Pleasant surprises! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the films that achieved surprising success, either at the box office, with critics, or both.
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00:00 "Peaches, peaches, peaches, peaches, peaches, peaches, peaches, peaches, peaches, peaches,
00:05 AHHHHH!
00:06 AHHHHH!
00:07 YEEEELLLL!
00:08 OHHHHH!"
00:10 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the films
00:14 that achieved surprising success, either at the box office, with critics, or both.
00:20 "I'm gonna do this the old-fashioned way.
00:21 With two swords and maximum effort.
00:25 Hear the music."
00:28 Number 30.
00:30 Black Panther.
00:31 The Marvel Cinematic Universe has featured many surprising successes.
00:35 Black Panther is arguably the most successful of them all.
00:39 Black-led superhero films had largely been misses with critics and at the box office,
00:44 at least since Blade.
00:46 "Not that hard, genius!"
00:49 "You told me to strike it."
00:51 "You didn't say how hard."
00:52 Yet, Black Panther delivered on all fronts.
00:55 The film about the struggle for Wakanda's throne features a breathtaking Afro-futuristic setting,
01:01 a compelling villain, and one of Marvel's best supporting casts.
01:05 "It's about two billion people all over the world that looks like us,
01:08 but their lives are a lot harder.
01:11 Wakanda has the tools to liberate them all."
01:13 It also addresses real issues such as colonialism, the African diaspora, and inequality.
01:20 Not only that, but it became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time,
01:24 and secured the first Best Picture Oscar nomination for a superhero movie.
01:28 "The show-off!"
01:35 Number 29.
01:37 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
01:39 Before this delightful Steven Spielberg film,
01:42 alien movies were usually about scary or at least mysterious beings.
01:46 That all changed in this timeless tale of an extraterrestrial life form befriending a young boy.
01:52 "Hey! Hey, wait a second!
01:55 No!
01:56 It's because E.T. was such a game changer that it's understandable why no one thought it would succeed.
02:04 It was rejected by Columbia Pictures, and even after Universal went ahead with it,
02:09 they still released another alien movie,
02:12 'The Thing,' at around the same time just in case it flopped.
02:22 However, E.T. went on to become the highest-grossing movie ever at the time,
02:26 breaking box office records and inspiring a generation
02:29 with its optimistic view of life from the stars.
02:32 Number 28.
02:40 Triple R.
02:41 Although films from India have seen some success around the world,
02:45 few of them have approached this kind of global mega-hit status.
02:49 Enter Triple R.
02:51 "Hey!
02:51 Raju!
02:54 Akhtar!"
02:54 Imagining the lives of two Indian revolutionaries and turning them into an epic buddy action movie
03:01 may sound niche in concept, but in reality it turned out to have universal appeal.
03:06 The action is gloriously over the top.
03:17 The musical and dance sequences are incredibly catchy and memorable,
03:21 and Ram and Bheem's bromance is one for the ages.
03:25 It's little wonder why Triple R stuck a chord with so many people.
03:28 Number 27.
03:36 Top Gun Maverick.
03:38 These days, it's all the rage to bring back old properties decades later with older stars.
03:43 While the success of these films usually ends at the box office,
03:47 Top Gun Maverick proved a hit with both audiences and critics.
03:50 "Maybe so, sir.
03:52 But not today."
03:56 The story of Maverick training new pilots is filled with great stunts,
04:00 excellent performances, and a healthy dose of nostalgia.
04:04 The crowd-pleasing spectacle was bound to make money,
04:07 but it managed to become one of the highest-grossing films at the domestic box office.
04:12 "Talk to me, Ted.
04:13 Come on, kid, you can do it.
04:17 Don't think.
04:17 Just do it."
04:18 It was also the first in Tom Cruise's long career of blockbusters to pass the billion-dollar mark.
04:25 Top Gun Maverick took the highway to the danger zone and never once to look for an off-ramp.
04:30 Number 26.
04:38 Paranormal Activity.
04:39 While not the first horror movie to popularize the found footage format,
04:43 Paranormal Activity still surpassed all expectations, and a few records.
