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They defied expectations and left us completely stunned! Join us as we count down our picks for films that were way better than they had any right to be. From superhero gambles to animated surprises, these movies shocked audiences by delivering far beyond what anyone anticipated. Our countdown includes films that broke barriers, launched franchises, and turned doubters into believers!
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00:00Hey, Wix at the Continental.
00:06Welcome home, John.
00:08Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for movies that were way better than they had any right to be.
00:15I came here for an arrogant little legend who thought he was immortal.
00:22Number 20, Game Night.
00:24Any plans for this evening?
00:26Nope.
00:26Perhaps a game night?
00:29You're just gonna stay in, just the two of us.
00:31Mm-hmm.
00:32Boring.
00:33Mm.
00:34I see.
00:36Don't let the name fool you, because this movie is not all fun and games.
00:40Sure, it starts out as a simple night of playing games between friends,
00:43but it soon ends up as a race against the clock to defeat some criminals and stop a kidnapping.
00:47Game Night has twists and turns, and it never lets up on the action or the laughs.
00:52No, I'm telling you, this is all real!
00:54The shitty actors are real? Come on.
00:56How about that ridiculous fight? Was that real?
00:58Is this gun real?
00:59Oh, oh, no, Annie.
01:00Oh, no, no, no, no.
01:01Ben, Ben!
01:03Ah!
01:04Ow!
01:06What?
01:07A lot of comedies in the past decade have had problems with feeling generic and also flopping at the box office.
01:13Game Night, however, did not have any of those problems.
01:16It performed well at the box office and was a critical success, too.
01:19The film has an entertaining plot, impressive cast, and all-around fun vibes, which makes it a solid watch.
01:26Oh, no, he died!
01:35Number 19.
01:36The Other Guys
01:37When the same old boring, muscle-headed action stars just aren't cutting it, you need The Other Guys.
01:42That's your big case?
01:43Scaffolding permits?
01:45Yeah.
01:46Guess what?
01:48You're coming with me.
01:49That's a wooden gun!
01:52Oh!
01:54That hurts, man!
01:55It's all about proving people wrong.
01:58In fact, the whole movie is just subverting expectations.
02:01It follows two desk jockeys who end up having to prove their mettle in a high-stakes investigation.
02:06The Other Guys challenges the conventional action hero buddy cop tropes and makes you laugh out loud while doing so.
02:12First off, I missed you.
02:15What's going on?
02:17Did you hear what I said?
02:18Fine.
02:19I kind of missed you, too.
02:21Mark Wahlberg's character is in trouble for shooting Derek Jeter.
02:26Will Ferrell's character is a neglectful husband to Ava Mendez.
02:29And Michael Keaton's character is just trying to provide for his bisexual son to become a DJ.
02:34There are so many entertaining bits that the moral of this story is don't count these guys out.
02:47Number 18.
02:48Aquaman
02:49What do you want?
02:51I'll tell you what I want.
02:57Can we get a picture with you?
02:59You're like a local hero, man.
03:02It would mean a lot.
03:03For an embarrassingly long time, Aquaman was the butt of jokes.
03:07He was the king of the seas, but people only knew him as the guy who talked to fish.
03:13I've said this before and I'll say it again.
03:16Aquaman sucks.
03:17Even when we got glimpses of Jason Momoa as a badass Aquaman, fans still had reservations about if a solo movie could work.
03:25Thankfully, it did.
03:26I suppose you want to talk about this, do you?
03:28Either do I.
03:34Actually, that's an understatement.
03:37James Wan's film made a huge splash, earning over a billion dollars at the box office.
03:41The movie pulled elements from the Peter, David, and Jeff Johns comics, and Wan's horror film background also translated well to the superhero.
03:48If you seek my power, you must prove your worth.
03:54Journey beyond the edge of the world to the hidden sea.
03:58Look inside the bottle for the charted path.
04:01Only in the hands of the true king.
