8. Rain Man (1988)
Expectation: A supernatural thriller based on a spurned lover whose mood dictates the weather, a bit like that X Files episode? A bittersweet drama about a man sick of summoning storms and leaving destruction in his wake, a bit like the Groke from the 'Moomin' stories? A drama about a depressed weatherman, a bit like
Groundhog Day? A sequel to
Looper that sees Cid entering adulthood?
Reality: Barry Levinson's classic drama stars Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman as Charlie and Raymond Babbit, brothers reunited after their father's death. The title comes from Charlie's pronunciation of 'Raymond' when the boys were young. When Charlie, a narcissistic car-dealer, discovers that Raymond is an autistic savant, he plans to put his brother's incredible memory skills to the test: by card-counting at a Las Vegas casino. But which game would Raymond rather play: blackjack or Happy Families?