List compiled by Eddie on 11/04/2025
Sometimes against all the odds and expectations a film manages to be more than the sum of its parts and become something so much more than was expected or becomes a product that is leaps and bounds above the high pressure stakes it was developed under.
It’s a rare thing, usually peoples pessimism is justified when it comes to cinematic properties but every now and then a film really does become more than its synopsis or DNA might suggest.
Below are a list of films that when you weigh everything up, clearly are films that are far better than they had any right to be.
There’s some undisputed classics here and some that create much debate amongst cinephiles but there unarguably films that become more than what was expected of them, standing the test of time or overachieving to make their mark.
Happy reading. See you at the movies!
Disclaimer – Plot summaries from IMDB.
10. John Wick (2014)
John Wick is a former hitman grieving the loss of his true love. When his home is broken into, robbed, and his dog killed, he is forced to return to action to exact revenge.
An on paper generic action revenge film centred around a retired hitman who wants to kill those responsible for the senseless death of his beloved dog, John Wick’s unceremonious unveiling in 2014 gave birth to a (currently) 4 part series that has grossed over $1 billion dollars at the global box office.
Garnering a collection of great reviews, fans and relaunching star Keanu Reeves into the pop culture stratosphere, John Wick proves you don’t need to rewrite the rulebook to strike gold.
9. The Goonies (1985)
A group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate’s long-lost treasure.
The type of film that just wouldn’t work today, even though there is a supposed sequel in the early stages of development, The Goonies is a film oft-imitated but rarely bettered as this kids own adventure from Richard Donner managed to capture lightning in a bottle in all of its fun and energetic elements.
For such a high-concept and ripe to go wrong set-up, The Goonies managed to balance out all its ingredients to make an adventure film for the ages that has stood the test of time, ensuring it can continue to be enjoyed by old and new fans alike.
8. Die Hard (1988)
A New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.
For all intents and purposes John McTiernan’s instant action classic (and Xmas film) should have been nothing more than a basic level genre distraction but thanks to classic casting, turning TV star Bruce Willis into an action icon and newcomer Alan Rickman into an all-time cinematic villain, Die Hard became something so much more.
Working within some familiar ground but managing to instil its proceedings with a sense of playfulness and imagination that is a rare thing amongst imitators and similar themed, Die Hard is the action film that could and one that not even the most optimistic of pundits would’ve predicted becoming the legendary offering it’s known as today.
7. The Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Juggling multiple storylines, characters, performers and most importantly audience expectations, Infinity War had decades worth of blood, sweat and tears flowing into its release but against all the odds this box office smashing success exceeded expectations and ensured that even the most vocal of naysayers had to admit defeat.
A brilliant blend of spectacle, heart and creativity, it’s highly likely that Infinity War was the peak of the Marvel brand in the broad scale spectrum.
6. Pulp Fiction (1994)
The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
For a film where nothing much really happens but so much happens at the same time, Pulp Fiction showcased what you could do with nothing more than a whip-smart script, a collection of talented performers and a dream to march to your own beat.
No one could have foreseen this sophomore Quentin Tarantino feature becoming the critically adored and audience favourite it quickly became and it would have been so easy for it to be a film that merely was, not a film that changed the space of independent filmmaking all the while launching Tarantino into the pop culture landscape like few directors manage to get close to.
5. 300 (2006)
In the ancient battle of Thermopylae, King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fight against Xerxes and his massive Persian army.
The perfect meeting of material and director Zack Snyder’s unique sensibilities, graphic novel adaptation 300 is a visual feast that somehow managed to flirt the line between greatness and pure unbridled Hollywood cheese.
Working beautifully with his arguably never better leading Gerard Butler, Snyder created a big budget spectacle that is the near perfect poster child for what these type of films can do if all the stars align against the odds.
