11-03-2025
30 Movies People Thought Would Be God Awful, But Actually Turned Out To Be Pretty Great
Recently, Reddit user bigbankmanman asked the question, "What's a movie you thought would be terrible but you ended up liking?" And the folks over at r/movies swiftly responded with some pretty surprising (or maybe not?!) answers. Check it out:
1. The Lego Movie (2014) — "Expected a cheap movie tie in. Got a brilliant meta-movie about playing with Legos."
2. Prey (2022) — "My hopes for the Predator franchise were on the floor, but god damn, I loved Prey."
3. Paddington (2014) — "I remember seeing the trailer and thinking it was just a cash grab kids movie. Fast forward to 2025, and that bear has made me reevaluate my life and the first two are two of my favorite films ever made. The second one is a fucking masterpiece, and I'll fight anyone who defies me. Everybody gangster 'til Aunt Lucy shows up at the end of Paddington 2."
— Edwardtrouserhands
4. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) — "That movie is amazing. Watched it the first time thinking it would be stupid but fun, but it ended up being awesome in every way and I've since watched it about eight times."
Paramount Pictures
— Overall_Cod2206
" Chris Pine is having SO much fun in that movie. It's a delight."
— MadPiglet42
5. Alien: Romulus (2024) — "When I first heard ANOTHER Alien movie was getting made, I assumed it would be a stinker. It's probably my favorite movie from last year."
6. The Cabin in the Woods (2011) — "It didn't get spoiled for me at all, and I watched it with my then girlfriend thinking it was some type of generic slasher flick. What a fun concept and great movie.""
Lionsgate
— BenntPitts
"I saw this in the theatre and had such low expectations. The film's opening scene and first five minutes genuinely had me thinking maybe we had accidentally walked into the wrong movie."
— johnmlsf
"My girlfriend made me watch it, and I really didn't want to because I was absolutely sick of 'teens dying in the woods' movies. Thankfully, she held firm."
— Potentatetial
7. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) — "At the time, it seemed absurd that they would adapt a theme park ride into a movie and it just seemed pointless. My high school girlfriend and I were bored one day and decided to check it out. It was an absolute blast and was way better than it had any right to be."
Buena Vista Pictures
— Music_For_The_Fire
I remember seeing the poster for Pirate s and thinking, Boy, they've really run out of ideas for movies if they gotta make one based on a ride. Then I went to see it with some people, and it was fun as hell, and Jack Sparrow is so instantly iconic I thought he might have been a preexisting character from something I'd read before."
— RedHelvetiCake
8. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) — "I boycotted this thing thinking it was a stupid money-grab remake of the Robin Williams one. I kept hearing it was good and finally watched it months later. I loved it... Now, I usually can't take much of Jack Black, but I still think he should have been nominated for his performance as a teen girl in a 50-year-old's body."
9. Edge of Tomorrow (2014) — "I watched Edge of Tomorrow on a flight. I was expecting a generic sci-fi action movie, and what I got instead was a cool film that makes very good use of its concept. Got me hooked the whole flight. "
10. Game Night (2018) — "'How can that be profitable for Frito-Lay?' Jesse Plemmons kills me in that scene 🤣"
— UhhBumbleBeeTuna
11. Galaxy Quest (1999) — "I couldn't believe they'd done such a great job."
12. Stardust (2007) — "I've argued with people about this movie because I think it was one of De Niro's best roles he has ever done. He isn't some version of the same character he has played in almost every movie he has been in. He IS Captain Shakespeare."
13. Lars and the Real Girl (2007) — "The description sounds so weird that I had to check it out. The description wasn't inaccurate, but it was so different from what I expected. It blew me away, and I've watched it several more times since."
— Basic_Seat_8349
"Yeah, I thought it would be a cringe-fest, but it's actually a movie about tolerance and growth. Loved the scene where the preacher stands up for him to the congregation."
— Lampmonster
14. Arrival (2016)— "I thought it was gonna be some corny sci-fi flick, and it blew me away."
Paramount Pictures
— CWKitch
"Same. I was expecting some Independence Day- type movie and was waiting for shit to go sideways the entire movie. I was blown away by what actually happened."
— LatterProfessional5
"PHENOMENAL FILM."
— ryano1076
15. Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) — "This is my standard answer to this questino. That movie has NO business being as good as it is. It's Crispin Glover's finest cinematic performance, and I will die on this hill."
MGM
— MadPiglet42
"Definitely one of those that knows what it is and doesn't try and shy away from it."
