A noughties comedy that was widely panned by critics upon its release has found new life on Netflix UK, climbing to number nine on the platform's most-watched films chart. 'Accepted', starring Jonah Hill and Justin Long, was originally released in 2006 to a 38% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but has since gained a cult following.
The film follows Bartleby Gaines, a high school graduate who, after being rejected by every university he applies to, creates a fake college to deceive his parents. The ruse spirals as other rejected students flock to the fictional South Harmon Institute of Technology, forcing Bartleby to run it as a real institution.
Directed by Steve Pink in his debut, the film also features Blake Lively, Adam Herschman, and Columbus Short. Despite its star-studded cast, critics were unimpressed, with Rotten Tomatoes' consensus calling it 'inconsistent and ridiculous'. However, audiences have been more forgiving, giving it a 72% rating.
Fans have taken to social media to praise the film, with one calling it 'legendary' and another saying it is 'the single funniest movie I've ever seen'. The comedy currently sits above 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' on the UK chart.
