10 Weird Color Grading Decisions That Made Movies Harder To Watch

Making a distinct choice about the aesthetics and cinematography of a movie is better than making a forgettable feature. However, sometimes, the color grading of a film is so intense it becomes distracting. This could happen in discreet parts of the narrative or by an issue with the entire project, but either way, it grabs the audience’s attention. Color is a tool used to create meaning, as different colors have different emotional and physical connotations. When a particular color dominates the screen, it sends a message to the audience that the film should be viewed through a specific lens.

There are some movies with amazing cinematography that have very vivid palettes, but they immerse the viewer into the world of the story rather than taking them out of it. Filmmakers like Wes Anderson are defined by their dedication to creating cohesive coordination between the set and character designs to make an enticing product. This makes sense because of the tone of these movies, which are purposefully whimsical or heightened. Memorable and experimental colors don’t necessarily detract from the audience’s experience, but they can if they’re not used properly.

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10 The Matrix Reloaded & Revolutions (2003)

Directed by The Wachowski Sisters

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7/10 The Matrix Reloaded RActionAdventureSci-Fi

The Matrix Reloaded is the second film in the Matrix trilogy directed by the Wachowskis. The movie follows Keanu Reeves as Neo, who continues his quest to free humanity from the oppressive control of intelligent machines. Laurence Fishburne returns as Morpheus, along with Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, as they lead their rebellion against the system while uncovering deeper layers of the Matrix.

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*Availability in US Director Lana Wachowski , Lilly Wachowski Release Date May 15, 2003 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures , Village Roadshow Pictures , NPV Entertainment , Silver Pictures Writers Lilly Wachowski , Lana Wachowski Cast Keanu Reeves , Laurence Fishburne , Carrie-Anne Moss , Hugo Weaving , Ray Anthony , Christine Anu , Helmut Bakaitis , Steve Bastoni Runtime 138 Minutes Expand

The original Matrix film also has a memorable color palette, but the following two sequels take most parts of the series and turn them all the way up. These choices include the green look of both Reloaded and Revolutions, which goes further than the intensity of the first film. While Reloaded is largely considered a better film than the follow-up, they share an aesthetic that transports the viewer completely out of reality. This makes sense, as The Matrix franchise is about the line between reality and technology.

The color green is deeply associated with technology and computer programming, and this roots the films in the artificial reality of the Matrix.

However, the first installment used its coloring to show the difference more subtly. The color green is deeply associated with technology and computer programming, and this roots the films in the artificial reality of the Matrix. However, it also creates somewhat of a disconnect between the audience and the characters onscreen. Additionally, this is amplified by the green codes that rain down and signify how the Matrix is created by computer programming (via Collider).

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)	73%	72%
The Matrix Revolutions (2003)	34%	60%

9 Justice League (2017)

Directed by Zack Synder

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4/10 Justice League PG-13AdventureActionFantasy

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by the Man of Steel’s selfless act in Batman V Superman, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Evil forces have set their sights on our world, tasking the malevolent Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons with bringing Earth under the control of Darkseid, ruler of the planet Apokolips. In response, Batman and Wonder Woman unite a team of metahuman heroes including The Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman to protect humanity as the Justice League. The Justice League first appeared in March 1960 in issue #28 of The Brave and the Bold. In the fifty years since the heroes first united, the team has welcomed various members of DC comic book canon: Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Shazam, among others. Recently rebooted as part of DC Rebirth, the current comic iteration of the team includes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, two Green Lanterns (Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz), Aquaman, Barry Allen, as well as Cyborg. 

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*Availability in US Director Zack Snyder Release Date November 17, 2017 Writers Chris Terrio , Joss Whedon Cast Jeremy Irons , Gal Gadot , Amy Adams , Jesse Eisenberg , Ciarán Hinds , Ben Affleck , Henry Cavill , Ezra Miller , J. K. Simmons , Jason Momoa , Ray Fisher Runtime 242 minutes

The Justice League franchise has not been the smash hit that DC Comics might have hoped, but there are some interesting visual choices made in Zack Synder’s Justice League. However, not all of them help to build the universe of the DCU and establish the strength of the characters. There were a few moments that reminded the audience the world of the movie is not a gritty action film but a comic book movie, like Batman’s glowing eyes and the scenes that were clearly shot with a green screen.