04:48 The film follows a family whose house is haunted,
04:51 leading them to record the events on cameras set up all over their house.
04:55 Originally shot with a budget less than the cost of a mid-sized sedan,
05:03 the film saw enough success at screenings that Paramount bought it.
05:09 "Mika! Mika! Mika! Mika! Mika!"
05:13 The studio shot a new ending and released it to a wider audience, and even greater profit.
05:23 So much profit, in fact, that Paranormal Activity is by some metrics considered the
05:28 most profitable film ever made. Its particular brand of scares also spawned its own franchise.
05:38 Number 25.
05:40 Puss in Boots The Last Wish.
05:42 Given that it's a sequel to a Shrek spin-off that pretty much no one was asking for,
05:46 expectations were low going in for this movie. But Puss in Boots The Last Wish blew us all away.
05:52 The animation is gorgeous and dripping with style. There are multiple incredible villains,
06:07 and it's heartwarming and laugh-out-loud hilarious.
06:10 "It's all so cute!"
06:13 "Cute is overload!"
06:17 And far from being a movie just for kids, The Last Wish tackles adult themes like panic attacks and
06:23 the inevitability of death. It's one of the best animated films of the last decade,
06:28 and our greatest wish is for a sequel yesterday.
06:36 "Fig it up!"
06:38 Number 24.
06:40 The Shawshank Redemption.
06:41 It can be hard to imagine today, but this film based on a Stephen King story wasn't a success
06:46 at the box office when it was first released. "I must admit I didn't think much of Andy first
06:51 time I laid eyes on him. Looked like a stiff breeze would blow him over."
06:55 To be fair, it had some tough competition. But strong word of mouth, video rentals,
07:00 and the fact that it's literally always playing on TV, has helped make the story of
07:05 Andy Dufresne's time in Shawshank Prison one of the most beloved films of all time.
07:10 "Why'd you do it?"
07:11 "I'm innocent, Red. Just like everybody else here."
07:16 Its universal themes of hope in the face of despair, the stellar performances,
07:21 and Morgan Freeman's legendary narration, are all ingrained in our collective consciousness.
07:27 If you haven't seen The Shawshank Redemption, you need to get busy living.
07:31 "I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really.
07:33 Get busy living, or get busy dying."
07:41 Number 23.
07:42 John Wick.
07:44 At the time of this film's release, star Keanu Reeves had been in a bit of a career slump.
07:49 Additionally, the directors of John Wick were inexperienced with directing a feature film.
07:55 However, this simple yet satisfying action flick surpassed all of the industry's assumptions about it.
08:00 The titular ex-assassin's quest for revenge seems deceptively straightforward,
08:09 though the movie hints at a complex shadow world of killers beneath its surface.
08:20 Meanwhile, the action perfectly toes the line between stylization and grounded choreography.
08:27 John Wick not only helped revive Keanu Reeves' career, it also launched an incredibly successful
08:33 franchise and raised the bar for action movies going forward.
08:36 "You'll find a way back to it. It's time to go home."
08:42 Number 22.
08:44 Edge of Tomorrow.
08:46 Sci-fi movies starring Tom Cruise tend to blend together for some people.
08:50 This phenomenon, along with Edge of Tomorrow's admittedly not-so-great title,
08:55 probably hindered its success upon its release in theaters.
08:59 "What day is it?"
08:59 "For you? Judgment day."
09:05 However, the time-loop war film has since developed a devoted following.
09:10 The action is spectacular throughout, naturally, but the character development and plot are
09:16 also surprisingly great, with both deepening as events repeat.
09:20 "Find me when you wake up. Come find me when you wake up."
09:25 Much like its protagonist, Bill Cage, Edge of Tomorrow improves over time,
09:33 though how much you rewatch it is up to you.
09:36 Sci-fi movies starring Tom Cruise tend to blend... wait a second.
09:41 "You alright, Cage?"
09:42 "I think I broke something."
09:50 Number 21.
09:51 Guardians of the Galaxy.
09:53 We can see how this movie might have been a tough sell to the folks at Marvel.
09:57 "What about my bad side?"