04:04The director gave us amazing visuals and breathtaking action sequences.
04:08Who could have predicted that DC's highest grossing movie ever would be Aquaman?
04:12He's not a joke anymore.
04:14Do the gods make them their will?
04:18It's time to show them.
04:24We are more than meets the eye.
04:27No.
04:27No.
04:29And they're awesome!
04:31This movie's entire existence was an uphill battle.
04:35Due to poor marketing, most people assumed this was just a generic kids movie.
04:39But it's actually anything but.
04:41The animated film explores the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron, and how they became the robots we know today.
04:47If we survive this, I'm gonna kill you!
04:50I accept those terms.
04:53It's arguably one of the greatest Transformers movies out there.
04:56It doesn't pull its punches, dives into some very complex ideas, and shows us how Cybertron desperately needed to change.
05:03It also masterfully portrays the relationship between Optimus and Megatron, and how it fell apart.
05:09Besides Bumblebee, another hidden Transformers gem, nothing from this IP has come close to the critical acclaim that Transformers 1 received.
05:17There was definitely more than meets the eye with this movie.
05:20Go! Go! Leave me!
05:22No!
05:22We do this together!
05:24One minor is now carrying the other!
05:27Number 16.
05:2821 Jump Street
05:29They put this on the internet for everybody to see.
05:31They're teenagers, man.
05:33They're really stupid.
05:34So you should blend right in.
05:36Once a serious drama on television, this franchise was rebooted and brought to the big screen for several movies.
05:42Except when the 21 Jump Street film made waves, it switched everything up and became a comedy.
05:47You look really old. Were you held back or something?
05:50No. You look super young. Were you held forward?
05:54It revolved around Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, who play two rookie cops who go undercover as high schoolers.
06:00The laugh-out-loud action comedy lovingly poked fun at the inherently crazy premise of the original show.
06:06The dynamic directing duo of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller delivered an insanely funny story that reinvigorated the entire IP.
06:17Are this funny to you guys?
06:20No.
06:25So you're dumb. You're dumb.
06:28Rebooting old properties is difficult enough.
06:31So successfully swapping genres too means that Lord and Miller deserve a ton of cred.
06:36Going back to school has never looked this hilarious.
06:38You either find the supplier or I'ma jump your asses off Jump Street.
06:44I totally understand where you're coming from, sir.
06:46But look, I heard Eric talking on the phone yesterday with somebody that sounded very suspect about meeting up with a stuffed pinata.
06:54Is that a call for sex?
06:56No.
06:5715.
06:57District 9.
06:59Because, Leslie, how's it going, man?
07:01There's a shake.
07:02B9 for you.
07:03I'm not saying what he did was right, but he took the choices that were given to him.
07:08This is Trent from this way.
07:10Trent from this way.
07:12This Academy Award-nominated movie revolves around aliens taking refuge on Earth and deals with the cultural and political fallout to come from it.
07:20It explores how humanity treats those different to them and uses the aliens to portray issues like discrimination.
07:27We're from MNU.
07:28We require your scroll on this eviction notification.
07:31What makes it so visually interesting, too, is the documentary style in which it was shot.
07:39Everything has a grimy look to it, which helps blur the lines.
07:42You also can't ignore the interesting behind-the-scenes details.
07:45District 9 was actually born from the ashes of a failed Halo movie that director Neil Blomkamp was originally going to do.
07:51So just to be clear, this is going to go back to a human like this.
08:00I can go home, and then you can go home.
08:04You can take your boy, you can take all the prawns, if I could get you that fluid, right?
08:09As a result, many of the old props and materials were essentially repurposed for this.
08:14District 9 set out to prove itself, and it absolutely achieved that.
08:18You can make it. I'm going to just hold him off here, and I'll join you soon.
08:28Thank you, boy, and go home.
08:31You have to make it. Don't make me go through all of this and not make it.
