10 Most Unexpectedly Awesome Movies Of 2015 (So Far)

7. Cinderella

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84% A live-action remake of one of their most famous animated movies? Well, it had "unnecessary cash-grab" written all over it. Even with Kenneth Branagh behind the camera, surely this was Disney exploiting the classic fairytale in a cynical attempt to pull teenage girls into the cinema? It might well have been, and yet, somehow, the movie managed to be good. Like, really good - in spite of all its romancing and schmaltz. How the heck...? Well, Lily James and Cate Blanchett are the heroine of the title and her Wicked Stepmother respectfully, and they're both superb (especially Blanchett, who relishes her role here). No, it doesn't match the self-aware heights of Disney's Frozen and it plays things entirely straight from beginning to end, but it works. What's even more surprising is that this version of Cinderella - thanks to its beautiful visual design and special effects work - might actually be a better film than the arguably overrated animated movie it was inspired by.