There’s nothing wrong with using a green screen and VFX, as almost every movie today does. However, it becomes a problem when the color grading and visual effects don’t work together and make the other worse. Additionally, one of the major criticisms of the film was that it had an almost monochrome palette and didn’t take advantage of the many colors that are featured in the comics. This gave the story a more serious tone, but it made it tough to focus on important moments in the script.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Justice League (2017)	40%	67%

8 The Aviator (2004)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

The Aviator PG-13BiographyDrama

The Aviator is a 2004 biopic about Howard Hughes, a famous film producer, and pilot that was once considered one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the world. Directed by Martin Scorsese and written by John Logan, Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Hughes alongside Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, and Alec Baldwin.

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*Availability in US Director Martin Scorsese Release Date December 25, 2004 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers John Logan Cast Willem Dafoe , Alan Alda , Leonardo DiCaprio , John C. Reilly , Alec Baldwin , Kate Beckinsale , Ian Holm , Cate Blanchett , Gwen Stefani , Jude Law Runtime 170 minutes Expand

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Howard Hughes in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator, which chronicles the life of the Hollywood producer and airline mogul. Spanning decades from the late 1920s to the late 1940s, The Aviator sees Hughes rise to prominence in every industry he tackles, but he’s consistently hampered by his ego and the effects of his OCD. From the first frame of the film, it’s obvious that this isn’t a typical biographical drama, as the colors are unlike anything seen in reality.

The changing color grading throughout
The Aviator
reflects Hughes’ different phases of life and is a reflection of how Hughes views the world from his perspective.

It’s particularly the blue and orange grading early on in the movie that makes it difficult to completely commit to delving into Hughes’ story. The changing color grading throughout The Aviator reflects Hughes’ different phases of life and is a reflection of how Hughes views the world from his perspective. While this is a fascinating way to get inside Hughes’ mind, it’s a risky stylistic choice and might not appeal to all viewers.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Aviator (2004)	87%	79%

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7 Speed Racer (2008)

Directed by The Wachowski Sisters

Speed Racer (2008) PGFamilyActionAdventureComedy

Speed Racer (2008) is a live-action adaptation of the classic anime series Speed Racer. Directed by the Wachowskis, the film stars Emile Hirsch as Speed, a young race car driver aiming to win races with the help of his family and his high-tech car, the Mach 5. The movie features a vibrant visual style and intense racing sequences, with supporting roles from Christina Ricci, John Goodman, and Susan Sarandon.

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*Availability in US Director Lana Wachowski , Lilly Wachowski Release Date May 7, 2008 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures , Village Roadshow Pictures , Silver Pictures , Anarchos Productions , Velocity Productions , Studio Babelsberg Writers Lana Wachowski , Lilly Wachowski Cast Emile Hirsch , Christina Ricci , John Goodman , Susan Sarandon , Matthew Fox Runtime 135 Minutes Expand

While The Wachowski Sisters make big swings with the visuals and themes in their projects, most of the time, these risks pay off. While Speed Racer is rarely ranked among Christina Ricci’s best movies and TV shows, she and the amazing cast do a great job bringing their characters to life amid the strong manga-inspired visuals. Based on the manga of the same name by Tatsuo Yoshida, the Wachowskis attempted to capture the gorgeous drawings of the original project in live-action, which is notoriously difficult.

Speed Racer was severely underrated at the time of its release, and as time has gone on, the visual effects might have become more dated. However, they’ve been reevaluated as daring and experimental for the time. Each character and setting has a distinct color, and the difference in grading from scene to scene is obvious. Though the point of effects and design like this is to be noticed, the already fast-paced story of Speed Racer is easily overshadowed by the attention-grabbing visuals.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Speed Racer (2008)	42%	60%

6 Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005)

Directed by Tim Burton

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7/10 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory PGAdventureComedyFamilyFantasy

In this movie based on the Roald Dahl novel, Charlie Bucket’s life changes forever when he finds a Golden Ticket, allowing him to tour the famous Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory along with four other contest winners.

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*Availability in US Director Tim Burton Release Date July 15, 2005 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Roald Dahl , John August Cast Johnny Depp , Freddie Highmore , David Kelly , Helena Bonham Carter , Noah Taylor , Missi Pyle , James Fox , Deep Roy , Christopher Lee Runtime 115 minutes Expand

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is often ranked as the worst Willy Wonka movie, with the original 1971 film being cited as the best. It’s not entirely fair to compare the different iterations of the story, as Tim Burton’s version uses a much more experimental aesthetic. However, it’s not always effective at translating the magic of the seminal story to the screen. Burton’s work is well-known for making bold and visually intriguing color and stylistic choices, but while this worked for projects like Beetlejuice, they failed in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Roald Dahl’s original book already incorporates enough visual description into its narrative without the film adaptations having to reimagine a new look for the story.

