Hype and expectations go a long way when it comes to influencing our opinions on movies. With limitless access to digital media, many of us form concrete opinions on movies even before we see them.
More often than not our assumptions are proven right, but every once in a while — we’re thrown for a loop. That’s why I’ve gone and compiled 10+ movies we all thought we’d hate but ended up loving.
*Captain America: The Winter Solider*
Let’s be honest, the first Captain America movie was a bit of a dud. Compared to its contemporaries, it’s easily one of the most boring films in the MCU.
Thankfully, Sebastian Stan helped right the ship the second time around.
*The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy*
Don’t all film adaptations based on books end up sucking in the end?
I mean, unless you’re talking about the Harry Potter franchise; or Game of Thrones . And I suppose I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention The Lord of the Rings .
Maybe movies based on books aren’t so bad?
*John Wick*
When I first got wind of this flick, I barely gave it a second glance. I was quick to chalk John Wick up to be nothing more than a poor man’s version of The Matrix .
Cue the dramatic music: I’m now convinced that John Wick is the combat program Neo runs while inside The Matrix !
*Watchmen*
Unless you were a hardcore comic book fan, you’d probably never heard of iconic characters like Rorschach or Dr. Manhattan before Zack Snyder’s Watchmen .
This movie blew my expectations away, and as far as I’m concerned it’s the best superhero movie ever made.
*Avatar*
So James Cameron is doing his own take on Fern Gully ? That’s nice.
Little did many of us know that Avatar would wind up being one of the most defining film accomplishments of the 21st century.
Bring on the sequels!
*The Other Guys*
You know those moments when you’re watching a movie trailer and you can’t help but think to yourself “my god — does this ever look stupid.”
Let me be the first to admit the error of my ways; The Other Guys is a modern-day comedy classic.
*School Of Rock*
Many people only looked as far as the marquee and misjudged School of Rock for just another goofy Jack Black comedy.
What the majority of moviegoers failed to realize (myself included) is that School of Rock is a Jack Black movie that’s directed by Richard Linklater . That makes all the difference in the world.
*Batman Begins*
After being subjected to Batman Forever and the much worse Batman & Robin , I can admit that I didn’t have high hopes for the caped crusader.
I think we can all agree, Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan saved Batman.
*The Lego Batman Movie*
Absolutely everyone in Hollywood was trolling The Lego Batman Movie before it came out. Even Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck took their stabs.
Little did they know at the time that Lego Batman would go on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
*Wayne’s World*
I know that I’m one of the only people old enough to remember a time when Wayne and Garth were just a skit on SNL . The idea that it could be made into a movie seemed impossible.
Now, more than 30 years later, it remains one of the most iconic comedies ever produced.
*Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse*
I’m not going to say that I didn’t have high hopes, but it’s no secret that Spider-Man movies don’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to quality.
Luckily for all of us, Into The Spiderverse was the best offering yet.
*Pirates Of The Caribbean*
Come on — a movie that’s based on a Disney World theme park ride starring Johnny Depp as a boozy Pepe LePew inspired pirate? No thank you.
Coming out of the theater, I never wanted to rewatch a movie so badly as I did The Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl .
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*The Truman Show*
This was a stark departure for Jim Carrey and many doubted the comedian’s ability to transition into dramatic films.
For anyone who hasn’t watched, not only is The Truman Show arguably the brightest spot in Jim Carrey’s career — it’s one of the most philosophically relevant movies ever produced.
*Soul*
I love Pixar movies, but there’s no denying that over the past five years they’ve begun to pack a pretty powerful emotional punch.
In the beginning, I was worried Soul would be preachy and emotionally manipulative. Now, I’m happy to admit just how wrong I was.
*Guardians Of The Galaxy*
Star-Lord, Rocket Racoon, Groot; who the hell are these people? Why aren’t they making another Iron Man movie?!
That’s the sentiment many shared before seeing The Guardians of the Galaxy . Flash forward nearly a decade and it’s hailed as the defining shift in the MCU.