4. The Thing (1982)
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
Initially the victim of overwhelmingly negative reviews and box office receipts, John Carpenter’s reimagining of the novel Who Goes There? and its original film adaptation The Thing From Another World, is in fact a genuine cinematic masterpiece that takes a simple idea and runs with it, turning it into an ageless classic, regardless of genre.
For such an isolated film setting and on paper thin concept, The Thing does so much with so little and thanks to its heart and soul approach there’s an endearing and enduring quality to this exercise that is often copied but never bettered.
3. Transformers (2007)
An ancient struggle between two Cybertronian races, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, comes to Earth, with a clue to the ultimate power held by a teenager.
Proving that he was the right man to turn a beloved toy staple into an incredibly fun and riotous piece of Hollywood entertainment, much maligned director Michael Bay did the unthinkable and turned Transformers into a film that couldn’t be ignored, even if many a snobby critic would prefer that we did.
A 3x Oscar recipient, 2007’s Transformers is not even close to what you’d call “pure cinema” and is quite possibly the embodiment of Martin Scorsese’s worst nightmares become a living/breathing reality but on an entertainment level Bay’s explosive Linkin Park infused offering was a success despite all the doubters.
2. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
The story involves Maverick confronting his past while training a group of younger Top Gun graduates, including the son of his deceased best friend, for a dangerous mission.
A 36 year gap between drinks, long production delays and Covid reshuffles, there wasn’t a great deal of hope that Top Gun: Maverick was going to be anything more than some nostalgia bait but that was not to be the case.
A billion dollar success story that wowed general audiences and critics alike, Maverick must surely go down as the most surprisingly great sequel of all time, once more proving that its star Tom Cruise is in a league of his own when it comes to delivering top tier entertainment of the highest order.
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save Elizabeth Swann, the governor’s daughter and his love, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead.
I’m positive no one, I mean no one, was asking for Disney to adapt one of its well known theme park attractions into a grand swashbuckling adventure film that just so happened to feature a career defining turn for Johnny Depp and some instantly classic tunes from esteemed composer Hans Zimmer.
A genuine top-tier choice for films that just had absolutely no right being as good as they were, The Curse of the Black Pearl is a fun, frivolous and fantastic example of blockbuster goodness that came from the most unlikeliest of places.
While its many follow-ons never managed to reach the same grand heights, we can be forever thankful for the fun we had on the first go around with a film that for all intents and purposes should have died as quickly as it was given life.
What are some of your favourite films that had no right being as good as they were? Let me know in the comments below!
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
Cool selection even though it feels like one of those ‘clip shows’ of a long running TV shows when writers ran out of ideas and producers needed to fill the weekly spot. 😁
I think I mentioned this before how I don’t understand where you get the time and energy to watch so many movies and also write about them!?!
Oh mate sometimes it’s not too easy haha. Ebbs and flows, I always aim to try and get in 2 – 3 films a week but that’s not always possible. I find it often means I shun a lot of TV shows I should probably be watching.
E
I used to write weekly reviews for a national TV station (among others) for over 10 years and it drained me towards the end.
BTW where is Jordan? From the title it seems like the blog has two writers, but I only see you.
Some weeks are certainly harder than others mate and some films are harder to get excited to write about!
Jordan hung up the blogging boots a long time ago. He lost a fair amount of love for film and other things took priority. We are still good friends and nice to honour his name on the site as he was the founder!
E
You are spot on with these – every one had me nodding along! A lot of very fun watches, too 🙂
Great to hear! It was quite fun thinking back on some of the films I really enjoyed and pondered if they should have been that good!
E
You missed First Blood! Sly Stallone, a simple premise of bad cops and a Vietnam vet running amok, some really dodgy dialogue (Don’t push it, or I’ll give you a war you won’t believe!”). But it has a pounding Jerry Goldsmith score and fantastic action sequences that raise it way above what it might have been.
Oh mate fantastic pick, that absolutely fits the bill! That was a real lightning in a bottle experience.
E