I can understand it in film CGI and sets/post, as its hard to avoid when actually outside.
Lens flare is a product of multiple lenses and the aperture. And most of the time shots are set up to reduce it (more expensive lenses, matt boxes etc).
When overcooked in a movie it ends up looking amateur AF. Either the shot wasnt set up correctly, or someone has over-egged it in post-production.
I have rarely seen a pronounced lens flare that makes sense in a movie.