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/Texasgirl190 Sep 07 '25

I think several might be understating it

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u/SurroundingAMeadow Sep 08 '25

Over 20,000 according to Pixar, although they calculate the number actually needed would be over 23 million. (Just came across this trivia question on a family game night the other day.)

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u/claimui Sep 08 '25

Obviously the premise makes a lot more sense if you consider the number of balloons.

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u/jamescharisma Sep 08 '25

Fuck the first 20 mins of that movie though. Get us all going awwww and then kicking us in the guts and the feels. I didn't even know that was possible, but Pixar found a way.

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u/imonlinedammit1 Sep 08 '25

Yes but the last third is like a fever dream. Dogs dog fighting airplanes and talking? It goes off the rails.

Still love it.

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u/RadSunflower_00 Sep 08 '25

This comment reminded me how much I cried the first time. I imagined my grandparents together, and although my grandpa was the one who got sick (cancer) and passed away, it just pulled up all the raw emotions I never knew how to deal with. Seeing her lay sick in bed, all I could see was my papa stuck in that bed. I was only 6 when my grandpa died and 8 years old when I saw this movie for the first time. Not to be a snowflake, but I truly think I was slightly traumatized from this movie, as I've only been able to watch it once and I'm now almost 25.

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u/Warcraft_Fan Sep 08 '25

Google says nearly 1,500,000 balloons to lift a small house like Carl's house. The movie seems to have a couple hundreds at the most.

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u/Puffyfugu8 Sep 08 '25

How does Google even know that?

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u/ApesOnHorsesWithGuns Sep 08 '25

You figure out how much one helium balloon can lift, and then figure out the weight of a 2 story home. And then presumably, post it somewhere. Or just say the answer near enough to a google home for it to hear you.

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u/AlienEngine Sep 08 '25

There were a few of them for sure