10 Potentially Awful 2014 Movies That Turned Out Great

8. Frank

Why it could have been awful: There's a long and uncomfortable track record for excellent British television comedies losing a great deal in their transition to the big screen - the half hour format on TV often doesn't translate to a feature length production and the result is a dilution of everything that made them great. As much loved by many as he was, Frank Sidebottom, with his surreal songs and irreverent humour, didn't seem like a character who had anywhere near enough substance to warrant a big screen adaptation. Why it's great: The real success for Frank lies in the filmmakers' very loose treatment of the Frank Sidebottom character. Casting Michael Fassbender in the title role was something of a masterstroke - his performance beneath the spheroidal mask is truly fantastic - while what could have been an all round silly if diverting film turned out to be an emotionally resonant and carefully constructed exploration of the pitfalls of fame and the link between mental health problems and creativity. One of 2014's genuine surprises.