08:34Number 14. Puss in Boots The Last Wish
08:36Okay, just get in and get out. Easy, busy.
08:40Very squeezy.
08:42The swashbuckling cat from the Shrek movies was entertaining,
08:45but did anybody really think Puss would get his own spin-off?
08:48And did anybody think his spin-off would get a sequel?
08:51Nevertheless, when Puss in Boots The Last Wish released, it took fans by storm.
08:56Run, Puss in Boots! Make the way!
08:59Go ahead. Run!
09:01Farring makes it more fun for me.
09:04It's about our favorite feline extending his lives while running from the literal embodiment of death.
09:10We see Puss in all sorts of epic action,
09:12but we also peel back the curtain and see a more vulnerable side.
09:15Last Wish gained praise for its depictions of anxiety,
09:19which not only made Puss more sympathetic, but also more relatable.
09:23You know, I've only ever had one life,
09:25but sharing it with you and Kitty has made it pretty special.
09:30Maybe one life is enough?
09:33This movie would have had fans regardless,
09:40but the way it dives into some pretty complex issues makes it another level of enjoyable.
09:44I know I can never defeat you, Lobo,
09:46but I will never stop fighting for this life.
09:52Number 13.
09:54Pirates of the Caribbean.
09:55The Curse of the Black Pearl.
09:56What's your purpose in Port Royal, Mr. Smith?
10:00Yeah, and no lies.
10:02All right then.
10:03I confess.
10:05It is my intention to commandeer one of these ships,
10:07pick up a crew in Tortuga,
10:08raid, pillage, plunder, and otherwise pilfer my Weasley black guts out.
10:12I said no lies.
10:14Speaking of swashbucklers,
10:15the very first Pirates of the Caribbean movie brought pirate mania everywhere in 2003.
10:20In Curse of the Black Pearl,
10:22we're introduced to the iconic Jack Sparrow,
10:24who embarks on a massive adventure and even battles the undead in the process.
10:29I hardly believe in ghost stories anymore, Captain Barbossa.
10:32I, that's exactly what I thought when we were first told the tale.
10:38Buried on an island of the dead, what cannot be found,
10:41except for those who know where it is.
10:42Though this franchise has experienced some turbulent waters,
10:46the first installment holds up pretty well.
10:49It delivers on some incredible thrills while still adhering to a PG-13 rating.
10:53This did not just bolster the popularity of Pirates, either.
10:57It also gave Johnny Depp his first ever Academy Award nomination.
11:01They done what's right by them.
11:03Can't expect more than that.
11:06Regardless of how you feel about Depp,
11:08you cannot deny that this movie helped his career soar to new heights.
11:12This pirate movie ultimately found a treasure trove of success.
11:16What you were supposed to keep to the cut of me,
11:27we figured they were more actual guidelines.
11:33Number 12, Tropic Thunder.
11:36Hold my hands.
11:38Guess I got something to say.
11:39I got something to say.
11:41There's high-intensity war dramas,
11:45and then there's whatever the heck this is.
11:48When some actors who are filming a war movie
11:50accidentally trek into real danger,
11:52they get a taste of reality.
11:54Tropic Thunder has a pretty wild amount of talented stars
11:56who are crazily committed to the bit.
11:58Believe me, gentlemen, it will be glorious.
12:02If it looks real, chances are it probably is.
12:04Tom Cruise, Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey,
12:07and Robert Downey Jr. are just some of the big names here
12:10who play seriously larger-than-life characters.
12:12The movie is a belly-aching good time with plenty of action,
12:16while also poking fun at big-budget filmmaking.
12:19Recently, Speedman opened up to Tyra.
12:21You have no real family.
12:23You're on the wrong side of 40.
12:25You're childless and alone.
12:27Somebody close to you said,
12:30one more flop, and it's over.
12:34These guys make being stuck in a war zone look like a fun time.
12:37Obviously, it's not, but you get what we mean.
