One of the best cinematic experiences iswhen a movie truly surprises viewersby exceeding their expectations and leaves them dumbfounded by how much better the film was than they expected. This can happen with underestimated standalone films,long-awaited sequelsthat have built up so much anticipation that it is difficult to live up to, or blockbusters that ended up being far more creatively fulfilling than viewers have come to expect from major studios. Being a film fan can often lead to a lot of disappointment, so it’s important to highlight the instances where movies just got everything right.
Some ofthe best moviesever made exceeded viewers’ expectations and went on to become all-time classics of modern cinema. While it’s always frustrating when a movie doesn’t live up to what audiences were hoping for, there’s just something so spectacular about leaving a theater with a newfound favorite film that the viewer was expecting just to be okay. These kinds of experiences are what keep the movie industry interesting, as for everylackluster legacy sequel, there’sa surprising hidden gem just waiting to be discovered.
Jaws
Cast
Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, follows the residents of Amity Island as they face terror from a menacing great white shark. The town’s police chief, a marine biologist, and a seasoned shark hunter join forces to track and kill the predator threatening their coastal community. Released in 1975.
Jawstruly surprised audiences in 1975 because it was not onlythe breakthrough movie of Hollywood icon Steven Spielberg, but also a watershed moment in motion picture history. From its iconic score to its tense and terrifying narrative,Jawsquickly became the then-highest-grossing movie of all timeand kickstarted the era of the summer blockbuster. With a story that tapped into viewers' deepest, darkest fears, the idea of an unstoppable shark who terrorized beachgoers was so scary that it led to emotional responses from the audience, causing sleep disturbances, anxiety, and even a case of cinematic neurosis (viaPsychiatric Times.)
Jawssurprised audiences so much because there had never been a movie as impactful before. Along withStar Warstwo years later,Jawshelped change how movies were marketed as they shifted toward more high-concept style releases. In the same way that Alfred Hitchcock’sPsychomade viewers afraid to go into the shower,Jawseven propagated a fear of the ocean. As a landmark horror movie and the very first summer blockbuster,Jawshas earned its iconic spot in film history.
Barbie
Barbie is a film adaptation of the generational iconic toy directed by Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the script with Noah Baumbach. The film centers on Margot Robbie’s Barbie who is expelled from Barbieland and travels with Ken (Ryan Gosling) to the real world in search of happiness. The film also stars Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, and several other famous celebrities in cameo roles.
Barbiefeature films are nothing new, and since 2001, there have been no less than 52 animated movies based on the Mattel fashion doll. That’s why it was so surprising that Greta Gerwig’s live-action adaptation was not only a success at the box office but also became the highest-grossing film of the year and earned a staggering $1.446 billion worldwide (viaBox Office Mojo.) This level of success and engagement from viewers not only exceeded audiences' expectations but also far surpassed even the most optimistic studio predictions for a children’s toy IP first introduced in 1959.
The success ofBarbiewas the result of pure happenstance as it aligned withthe cultural phenomenon ofBarbenheimer, an internet response to the sheer polar opposite nature of Gerwig’sBarbieand Christopher Nolan’sOppenheimer. This fan-led social media campaign bolstered the box office takings of both movies, yet it wouldn’t have been possible ifBarbiewasn’t already an excellent movie in its own right. With a career-defining performance from Margot Robbie as the titular toy,Barbiewas the perfect example of the right place, at the right time, with the right movie.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish follows the titular character as he embarks on a quest to restore his nine lives. Realizing he has exhausted all but one of his lives, Puss seeks the mythical Last Wish, embarking on an epic adventure to rediscover his destiny.
The firstShrekmovie was a breath of fresh air when it was released in 2001, although the franchise slowly started to run out of steam, and byPuss in Bootsin 2011, much of the magic had been lost. WhilePuss in Bootswas a perfectly acceptable kids' movie, it wasn’t profound, groundbreaking, or surprising for audiences. Considering this, the release of the long-festering sequelPuss in Boots: The Last Wishin 2022 came as a complete surprise, as it was not only a welcome return to the land of Far Far Away but also a disarmingly emotional movie.
