These movies were definitely worth the hype. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best movies that met and exceeded audience expectations.
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00:00A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins.
00:05Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.
00:09Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best movies that met and exceeded audience expectations.
00:17And here we go.
00:23Just don't freeze when you see her.
00:26What are you talking about? I never freeze.
00:30By 2018, the MCU was already well underway.
00:34The first Iron Man movie was ten years old, and The Avengers was turning six.
00:39But there was still room for more heroes, and that's where Black Panther comes in.
00:43Plans for a Black Panther film had been in development since the early 90s,
00:46and the movie carried a number of important cultural mantles like being the first MCU film with a predominantly black cast.
00:53Furthermore, director Ryan Coogler had several acclaimed films under his belt,
00:57so people knew the movie was going to be great.
00:59And luckily, it was, with many critics calling it the best film in the MCU.
01:04Wakanda forever! Wakanda forever!
01:10I'm the king of the world!
01:15The hype around James Cameron's Titanic was as vast as the ocean itself.
01:20Its immense hype was fueled by Cameron's reputation as a master storyteller,
01:24his technical wizardry with visual effects, and of course, the legacy of the Titanic itself.
01:30The movie's emotional resonance, combined with Cameron's astounding filmmaking,
01:34helped make it a global phenomenon.
01:36Titanic turned in just shy of $2 billion in its first theatrical run,
01:41and accumulated 11 Academy Awards, tying it for the most ever.
01:46It's now considered a landmark movie, and is preserved in the Library of Congress.
01:51Just another day at the office for Mr. Cameron.
01:54I will never let go, Jack.
01:58I'll never let go.
02:04How does it feel, killing your own kind?
02:11I don't retire my own kind because we don't run.
02:15One question was at the forefront of everyone's mind.
02:18Would a sequel to Blade Runner still work 35 years after the fact?
02:22Short answer, yes. And it was way better than anyone could have possibly imagined.
02:27The first Blade Runner has long been considered one of the best sci-fi films ever made,
02:31and this sequel had a lot going for it in pre-release.
02:34That includes the involvement of Ryan Gosling, the return of Harrison Ford as Deckard,
02:39and director Denis Villeneuve fresh off acclaimed films like Sicario and Arrival.
02:43Blade Runner 2049 was yet another notch in his ever-growing belt,
02:46receiving praise for its visual effects, thoughtful themes,
02:50and Roger Deakins' Oscar-winning cinematography.
02:53I'm only two.
02:58One and zero.
03:00Half as much, but twice as elegant, sweetheart.
03:06While some dismissed the film as a blatant cash grab,
03:09others saw a great potential for success.
03:12Park between the lines. Yes!
03:14Drop off dry cleaning before noon. Read the headlines.
03:17Don't forget to smile. Always root for the local sports team.
03:20Local sports team!
03:22Lego has been around for decades,
03:24and billions of people around the world were raised on its endless possibilities.
03:28We didn't know how a Lego movie would work. We just knew it would.
03:32Like one of your many masterpieces, it built itself up brick by brick,
03:36with clever humor, a heartfelt story,
03:38and an innovative animation style modeled after real Lego physics.
03:42Audiences were enamored with the film's witty dialogue
03:45and surprisingly profound narrative about creativity,
03:47landing it on many best-of-the-year lists.
03:50We knew the movie would be good. We didn't know it would be that good.
03:53Uh, hey guys, I think we're about to crash into the sun.
03:56Yeah, but it's gonna look really cool.
04:02In 1999, The Matrix bullet-dodged its way into the pop culture zeitgeist,
04:07despite audiences not having the faintest idea of what they were walking into.
04:12I know Kung Fu.
04:15Show me.
04:16Much like Neo, they wanted to learn the truth,
04:18with the tantalizing trailers offering little in the way of information,
04:22but promising a fictional world unlike anything we had seen before.
04:26What is The Matrix?
04:28Millions wanted to know, and unlike Neo,
04:31they were more than satisfied with the answers.
04:33The film's cutting-edge effects and breathtaking action sequences
04:36were revolutionary for the time,
04:38and the story explored themes of reality, identity, and free will,
04:42all of which resonated with audiences.
04:45The Matrix became a global phenomenon,
04:47all thanks to a brilliant imagination and some genius marketing.
04:59Whoa.
05:00Number 15, Barbie.
05:02At a time when movies are struggling at the box office,
05:05here comes Barbie to show everyone that, yes, they can still make major money.