12:40Tropic Thunder is a must-watch comedy.
12:42You tell the world what happened here.
12:45What happened here?
12:46I don't know. You need to tell them.
12:51I got this.
12:53Talk!
12:55You take care of the boys.
12:57I'll deal with these guys.
13:00Number 11, Godzilla Minus One.
13:02You don't have to worry about your father's power, right?
13:05Oh, I don't care.
13:07But, you know,
13:08I don't have to worry about it.
13:11Godzilla has always been a monumental figure, literally.
13:28But the cinematic titan had a new wave of popularity when Minus One came out.
13:32It turned the kaiju bad and told a deeply compelling tale about the human condition.
13:37As a result, it far exceeded all expectations.
13:40The limited theatrical release it had in the U.S. was extended numerous times.
14:10Plus, critics and fans could not praise the movie enough.
14:14The film also caught attention across the awards circuit.
14:17In fact, it broke barriers and won the Oscar for Best VFX.
14:21Did anybody expect that Minus One would turn the character into an Academy Award-winning IP?
14:26Probably not.
14:50So, the fact that it achieved what it has is a true testament to the quality of this movie.
14:55If you've ever wanted to see Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver in comedic roles,
15:10Galaxy Quest is the perfect pick.
15:12The film follows a whimsical premise where the actors of the fictional titular sci-fi show
15:16get zapped into the Galaxy Quest universe and must play their roles for real.
15:20Before it hit theaters, Galaxy Quest might have had skeptics thinking it'd be a lazy sci-fi spoof
15:32destined for B-movie obscurity.
15:33Instead, the satirical comedy turned out to be a clever, heartwarming letter to Star Trek
15:38and sci-fi fandom in general.
15:40It balanced sharp humor with thrilling space action,
15:48making science fiction fans and casual viewers alike cheer.
15:51While it didn't break any box office records, it did become a cult favorite.
15:59Before Mary Herron's satirical horror became a cult classic often commended for its storytelling
16:06and thought-provoking themes, many didn't think it would work.
16:09Did you know I'm utterly insane?
16:13Great tan, Marcus. Really impressive.
16:16This mostly stemmed from the fact that critics believed its source material was unfilmable.
16:21Even Brett Easton Ellis felt his controversial novel didn't need to be adapted to the big screen.
16:25I think if you stay, something bad will happen.
16:29However, Herron delivered a stylish, biting critique of the 1980s consumer culture that silenced the doubters.
16:35Her film ended up striking just the right balance between horror and satire.
16:40And Christian Bale?
16:41He didn't just play Patrick Bateman.
16:43He became him with that career-defining performance.
16:46And though I can hide my cold gaze,
16:48and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours,
16:51and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable.
16:55Some would even say he and the film deserved award recognition.
16:59Number 8. The Lego Movie
17:00This animated adventure had plenty of Doubting Thomases before its release.
17:04Some fans expected an unoriginal, forgettable cash grab based on yet another franchise of toys.
17:10Back from the dead, Brikowski?
17:11After all, how could a movie about plastic blocks work?
17:15Well, turns out they were way off.
17:16The Lego Movie shocked many by being an imaginative and heartfelt motion picture.
17:21You don't have to be the bad guy.
17:28Packed with humor, goofy characters, and a subtly deep message about creativity and conformity,
17:33it captivated audiences of all ages.
17:36The stunning animation, intelligent storytelling,
17:38and even the catchy Everything is Awesome theme tune won the hearts of both critics and audiences.
17:43Oh my gosh, I love this song!
17:44Everything is awesome!
17:47Everything is cool when we're part of the team!
17:50Honestly, it's a fantastic movie that proves that even a film about toys can be truly special.
17:55Number 7. Ant-Man
17:57Following a down-on-his-luck thief who steals a suit that shrinks him down to the size of the titular insect,
18:03this Marvel superhero movie panned out way better than expected.
18:06The world sure seems different from down here, doesn't it, Scott?
