10 Awesome 2018 Movies Everyone Thought Would Suck
7. The Christmas Chronicles
Why It Should've Sucked: Netflix releases a heap of uninspired Christmas movies every holiday period, and the trailers for The Christmas Chronicles didn't suggest it'd be much different.
The cinematography looked flat and over-lit - a problem with many Netflix Originals, sadly - the family drama low-effort and hokey, and there was the distinct feeling star Kurt Russell just might be slumming it here for an easy paycheck.
Why It Was Awesome: While few would call The Christmas Chronicles an instant yuletide classic, it is the definition of easy, relaxing viewing for all the family.
What pushes it above mere decency, however, is Russell's genuinely brilliant performance as Santa. It's far from a natural casting choice, yet one that in retrospect seems absolutely perfect.
He completely commits to the role and is largely responsible for why it's such an enjoyable sit despite its familiarity.
With its sure appeal to both adult Kurt Russell fans and kids who've never heard of him, it's little surprise the movie scored an insane 20 million views in its first week on Netflix.