Some movies are overhyped, receiving too much recognition, whilst others simply go unnoticed. There are several movies out there that only received the praise they were worthy of after they were released and there are others that instantly lived up to the hype that surrounded them.
HarlequinKing1406 was one movie fanatic who asked Reddit users to list a movie that lived up to the hype and to explain why, which prompted a range of answers from varying genres and periods in cinematic history. From animated adaptions to renewed romances, these are just a few of the movies mentioned.
Psycho (1960)
Hitchcock has become a well-recognized name within the film industry, but his name wouldn't exist if it wasn't for Psycho, which became his first cinematic hit and remains a popular horror movie, even today. There was a lot of conversation surrounding this movie because of Hitchcock pushing boundaries and censorship rules through violence and scenes of a sexual nature.
Through incredible acting, unique cinematography, and an incredible musical score, Psycho definitely pushed the boundaries surrounding its initial release and lived up to its sky-high hype for many years afterward. Reddit user tickingboxes even went as far as labeling this popular horror flick "groundbreaking [due to] it kill[ing] off the main character like half an hour into the movie [which] had never been done before."
Hereditary (2018)
Hereditary is possibly one of the best horror movies of the 21st century, with its success following in the footsteps of Psycho. Before its release, there was a growing hype regarding the movie, especially with horror fans, who eagerly awaited the movie's onscreen arrival. The trailer was enough for some fans, who were left scarred by the overwhelming tongue clicks heard alongside the striking violin, guaranteed to get viewers hearts racing.
However, Hereditary didn't stop there but instead employed a dollhouse to represent a life in which viewers could insert themselves and question the horror hidden in real life. This resulted in fans like inmyelement87 explaining how "the internet was buzzing about it and it truly lived up to its hype as a horror movie."
The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix was one movie that garnered anticipation through its use of high-quality cinematography, which made for a seamless watch that correlated with the sci-fi themes, alongside its stylized characters and impressive action shots.
The trailer alone had viewers hooked on the simple need to know what The Matrix was. This hype remained for years after the movie's release related to its complete success as not just a movie but an experience, as captured by ryanterryworks, who explained that "it’s the only movie [they’ve] stood up and applauded at the end."
Parasite (2019)
Parasite is not just a great movie about class struggle but as a subtitled thriller flick, it made viewers push past their preconceptions of subtitled films, opening up many to new movies. The movie combined genres to create something that catered to many fans, leading to a wide viewership that increased due to the conversation around it.
Parasite's popularity was owed to its ability to generate conversation from a varied fan base, resulting in viewers like simon_or_garfunkel sharing how they "went into Parasite expecting it to be the best movie I'd seen in years [...] and it still blew me away." The movie delivered some seriously beautiful cinematography alongside a compelling storyline that hooked different types of viewers and therefore continues to deserve the hype it received, even by those who previously shunned subtitled movies.
Paddington (2014)
Paddington Bear is a well-known staple of British culture and has occupied the role of a British icon since 1958, but it wasn't until 2014 that the iconic bear made its highly anticipated movie debut. For many adults, the announcement of Paddington coming to screens excited many viewers who couldn't wait to see his adventures brought to life.
The movie lived up to the hype through its adventure-packed story that catered to both young and adult viewers, incredible cinematography, and a beautiful combination of animation alongside real-life elements. The movie helped adult viewers relive their childhoods, with Walter_P_Thatcher explaining how "Paddington was just a breath of fresh air, unapologetically wholesome, and the cinematography was actually pretty incredible," making it deserving of every bit of recognition it got.
Casablanca (1942)
Casablanca continues to be a classic movie full of romantic quotes and it remains unforgotten by fans. The movie created a lot of conversation as it was released in the middle of WW2.
Casablanca provided viewers with something to hope for in what was a difficult time, and the chemistry between the two love interests was undeniable, which was complemented by the movie's beautiful scenery. For many, the movie continues to be a perfect 10/10, rendering many fans speechless, as emphasized by Wazzoo1, who explained that "when certain scenes hit, everyone was frozen silent."
The Dark Knight (2008)
Redditor GCNElite said that "The Dark Knight exceeded its sky-high expectations." The movie created suspense that fans had never felt before, whilst also providing an interesting representation of Batman and his need to defeat the joker.
The movie exceeded viewers' expectations due to the exceptional acting ability of Heath Ledger, who was deemed by many fans as the best iteration of the character, complemented by Christian Bale's Batman. The movie was action-packed with a series of impressive scenes, high-quality stunts, and real portrayals of superhero culture.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is one movie Reddit users think deserves a perfect 10/10. The movie's trailer stirred up excitement for many Spider-Man fans due to it being the first animated version of the well-loved comic book and through hand-drawn animation, the movie outdid itself.
The movie toyed with viewers' senses by creating a visually pleasing movie with vibrant colors alongside a great soundtrack that led to many songs hitting number 1 on the charts. The movie proved to be a great addition to the superhero movie collection because of its unique stylistic choices that proved to be popular with fans like SalukiKnightX, who claimed that it is "arguably the best rendition of the concept and character of Spider-Man to date."
Jurassic Park (1993)
Jurassic Park is one movie that stunned box offices with its promise of being one of the biggest cinematic blockbusters of all time and it certainly lived up to its expectations. The movie was anticipated because of Steven Spielberg and his desire to introduce viewers to a new cinematic experience through CGI and animatronics.
The movie lived up to the very high expectations of its soon-to-be fans, and after its release, the movie garnered a huge fan base that remains loyal today. Fans loved the movie for its realistic CGI whilst simultaneously providing an equally terrifying representation of dinosaurs. This was complemented by a world-renowned soundtrack, with UKnowDaxoAndDancer stating that "it should rightfully be considered one of the best films of all time."
The Lord Of The Rings (2001)
Adapted from the written work of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord Of The Rings was possibly the most anticipated movie trilogy in film history. It was somewhat revolutionary, as it garnered the attention of other viewers who weren't familiar with the book and enabled an outdated genre to regain popularity once more.
Reddit user jefffosta was just one fan who explained how the movie "put the fantasy genre on the map as a viable medium to make movies and is so universally loved that there is still a pretty massive following of the movies even 20 years later." It brought to life this fantasy world through immense, intricate, and magnificent CGI, alongside a detailed storyline that had viewers hooked throughout its three-hour runtime.