15 People Share the ‘Zero Expectations’ Movie That Blew Them Away
Sometimes the best movie experiences happen when you are expecting absolutely nothing. Maybe the trailer looked terrible, the premise sounded ridiculous, or you only bought a ticket because someone else wanted to go. Then the movie starts, and somewhere along the way you realize you have seriously underestimated it. When Reddit users were asked which films they went into with zero expectations only to be blown away, the answers covered everything from superhero blockbusters to animated family movies and strange sci-fi experiments. Some viewers knew almost nothing beforehand, while others were actively preparing for disappointment. Here are 15 movies people watched with zero expectations that ended up completely blowing them away.
Edge of Tomorrow
One Reddit user discovered Edge of Tomorrow on a flight after their phone died and they needed something to watch. What began as a random choice became one of their favorite movies.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
A fantasy adventure based on a tabletop game did not exactly inspire confidence in everyone before release. Reddit users praised how funny and surprisingly heartfelt the movie turned out to be, even for viewers unfamiliar with Dungeons & Dragons.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
A big-budget movie inspired by a theme park ride sounded like an odd gamble in 2003. One viewer recalled going in without even knowing what it was and being completely caught off guard by how entertaining it was.
The Lego Movie
A feature-length movie about LEGO could easily have felt like an elaborate toy commercial. Instead, viewers got a clever comedy with an unexpectedly emotional story and plenty for adults to enjoy alongside kids.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
One Reddit user said they watched this Shrek spinoff for their children and ended up recommending it to other adults. Its striking animation and surprisingly mature story made it much more than the disposable sequel some expected.
District 9
District 9 arrived without major stars and with a relatively unknown director making his feature debut. One commenter was so impressed by the unusual sci-fi film that they went back to see it in theaters two more times.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Before 2014, a talking raccoon and a sentient tree were hardly Marvel’s safest bets for blockbuster stardom. Even some comic readers were unsure about the movie, only to watch the unlikely team become one of the MCU’s biggest successes.
Paddington
A live-action movie about a beloved children’s bear could have gone wrong in plenty of ways. Instead, Paddington surprised audiences with its warmth, humor, and a level of care that few expected from another family adaptation.
The Matrix
One Reddit user returned from military deployment shortly after The Matrix opened and went to see it knowing almost nothing about the movie. They were so stunned by the experience that they bought another ticket and watched it again that same night.
Shaun of the Dead
With spoof movies everywhere in the early 2000s, one viewer assumed Shaun of the Dead would offer more of the same. Instead, Edgar Wright’s movie combined zombie comedy with characters and emotional stakes that were far more substantial than expected.
Iron Man
It is easy to forget how uncertain Iron Man looked before the Marvel Cinematic Universe existed. Reddit users remembered going in simply hoping the filmmakers would not mess it up and discovering the movie that ultimately launched a massive franchise.
Arrival
One Reddit user only saw Arrival because friends wanted to go, while another picked it without knowing much about it at all. Its thoughtful approach to language, time, and alien contact turned that casual viewing into something much more memorable.
Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz was another movie Reddit users mentioned as a pleasant surprise rather than a heavily anticipated favorite. What initially looks like a goofy police comedy gradually becomes an absurdly elaborate action movie packed with setups and payoffs.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
One viewer went in knowing little beyond the fact that Michelle Yeoh starred in it. The movie’s wild mix of alternate universes, comedy, action, and family drama turned that blank slate into a particularly memorable experience.
Back to the Future
One Reddit user recalled arriving at a drive-in with their children in 1985 only to discover that the scheduled movie had been replaced by something called Back to the Future. They had never heard of it, making what followed one very fortunate change of plans.