- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Which movies vastly exceeded your expectations?
Posted on 3/12/25 at 7:05 pm
Posted on 3/12/25 at 7:05 pm
Critical Drinker recently had a livestream talking about Snow White, and he responded to a chat comment asking "What if it ends up being good?"
That got me to thinking about movies that I assumed were going to be dogshit or mediocre, but ended up being good or great.
-MacGruber: after Wayne's World 2 (which I remember liking but haven't seen in forever), SNL released: It's Pat, Stuart Saves His Family, Blues Brothers 2K, Roxburt, Superstar, and Ladies Man. MacGruber ended the SNL films after a poor box office and reception. This despite it not only being one of the best comedies of all time, but arguably the greatest thing ever released on film.
-Zoolander: not another SNL film, but had all of the signs of being similar to one of the shitty ones. I believe it was based off of one Oscars skit with Stiller, but they managed to turn it into a top tier full-length comedy.
-Just Friends: looked like a generic shitty romcom, but has stood the test of time.
-A Ghost Story: looked like a hipster version of a horror movie (I'm not a horror fan). I had no interest in seeing it until word got out that it was an elite drama.
-Lucky Number Slevin: thought it was going to be the millionth sub-par "Pulp Fiction" knockoff, loaded with "look how cool this movie is" dialogue. That kind of is the case, but it does it so well that I don't care.
-The Mist: again, I don't like horror, but this was more of a character study with horror elements.
That got me to thinking about movies that I assumed were going to be dogshit or mediocre, but ended up being good or great.
-MacGruber: after Wayne's World 2 (which I remember liking but haven't seen in forever), SNL released: It's Pat, Stuart Saves His Family, Blues Brothers 2K, Roxburt, Superstar, and Ladies Man. MacGruber ended the SNL films after a poor box office and reception. This despite it not only being one of the best comedies of all time, but arguably the greatest thing ever released on film.
-Zoolander: not another SNL film, but had all of the signs of being similar to one of the shitty ones. I believe it was based off of one Oscars skit with Stiller, but they managed to turn it into a top tier full-length comedy.
-Just Friends: looked like a generic shitty romcom, but has stood the test of time.
-A Ghost Story: looked like a hipster version of a horror movie (I'm not a horror fan). I had no interest in seeing it until word got out that it was an elite drama.
-Lucky Number Slevin: thought it was going to be the millionth sub-par "Pulp Fiction" knockoff, loaded with "look how cool this movie is" dialogue. That kind of is the case, but it does it so well that I don't care.
-The Mist: again, I don't like horror, but this was more of a character study with horror elements.
47
Posted on 3/12/25 at 7:16 pm to THRILLHO
Jumanji (2017)
Posted on 3/12/25 at 7:16 pm to Corinthians420
quote:
Jumanji (2017)
Posted on 3/12/25 at 7:30 pm to THRILLHO
Dungeons and Dragons : Honor Among Thieves
Posted on 3/12/25 at 7:49 pm to THRILLHO
I don't know if it fits the criteria but I went in to Whiplash saying how could a movie about a jazz drummer be any good? Well my expectations were exceeded tremendously.
Posted on 3/12/25 at 7:52 pm to UnluckyTiger
quote:
Lucky Number Slevin
quote:
Dungeons and Dragons : Honor Among Thieves
These are definitely up there for me as well.
The Nice Guys, as well.
Posted on 3/12/25 at 7:58 pm to UnluckyTiger
quote:
Dungeons and Dragons : Honor Among Thieves
This is a really good choice. Watched it on the plane because of limited choices and it was great. Revenge of the Sith surprised me considering what came before it. Reptile and Logan Lucky surprised me because they were low budget Netflix movies.
Posted on 3/12/25 at 7:59 pm to THRILLHO
I wasn't expecting much from The Monkey, but I ended up having a blast
Posted on 3/12/25 at 8:14 pm to RLDSC FAN
Sicario.
Maybe I just totally missed all the hype but I had never even heard of it and it became one of my favorite movies of all time after one watch after across it on HBO
Maybe I just totally missed all the hype but I had never even heard of it and it became one of my favorite movies of all time after one watch after across it on HBO
Posted on 3/12/25 at 8:16 pm to THRILLHO
Thank You for Smoking was way better than I expected it to be.
Posted on 3/12/25 at 8:20 pm to nerd guy
quote:
Dungeons and Dragons : Honor Among Thieves
I'll give this one a watch.
Nice Guys and (especially) Whiplash were top tier and exceeded my expectations, but I had fairly good feelings heading into each of them.
I thought of another one that sort of applies. I had high hopes for "Snowpiercer" because I was a big fan of "Memories of Murder", "The Host", and "Mother", but the movie looked dumb as shite. If I weren't familiar with the director, that one would have shocked me.
ETA: 500 Days of Summer looked like it might fall into the "might be passable and cute romcom" range. It ended up being not only an elite dramedy, but somewhat shite on my romcom assumption.
This post was edited on 3/12/25 at 8:25 pm
Posted on 3/12/25 at 8:23 pm to THRILLHO
I saw Hot Rod only knowing lazy sunday and thought it was fricking hilarious
Posted on 3/12/25 at 8:36 pm to THRILLHO
Waterworld
It got a bad rap because of cost overruns and being in production hell.
The movie itself is very entertaining and has one of the most unique settings in movie history and thanks to CGI will certainly be the last time anybody does something that insane with practical effects.
It got a bad rap because of cost overruns and being in production hell.
The movie itself is very entertaining and has one of the most unique settings in movie history and thanks to CGI will certainly be the last time anybody does something that insane with practical effects.
Posted on 3/12/25 at 8:43 pm to THRILLHO
Paddington 2
Posted on 3/12/25 at 8:48 pm to Esquire
Safety not guaranteed
About time
About time
Posted on 3/12/25 at 9:01 pm to THRILLHO
The Gentlemen (2019)
Not because of anyone involved. I love everyone involved in the film, but because of Covid, it didn't get the marketing push. I literally knew nothing about it, so when it showed up on my Netflix feed, I figured it was just one of Guy Ritchie's movies that just didn't hit. Gave it a watch and it quickly became my favorite Ritchie film -- at least tied with Snatch.
Not because of anyone involved. I love everyone involved in the film, but because of Covid, it didn't get the marketing push. I literally knew nothing about it, so when it showed up on my Netflix feed, I figured it was just one of Guy Ritchie's movies that just didn't hit. Gave it a watch and it quickly became my favorite Ritchie film -- at least tied with Snatch.
Posted on 3/12/25 at 9:01 pm to THRILLHO
Showgirls.
Posted on 3/12/25 at 9:03 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
Speaking of Ritchie: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Keira Knightley Pride & Prejudice
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Keira Knightley Pride & Prejudice
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Posted on 3/12/25 at 9:03 pm to THRILLHO
The Gambler (2014 remake)
Fargo
Jackie Brown
The Hangover
Fargo
Jackie Brown
The Hangover
Posted on 3/12/25 at 9:08 pm to THRILLHO
Warrior and it's not even close for me. Nick Nolte deserved an Oscar
Page 1 of 5
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News