The film remains divisive to this day, but regardless of critic or audience opinion, the look of the film is striking enough to be a distraction. Roald Dahl’s original book already incorporates enough visual description into its narrative without the film adaptations having to reimagine a new look for the story. Though it’s a cohesive aesthetic and gives Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a darker edge, it doesn’t feel as true to the source material as the first film.

5 In The Heart Of The Sea (2015)

Directed by Ron Howard

In the Heart of the Sea PG-13ActionAdventureDrama

Based on the real-life event that inspired Moby Dick, In the Heart of the Sea is directed by Ron Howard and stars Chris Hemsworth as Owen Chase, first mate of the whaling ship Essex who must fight for his life in the middle of the ocean when a whale destroys his ship, killing most of his crew and stranding him and a few survivors on a lifeboat. Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw, and Brendan Gleeson also star. 

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*Availability in US Director Ron Howard Release Date December 11, 2015 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Charles Leavitt Cast Brendan Gleeson , Cillian Murphy , Chris Hemsworth , Ben Whishaw Runtime 121minutes Expand

Despite the star-studded cast of In the Heart of the Sea, the movie failed to make a splash at the box office or in its critical and audience reception. Loosely based on the real story of a whaling ship in the 1800s, In the Heart of the Sea features Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, and Tom Holland as crew members aboard the ship. Much of the narrative takes place on the ocean, making the water a character unto itself in the story.

However, the striking teal of the ocean and the way the characters and their environment drastically change color throughout the film was too experimental for the film. As the story progresses, In the Heart of the Sea quickly becomes a survival film, and each phase of hunger and desperation brings further blues, greens, and deep oranges that make it hard to take the character’s suffering seriously. Additionally, in trying to make the movie look like a period piece, the film is given a yellow cast that takes away from the exposition.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
In the Heart of the Sea (2015)	43%	54%

4 Peter Pan (2003)

Directed by P.J. Hogan

Peter Pan (2003) PGFantasyAdventureFamily

Peter Pan (2003) is an adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale directed by P.J. Hogan. Jeremy Sumpter stars as Peter Pan, who whisks Wendy Darling, played by Rachel Hurd-Wood, and her brothers to the enchanted world of Neverland. Jason Isaacs portrays the dual roles of Mr. Darling and the malevolent Captain Hook. This film showcases the adventures and conflicts in a land where children never grow up.

Director P.J. Hogan Release Date December 25, 2003 Writers J.M. Barrie , P.J. Hogan , Michael Goldenberg Cast Jeremy Sumpter , Jason Isaacs , Olivia Williams , Lynn Redgrave , Rachel Hurd-Wood , Richard Briers , Geoffrey Palmer , Harry Newell Runtime 113 Minutes

The 2003 adaptation of Peter Pan is a nostalgic classic for many audiences who grew up in the early-2000s, and it’s a children’s fantasy movie that deserves more recognition. However, that doesn’t mean that every aspect of the film has aged well, as there are issues with the visuals that are endearing but also make it difficult to focus on the story. With fantasy movies, the appearance of the sets and environment must be otherworldly but still realistic enough to convince the audience they’ve stepped into another land.

There are some moments when the fairytale palette works in
Peter Pan
‘s favor, like the blues and golds of Wendy and Peter’s fairy dance in the woods.

When compared to the bland color grading of more modern projects, the vivid colors of Peter Pan are a welcome change, but they’re not perfect. There are some moments when the fairytale palette works in Peter Pan‘s favor, like the blues and golds of Wendy and Peter’s fairy dance in the woods. However, for many of the moments that take place in the sky, the pops of color make the dated visual effects all the more obvious.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Peter Pan (2003)	77%	74%

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3 Twilight (2008)

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke

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7.6/10 Twilight PG-13RomanceFantasyDrama

Based on Stephenie Meyer’s book of the same name, Twilight follows Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), who falls madly in love with Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), who she soon finds out is a vampire. Falling in love with her at the same time, Edward and Bella must overcome obstacles to preserve their forbidden relationship.