With mature themes and the best animation in the franchise,Puss in Boots: The Last Wishwas a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of morality as the feisty feline voiced by Antonio Banderas was forced to reckon with death as he burned through eight of his nine lives. As a film that was plagued by delays and lay dormant in development hell for ten years,The Last Wishshowcased there was still life in theShrekfranchise and helped revitalize the series, with the upcoming release ofShrek 5even being teased in the mid-credits scene.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max: Fury Road is a post-apocalyptic film set in a desolate desert landscape where society has collapsed. Released in 2015, the story follows two rebels, Max Rockatansky and Imperator Furiosa, as they attempt to survive and bring balance to a world torn by chaos and strife.
Australian filmmaker George Miller truly surprised audiences with his debut,Mad Max,in 1979, a dystopian action adventure that showcased a barren landscape and a world ravaged by drought. While this franchise continued to delve ever further into its world with richly imagined sequels during the 1980s, by the 21st century, Miller was more associated with directing the dancing penguin inHappy Feetthan he was with the violent excesses of The Wasteland. That was until Miller surprised everybody in 2015 with the release of his highly anticipated sequel,Mad Max: Fury Road.
WithTom Hardy replacing Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky,Mad Max: Fury Roadleaned into its themes of survival, endurance, and feminism as Max joined forces with Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) to take on the ruthless warlord Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) in a visual spectacular showcase of pure cinematic carnage.Fury Roadproved that Miller was far from out of steam as his post-apocalyptic franchise came roaring vigorously back to life. The creative surprise ofFury Roadwas reflected in its box office and even led to the prequel movieFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga.
21 Jump Street
An adaptation of the TV series of the same name, 21 Jump Street stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as two police officers (and best friends) who are sent into a high school undercover in order to bust a drug ring. Learning that high school has changed considerably since they were teenagers, the pair are forced to adapt in order to maintain their cover, threatening their friendship in the process.
It was hard to see the creative vision when a film adaptation of the 1980s police procedural series21 Jump Streetwas announced, as this seemed like yet another attempt to cash in on an old property that people had stopped caring about long ago. However,21 Jump Streetexceeded all expectations and was actually one of the funniest comedies of the 2010s. With a surprisingly effective comedic duo of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as cops going undercover as high school students,everything about21 Jump Streetjust worked.
As an affectionate satire of the 1980s and teen movie tropes,21 Jump Streetleaned into its identity as a throwback to an earlier era of storytelling and managed to become an effective metacommentary in the process. With Johnny Depp even returning to reprise his role from the original TV series,21 Jump Streetwas a success both for those watching it through a nostalgic lens and those coming to the series for the first time. With a successful sequel titled22 Jump Street, the only disappointing thing about this series was there weren’t more installments.
John Wick
John Wick is a 2014 action thriller featuring Keanu Reeves as a retired hitman. The film follows John Wick as he emerges from retirement to avenge the loss inflicted by a group of gangsters, setting the stage for a relentless pursuit and exploration of a shadowy underworld.
Following the release ofTakenwith Liam Neeson in 2008, it felt like every older male movie star was required to lead their own revenge-based action movie franchise. With this in mind, the release of the Keanu Reeves vehicleJohn Wicklooked like it could be just one more in a long list of disposable action movies. However,John Wickturned out to be a surprising blend of action, noir, and martial arts tropes, all wrapped in an intriguing criminal underworld of assassins with deeply entrenched rituals and rules.
What began with the story of a former hitman mourning the death of his wife soon turned into a violent quest for revenge after a group of Russian gangsters murdered the one thing helping John cope with his loss, a beagle puppy. This set in motion a series of events that led to the development of the entireJohn Wickfranchise, a sprawling world populated by skilled martial artists and deadly assassins portrayed by legends like Mark Dacascos and Donnie Yen. As one of the best action franchises of all time,John Wickwas truly a welcome surprise.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Based on the comic book series of the same name, Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of rebellious teen Eggsy (Taron Egerton) as he’s inducted into a top-secret spy agency by a man codenamed Galahad (Colin Firth). After learning that billionaire Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) plans to destroy the world, Eggsy and Galahad set out to avert international disaster and uncover widespread corruption that threatens to consume the Kingsman agency itself.