18:09Compared to the MCU's earlier hits like Iron Man and Thor,
18:12this narrative about a hero who can talk to ants and hold his own in a fight
18:16might have seemed downright ridiculous.
18:18Like that perhaps Marvel was scraping the bottom of the barrel.
18:21You can do it, Scott. Come on.
18:26They're not listening to me.
18:28But against all odds, they pulled off a hit.
18:31Paul Rudd's charming performance, the clever humor and creative action sequences
18:35like epic battles fought in toy train sets, won over many.
18:38Now where'd you go, little guy?
18:42There you are.
18:48Meanwhile, the film's delightful heist vibe gave it a fresh edge within the MCU,
18:53soon becoming a quirky fan favorite that spawned successful sequels.
18:57Number 6. Edge of Tomorrow
18:58The trailers of this sci-fi spectacle may have had many believing it was yet another bleak alien invasion flick.
19:04How many times have we been here?
19:12How many times?
19:14With Tom Cruise starring as a soldier battling extraterrestrial forces,
19:17some probably even assumed it would be a generic war narrative drenched in CGI chaos.
19:22But Edge of Tomorrow defied expectations.
19:25It emerged as this thrilling action flick with unanticipated moments of humor
19:29and a clever time loop concept, elevated by stellar performances.
19:33What are you doing?
19:35Find me when you wake up.
19:36Who could forget Emily Blunt as the ultimate full metal bee,
19:39or Cruise in a totally unexpected role as a cowardly public affairs guy?
19:43I'm sorry, the first wave at the beach, you mean the front?
19:47It was indeed a refreshing sight.
19:49Today, Edge of Tomorrow stands tall as one of the most inventive sci-fi films of its decade.
19:54Number 5. Deadpool
19:56Tim Miller's 2016 superhero film isn't like the others,
20:00and that's exactly why it stands out.
20:02It may not be the pinnacle of all comic book movies,
20:05but it certainly gave the fans and Ryan Reynolds what they wanted.
20:08Fourth wall break inside a fourth wall break.
20:11That's like 16 walls.
20:13After the Deadpool character was, should we say, ruined in X-Men Origins Wolverine,
20:18not too many people had high hopes for his own solo film.
20:21Yet diehard fans stayed loyal, and it paid off big time.
20:25Deadpool proved to be a witty, violent, and entertaining flick
20:27that gave the superhero genre a clever spin.
20:30Oh, hello. I know, right?
20:33Whose b**** did I have to fondle to get my very own movie?
20:37I can't tell you, but it does rhyme with Wolverine.
20:40Ryan Reynolds embodied the character as if he were born for the role.
20:44No wonder Deadpool ended up becoming a massive success,
20:47ranking as the ninth highest grossing film of the year.
20:50Deadpool.
20:55Captain Deadpool.
20:58No, just Deadpool, yeah.
21:01Number 4. John Wick
21:03Chad Stahelski's action flick is a simple revenge story
21:06about an unstoppable hitman played by Keanu Reeves.
21:09At just one hour and 41 minutes, it's all thrills, no filler.
21:14Would you kill John Wick for $2 million?
21:16But before its release, some dismissed it as another rehash of tired action movie tropes,
21:21and Reeves' fame at the time was nowhere near where it had been in the 90s.
21:25The film's premise of a retired assassin avenging his dog sounded almost laughable.
21:30Turns out, though, that those non-believers couldn't have been more mistaken.
21:33It's okay. Let's go home.
21:45While it did take time before people realized it,
21:48John Wick was actually a sleek, heart-pounding action thriller
21:50with meticulously choreographed fight sequences.
21:53Reeves' commitment to the role and the intense stunt work made it unforgettable.
21:57It didn't even need a complex story to succeed.
21:59You, uh, working again?
22:01No, I'm just sorting some stuff out.
22:02What many may have initially written off eventually became a sleeper hit.