09:58 "Farewell, Mr. Quill."
09:59 A space opera action comedy about characters most Marvel fans have never heard of
10:07 probably didn't seem like an obvious choice for the MCU.
10:10 Regardless, it got greenlit, and we're eternally glad it did.
10:15 Audiences loved seeing this gang of space misfits reluctantly come together to be our heroes.
10:20 "It's just a metaphor, dude."
10:21 "His people are completely literal. Metaphors are gonna go over his head."
10:25 "Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast."
10:28 The characters are all instantly memorable and play off each other wonderfully.
10:33 The soundtrack is iconic, and the action and effects are still some of Marvel's most impressive.
10:40 Fans loved it so much that Guardians outgrossed many more well-known superhero properties.
10:45 "You're immortal! How?"
10:48 "You said it yourself, bitch. We're the Guardians of the Galaxy."
10:53 Number 20.
10:54 Kingsman The Secret Service.
10:56 Spy movies are usually pretty entertaining,
10:59 but Kingsman surprised everyone with how unique it was.
11:02 "My point is that the lack of a silver spoon has set you on a certain path,
11:05 but you needn't stay on it.
11:08 If you're prepared to adapt and learn, you can transform."
11:12 "Oh, like in My Fair Lady?
11:14 You're rightly unfulfilled surprises."
11:17 The film follows a foul-mouthed criminal teen who trains to become an organization's next
11:22 secret agent. Marketing couldn't show just how vibrantly violent and darkly comedic the movie was.
11:28 "That's his rank, Harry.
11:30 You blew up his head. It's a bit much, innit?"
11:34 But word of mouth helped spread its hilarious brutality.
11:37 The film was praised for its stylish action sequences,
11:40 as was newcomer Taron Egerton's performance.
11:44 It became director Matthew Vaughn's highest-grossing movie,
11:47 which is pretty impressive considering his previous was part of Fox's X-Men franchise.
11:52 It was successful enough to spark a film franchise, earning a sequel and even a prequel.
11:57 "Eggsy, I'm gonna shove your manners up your fucker."
12:05 "So, are we gonna stand around here all day, or are we gonna fight?"
12:10 Number 19. Slumdog Millionaire
12:12 An underdog story through and through, Danny Boyle's masterpiece did far better than anyone
12:18 could have guessed. "I can seriously say that tonight is the biggest night of both our lives."
12:24 The film follows Jamal Malik, a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire contestant accused of cheating,
12:29 who tells his life story to show how he knows each answer.
12:32 "Are you ready for the final question? For 20 million rupees?"
12:40 "No. But maybe it's written, no?"
12:48 It's a feel-good rags-to-riches story that earned $378 million worldwide,
12:55 on a budget of only $15 million. It also won eight Oscars, including Best Picture.
13:01 But all of its future success was put into jeopardy when Warner Bros. closed
13:05 U.S. distributor Warner Independent Pictures, just as filming wrapped. Warner Bros. clearly
13:11 didn't know what it had on its hands, as a straight-to-DVD release was considered.
13:15 Luckily, Fox Searchlight came on to co-distribute, and the rest is history.
13:19 "This is our destiny."
13:21 "Yes."
13:22 Number 18. Napoleon Dynamite
13:43 There are plenty of indie movies that became box office giants, though not many are as big of a
13:48 cultural phenomenon as Napoleon Dynamite was. The comedy follows an exceptionally odd teen,
13:54 who attempts to help his friend win the school class presidency.
13:57 "Do you think people will vote for me?"
14:00 "Heck yes, I'd vote for you."
14:02 "Like what are my skills?"
14:04 "Well, you have a sweet bike, and you're really good at hooking up with chicks."
14:10 Featuring an incredibly unique sense of humor, the film was made for a mere $400,000.
14:14 Only 1,000 of it went to star John Heeder.
14:18 "Pauline, give me some of your tots."
14:20 "No, go find your own."
14:21 "Come on, give me some of your tots."
14:22 "No, I'm freaking starved, I didn't get to eat anything today."
