This year was certainly one full of surprises. In many different ways some pleasant, some wonderful, some not so much. Out of the films this year these were some of the best surprises that audiences were treated to. With a new year around the corner, it’s good to reflect on the films that challenged and surpassed expectations showing that formulaic or not a good story is timeless.
10. Wicked
I had doubt that the story could transfer well, but it not only did well, it went above and beyond, exceeding expectations. It introduced unique cinematic elements that set it apart from the stage version.
– Chelsea Koeing
It was a pretty easy call to say this film was going to be good but I do believe everyone was floored with how well they pulled this off. Like magic, actual magic is what this film is. I felt like I was watching a Hollywood great like Singing In The Rain with how much detail, color, and passion that was poured into this masterpiece.
– Vanessa Winders
9. Terrifier 3
Set 5 years after Terrfier 2, Sienna and Jonathan attempt to live normal lives, forget their past horrors, and embrace the holiday spirit. Unfortunately for them, Art the Clown is back to terrify some more. Directed and written by Damien Leone, the third installment of Terrifier is the goriest, bloodiest, most violent film of the trilogy. Art the Clown does not hold back on his gruesome and sadistic killings. This film has some of the most creative deaths for a horror film and takes the slasher genre up 5 notches.
– Amani Sanders
8. Juror #2
One of the best courtroom dramas I have seen in a long time. I love how we are immediately hit with the pivotal dramatic irony of the film, and the rest of the film keeps you on the edge of your seat. The film makes you question the merit of the legal system as well as your own morality as you watch Nicholas Hoult unravel on screen.
– Justin Brayer
7. Deadpool & Wolverine
I thought it would be a shameless cash grab and just a thinly veiled attempt at nostalgia baiting. I was very wrong. While a flawed movie, it was a very heartfelt way of sending off an era of Marvel that has already met its end. Although it seems that bringing back Hugh Jackman as Wolverine was a desperate ploy to get the seats filled, it turned into an emotional portrayal of the character that, for me, at least, turned him into one of my favorite superheroes. I’d never seen an X-Men movie before, but it was him that made me want to go back and visit them. I’m very glad I gave it a chance.
– Raymond Adams
6. The Wild Robot
I don’t think anyone saw Dreamworks catching lighting in a bottle twice and so soon. The Wild Robot is by far one of the best-animated films to grace screens. The entire voice cast is on point and the animation beautifully returns to the fantastical watercolor-esque style seen from Puss In Boot: The Last Wish. It’s a near-flawless movie and Lupita Nyong’o carries the film into the stratosphere with her voice as Roz. The emotion and story of family resonated deeply.
– Vanessa Winders
5. Strange Darling
A film I knew nothing about previously, proved to be one of the most interesting and entertaining films of the year. With a pitch of “It’s this year’s Barbarian“, I definitely went into this film feeling skeptical but found myself pleasantly surprised. Much like the previously mentioned Barbarian, try to see Strange Darling blind and you won’t be disappointed!
– Austin Waybright
4. Transformers One
Massively surprising simply because it wasn’t awful. After decades of crummy, overblown Michael Bay crapfests, this took the lore of the once super popular toy franchise and made a serviceable origin story for Chris Hemsworth’s Optimus Prime and Brian Tyree Henry’s Megatron. Their friendship and betrayal is the throughlines of this story.
– Raymond Flotat
3. It’s What’s Inside
What felt like a silly, inconsequential Netflix drop, ended up being one of the most jaw-dropping debuts in forever! The characters in this film are so fully formed and smart. The lighting being used to convey who is who and what is what is clever and gorgeous. Director Greg Jardin is one to watch!
– Dempson Juvenal
2. Challengers
A movie that transcended my expectations this year. I expected it to be a movie about tennis, but it ended up being a movie about who can play the mind games better.
– Izaiah Shupie
1. The Apprentice
The most surprising film of the year for me was The Apprentice, not only did I pity watch it because I felt bad it got no marketing, I went in ready for my eyes to roll out of my head. I couldn’t have been more wrong when I went from cackling to nearly sobbing, rooting, and empathizing for Trump, forgetting the election season taking place outside of my AMC theater. Strong and Stan had me glued to the screen unlike any other film, and there was nothing like this movie all year. This is one of my favorite biopics because it is tender, yet harsh. The film gives its characters empathy while also showing the good, bad, and ugly of the world and its players. It is a film I hope gets a lot of Oscar attention and that more audiences will give it a chance. It is not a politicized hit piece on a President, it’s an origin story of one of the most infamous Americans of our generation.
– Kylee LaRue
With some of the biggest box office upsets ever happening over the year it was one marked by surprise in the best way. From streaming originals to animation it was hit after hit. With audiences being treated to a year-round bracket of unlikely films its exciting to anticipate what will come next.
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