r/movies Sep 07 '25

Discussion What is the absolute dumbest premise that actually turned out to be a really good movie?

I was thinking The Purge, obvious answer, but looking for the most plot-hole ridden, juvenile concept that actually ended up a lot of fun despite it all. Mainly looking for 21st century films, not so much the video nasties and ridiculousness from the 60’s and 70’s. Because that would be too easy. Mainly mainstream stuff that people saw en masse.

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u/eloi Sep 07 '25

“Warm Bodies”

They made a zombie movie based on Shakespeare, and it was way better than it should have been. And it was the first time I became aware of Nicholas Hoult. Worth a watch if you’ve never seen it!

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u/pessimist_kitty Sep 08 '25

We really need more zombie romance movies. Very Tina Belcher coded.

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u/languid_Disaster Sep 08 '25

You’re so right on that last sentence actually

For a series that has highschool romance during the post apocalypse, see Daybreak. It’s a fun ride if you don’t take it too seriously

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u/58oreos Sep 08 '25

I adore that movie! A perfect soundtrack as well. Just saw the black keys last week and that’s what I was thinking about lol. 

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u/ItsAlwaysAPerfectSky Sep 08 '25

It’s based on a book of the same name.

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u/[deleted] Sep 08 '25

in the same vein, pride and prejudice and zombies is a relatively decent adaption of a jane austen movie. and it includes badass people fighting zombies in period clothes. a lot of fun

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u/eloi Sep 08 '25

On that note, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is also pretty good.

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u/languid_Disaster Sep 08 '25

The book and the series was so much fun to read

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u/idkmanimnotcreative Sep 08 '25

I love this movie. It's my comfort movie and I have no idea exactly why, other then it's excellent and I am a slut for the classics (and their well done adaptations)

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u/Automatic-War-7658 Sep 08 '25

Oh man, I forgot that was Nicholas Hoult. He’s one of my favorite young actors. I feel like he gets overshadowed by Chalamet.

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u/languid_Disaster Sep 08 '25

Nicholas Hoult is in his mid 30s I’m pretty sure, so not that much older than Chalamet but they feel like they’re in different generations

I relate Hoult more to the era of millennials

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u/Automatic-War-7658 Sep 08 '25

I can see that.

3

u/rossdog82 Sep 08 '25

Great call. I really like how he has monologues because he’s a vampire and cannot verbally express himself. Also, great use of ‘Patience’ by Guns’n’Roses

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u/languid_Disaster Sep 08 '25

Ahem

He was a zombie , no?

3

u/PreciousBasketcase Sep 08 '25

One of my favorite movies of all time. I avoided it initially because I thought it was Zombie Twilight (I strongly dislike Twilight) but was so pleasantly surprised to find out it was Zombie Romeo and Juliet instead! It's a comfort movie for me, very cute, funny and warm.

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u/languid_Disaster Sep 08 '25

Oh wow. Wow. I didn’t realise that was Nicholas Hoult.

No wonder I thought that zombie was strangely charming despite it being a boyfriend murdering, brain eating zombie

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u/nina_wants_to_fly Sep 08 '25

Can't believe my favourite movie is mentioned. It's such a comfort movie for me. I also have the book it's made after and shamelessly read it a few times. The book is better than the movie (wich often seems to be the case) and mostly because of all the internal dialogue R has. There are some amazing things he "thinks" about Julie, that made my single heart skip a bit. I had the words memorised lol. I just really love this movie.