10 Awesome 2018 Movies Everyone Thought Would Suck

5. Creed II

Why It Should've Sucked: It's always a huge red flag when the director of a massively acclaimed movie doesn't return for the sequel, and Ryan Coogler's departure from the Creed II director's chair definitely had Rocky fans worried.

That and a storyline that brought Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) back into the fold, seeming to imply that Creed II might be an excessive nostalgia-fest that returned to the silliness of the lesser Rocky movies.

Why It Was Awesome: Though Steven Caple Jr. is no Coogler, he nevertheless did an admirable job picking up the baton and running with it here.

And while the script walked viewers through plenty of familiar beats, the unexpectedly affecting treatment of the Drago storyline added a wonderful post-script to Rocky IV's ending.

The performances were tremendous throughout - especially those of Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone and Lundgren - the fight scenes were dizzying, and even the more cliched dramatic elements were shot through with so much gusto it was tough not to be invested.

This absolutely needs to be the final Rocky movie, though, because the formula is at clear breaking point and this is a far more dignified end than anyone could reasonably expect after eight movies.