05:10Do you guys ever think about dying?
05:15The hype behind Barbie was simply unreal,
05:18with the Barben Heimer phenomenon taking the Internet by storm
05:21throughout much of 2023.
05:23While Barbie could have easily been a mindless cash grab,
05:26Greta Gerwig turned it into a hilarious and often thoughtful introspection
05:30on identity, feminism, and existentialism.
05:45Audiences couldn't get enough,
05:47and Barbie absolutely dominated the 2023 box office
05:51with a global taking of $1.4 billion.
05:54Between this and Oppenheimer winning Best Picture,
05:57we'd say the Barben Heimer hype train more than paid off.
06:00Sublime!
06:01Number 14, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
06:05For people who weren't there,
06:07it's impossible to state just how huge Harry Potter was at its peak.
06:16The book series was absolutely enormous,
06:19a cultural juggernaut that was already four novels deep
06:22by the time The Philosopher's Stone reached theaters in 2001.
06:25Fans eagerly wanted to see this magical world
06:28and its many colorful inhabitants brought to life.
06:31Luckily, the film faithfully recreated the beloved novel,
06:34capturing the wonder and magic of Hogwarts
06:37and containing a pitch-perfect cast
06:39that embodied the characters with an almost eerie perfection.
06:42It not only further cemented the sensation that was Harry Potter,
06:46it also proved that none of the magic would be lost
06:49in the transition from page to screen.
06:53Not really.
06:55Number 13, Dune and Dune Part 2.
06:58My planet Arrakis is so beautiful when the sun is low.
07:05Rolling over the sands,
07:08you can see spice in the air.
07:10Frank Herbert's Dune is considered a seminal work in the science fiction genre
07:14and while it has a legion of fans,
07:16adapting it for the screen was no small feat.
07:19Just ask David Lynch.
07:20But our old friend Denis Villeneuve took a shot
07:23and the status of his films grew bigger than a sandworm.
07:26The first movie was a huge success,
07:28receiving great reviews and grossing over $400 million at the height of COVID.
07:33Its success further bolstered the hype,
07:35hype that Part 2 handily exceeded.
07:37The praise was near unanimous,
07:39with many people calling it a modern masterpiece.
07:42It's coming.
07:43I see a lowly war spreading across the universe like unquenchable fire.
07:47A warrior religion that weighs me at Satan's banner in my father's name.
07:52Fanatical legions worshipping at the shrine of my father's skull.
07:57A war in my name!
07:59That includes Steven Spielberg,
08:01who referred to Part 2 as, quote,
08:03one of the most brilliant science fiction films he has ever seen.
08:07Number 12, Top Gun Maverick.
08:09You want a Mach 10?
08:12Let's give him a Mach 10.
08:13The first Top Gun was awesome.
08:15Tom Cruise movies are awesome.
08:16Jets and explosions are awesome.
08:18So what wasn't to love about Top Gun Maverick?
08:21This movie is a legacy sequel of sorts,
08:23with Cruise training a young group of up-and-comers
08:26played by up-and-comers like Miles Teller and Glenn Powell.
08:29The film was everything we wished it would be and more.
08:32Cruise insisted that it was played in theaters,
08:34and we're glad he did.
08:36What is that?
08:38It's one of life's mysteries, sir.
08:40This isn't a joke.
08:41It was an old-school theatrical experience
08:43with heart, humor, and blockbuster entertainment.
08:46And it became Cruise's most successful movie ever
08:49with a gross of nearly $1.5 billion.
08:52Talk about hitting your target.
08:54Number 11, Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse.
08:57Swinging onto screens in 2018
08:59was the first full-length animated film in the Spider-Man franchise.
09:03And what hype that distinction brought.
09:05Spider-Man is obviously a huge character,
09:08and setting expectations even higher
09:10was the involvement of Phil Lord,
09:12who is responsible for some of the most highly acclaimed comedies of the 2010s.
09:17Needless to say, the film exceeded all expectations.
09:21Audiences were blown away by its innovative animation
09:23that brought comic book panels to life
09:25while introducing multiple versions of Spider-Man from different dimensions.
09:29Miles, the hardest thing about this job is...
09:34you can't always save everybody.
09:36This gimmick would later be brought to the live-action sphere
09:38with No Way Home.
09:40The film was also praised for its heart, humor and cultural representation.
