9 Secret Masterpiece Movies No One Expected to Be This Good
Want to find out what Ryan Gosling movie people dismissed at first? This and more from Bryan Cranston, Will Ferrell, and Nicolas Cage — feel free to explore our list of movies that pleasantly surprised everyone with low expectations.
I know we can all predict whether or not we're going to like a certain movie. After all, we already know what genres we prefer and what genres we can't stand.
But there are always exceptions to this rule. There are movies that can absolutely blow your mind, even if you didn't expect them to be that great. That's exactly why I always encourage you to take risks and look for content outside of your preferences.
These are 9 absolutely incredible movies that no one expected to be that good. They are loved by everyone: fans of the genre and far beyond.
The Lego Movie (2014): Not Another Cash Grab
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Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Genres: stop motion animation, dystopian sci-fi, action, adventure
- On Rotten Tomatoes, The Lego Movie has 96% from critics and 87% from the audience.
- On IMDb The Lego Movie is rated 7.7/10.
When I first heard about the movie, I kind of just rolled my eyes thinking it was another toy-based cash grab. But this one turned out to be anything but.
We follow Emmet, a construction worker who discovers he may be the most important person in the universe.
“I was not just expecting The Lego Movie to be a great movie at all, but it’s one of my all time favourites,” Redditor TheRealClose wrote.
Available on: Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, and Apple TV.
Upgrade (2018) Can Compete With the Best Black Mirror Episodes
Directed by Leigh Whannell. Genres: cyberpunk, dystopian sci-fi, action, thriller.
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Upgrade has 88% from critics and 88% from the audience.
- On IMDb Upgrade is rated 7.5/10.
Upgrade is a story about a technophobe who receives an experimental AI implant after a tragic accident.
“[I] went in expecting some mediocre action flick but it turned out to be extremely entertaining and even the story (and the ending) was very well written. Can only recommend,” Redditor Ronniejonesx shared.
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store.
The Other Guys (2010) May Convert You to Loving Action Comedies
Directed by Adam McKay. Genres: buddy cop, action, comedy, crime, thriller.
- On Rotten Tomatoes, The Other Guys has 79% from critics and 60% from the audience.
- On IMDb The Other Guys is rated 6.7/10.
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg play the department's least impressive detectives who stumble into the case of their lives. I wasn't really into action comedies before, but The Other Guys changed my mind.
“I thought it was going to be just another buddy cop movie but after "aim for the bushes" scene, I knew it was something else,” Redditor Syric13 confessed.
Available on: Hulu, fuboTV, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, Spectrum On Demand.
Galaxy Quest (1999): A Parody That Became Its Own Sci-Fi Classic
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Directed by Dean Parisot. Genres: parody, space sci-fi, adventure, comedy.
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Galaxy Quest has 90% from critics and 79% from the audience.
- On IMDb Galaxy Quest is rated 7.4/10.
“[I] randomly saw it in the theaters with some friends on Christmas day. All we knew was that it was some sort of sci-fi comedy. Zero expectations. Laughed through the whole thing,” Redditor PenPenGuin noted.
Following the washed-up cast of a beloved sci-fi show who get recruited by actual aliens to save the universe, this film is a joy. Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman lead a stellar cast.
Available on: MGM+, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, Apple TV.
Shaun of the Dead ( 2004) Created Its Own Genre
Directed by Edgar Wright. Genres: buddy comedy, survival, horror.
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Shaun of the Dead has 92% from critics and 93% from the audience.
- On IMDb Shaun of the Dead is rated 7.9/10.
This story of a salesman facing the zombie apocalypse created its own genre: the romantic comedy with zombies or rom-zom-com.
“As it started I was just hoping it would be good for a few cheap laughs and maybe some good fake gore. It turned out to be one of the most genuinely entertaining movies I've ever seen,” Redditor joekaras wrote.
Available on: Starz Apple TV Channel, MGM+, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) Serves Up Genius
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Genres: animation, adventure, family comedy, fantasy, sci-fi.
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs has 85% from critics and 72% from the audience.
- On IMDb Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is rated 6.9/10.
At first glance, a movie about food falling from the sky sounds ridiculous. But the story of an aspiring inventor and his food-making machine became one of the most clever and genuinely funny animated films of its decade.
“Took my daughter to see what I expected was just another crummy cartoon. Very much surprised by the offbeat humor,” one Redditor said.
Available on: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Microsoft Store, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
Drive (2011) Is Not Your Predictable Car Chase Flick
Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. Genres: car action, drama.
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Drive has 93% from critics and 79% from the audience.
- On IMDb Drive is rated 7.8/10.
Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver. When he tries to help his neighbor's family, he finds himself in a sticky situation.
“I thought it was going to be another typical car chase movie but it blew me away,” one fan, simba25 on Reddit admitted.
Available on: Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) Went Harder Than Expected
Directed by Joseph Kosinski. Genres: epic, action, drama.
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Top Gun: Maverick has 96% from critics and 99% from the audience.
- On IMDb Top Gun: Maverick is rated 8.2/10.
Thirty-six years after the original Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell returns to train a new generation of Top Gun pilots for their most dangerous mission yet.
“I thought it would be a fun, cheesy throwback to a dumb 80s action flick. Instead I got a beautiful screen epic about honor, duty, friendship, love, and accepting our mortality,” Redditor CuzStoneColdSezSo wrote.
Available on: Paramount+, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home.
Pig (2021): The Unexpected Gem From Nicolas Cage
Directed by Michael Sarnoski. Genres: psychological drama, mystery.
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Pig has 97% from critics and 83% from the audience.
- On IMDb Pig is rated 6.9/10.
Pig sounds ridiculous on paper: Nicolas Cage searching for his stolen pig? But this meditative drama about loss delivers something deep and unexpectedly moving.
“It was such a beautiful story of love and loss. And Cage was heartbreakingly great in it,” Redditor ArmsOfKamaji shared.
Available on: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home.