On first look,Kingsman: The Secret Serviceseemed like it was going to be yet another spy spoof that took lighthearted aim at franchises likeJames Bond. While this was an idea that had been effectively done in series like Rowan Atkinson’sJohnny English, it seemed like spy comedy pastiches already felt cliched by the time the firstAustin Powerswas released in 1997. However,Kingsmansurprised audiences with genuinely engaging action sequencesand an over-the-top sense of violence that made the stakes feel high in a way they generally don’t in comedy movies.
The most surprising thing aboutKingsman: The Secret Servicewas how genuinely fun it was, and although it owed a lot toBond, it also carved out its own identity. The movie was so successful that it led to the development of an entireKingsmanextended universe, complete with a sequel, prequel, spin-off, and a television show in the works. What started as a lighthearted parody of spy franchises ended up being so compelling it turned into a major franchise in its own right.
The Social Network
The Social Network is a film released in 2010, chronicling Harvard undergrad Mark Zuckerberg’s development of Facebook. Set against the backdrop of personal and legal challenges, the story follows Zuckerberg’s journey from creating a social network to becoming one of the youngest billionaires, amidst contentious lawsuits.
News about the development of a Mark Zuckerberg biopic would have led to groans from audiences when it was first announced, as it felt inevitable that this tech success story would endeavor to deify the Facebook founder with the same level of enigmatic zeal Steve Jobs received. However, rather than showcase the merits of Zuckerberg’s billionaire journey,The Social Networkdefied expectations by being a rich character study filled with betrayal, ambition, and moral complexity. From screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and director David Fincher,The Social Networkfelt like a timely encapsulation of the ruthless nature of modern times.
The Social Networkwas not a typical biopic, as even its tagline, “You don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies,” hinted at the dark undercurrents of its story. With acareer-defining performance from Jesse Eisenberg, the characterization of Zuckerberg showcased a deeply flawed human who was both a visionary and a ruthless narcissist. By taking the story of Facebook’s creation and blending it with the dark sensibilities of theSe7endirector Fincher and the sharp dialogue ofThe West Wingcreator Sorkin,The Social Networkbecame a biopic like no other.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
The Curse of the Black Pearl is the film that kickstarted the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a series of supernatural swashbuckling adventures. In 1720, blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swann, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead.
As a Disney movie based on a theme park attraction, it would have been easy to dismissPirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearlas a quick cash grab designed to bring more people to Disney World. However, the appeal of this swashbuckling franchise was truly undeniable, as the first film blew audiences away with its spectacular visuals, incredible performances, and truly iconic musical score.Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow was truly a revelation, and even his sternest critics had to admit that he had found the role of his lifetime.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearlrepresented the very best of what a family-friendly summer blockbuster could achieve and did so in such an engaging and entertaining way it’s not surprising it became one of the biggest franchises of all time. With a richly imagined world with enticing fantasy elements, all the characters inPiratesfelt fully developed, and Depp, along with Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, made for an engaging all-star trio.
Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick is the sequel to the 1986 original film starring Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a top-tier pilot in the Navy. Thirty years after the original film’s events, Maverick is asked to head up a section of the TOP GUN program to embark on a dangerous mission. Things become personal when the program includes the son of Maverick’s late friend, forcing him to confront his past.
Viewers have learned to be wary of legacy sequels because often, at best, they lean into audiences' nostalgia for the movies of their youth, or at worst, they hurt the legacy of the original. There have been so many disappointing releases, likeZoolander 2orSpace Jam: A New Legacy, that most know it’s wise to arrive at the theater with low expectations. That’s why the release ofTop Gun: Maverickwas such a revelation, as this Tom Cruise sequel, coming more than 35 years after the original, not only succeeded but was arguably even better than its predecessor.
Top Gun: Maverickwas a wildly entertaining film that perfectly achieved everything viewers could have wanted from a long-festering legacy sequel. With Cruise back as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and an emotional story that cast Miles Teller as Rooster, the son of Maverick’s late best friend Goose,Top Gun: Maverickmanaged to pay homage to the legacy of the original while showcasing its relevance in modern times. With a sequel in development, audiences can only hope thatTop Guncan keep its quality high and enter the elite club of trilogies without a single poor entry.