— jjackson25
16. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) — "I remember thinking to myself, this movie sounds fucking stupid. But my friends insisted. It is now my favorite horror movie and my favorite comedy movie, LOL."
Magnet Releasing
— cookiesarenomnom
17. We're the Millers (2013) — "Looked stupid but it was very funny and the acting is just wonderful."
Warner Bros.
— IAMAHORSESIZEDUCK
"Yep, no ragrets."
— pembunuhUpahan
18. My Old Ass (2024) — "It looked interesting from the get-go, but in an 'interesting concept but no way they do it right' way. But oh, did they! My favorite movie of 2024. "
Amazon MGM Studios
— odrer-is-an-ilulsoin
"Totally over-performed expectations. The time travel stuff was really just a Trojan horse for a poignant and smart coming-of-age family dramedy. Thought the young leads were very strong!"
— nikes_alt
19. Tremors (1990) — "An early '90s movie with Kevin Bacon fighting giant underground worms? That sounds dumb as hell. But it's now one of my favorite movies ever made."
Universal Pictures
— willi5x
20. Singin' in the Rain (1952) — "It was at my local cinema, so I thought I'd watch it, as it's a classic. But I'm not really into many old musicals. Really enjoyed it in the end. I'd seen the famous scene many times before but didn't know anything about the storyline beforehand. I didn't know it was a film about filmmaking. I often enjoy films like that."
Loew's Inc.
— eltictac
21. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) — "Watched it like three times in my twenties. I'm a straight guy and the movie had a target audience that was definitely female oriented...I enjoyed it."
20th Century Fox
— -OkButWhy-
22. Kick-Ass (2010) — "I did not know what I was getting into until Hit Girl flipped the switch with the violence."
Lionsgate
— Silent_Pr0tagonist
23. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) — "This movie had no right to be as good as it was."
Universal Pictures
— Zestyclose-Past-5305
"Yeah, I have no idea who at Dreamworks was like, 'Hey guys, remember that Puss in Boots movie we did like a decade ago? What if we did a sequel and went extra fuck with it?' but God bless 'em for it."
— EssenceOfGrimace
24. The Prestige (2006) — "Two rival magicians turned deadly! I thought, is garbage. Then I had a date and she wanted to see it. I still don't remember that date's name but that movie is now displayed on my home theater shelf proudly. Eff, that movie is the best."
Buena Vista Pictures
— thebluezero0
"That movie is SO good, worth it for David Bowie alone."
— MadPiglet42
25. Click (2006) — "Seemed like a switch-brain-off slo-mo-jiggles film, turned down to be a wake-up call to enjoy life."
Sony Pictures Releasing
— stony_phased
"Before the movie: 'Haha, I saw in the trailer that he used the remote to pause time, fart on a coworker, and slap his boss.'
After the movie: 'The small, seemingly inconsequential decisions we make every day become habits that we repeat. How we spend our days is how we spend our lives. Life is fleeting. Hug your loved ones.'"
— dumptruckulent
26. Napoleon Dynamite (2004) — "I didn't like it until the third watch, and I didn't love it until the sixth. Now? I've probably seen it 300 times."
Fox Searchlight Pictures
— S_dot56
"Exactly. It's like The Big Lebowski. It's not funny the first time around. But after that it's hilarious."
— farside808
27. A Quiet Place (2018) — "I am not into horror, so A Quiet Place was not really on my radar. It's now one of my favorite movies. People love pointing out its plot holes but I just think the suspense is really well done and it's a fun watch."
Paramount Pictures
— StaplesLewis
28. Dredd (2012) — "This movie was amazing, and I am still waiting for a sequel."
Reliance Entertainment
— Glissandra198
29. Mean Girls (2004) — "I thought Mean Girls was going to be some lame 'chick flick.' Boy, was I wrong? I watch it at least once a year on October 3 now."
Paramount Pictures
— ory1994
30. Finally, The Princess Bride (1987) — "Fucking most useless trailer of all time. Weird '80s rock saxophone backdrop. Very bored narrator. Spoils Vizzini's end for no reason. Tries to use 'affairs of state' as a draw for audiences. The movie itself though... One of the most quotable, clever, funny, and enjoyable flicks of all time. Weirdly timeless despite the cheesiest special effects. Absolutely stunning film."
20th Century Fox
— DandyLama
And here's that "useless" trailer if you feel like checking it out:
View this video on YouTube
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
What do you think? Is there a movie you went into (at the theater or at home) where you thought it would be terrible but were surprised that you actually really liked it?! Tell us all about it below or via this totally anonymous form, and who knows, maybe there'll be a part two!