14:25 However, a successful showing at Sundance led to Fox Searchlight's purchase,
14:30 which led to a limited theatrical run, followed by a wide release,
14:33 and a worldwide pull of $46 million. Heeder was able to renegotiate his contract to earn more,
14:40 and you couldn't go to a department store without seeing Vote for Pedro t-shirts everywhere.
14:44 "Vote for Pedro."
14:46 "Vote for Pedro."
14:47 "Vote for Pedro."
14:48 "Vote for Pedro."
14:50 "Vote for Pedro."
14:52 Number 17. Saw.
14:54 The Saw franchise is one of the most successful of all time, but it has a very humble origin.
15:00 "Hello, Amanda. You don't know me, but I know you. I want to play a game."
15:08 It began as a low-budget short film so that writers James Wan and Lee Winnell could receive funding.
15:14 That funding was only around $1.2 million, and the production only lasted 18 days.
15:20 "That clock, what about it?"
15:22 "It's brand new."
15:23 "So?"
15:25 "So, somebody obviously wanted us to know the time."
15:29 Directed by Wan and co-starring Winnell, Saw was a monster hit at Sundance and TIFF. In theaters,
15:35 it pulled $103 million, making it one of the most profitable horror movies of all time.
15:41 It ushered in a new horror trend that Hollywood would be obsessed with throughout the 2000s,
15:46 itself receiving several sequels. More importantly,
15:49 it jumpstarted Wan and Winnell's careers as modern horror icons.
15:53 Number 16. Star Trek.
15:56 Although J.J. Abrams had made a name for himself in TV, this 2009 reboot of the beloved sci-fi
16:03 series was only his second feature directorial effort after Mission Impossible III.
16:07 "If you're half the man your father was, Jim, Starfleet could use you.
16:11 You can be an officer in four years, you can have your own ship in eight."
16:16 Not only that, but there hadn't been a new movie in seven years. And with the franchise's
16:21 reputation for odd-numbered entries being less than great, the 11th overall film had
16:26 fate stacked against it. "Your argument precludes the possibility of a no-win scenario."
16:30 "I don't believe in no-win scenarios."
16:31 However, the back-to-basics plot, fantastic cast, and incredible effects
16:36 made Star Trek a hit. It earned a couple of sequels, helped begin an era of new TV shows,
16:42 and led to Abrams jumping into another cherished sci-fi film series.
16:46 Number 15. The Hangover.
17:01 You'd have been forgiven for writing this one off as just another raunchy comedy from the
17:05 director of Old School. And while it featured plenty of risque jokes, it was also much more
17:10 clever than anyone could have guessed. "It's not gambling when you know you're gonna win.
17:14 Counting cards is a foolproof system." Following an especially wild bachelor party,
17:19 three friends awaken to find the groom missing and must piece together the previous night.
17:24 "I don't think I've ever been this hungover."
17:25 "After the hard rock got blacked out, it was like emptiness. Okay."
17:30 "We have up until 10 p.m., so that gives us a 12-hour window where we could have lost him."
17:34 It's hard not to get sucked in by the mystery as every scene adds another piece to the absurd
17:40 puzzle. And every hilarious encounter is navigated by rising stars Bradley Cooper,
17:45 Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis. With a budget of $35 million, it brought in $469 million worldwide
17:53 and spawned two sequels, for better or for worse. "Guys, one time. Deal?" "Deal." "Deal."
18:01 "Okay." "Oh, dear lord!" "That's classic!"
18:10 Number 14. Casino Royale. There were plenty of good reasons to not be excited about a new bond
18:16 in the mid-2000s. "Vodka martini. Chicken or stirred?" "I don't like a give-a-damn."
18:21 A big part of the fandom insisted that Daniel Craig wouldn't work simply because he's blonde,
18:26 which sounds ridiculous in retrospect. A more understandable reason was that the franchise's
18:32 formula had gotten stale, especially in 2002's schlocky, CGI-heavy Die Another Day.
