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xdpaul said: Yep! Budget matters to my perception on both sides, at least initially. If I can tell a movie has low budget, I forgive a lot ("Surf Nazis Must Die" has great secondary photography, for example, and encouraged me to endure inconsistent principal photography). If I know it has huge budget, I look for places where it was wasted ("Mars Needs Moms" didn't need to blow money recasting the kid's voice.) Also, if I later discover that what appeared to be a standard budget or large budget movie had a small one, that makes me appreciate the movie more.  Rocky, Once and Spy Kids have way smaller budgets than their quality indicates, for example, and I appreciate them more because of it.

I also think some big budget movies are criticized excessively, even when they deliver a good, but, for whatever reason "non-zeitgeist" appeal: John Carter and the latest 3 Musketeers were two fine and entertaining films (everyone in the theater had a good time and left smiling and talking about favorite parts - at least where I was at - lots of laughter at the right parts, etc.)