History YMMV / ThreeBillboardsOutsideEbbingMissouri

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: [[IntendedAudienceReaction While it's made clear that]] Mildred isn't supposed to be [[AntiHero a squeaky clean heroine]], some people found that her {{Jerkass}} tendencies overwhelmed her more admirable traits. These include her rudeness, [[UngratefulBastard her character assassination of the sheriff who legitimately tried to find her daughter's killer]], and [[spoiler:''[[SerialEscalation burning down the police station]]'' (the place where all the evidence for her daughter's murder is(]]. The fact that many of her actions come at the expense of the well-being of her remaining child, Robbie, doesn't really help, either.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: [[IntendedAudienceReaction While it's made clear that]] Mildred isn't supposed to be [[AntiHero a squeaky clean heroine]], some people found that her {{Jerkass}} tendencies overwhelmed her more admirable traits. These include her rudeness, [[UngratefulBastard her character assassination of the sheriff who legitimately tried to find her daughter's killer]], and [[spoiler:''[[SerialEscalation burning down the police station]]'' (the place where all the evidence for her daughter's murder is]]. The fact that many of her actions come at the expense of the well-being of her remaining child, Robbie, doesn't really help, either.

* {{Narm}}: Mildred's PartingWordsRegret to her daughter shortly before her rape and death are "I hope you get raped"; it's so incredibly on-the-nose it almost borders on clairvoyance.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Did Mildred agree to go on a date with James just to solidify her alibi, or did she have concerns that he might rat her out to the cops if she didn't go? Note she uses the word "forced" when they argue in the restaurant, so did she view the date as blackmail and that was what made her so grudging and hostile?

* WTHCastingAgency: Abbie Cornish’s casting got some flack for two reasons. The first was that using her natural Australian accent made her stand out like a sore thumb among all the other actors, despite Cornish having spent much of her career [[FakeAmerican playing Americans]] and being adept at it, and the second being her age. Specifically how she’s noticeably much younger than her onscreen husband Creator/WoodyHarrelson, by about two decades. Given significant age differences in relationships are considered taboo by many, this can seem at odds with Willoughby’s universal popularity among the town (exclusion Mildred), and ultimately, an actress closer to Harrelson’s own age likely would’ve [[spoiler: made the character’s reaction to his suicide hit harder, given it would imply a longer history of romance between the two]].

* HardTruthAesop: Be careful what you say to someone you care about, you may never know if that is the last time you will see them alive. If your final words are not pleasant, it will be a guilt you carry for the rest of your life.

* AwardSnub: Martin [=McDonagh=] was assumed to at least be ''nominated'' for the Oscar for Best Director, but was given the cold shoulder by the Academy. The film was also the front-runner to win Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, but lost both (to ''Film/TheShapeOfWater'' and ''Film/GetOut2017'' respectively). Most likely, the movie was simply too polarizing to win those categories. However, the performances were still universally praised, and the film ultimately settled for two acting wins (Best Actress for [=McDormand=] and Best Supporting Actor for Rockwell).

* AssPull: [[spoiler:The guy that seemed like a perfect fit for the killer, to the point that Dixon overhears him bragging about an identical crime... [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle isn't the killer]]. He was just a fire fetishist who heard about Angela’s death through media coverage on Mildred’s billboards and came to town to derive some sort of kick.]]

* FoeYay: Most of Dixon's scenes with Red, the advertising agent, include Dixon either getting ''way'' too close, or [[spoiler:throwing him out of a two-story building]].
** During the pool scene at the bar, Dixon taunts Red, then explains that he cares about the treatment of gay people, with a very out-of-place, soft look in his eyes.
** Later, Dixon begins crying as soon as he sees [[spoiler:the aftermath of his attack on Red]], then apologizes (though this was more likely due to his HeelRealization).

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: [[IntendedAudienceReaction While it's made clear that]] Mildred isn't supposed to be [[AntiHero a squeaky clean heroine]], some people found that her {{Jerkass}} tendencies overwhelmed her more admirable traits. These include her rudeness, [[UngratefulBastard her character assassination of the sheriff who legitimately tried to find her daughter's killer]], and [[spoiler:''[[SerialEscalation burning down the police station]]'' ([[WhatAnIdiot the place where all the evidence for her daughter's murder is]])]]. The fact that many of her actions come at the expense of the well-being of her remaining child, Robbie, doesn't really help, either.
* WhatAnIdiot: [[spoiler:Mildred apparently didn't consider the fact that [[KillItWithFire burning down the police station]] would cause most (if not all) of the evidence for her daughter's death to be destroyed, making the chances of finding the killer much slimmer]].