18:38 Casino Royale took the character back to its roots, literally, by showing him earn his double-O
18:43 license. "I knew it was too early to promote you." "Well, I understand double-Os have a very short
18:49 life expectancy, so your mistake will be short-lived." The grittier take from GoldenEye
18:55 director Martin Campbell and Craig's grounded, brutal portrayal breathed life into the tired
19:00 series. Thrilling stunts and a fantastic villain also helped make it a franchise high.
19:06 "The name's Bond. James Bond."
19:09 Number 13. Get Out. It's not unheard of for a comedic actor to transition to something serious,
19:19 but Jordan Peele's move to horror, behind the camera no less, surprised everyone.
19:24 "Get out." "Sorry, Mia." "Get out!"
19:29 Known mostly for his work on sketch comedy shows Mad TV and Key & Peele,
19:34 Peele's directorial debut came out of nowhere. Trailers for Get Out couldn't give too much away,
19:39 but that means no one knew what to expect from it. "Now you're in the sunken place."
19:50 It ended up being an incredibly clever and chilling tale about institutional racism,
19:55 as well as one of the most important horror films in recent memory.
19:58 On a budget of $4.5 million, it brought in $272 million worldwide. It also earned four
20:06 Oscar nominations, with one win to Peele's screenplay, which is incredibly rare for the genre.
20:11 "Oh, no. No. No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Aren't you something?
20:23 That's not my experience? Not at all."
20:27 Number 12. The Lego Movie. At first glance, or maybe even the second and third,
20:34 the Lego movie seemed like a cash-grab feature meant only to sell more of the iconic bricks to
20:39 kids. "What do I do? I don't have my instructions." "Touch the knees. Touch the knees."
20:51 How wrong that assumption was. Following an ordinary construction worker prophecy to special,
20:56 the movie told an interesting story about conformity. "Park between the lines. Yes.
21:02 Drop off dry cleaning before noon. Read the headlines. Don't forget to smile.
21:06 Always root for the local sports team. Go sports team!"
21:09 It featured incredible voiceover work from the likes of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks,
21:14 Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, and Will Arnett as the scene-stealing Batman. "Hey, guys,
21:19 I think we're about to crash into the sun." "Yeah, but it's gonna look really cool."
21:23 The animation was surprisingly fantastic, and the jokes were often hilarious. Its worldwide pull of
21:28 $468 million on a $60 million budget led to a sequel and two spinoffs. Not too shabby for
21:35 a tie-in movie about toys. Number 11. How to Train Your Dragon.
21:40 This adaptation of Cressida Cowell's book has turned into one of DreamWorks' most successful
21:46 franchises, though you wouldn't have guessed it back in 2010. "So I guess we'll share?" "Reddit."
21:50 "All mine then. Wow. So, uh, okay. I'll see you, uh, tomorrow." Marketing didn't make it look very
21:59 original or special from DreamWorks' other works, like Shrek or Madagascar. "Everything we know
22:05 about you guys is wrong." But the story of the misunderstood creatures and the boy who sought
22:10 to redeem them was extraordinarily heartwarming. Beautifully animated flight sequences made great
22:16 use of 3D, and although it had a hefty budget of $165 million, it brought in close to half a billion
22:22 worldwide. Two Oscar nominations, two sequels, and numerous TV spinoffs later, How to Train Your
22:28 Dragon stands as the gold standard for the studio's animation capabilities. "Times out. All we needed
22:34 was a little woof. Like this. You just gestured to all of me." Number 10. Pirates of the Caribbean,
22:42 The Curse of the Black Pearl. While the franchise has definitely fallen from grace, the first entry
22:48 was a stellar adventure movie. But it was the family-friendly Disney's first PG-13 film,
22:54 and it didn't exactly draw positive word of mouth for being based on a theme park ride.
22:59 "The devil's whip action was really bad."
23:01 However, the PG-13 rating ended up being entirely necessary. The explosive action and spooky effects
23:15 for the Black Pearl's cursed crew made it thrilling and captivating. It also earned Johnny Depp his
23:21 first Oscar nomination, and led to him, as well as pirates in general, finding massive mainstream
23:27 success. "That's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen." "So it would seem." On a budget of
23:34 $140 million, it brought in over $650 million worldwide. "Now, bring me that horizon."