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*Availability in US Director Catherine Hardwicke Release Date November 21, 2008 Writers Melissa Rosenberg Cast Robert Pattinson , Ashley Greene , Peter Facinelli , Rachelle Lefevre , Elizabeth Reaser , Kristen Stewart , Nikki Reed , Jackson Rathbone , Cam Gigandet , Kellan Lutz , Taylor Lautner , Anna Kendrick , Billy Burke Runtime 121 minutes Franchise(s) The Twilight Saga Expand

The first installment in the Twilight franchise introduces audiences to Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) and their epic supernatural love story. However, the most memorable part of the 2008 Twilight isn’t the romance, the intrigue, or the mystical elements; it’s the blue tint that’s overlaid on every frame of the movie. Twilight received significant flack from critics about many aspects of the film, but the filter that gives the film a desaturated visual aesthetic could rightfully be criticized.

Some could argue that losing the blue filter in the rest of the Twilight movies took away some of the visual intrigue, but it does allow the audience to feel closer to the action. Additionally, since the first Twilight is defined solely by Bella’s relationship with Edward, it makes sense that the aesthetic would be icy and cold, like the vampires. However, as the series progresses, Bella’s life intertwines with Jacob and the werewolves, and she starts to view herself as one of the vampires. This means they don’t have the otherworldly aloofness they once did, which the blue perpetuates.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Twilight (2008)	49%	72%

2 Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Directed by David Yates

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8.5/10 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince PG-13AdventureFamilyFantasyMystery

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth film in the Harry Potter film franchise, and continues the adventures of the titular protagonist and his friends in their sixth year at the wizarding school of Hogwarts. As Voldemort and his minions continue to wage war on the world of muggles and wizards, Harry discovers one of his textbooks is filled with mysterious spells and information connected to an individual known as the Half-Blood Prince. Meanwhile, Dumbledore begins the search for a means to defeat Voldemort.

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*Availability in US Director David Yates Release Date July 7, 2009 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures , Heyday Films Writers Steve Kloves Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Michael Gambon , Tom Felton , Alan Rickman , Jim Broadbent , David Thewlis , Maggie Smith , Robbie Coltrane , Julie Walters Runtime 153 Minutes Expand

As the Harry Potter movies progressed, each installment got darker and more adult, which was reflected in the cinematography and tone of the projects. However, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince went too far with this gritty realism, as the sixth installment of the franchise is too dark for the audience to see. While it makes sense that the visuals in the film would match the dangerous and melancholy mood of the story, the color choices still need to be dynamic and allow the viewer to engage with the narrative.

This lack of clarity becomes an issue at the end of the movie when Harry and Dumbledore are in the cave and trying to obtain the Horcrux.

In The Half-Blood Prince, the color grading isn’t so much distracting as it is mystifying because it’s almost impossible for the audience to make out the characters during the most important moments of the narrative. This lack of clarity becomes an issue at the end of the movie when Harry and Dumbledore are in the cave and trying to obtain the Horcrux. In one of the most emotional and traumatic parts of the series, the audience misses the subtleties of the performances of Daniel Radcliffe and Michael Gambon.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)	84%	78%

1 Into The Woods (2014)

Directed by Rob Marshall

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4.7/10 Into the Woods PGMusicalFantasy

Based on the musical of the same name, Into the Woods revolves around the reimagining of several well-known fairytales, such as “Cinderella”, “Rapunzel”, “Jack and the Bean Stalk”, and “Little Red Riding Hood”. The film centers on a baker and his wife who, in their attempts to have a child, must lift a generational curse placed upon the baker’s family by a witch. Other stories based on the various fairytales are woven into the narrative as well, which ultimately deals with the characters facing the unintended consequences of the actions that they take. The film features an ensemble cast including James Corden, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, and Chris Pine.

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*Availability in US Director Rob Marshall Release Date December 25, 2014 Studio(s) Disney Writers James Lapine Cast Meryl Streep , Emily Blunt , James Corden , Johnny Depp , Anna Kendrick , Chris Pine Runtime 125minutes Expand

While Into the Woods isn’t regarded as one of the best movie musicals of the 21st century, it still brings the classic stage production by Stephen Sondheim to the big screen with a clear love for the original work. Unfortunately, Into the Woods falls victim to a common problem with films from the early 2010s and is often too dark and too blue during key scenes. This is especially clear during the moments set in the woods, which are vital points in the plot for exposition and plot development.

The blue appearance of the woods is also problematic because Meryl Streep’s character, the Witch, has a blue design and costuming, making it difficult to differentiate between her and the background. Color plays a significant role in Into the Woods, as the Witch tells the Baker and his wife to seek out items with distinct colors like blood-red and corn-yellow. However, the overall palette of the movie fades into the blue of the woods, making the viewer waste time looking for the items instead of easily picking them out onscreen.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Into The Woods (2014)	71%	49%

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