* ShockingSwerve: [[spoiler:The guy that seemed like a perfect fit for the killer, to the point that Dixon overhears him bragging about an identical crime... [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle isn't the killer]]. He was just a fire fetishist who heard about Angela’s death through media coverage on Mildred’s billboards and came to town to derive some sort of kick.]]

* WTHCastingAgency: Abbie Cornish’s casting got some flack for two reasons. The first was that her unexplained Australian accent made her stand out like a sore thumb among all the other actors, and the second being her age. Specifically how she’s noticeably much younger than her onscreen husband Creator/WoodyHarrelson, by about two decades. Given significant age differences in relationships are considered taboo by many, this can seem at odds with Willoughby’s universal popularity among the town (exclusion Mildred), and ultimately, an actress closer to Harrelson’s own age likely would’ve [[spoiler: made the character’s reaction to his suicide hit harder, given it would imply a longer history of romance between the two]].

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: "Anger begets more anger" is especially timely with [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment the climate of public division and controversy in the new tens]], and is displayed very appropriately over the course of the movie. This is highlighted by the only positive character changes stemming from moments where acts of kindness are displayed when they could've just as easily been shoved away for acts of anger, most notably [[spoiler:Red giving Dixon a glass of orange juice even though Dixon sent him to the hospital to begin with]].

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy:
** Many viewers found a large number of the characters to be a bit ''too'' flawed. Mildred is a rude AntiHero at best, Dixon is [[PoliceBrutality a racist bully]], and most of the town [[WorldOfJerkass is filled with jerks]] who do nothing but deride each other. The few sympathetic characters like James and Robbie are either [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter underutilized]] or OutOfFocus to the point that there wasn't really anyone to root for by the film's end. Hell, not even [[spoiler:Angela's killer is found]], making any possible character development [[AllForNothing feel rather pointless]].
** Backlash from feminist/social justice circles revolved around this, especially in response to some critics' proclamations of Mildred being a strong female -- criticism ''especially'' went to Mildred's conflicted thoughts about her own daughter, and the treatment of her and her daughter as a MacGuffin. It ''really'' didn't help that the film was specifically attached to "Time's Up" (which didn't yet exist when it was being made, mind you) during its win at the Golden Globes.
** Similarly, [[https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2018/01/03/growing-racial-backlash-against-three-billboards-explained-explaining-growing-backlash-against-oscar/977024001/ some have criticized the film's handling of Dixon]], claiming that it's meant to make the audience sympathize with and root for a racist. That Dixon is a racist ''cop'' during a time when America is grappling with the issue of racially charged police shootings just adds more fuel to the fire. [[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/martin-mcdonagh-three-billboards-outside-of-ebbing-missouri-controversy-backlash-response-racism-a8202151.html In response]], Martin [=McDonagh=] claimed that he wasn't trying to redeem Dixon or make him seem like a hero, and that the whole point of the film is supposed to be that real life is messy and complicated.

* WTHCastingAgency: Abbie Cornish’s casting got some flack for two reasons. The first was that her accent made her stand out like a sore thumb among all the other actors, and the second being her age. Specifically how she’s noticeably much younger than her onscreen husband Creator/WoodyHarrelson, by about two decades. Given significant age differences in relationships are considered taboo by many, this can seem at odds with Willoughby’s best universal among the town, and ultimately, an actress closer to Harrelson’s own age likely would’ve [[spoiler: made the character’s reaction to his suicide hit harder, given it would imply a longer history of romance between the two]].

* WTHCastingAgency: Abbie Cornish’s casting got some flack for two reasons. The first was that her accent made her stand out like a sore thumb among all the other actors, and the second being her age. Specifically how she’s noticeably much younger than her onscreen husband Creator/WoodyHarrelson, by about two decades. Given significant AgeGapRomances are considered taboo by many, this can seem at odds with Willoughby’s 100%ApprovalRating among the town, and ultimately, an actress closer to Harrelson’s own age likely would’ve [[spoiler: made the character’s reaction to his suicide hit harder, given it would imply a longer history of romance between the two]].

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: Even if you experience a great tragedy, even something as severe as your child being murdered [[spoiler:and never receiving closure as to who did it or why]], you can't use that as an excuse to [[DespairEventHorizon let anger and grief turn you into a terrible person]].