Don't judge these films by their pre-release skepticism! Join us as we count down movies that defied expectations and delivered entertainment in the most unexpected ways. From superhero gambles to sci-fi surprises, these films proved the doubters wrong and became beloved hits that audiences couldn't stop talking about.
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00:00Iron Man, that's kind of catchy, it's got a nice ring to it. I mean it's not technically accurate,
00:03this suits a gold titanium alloy.
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the movies that may have
00:10initially garnered a fair share of skepticism, but ended up being entertaining in the most
00:14unexpected ways.
00:15Your reputation precedes you.
00:18Thank you, sir.
00:20Number 10, Galaxy Quest.
00:22If you've ever wanted to see Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver in comedic roles,
00:26Galaxy Quest is the perfect pick.
00:28The film follows a whimsical premise where the actors of the fictional titular sci-fi
00:32show get zapped into the Galaxy Quest universe and must play their roles for real.
00:36Kill it.
00:37Kill it?
00:39Until I'm open to any suggestions.
00:41Open the eyes like in episode 22!
00:43Before it hit theaters, Galaxy Quest might have had skeptics thinking it'd be a lazy
00:47sci-fi spoof destined for B-movie obscurity.
00:50Instead, the satirical comedy turned out to be a clever,
00:53heartwarming letter to Star Trek and sci-fi fandom in general.
00:56All right, Tommy, see if you can't lose him in that minefield.
00:59In what minefield?
01:00Pedal to the metal, right now!
01:01It balanced sharp humor with thrilling space action,
01:04making science fiction fans and casual viewers alike cheer.
01:08While it didn't break any box office records, it did become a cult favorite.
01:12You shall be avenged.
01:16Number 9, American Psycho.
01:18Before Mary Herron's satirical horror became a cult classic often commended for its storytelling
01:23and thought-provoking themes, many didn't think it would work.
01:26Did you know I'm utterly insane?
01:27Uh, great tan, Marcus.
01:31I mean, really impressive.
01:33This mostly stemmed from the fact that critics believed its source material was unfilmable.
01:37Even Bret Easton Ellis felt his controversial novel didn't need to be adapted to the big screen.
01:42I think if you stay, something bad will happen.
01:46However, Herron delivered a stylish, biting critique of the 1980s consumer culture
01:51that silenced the doubters.
01:52Her film ended up striking just the right balance between horror and satire.
01:56And Christian Bale?
01:57He didn't just play Patrick Bateman,
01:59he became him with that career-defining performance.
02:02And though I can hide my cold gaze,
02:04and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours,
02:08and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable.
02:12Some would even say he and the film deserved award recognition.
02:15Number 8, The Lego Movie.
02:17This animated adventure had plenty of doubting Thomases before its release.
02:21Some fans expected an unoriginal, forgettable cash grab
02:24based on yet another franchise of toys.
02:26Back from the dead, Brukowski?
02:28After all, how could a movie about plastic blocks work?
02:31Well, turns out they were way off.
02:33The Lego Movie shocked many by being an imaginative and heartfelt motion picture.
02:38You don't have to be the bad guy.
02:44Packed with humor, goofy characters,
02:46and a subtly deep message about creativity and conformity,
02:50it captivated audiences of all ages.
02:52The stunning animation, intelligent storytelling,
02:55and even the catchy Everything is Awesome theme tune
02:57won the hearts of both critics and audiences.
03:07Honestly, it's a fantastic movie that proves
03:09that even a film about toys can be truly special.
03:12Number 7, Ant-Man.
03:14Following a down-on-his-luck thief who steals a suit
03:16that shrinks him down to the size of the titular insect,
03:19this Marvel superhero movie panned out way better than expected.
03:26Compared to the MCU's earlier hits like Iron Man and Thor,
03:29this narrative about a hero who can talk to ants and hold his own in a fight
03:32might have seemed downright ridiculous.
03:34Like that perhaps Marvel was scraping the bottom of the barrel.
03:44But against all odds, they pulled off a hit.
03:47Paul Rudd's charming performance,
03:49the clever humor, and creative action sequences
03:51like epic battles fought in toy train sets won over many.
04:05Meanwhile, the film's delightful heist vibe gave it a fresh edge within the MCU,
04:09soon becoming a quirky fan favorite that spawned successful sequels.
04:13Number 6, Edge of Tomorrow.
04:15The trailers of this sci-fi spectacle may have had many believing
04:18it was yet another bleak alien invasion flick.
04:30With Tom Cruise starring as a soldier battling extraterrestrial forces,
04:34some probably even assumed it would be a generic war narrative drenched in CGI chaos.
04:39But Edge of Tomorrow defied expectations.
04:42It emerged as this thrilling action flick with unanticipated moments of humor
04:46and a clever time loop concept, elevated by stellar performances.
04:53Who could forget Emily Blunt as the ultimate full-metal bee,
04:56or Cruise in a totally unexpected role as a cowardly public affairs guy?
05:04It was indeed a refreshing sight.
05:06Today, Edge of Tomorrow stands tall as one of the most inventive sci-fi films of its decade.