23:42 Number 9. Batman Begins. Christopher Nolan is one of the biggest directors working today,
23:49 but at the time he signed on to Batman Begins, he was yet unproven with big budget productions.
23:55 Not only that, but the caped crusader's reputation had taken a hit thanks to 1997's overly cheesy
24:01 Batman and Robin. "You get the ice, I'll get the ice man." And many fans were probably fine
24:09 leaving him on the page or in animation. "Well, a guy who dresses up like a bat clearly has issues."
24:15 Nolan's more realistic interpretation turned out to be just what the character needed.
24:19 Darker visuals and more insight into Bruce's training gave a better understanding of the
24:23 hero who strikes fear into the thugs of Gotham. "If you make yourself more than just a man,
24:29 if you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can't stop you,
24:34 then you become something else entirely. Which is legend." And it gave us what many consider
24:44 one of the best trilogies of all time. "I never said thank you. And you'll never have to."
24:54 Number 8. Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Rebooting a beloved sci-fi film series is always hard.
25:06 "Hey, some things aren't meant to be changed. You need to accept that." But it's especially
25:15 difficult to garner excitement when the previous reboot is as maligned as Tim Burton's 2001 film
25:20 was. Add on the fact that this movie was swapping out practical effects for CGI, and it left some
25:25 moviegoers scratching their heads. "I swear you know everything about the human brain except the
25:31 way it works." However, said CGI effects were astonishing, earning several prestigious awards
25:37 and an Oscar nomination. Andy Serkis' layered mocap performance as Caesar was heart-wrenching,
25:43 carrying the fascinating origin of the hyper-intelligent apes.
25:46 "Caesar is home."
25:54 "Okay." As a result, Rise became the highest-grossing film in the series at $481 million
26:08 worldwide. That is, until the sequel was released in 2014. Number 7. 21 Jump Street. When Hollywood
26:16 adapts a TV show into a feature film, it usually doesn't go well. "Fortunately for you two,
26:21 we're reviving a canceled undercover police program from the 80s and revamping it for
26:26 modern times. You see, the guys in charge of this stuff lack creativity and are completely out of
26:30 ideas." However, turning the Johnny Depp-led cop show into an action comedy with Jonah Hill and
26:36 Channing Tatum was a genius idea. The film follows two younger-looking cops going undercover as high
26:42 schoolers to stop the spread of a new drug. "Infiltrate the dealers, find the supplier."
26:47 "We get to be brothers?" "Infiltrate the dealers, find the supplier."
26:52 "What if we find the supplier first? We don't have to worry about the dealers." "Goddamn."
26:55 "Infiltrate the dealers, find the supplier." The comedic chemistry between Hill and Tatum
27:00 resulted in one of the best buddy cop movies in some time. Not only did it pull in $201 million
27:07 on a $42 million budget, but its sequel was even more successful. This could have easily been a
27:12 serious slog of a movie given its source material, but it was a delightful and hilarious surprise.
27:18 Now, if only we could get that third movie. "We're like in the end of Die Hard right now,
27:22 but it's our actual life. It's crazy." "Number one or two?" "Three." "Sam Jackson style."
27:31 Number six, District 9. From a failed adaptation of the video game Halo rose this groundbreaking
27:37 sci-fi film from producer Peter Jackson and director Neil Blomkamp. Although its original
27:43 incarnation was a failure and the filmmakers were forced to recycle props and set pieces,
27:48 the film soared past any expectations. "Well, the truth is nobody really knew what this place was.
27:53 There's a lot of secrets in District 9." The film's grimy set design fits splendidly with
27:59 the documentary aesthetic and story of xenophobia. That's not to mention its
28:03 terrific visual effects, which earned it one of four Oscar nominations.
28:07 Worldwide, District 9 earned seven times its $30 million budget.
28:11 That's insanely impressive considering it mostly relied on viral marketing and stylistic,
28:27 humans-only ads. "They must just go. I don't know where they go. They must just go here."
