliet

Closed Dec 2013, after 3mos

79

A Free Man of Color Broadway play

A Free Man of Color

Closed Jan 2011, after 2mos

80

The Lost Boys Broadway musical

The Lost Boys

6 months on Broadway· From $58 ↗

81

Baby It's You! Broadway musical

Baby It's You!

Closed Sep 2011, after 5mos

82

Come Back, Little Sheba Broadway play

Come Back, Little Sheba

Closed Mar 2008, after 2mos

83

Lempicka Broadway musical

Lempicka

Closed May 2024, after 1mo

84

The Pee-wee Herman Show Broadway play

The Pee-wee Herman Show

Closed Jan 2011, after 2mos

85

End of the Rainbow Broadway play

End of the Rainbow

Closed Aug 2012, after 4mos

86

The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Broadway musical

The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess

Closed Sep 2012, after 8mos

87

Reasons To Be Pretty Broadway play

Reasons To Be Pretty

Closed Jun 2009, after 2mos

88

Fela! Broadway musical

Fela!

Closed Jan 2011, after 1+yr

89

Come Fly Away Broadway musical

Come Fly Away

Closed Sep 2010, after 6mos

90

The Rocky Horror Show Broadway musical

The Rocky Horror Show

6 months on Broadway· Extended through May 30, 2027 (4th extension)· From $62 ↗

91

Camelot Broadway musical

Camelot

Closed Jul 2023, after 3mos

92

Allegiance Broadway musical

Allegiance

Closed Feb 2016, after 3mos

93

Macbeth Broadway play

Macbeth

Lyceum Theatre

Closed May 2008, after 1mo

94

The Music Man Broadway musical

The Music Man

Closed Jan 2023, after 11mos

95

Pal Joey Broadway musical

Pal Joey

Closed Mar 2009, after 3mos

96

In the Heights Broadway musical

In the Heights

Closed Jan 2011, after 2+yrs

97

Collected Stories Broadway play

Collected Stories

Closed Jun 2010, after 2mos

98

Next To Normal Broadway musical

Next To Normal

Closed Jan 2011, after 1+yr

99

I Need That Broadway play

I Need That

Closed Dec 2023, after 1mo

100

Les Liaisons Dangereuses Broadway play

Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Closed Jan 2017, after 3mos

101

Bright Star Broadway musical

Bright Star

Closed Jun 2016, after 3mos

102

The Ritz Broadway play

The Ritz

Closed Dec 2007, after 2mos

103

Les Misérables Broadway musical

Les Misérables

Imperial Theatre

Closed Sep 2016, after 2+yrs

104

The Wedding Singer Broadway musical

The Wedding Singer

Closed Dec 2006, after 8mos

105

Birthday Candles Broadway play

Birthday Candles

Closed May 2022, after 1mo

106

A Streetcar Named Desire Broadway play

A Streetcar Named Desire

Closed Jul 2012, after 3mos

107

Back to the Future: The Musical Broadway musical

Back to the Future: The Musical

Closed Jan 2025, after 1+yr

108

Top Girls Broadway play

Top Girls

Closed Jun 2008, after 1mo

109

The Vertical Hour Broadway play

The Vertical Hour

Closed Mar 2007, after 4mos

110

A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical Broadway musical

A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical

Closed Feb 2025, after 3mos

111

Chess Broadway musical

Chess

Closed Jun 2026, after 7mos

112

Hedda Gabler Broadway play

Hedda Gabler

Closed Mar 2009, after 2mos

113

Irena's Vow Broadway play

Irena's Vow

Closed Jun 2009, after 3mos

114

Amazing Grace Broadway musical

Amazing Grace

Closed Oct 2015, after 3mos

115

Glengarry Glen Ross Broadway play

Glengarry Glen Ross

Closed Jan 2013, after 1mo

116

Lestat Broadway musical

Lestat

Closed May 2006, after 1mo

117

The Mountaintop Broadway play

The Mountaintop

Closed Jan 2012, after 3mos

118

Picnic Broadway play

Picnic

Closed Feb 2013, after 1mo

119

Call Me Izzy Broadway play

Call Me Izzy

Closed Aug 2025, after 2mos

120

Macbeth Broadway play

Macbeth

Longacre Theatre

Closed Jul 2022, after 3mos

121

Fish in the Dark Broadway play

Fish in the Dark

Closed Aug 2015, after 5mos

122

Relatively Speaking Broadway play

Relatively Speaking

Closed Jan 2012, after 3mos

123

Girl From The North Country Broadway musical

Girl From The North Country

Closed Jun 2022, after 2mos

124

Richard III Broadway play

Richard III

Closed Feb 2014, after 3mos

125

Beautiful The Carole King Musical Broadway musical

Beautiful The Carole King Musical

Closed Oct 2019, after 5+yrs

126

Cyrano de Bergerac Broadway play

Cyrano de Bergerac

Todd Haimes Theatre

Closed Nov 2012, after 1mo

127

The Cher Show Broadway musical

The Cher Show

Closed Aug 2019, after 8mos

128

A Chorus Line Broadway musical

A Chorus Line

Closed Aug 2008, after 1+yr

129

After Midnight Broadway musical

After Midnight

Closed Jun 2014, after 7mos

130

American Psycho Broadway musical

American Psycho

Closed Jun 2016, after 2mos

131

Thérèse Raquin Broadway play

Thérèse Raquin

Closed Jan 2016, after 3mos

132

Summer Broadway musical

Summer

Closed Dec 2018, after 8mos

133

King Kong Broadway musical

King Kong

Closed Aug 2019, after 9mos

134

It Shoulda Been You Broadway musical

It Shoulda Been You

Closed Aug 2015, after 4mos

135

The Story of My Life Broadway musical

The Story of My Life

Closed Feb 2009, after <1mo

136

Escape to Margaritaville Broadway musical

Escape to Margaritaville

Closed Jul 2018, after 4mos

137

A Behanding in Spokane Broadway play

A Behanding in Spokane

Closed Jun 2010, after 3mos

138

A Bronx Tale The Musical Broadway musical

A Bronx Tale The Musical

Closed Aug 2018, after 1+yr

139

Proof Broadway play

Proof

Closed Jul 2026, after 3mos

140

Anastasia Broadway musical

Anastasia

Closed Mar 2019, after 1+yr

141

Waitress Broadway musical

Waitress

Closed Jan 2020, after 3+yrs

142

Radio Golf Broadway play

Radio Golf

Closed Jul 2007, after 2mos

143

Flying Over Sunset Broadway musical

Flying Over Sunset

Closed Jan 2022, after 1mo

144

The Cripple of Inishmaan Broadway play

The Cripple of Inishmaan

Closed Jul 2014, after 3mos

See Also

Greatest Shows of All Time Every Musical, Ranked Every Play, Ranked

How This Works

Shows are ranked by CriticScore, a weighted average of reviews from dozens of outlets. Top-tier publications (NYT, Vulture, Variety) carry more weight than smaller outlets. Toggle to Audience mode to see letter grades based on audience sentiment from multiple sources.

Learn about our scoring methodology →