05:11Number 5, Deadpool.
05:13Tim Miller's 2016 superhero film isn't like the others,
05:16and that's exactly why it stands out.
05:18It may not be the pinnacle of all comic book movies,
05:21but it certainly gave the fans and Ryan Reynolds what they wanted.
05:30After the Deadpool character was, should we say, ruined in X-Men Origins Wolverine,
05:35not too many people had high hopes for his own solo film.
05:37Yet diehard fans stayed loyal, and it paid off big time.
05:41Deadpool proved to be a witty, violent,
05:43and entertaining flick that gave the superhero genre a clever spin.
05:57Ryan Reynolds embodied the character as if he were born for the role.
06:01No wonder Deadpool ended up becoming a massive success,
06:04ranking as the ninth highest grossing film of the year.
06:07Number 4, John Wick.
06:20Chad Stahelski's action flick is a simple revenge story
06:23about an unstoppable hitman played by Keanu Reeves.
06:25At just 1 hour and 41 minutes, it's all thrills, no filler.
06:33But before its release,
06:34some dismissed it as another rehash of tired action movie tropes,
06:38and Reeves' fame at the time was nowhere near where it had been in the 90s.
06:42The film's premise of a retired assassin avenging his dog sounded almost laughable.
06:46Turns out though that those non-believers couldn't have been more mistaken.
07:02While it did take time before people realized it,
07:04John Wick was actually a sleek, heart-pounding action thriller
07:07with meticulously choreographed fight sequences.
07:09Reeves' commitment to the role and the intense stunt work made it unforgettable.
07:13It didn't even need a complex story to succeed.
07:19What many may have initially written off eventually became a sleeper hit.
07:23It also went on to reignite Keanu's popularity,
07:26and spawned several sequels and spinoffs.
07:28Number 3, Mad Max Fury Road.
07:31George Miller conceived the idea for a fourth Mad Max film back in 1987,
07:35but it took almost three decades for it to get on cinema screens.
07:38Despite a series of issues delaying its arrival, when it finally came,
07:42the dystopian tale carved its name in history
07:45as one of the most electrifying action films ever made.
07:48With Tom Hardy as Max and Charlize Theron as Furiosa,
07:52Miller managed to bring back what made people love the original.
07:54Meanwhile, its acting, solid narrative with emotional moments,
07:58and refreshing twist on the action genre made the post-apocalyptic sequel unforgettable.
08:18It's total chaos, beautifully shot with awe-inspiring practical effects.
08:24It went on to become the highest grossing Mad Max movie,
08:26and won six Academy Awards, among other accolades.
08:45Number 2, Top Gun Maverick.
08:47Greenlighting a sequel to an older classic is a tough call to make.
08:51There are always gonna be naysayers who think nothing can top the magic of the original,
08:55yet Top Gun Maverick proved to be an exception.
09:02Right from its opening moments,
09:04it commands your attention and keeps you glued to your seat.
09:07Aside from the adrenaline-pumping action,
09:09the story has plenty of heart and nostalgic callbacks to the original.
09:12I must admit I wasn't expecting an invitation back.
09:15They're called orders, Maverick.
09:16Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, and Jennifer Connelly all brought their A-game,
09:20taking the movie to new heights.
09:22And let's not forget the dogfights.
09:24So real, they make you feel like you were in the cockpit yourself.
09:27You see me now?
09:29Come on, let's get it over with.
09:31Fight song!
09:32Though some would even say Top Gun Maverick tops its predecessor,
09:35we're more keen to say that it certainly is worthy of it.
09:38Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
09:43Because its joyous tone and awesome CGI left us amazed.
09:54Pirates of the Caribbean The Curse of the Black Pearl.
09:56Because it turned a theme park ride into a riveting adventure.
10:0421 Jump Street.
10:05Because it shocked us with its hilarious and delightful package.
10:13Super young.
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10:31Number 1.
10:31Iron Man.
10:32Before Steve Rogers became Captain America,
10:35before Thor fought monsters on our screens,
10:37there was this genius billionaire playboy philanthropist in the high-tech suit.
10:40Is it better to be feared or respected?
10:43And I say, is it too much to ask for both?
10:46Yes, indeed.
10:47It was Iron Man that kickstarted the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe,
10:51setting the stage for other legendary sagas of heroism,
10:54such as the surprisingly awesome Guardians of the Galaxy.
11:022008 was a different time,
11:03and banking on this superhero film to be a box office hit was a gamble.
11:07The MCU wasn't the powerhouse it is today,
11:10and Iron Man wasn't yet a household name like Spider-Man or the X-Men.
11:14On top of that, Robert Downey Jr.'s casting was controversial due to his past troubles,
11:18and Jon Favreau wasn't known for directing blockbuster action flicks.
11:22Despite all that, Iron Man defied all expectations
11:25and launched the MCU into the cinematic phenomenon we know today.
11:29Truth is...
11:37I am Iron Man.
11:38What other films surprised you with how good they eventually turned out?
11:41Share your thoughts in the comment section.
11:42This is a day that you will always remember as the day...
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