22:07It also went on to reignite Keanu's popularity
22:09and spawned several sequels and spin-offs.
22:12Number 3. Mad Max Fury Road
22:14George Miller conceived the idea for a fourth Mad Max film back in 1987,
22:19but it took almost three decades for it to get on cinema screens.
22:22Despite a series of issues delaying its arrival,
22:24when it finally came,
22:25the dystopian tale carved its name in history
22:28as one of the most electrifying action films ever made.
22:31So, um,
22:32where is this?
22:37This green place?
22:39It's a long night's run, heading east.
22:42With Tom Hardy as Max
22:43and Charlize Theron as Furiosa,
22:45Miller managed to bring back what made people love the original.
22:48Meanwhile, its acting,
22:49solid narrative with emotional moments,
22:51and refreshing twist on the action genre
22:53made the post-apocalyptic sequel unforgettable.
22:55Three times the gates were opened to me.
22:58What gates?
22:59I was awaited in Valhalla.
23:01They were calling my name.
23:03It's total chaos.
23:04Beautifully shot with awe-inspiring practical effects.
23:07It went on to become the highest-grossing Mad Max movie
23:10and won six Academy Awards,
23:12among other accolades.
23:13You know hope is a mistake.
23:15If you can't fix what's broken,
23:24you'll, um,
23:26you'll go insane.
23:29Number two.
23:29Top Gun Maverick.
23:31Greenlighting a sequel to an older classic
23:33is a tough call to make.
23:34There are always gonna be naysayers
23:36who think nothing can top the magic of the original.
23:38Yet Top Gun Maverick proved to be an exception.
23:41Thank you for saving my life.
23:42That's what my dad would've done.
23:46Right from its opening moments,
23:47it commands your attention
23:48and keeps you glued to your seat.
23:50Aside from the adrenaline-pumping action,
23:52the story has plenty of heart
23:54and nostalgic callbacks to the original.
23:56Must admit,
23:56I wasn't expecting an invitation back.
23:58They're called orders, Maverick.
24:00Tom Cruise,
24:01Miles Teller,
24:01and Jennifer Connelly
24:02all brought their A-game,
24:04taking the movie to new heights.
24:05And let's not forget the dogfights.
24:07So real,
24:08they make you feel like
24:09you were in the cockpit yourself.
24:10You see me now?
24:12Come on,
24:13let's get it over with.
24:15Fight for it!
24:15Though some would even say
24:17Top Gun Maverick tops its predecessor,
24:19we're more keen to say
24:20that it certainly is worthy of it.
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24:38Number 1.
24:39Iron Man
24:39Before Steve Rogers became Captain America,
24:42before Thor fought monsters on our screens,
24:44there was this genius billionaire
24:46playboy philanthropist
24:47in the high-tech suit.
24:48Is it better to be feared
24:49or respected?
24:51And I say,
24:52is it too much to ask for both?
24:54Yes, indeed.
24:54It was Iron Man
24:55that kick-started
24:56the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe,
24:58setting the stage
24:59for other legendary sagas of heroism,
25:01such as the surprisingly awesome
25:03Guardians of the Galaxy.
25:042008 was a different time,
25:11and banking on this superhero film
25:13to be a box office hit
25:14was a gamble.
25:14The MCU wasn't the powerhouse it is today,
25:17and Iron Man wasn't yet a household name,
25:19like Spider-Man or the X-Men.
25:21On top of that,
25:22Robert Downey Jr.'s casting
25:23was controversial
25:24due to his past troubles,
25:26and Jon Favreau wasn't known
25:27for directing blockbuster action flicks.
25:29Despite all that,
25:30Iron Man defied all expectations
25:32and launched the MCU
25:34into the cinematic phenomenon
25:35we know today.
25:36Truth is...
25:41I am Iron Man.
25:45Are there any surprisingly awesome movies
25:47that we missed?
25:48Share your recommendations
25:50in the comments.
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