09:44Resulting in a film that appealed to both comic book enthusiasts
09:47and general audiences alike.
09:50Lie, what's up, danger?
09:55Lie, what's up, danger?
10:02What must I do?
10:05You must leave, and leave quickly.
10:07The Lord of the Rings is a seminal fantasy book series
10:10whose story was considered impossible to film
10:12throughout most of the 20th century,
10:14despite an animated attempt.
10:17Not only that, but the trailers for this movie
10:19aired just when the Internet's hype machine was beginning to take shape.
10:23However, Fellowship more than exceeded expectations
10:26thanks to revolutionary effects, gorgeous scenery,
10:29a soaring score, spectacular acting,
10:32amazing set pieces, surprisingly good pacing for such a long film
10:36and much more.
10:39If you want him, come and claim him.
10:43The movie, and eventually the trilogy,
10:46managed to please hardcore fans and general audiences alike,
10:49while becoming a landmark of filmmaking in general
10:52and ultimately, the fantasy film to rule them all.
10:56You shall not pass!
11:00Pass!
11:10Speaking of groundbreaking and influential films,
11:13the second Terminator movie set the standard in several areas,
11:16like its impressive computer-generated effects,
11:18as well as its impact on the movie industry,
11:21influencing Hollywood's emphasis on sequels.
11:24T2 itself is a phenomenal film,
11:26doing everything its predecessor did,
11:28but bigger, and more importantly, better.
11:31The action scenes are thrilling and explosive,
11:33but the characters also have greater depth.
11:39But everything she says is true.
11:41Meanwhile, the thematic elements,
11:43like the horrors of nuclear Armageddon,
11:45are also well-executed.
11:47So few sequels can even equal the original,
11:50but Terminator 2 surpassed it,
11:52and fan expectations with gusto.
11:58We're dreaming?
11:59You're actually in the middle of the workshop right now, sleeping.
12:02This is your first lesson in shared dreaming.
12:04The legendary trailer for this mind-bending film
12:07had everyone excited to see if Christopher Nolan
12:09could deliver on the promise it displayed.
12:12As it turned out,
12:13Inception was indeed worthy of its reputation.
12:16Its inventive take on the much-used sci-fi concept
12:19of entering people's dreams is well-received.
12:22In fact, it's one of the few films
12:26of entering people's dreams is well-developed,
12:29and its layered plot and settings
12:31make it worthy of watching several times.
12:33You're not real.
12:34No, no.
12:36I'm a projection of your subconscious.
12:38The visuals are still spectacular today,
12:41and the strong central character is highly compelling,
12:44even if a few of the side characters
12:46are a little underutilized.
12:48Overall, it's a film that gives us
12:50a lot of boom for our buck, so to speak.
12:55You wanna get through this?
12:58Do as I say.
13:00Fans had not seen anything
13:02from director George Miller's gritty,
13:04post-apocalyptic desert series for decades
13:07when Fury Road came on the scene,
13:09so expectations were high for this high-octane film.
13:12Thankfully, it stepped on the gas
13:14and never came back down.
13:16It's a film that's been around for a long time,
13:18and it's a film that's been around for a long time,
13:20and it's a film that's been around for a long time,
13:22and it's a film that's been around for a long time,
13:24but it stepped on the gas and never let up,
13:26featuring scene after scene
13:28of breathtaking practical stunts in action
13:30along with beautifully bleak scenery
13:32and a compelling, if simple, story.
13:35Oh, what a day! What a lovely day!
13:38Not only did Fury Road deliver on the hype,
13:41it also had us eagerly awaiting the day
13:43when we can return to Mad Max's
13:45insane thrill ride of a world once again,
13:47which ultimately came in 2024.
13:51Neverland!
13:57As I live and breathe, the Wolverine.
14:00When news broke that Logan was supposed to be
14:02Hugh Jackman's final film as Wolverine,
14:05though we all know that's no longer true,
14:07we all hoped that he would go out on top,
14:09and boy, did he pull it off.
14:11Logan follows an older, more grizzled and defeated Wolverine
14:15as he's pulled into one last adventure
14:17that sees him try to help a young mutant reach her friends.
14:20The story borrows elements from Westerns
14:23and features plenty of bloody action,
14:25standout performances from all the leads,
14:27as well as some truly heartbreaking moments.
14:30She'll have nightmares.
14:33See?
14:37People hurt me.
