"I couldn't believe it won awards." 20 women on the only film they've ever walked out on.

Some movies are an acquired taste. 

Maybe you prefer a good ol' romantic comedy to enjoy on a Friday evening, or perhaps a violent, three-hour-long thriller tickles your pickle. For some, only animated kid flicks will do. 

But what happens when you're forced to sit through films you believe to be absolutely... awful?

Watch: Study says Female-led films earn more than male-led films. Post continues after video.

Earlier this year, author Stephen King revealed that the one and only movie he'd ever walked out on was Transformers (understandable, Mr. King).

I have walked out of only one movie as an adult: TRANSFORMERS. Would like to know what other movies people have walked out on.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) June 27, 2022

And that got us thinking: what is the one movie which made an 'every day' person (AKA those of us who don't in fact write hellish horror novels for a living) leave before the final credits rolled?

To find out, Mamamia asked 20 women which movie they had to turn off or leave the cinema for, and why.

Here's what they had to say. 

Interview With The Vampire

Interview With The Vampire. Image: Stan.

"I couldn't finish Interview with The Vampire. I was 18 years old, and I was at the cinema with friends. Unfortunately, I just had to get up and leave because it genuinely made me feel physically sick. It's been over 28 years and I still get the disgusting feeling I had so viscerally that day." - Kirsten.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Image: Sony Pictures.

"I should have walked out of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I bloody hated every minute of that film. My partner however loved it! I realised afterwards through talking to other couples afterwards that there was a huge gender divide over that film. Most women agreed with me about how terrible it was." - Lucy.

50 Shades of Grey

50 Shades Darker. Image: Universal Pictures.

"I can't explain why, but I have seen parts of every single film from the 50 Shades trilogy. They're all equally terrible. The time I watched 50 Shades of Grey, I left halfway through and couldn't believe I had spent money on a ticket! I watched the last two films against my will and only made it halfway in, before I couldn't take it anymore! It's just so cringe and the script is so poorly written." - Sharon.

Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek. Image: Dimension Films.

"I walked out of the theatre during Wolf Creek and never watched another horror movie again. I can't stomach violence in films at all. Wolf Creek changes everything for me, so I supposed it was a good thing I watched a bit of it!. It was simply just too real. John Jarratt did a great job as an actor but I just couldn’t." - Kellie.

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park. Image: Universal Pictures.

"I was 10 years old and Jurassic Park terrified me! In one of the first scenes, there is a guy who gets eaten by a T-Rex. After seeing that, I just grabbed my seven-year-old sister and left. She was fine with it and wanted to stay – but I told the staff she was too scared of it and made them give us a refund!" - Orla.

House of a 1000 Corpses

House of a 1000 corpses. Image: Lionsgate Films

Melancholia

Melancholia. Image: Stan.

Don't Mess With the Zohan

Don't Mess with the Zohan. Image: Columbia Pictures.

"I couldn't finish Don’t mess with the Zohan. Not only was it absolutely terrible, it wasn’t funny, and the reviews and ads really did not make it clear how not just crass but pathetically vulgar it was. I enjoy a bit of crassness and vulgarity, and I can enjoy a bad movie. But this was revolting." - Rae.

Red Sparrow

Red Sparrow. Image: 20th Century Studios.

"Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton's Red Sparrow is about a Russian spy in the making. To put it simply, it was completely f**ked. There were torture scenes constantly, and it was torture for the sake of shock value, it didn't add anything to the storyline. After watching someone for the 15th bloody time have their skin grafted, my mum and I'd had enough. It was just sadistic." - Isabella.

Eragon

Eragon. Image: 20th Century Studios.

"I went to see Eragon as a distraction from grief after a good friend died unexpectedly. I’d enjoyed the books, but the movie was so horrific. I walked out halfway through because life really is tragically short." - Kate.

Silence of the Lambs

Silence of the Lambs. Image: Orion Pictures.

"I was pregnant at the time I went to watch Silence of the Lambs and the scene where Hannibal was on the floor with the guard's skin over his face, the breathing just freaked me out! I went and sat in the foyer with one of the attendants and chatted for the rest of the movie until my husband came out. I can still hear that sound..." - Kim. 

"So frightening I just could not watch it. Anthony Hopkins' character is terrifying. An old film now but still cannot watch it. I now avoid any violent or horror movies." - Deborah.

Cats and Peachtopia

Cats and Peachtopia. Image: Light Chaser Animation Studios.

"I took my son for a 'well-being day'. We saw Cats and Peachtopia (it's also just called Cats). It's horrific. There was fat shaming and animal cruelty. It is such a truly bizarre film, and we hoped and waited for it to get good. We left traumatised before it ended. I would never recommend it for anyone, let alone children." - Jemma.

The Notebook

The Notebook. Image: New Line Cinema.

"I had to turn off The Notebook. A friend said it was her favourite movie, but I couldn't sit through more than about 10 minutes. Similarly, a friend said 50 shades of Grey was her favourite book, but I could not read it. I literally tried about five times... So I have deliberately avoided the movie!" - Anne

Dune

Dune. Image: Warner Bros.

"I slept through most of Dune at the cinemas... It was the last day of the school year and it was a 7.30pm viewing BUT it was very boring at the start. And then the climax happened... and then it got boring again." - Jessica.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Image: Universal Pictures.

"Captain Corelli's Mandolin is one of my all-time favourite novels and it was completely butchered! I left the cinema halfway through. Penelope Cruz is supposed to be Greek (??) and don’t get me started on the casting of Nicolas Cage... But probably the worst thing was the fact they removed the beautiful storyline of Carlos, who is a character in the book. It was probably because his homosexuality was too complex at the time for Hollywood. Eye roll." - Amie.

Uncut Gems

Uncut Gems. Image: Netflix.

"I wish I had turned off Uncut Gems (AKA, Adam Sandler's attempt for an Oscar grab) sooner. It was awful! The only reason I didn't leave is because I thought my partner was enjoying it, but it turns out he hated it too and thought I was loving it!" - Jessica.

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom. Image: Produzioni Europee Associate, Les Productions Artistes Associés.

"I, along with so many others, couldn't sit through Salò or the 120 Days of Sodom by Pasolini. He was reportedly murdered just prior to filming the end because of its anti-fascist sentiments. Truly gruesome and pornographic in both sex and violence. It was even banned in Australia and many other countries. I managed to see it when the ban was lifted and then reinstalled. Some images can’t be unseen. Thankfully, a behind-the-scenes article eventually put my mind to rest." - Hedy.

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Legends of the Fall 

Legends of the Fall. Image: TriaStar Pictures.

"I would’ve walked out of Legends of the Fall, except I was at a drive-in cinema. It was the most boring movie in history and it went on forever…. two hours and 13 minutes, to be exact. Just when I thought it was over, a new storyline would start." - Diane. 

Promising Young Woman 

Promising Young Woman. Image: Focus Features.

"I didn't walk out, but I buried my head in the couch during the murder scene of Promising Young Woman. It was so unflinchingly brutal and I didn't look up until it was over. It was burned into my eyes anyway for weeks and I still think about it sometimes." - Bronwyn.

Kill Bill: Volume 1

Kill Bill: Volume 1. Image: Miramax.

"I only lasted two minutes before leaving during Kill Bill: Volume 1. The opening scene was a woman in a coma being raped. I've never been able to make it the whole way through a Quentin Tarantino movie due to the horrific violence. I couldn't even get through the episode of CSI he directed!" - Kylie.

Feature Image: 20th Century Studios / Stan.