28:32 "If they were from another country, we might understand, but they're not even from this
28:35 planet yet." Number five, Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse. It's no secret that Sony's handling
28:42 of Spider-Man has let down fans on several occasions. "You know, with great ability
28:46 comes great accountability." "That's not even how the saying goes, Dad." "I do like your cereal,
28:50 though. I'm giving that." With low reviews for Venom released a few months prior, the fact that
28:54 this was animated instead of live-action, and that it was anything but a traditional Spider-Man
28:59 story, were all signals to not get our hopes up. "When do I know I'm Spider-Man?" "You won't.
29:06 That's all it is, Miles. A leap of faith." However, Spider-Verse blew all expectations
29:15 out of the water. The revolutionary animation was unlike anything we'd ever seen, and made it feel
29:20 like we were watching a comic book. Miles Morales' journey to discover that anyone can wear the mask
29:26 was at times heartwarming, and at others downright tragic. "Miles, the hardest thing about this job is
29:32 you can't always save everybody." "Look, it was my fault. You wouldn't understand." "Miles,
29:40 we're probably the only ones who do understand." It surprisingly beat Disney and Pixar for the
29:46 best animated feature Oscar. 4. Iron Man Despite the MCU now being the biggest film
29:53 franchise in existence, it began on the backs of an actor and character who weren't exactly popular.
29:59 Iron Man was far from a Marvel A-lister at the time, and Robert Downey Jr.'s career was only
30:14 beginning to reform after drug arrests in the early 2000s. With Marvel movies dropping in
30:19 quality in the mid-2000s with the likes of Fantastic Four and Spider-Man 3, the newly
30:24 formed Marvel Studios needed to reassure moviegoers. Although picking the director of
30:29 Elf was a strange choice, Jon Favreau proved himself a capable action filmmaker. Iron Man
30:35 earned $585 million worldwide on a $140 million budget. "Worst things have happened, I think we're
30:42 going to be fine coming up with it." More importantly, it ushered in a new and exciting
30:46 era of superhero films. 3. Rocky The original Rocky was written in just over three days,
31:09 filmed in 28 days, and only given a budget of around $960,000, because then-newcomer Sylvester
31:16 Stallone refused to sell the script unless he could star. So the bar for its monetary
31:24 expectations was probably already low, but its underdog production and story acted as signs for
31:30 its future performance. The film would go on to become a resounding success, earning a whopping
31:42 $117 million at the box office and winning three out of ten Oscar nominations. It turned Sylvester
31:49 Stallone into a bona fide movie star. It also kickstarted a decades-long
32:00 lasting series that spawned another franchise. 2. Mad Max Fury Road People may have been surprised
32:08 to see George Miller return to this post-apocalyptic franchise 30 years after the last entry,
32:13 and multiple problems behind the scenes surely didn't help the morale of cast and crew members.
32:18 However, what was achieved is now considered one of the best action films of all time.
32:36 A simple plot and high-octane thrills meant any general moviegoer could be entertained.
32:40 The film was praised for Charlize Theron's intense performance,
32:44 and the use of practical effects and real, modified death cars bolstered the film's extreme
33:02 chase sequences. While it didn't necessarily wow at the box office, it did win six Oscars out of
33:08 ten nominations, an unheard-of feat for action movies. Before we continue, be sure to subscribe
33:21 to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos. You have the option to
33:26 be notified for occasional videos or all of them. If you're on your phone, make sure you go into
33:31 your settings and switch on notifications. It might be strange to think about now,
33:40 but Star Wars did not have a strong start. George Lucas and 20th Century Fox were initially
33:46 convinced it wouldn't perform well among other blockbusters that summer.
33:49 Apparently, many theater chains held the same belief, as the film only received a limited
34:00 release in around 40 theaters. But swarms of crowds wanting to see the movie led to a much
34:05 wider release, pulling in $503 million on an $11 million budget.
34:10 Star Wars earned seven Oscars, and its cast were made superstars overnight. The little movie that
34:28 could built an empire of sequels, TV shows, video games, and of course, toys.
34:34 Which movie surpassed your expectations? Let us know in the comments.
34:45 Did you enjoy this video? Check out these other clips from WatchMojo,
34:56 and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
35:02 Thanks for watching.