14:38One of the X-Men franchise's greatest strengths
14:41has been its diverse cast of characters,
14:43but this personal story about just one
14:45may be its best.
14:47I don't know how you got me here,
14:50but thank you.
14:53Number 5, Toy Story 3.
15:01After two universally acclaimed animated masterpieces,
15:04the standard of Toy Story movies
15:06had been set almost unrealistically high
15:09when its third installment came around.
15:11However, Toy Story 3 managed to deliver
15:13a funny, heartfelt send-off to the franchise,
15:16or what we thought was a send-off at the time.
15:18You guarantee it, huh?
15:20I don't know, Buzz.
15:22What else can I say?
15:24It's about the toys' attempts to return to their owner, Andy,
15:27despite his having outgrown them.
15:29Although we're thrilled that Woody,
15:31Buzz and the rest of the gang are coming back again,
15:34we would have been perfectly content
15:36if this had been their final adventure.
15:38Where have I been?
15:39Beyond infinity, Space Ranger.
15:41Woody!
15:42Number 4, The Avengers.
15:44Let me put you on hold.
15:48Ah!
15:51Ah!
15:52Though the Marvel Cinematic Universe
15:54has seen plenty of hyped movies in its roster since this film,
15:57like Captain America Civil War,
15:59the first Avengers movie takes the cake.
16:01The MCU had been building up smaller connections
16:04between its standalone movies,
16:06but The Avengers was its first big crossover event,
16:09and the anticipation was huge.
16:11Stark, we need a plan of attack!
16:14I have a plan.
16:15Attack.
16:17However, the film surpassed our expectations
16:20and featured a fun, thrilling and endlessly watchable story
16:24that united the mightiest heroes
16:26in a fashion that pleased casual audiences,
16:28critics and comic book fans alike,
16:30while breaking box office records in the process.
16:33What have I to fear?
16:35The Avengers.
16:37And after years of build-up,
16:39the franchise concluded wonderfully
16:41with the long-anticipated Avengers Endgame.
16:44Avengers!
16:51Assemble.
16:54Welcome to Jurassic Park.
16:57Universal, the company that distributed this film,
17:00put out an impressive pre-game marketing campaign for Jurassic Park,
17:04with dozens of products plastered with its logo.
17:07The film also had to live up to the desires of kids and kids at heart
17:11to see amazing dinosaurs realized on screen.
17:14Jurassic Park, like life itself, found a way.
17:17What species is this?
17:20Uh, it's a velociraptor.
17:23Featuring compelling characters,
17:25a stirring soundtrack,
17:26unforgettable sequences
17:28and effects that still hold up today,
17:30Jurassic Park is pure blockbuster magic,
17:33brought to us by the master of it,
17:35Steven Spielberg.
17:37Clever girl.
17:42Number 2.
17:44Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens.
17:47Chewie, we're home.
17:51Pleasing Star Wars fans can be tricky, to say the least.
17:55The franchise is among the most beloved in all of pop culture,
17:58and its juggernaut of a hype train has let us down on some occasions.
18:02However, the seventh main film of the franchise
18:05managed to move the story forward with new, interesting characters,
18:08while featuring returning favorites who got their time to shine again,
18:11as well as the series' signature sci-fi action.
18:15Go straight at him, don't let these thugs scare you.
18:18Though some have criticized its similarities to prior films,
18:21sometimes the best way to satisfy people
18:23is to give them something familiar.
18:25The galaxy is coming at us.
18:27Solo, we'll figure it out.
18:29We'll use the Force.
18:31That's not how the Force works.
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18:50Number 1.
18:52The Dark Knight.
18:53You either die a hero,
18:55or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
18:58A legendarily memorable trailer,
19:00and Heath Ledger's untimely death,
19:02sent the hype for this follow-up to the already excellent
19:05Batman Begins into overdrive,
19:07to the point where we were sure that
19:09Batman and the Joker's battle for Gotham's soul
19:11was gonna be amazing.
19:13Burst it.
19:14Have all these rules, and you think they'll see?
19:16The Dark Knight surpassed our hype
19:18to become something else entirely,
19:20conveying an epic battle of ideologies
19:23in a supremely entertaining superhero movie.
19:26All of this is helped by gripping action,
19:28great performances,
19:29and scene after scene of iconic moments and lines
19:32that have left their mark on pop culture forever.
19:43Which movie exceeded your expectations?
19:45Let us know in the comments below.
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