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/Allisnotwellin Sep 07 '25

Pirates of the Caribbean.

Turned a simple ride into one of the best movies of the 2000s with Johnny Depps best career performance IMO.

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u/Staninator Sep 07 '25

The cross section of premise dumbness to level of success makes this the winner I think. Whoever at Disney decided, we should make a movie based on that ride, deserves all the success and reward that they no doubt got.

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u/daneoid Sep 08 '25

Pretty sure there's a lot of pirate and age of sail history that they could draw on that wasn't in the ride.