One of the major dilemmas of the movie industry is investing and producing films that do not gain the audience’s favor and worse, do not generate income. It is, after all, about risk but still having that faith. We know movies that no matter how repetitive they are, people still spend bucks to watch them. But, some movies were truly sleeper hits.
These movies are the ones people expect to fail or flop, but somehow, paired with gradual publicity and support, they become major blockbusters. This is why it is important not to judge a film before seeing it, or believing in negative responses that were only based on trailers. Here are some of the most doubted movies at their debut but ended up becoming megahit:
X-Men: First Class (2011)
The X-Men franchise is one of the most successful productions, but this particular installment did not entirely have the best odds. Following two of the most successful X-Men movies really put pressure on it. While the movie has a lot of great cameo scenes, it also helped the series find its way back into the audiences’ hearts.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is probably the best risk that Disney took. Based on a theme park, the movie became a giant success despite doubts from people. The source material has to be reinvented and reimagined in a way to make it fit for the big screen. The movie writers are indeed geniuses for creating one of the most riveting stories of the 21st century.
John Wick (2014)
John Wick became a popular name and amassed a loyal fan base dedicated to the Baba Yaga. The name also became synonymous with its actor Keanu Reeves, who, for a long time, is known for his role in The Matrix. The movie appeared out of nowhere and had no massive marketing strategy. And yet, people do tell tales, and that is absolutely how the boogeyman came out from under the bed.
Venom (2018)
The movie was met with negative reviews, but somehow fans loved it. It even made more money than DC’s Justice League. Although Venom looks like a failure to the critics, it looks more like a success to moviegoers. The fact that it warranted a sequel only proves that Sony did something really good with this movie.
Titanic (1997)
Titanic is undoubtedly one of the highest-grossing and most popular movies in the entire world. The movie itself beat its own record and defied everyone’s expectations. Who would have thought that a tragic love story set in the middle of the ocean would hold a 12-year record in the box office?
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Now, this is a story that did not immediately appeal to the general viewers; it kind of became a cult favorite that was based on a comic book series. Also, the fact that it was given an R-rating further limited its audience. Somehow, it remains a mystery how Kingsman managed to hurdle that obstacle and gained popularity among fans.
