We’ve all been there when it comes to rolling our eyes at upcoming movies. “There’s no way this will be good,” we tell ourselves.
Sometimes, we’re not fans of the premise. Other times, it’s a sequel that no one asked for.
Yet these films overcame the odds and blew us away. These movies had no business being as good as they are.
Toy Story 4
You could argue that Toy Story 3 belongs in this spot, but I’m giving it to the 2019 sequel because at least Toy Story 3 wraps up Andy’s story.
Toy Story 4 was released nearly a decade later, when it seemed like Pixar had lost its magic. It felt like Toy Story 4 was just nostalgia bait that would fail to deliver. Surprisingly, it was as impactful and emotional as the rest of the Toy Story movies.
The Lego Movie
From one animated movie to another, at least Toy Story has a successful track record.
Not only did nobody ask for The Lego Movie, but it seemed destined to fail as yet another random toy adaptation gone wrong. Instead, The Lego Movie is not only laugh-out-loud funny, but its ending has a surprisingly emotional conclusion.
Hell or High Water
Taylor Sheridan is a household name today thanks to being the co-creator of the television series Yellowstone. He also wrote the critically acclaimed Sicaro, directed by Denis Vileneuve, but it wasn’t a mainstream success in 2016 when he wrote Hell or Highwater.
Many dismissed the movie as a generic modern-day Western but were surprised with its clever writing, excellent pacing, and well-developed characters aided by performances from Jeff Bridges and Chris Pine.
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Clue
Speaking of adaptations, did anyone seriously expect a movie about the board game Clue to work, especially in the 1980s?
Nobody did, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a cult classic. Tim Curry does a lot of the work here, helping to add to its campiness and non-serious nature. If they were to make a movie based on Clue today, it would be far more mature and serious in tone, like Battleship.
Dredd
No, not the 1995 film starring Sylvester Stallone; we’re talking about the 2012 movie with Karl Urban as the titular character.
Pete Travis’ adaptation successfully captures the heart of its source material, delivering a stylish, violent, and satisfying flick. It may not have performed well at the box office, but it has a very loyal following.
Game Night
It seems like comedies today aren’t what they used to be. Talented writers seem more focused on creating content on social media or developing a television series instead of a movie. I get it; movies are becoming increasingly expensive to make.
Enter 2018’s Game Night, which overcomes this stigma with clever writing and an all-star cast headlined by Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams. Jesse Plemons, however, steals the show: “How can this be profitable for Frito-Lay?
Shawshank Redemption
Yes, it seems wild to say that Shawshank Redemption of all movies had no business being as good as it is, but I can’t get over the title. It’s so bad, even if it stays true to the title of Stephen King’s novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, which is an even worse title!
Director Frank Farabont bought the adaptation rights for the movie for a measly $5,000 in 1987, even though King didn’t understand how it would be translated into a film. It’s a good thing that he didn’t have the final call, as Shawshank Redemption is one of the greatest movies of all time.
Edge of Tomorrow
No one does action like Tom Cruise; just look at the Mission Impossible franchise.
Despite being based on the acclaimed novel All You Need Is Kill, many dismissed Edge of Tomorrow as a cheap Hollywood knockoff that didn’t comprehend the source material.
Instead, we’re treated to an excellent sci-fi action movie that isn’t afraid to include some much needed social commentary.
Cabin in the Woods
Written by Joss Wheddon and directed by Drew Goddard, Cabin in the Woods‘ marketing campaign had it look like a generic, campy, old-school horror movie. As a result, the anticipation was virtually non-existent.
However, that’s exactly what everyone wanted us to think. In reality, Cabin in the Woods is a surprisingly clever film that knows how to play on our expectations.
Get Out
Speaking of playing on our expectations, that’s exactly what Jordan Peele’s directoral debut does. He knows the audience expects a typical horror movie and masterfully plays on those expectations to deliver one of the best movies of the past decade.
So why is this movie better than it had any business being? Before Get Out, Jordan Peele was best known as one of the guys from the comedy show Key and Peele. No one expected Jordan Peele, the guy from the Obama handshake sketch, to be this good at writing and directing a horror movie!
Rogue One
It’s no secret that the Star Wars franchise has struggled lately when it comes to movies. The Force Awakens is content to play all the hits, The Last Jedi is controversial (I love it; I’ll die on this hill), and Rise of Skywalker was an absolute dud.
Yet, despite all the odds, Rogue One, a movie where we know what happens at the end going in, features some of the best characters in all of Star Wars. Every impactful moment feels earned, and we’re on the edge of our seats, rooting for the heroes to come through, even though we know that, ultimately, they’ll have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Oh, and it helped launch Andor, so it has that going for it, too.
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