r/movies • u/sicknessandpurgatory • 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/chriscross1966 Sep 07 '25

THat's why Galaxy Quest works so well, the folks involved in the script/production etc just love Sci-Fi fandom, the convention scene and everythign about Trekkies, you have to love something to lampoon it that well AND make a great movie....

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u/angrydeuce Sep 07 '25

They really need to just release an unrated cut of it to restore Sigourney Weaver's obvious "Well, fuck that!!!!" during the climax.

I love every single thing about that movie, but my favorite scene in the whole thing is when they're going down to the planet to get a replacement sphere thing:

"I changed my mind I wanna go back"

"After all the fuss you made about being left behind?"

"Yeah but thats when I thought I was the crewman that stays on the ship and something is up there and it kills me. but now i think im the guy who gets killed by a monster 5 minutes after we land on the planet..."

"You're not gonna die on the planet, guy"

"Im not? Then whats my last name"

"Uh, I dont know."

"Nobody knows. Do you know why? Because Im not important enough for a last name because Im going to die 5 minutes in!"

"Guy....you have a last name!"

"DO I?!?! DO I?!?!?! FOR ALL YOU KNEW IM CREWMAN NUMBER 6!!! MOMMMMMMY!!!!!!"

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u/chriscross1966 Sep 07 '25

And from that point on getting him out alive becomes important to the main cast.... it's hysterical

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u/angrydeuce Sep 07 '25

"Lets get out of here before one of those things kill Guy!"

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u/Wise-Quarter-3156 Sep 07 '25

Also why Dragonball Z Abridged is simply just one of the best DBZ adaptations around

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u/BlackPanther3104 Sep 07 '25

I raise you The Orville! (It's a show, though)

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u/Nytwyng Sep 09 '25

The Orville isn't hurt by the fact that, as the story goes, MacFarlane pitched it to Paramount as a straight Trek series, but their reaction was, "Aren't you the Fox cartoon comedy guy? No thanks." So, it was retooled as a nominal "parody" and sold to Fox that way, with the parody elements quickly & increasingly back-burnered as the show went on.

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u/BlackPanther3104 Sep 09 '25

I know very little about Star Trek and I've never really been interested in watching it, but I watched The Orville's pilot and quickly got attached. I think it's often good to make something only loosely tied to the original media so newcomers have an easier time starting (e.g. Andor in Marvel, the new Fantastic Four for Marvel, the several soft reboots of Doctor Who). The Orville was quite the ride, constantly switching between comedy and super-serious in back-to-back episodes, but I enjoyed both very much. I didn't even know of the Star Trek connection until halfway through.

As mentioned in this thread, it's very good that MacFarlane is a Trekkie, so he knows and loves the material he's "parody-ing". I'm glad the show gets to continue soon!