10 Recent Movies Ruined By Unrealistic Expectations

Netflix's The Gray Man is a prime example of a totally watchable, generic blockbuster that simply couldn't be that - the personnel attached to it ensured that audiences whipped themselves into a frenzy about what it could be.

The Gray Man was marketed on not only the appeal of Ryan Gosling taking on Chris Evans, but also that it was directed by Avengers filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo.

Many got it into their heads that the film would be Netflix's first truly great blockbuster - a witty, action-packed globetrotting tentpole with every penny of its $200 million budget thrown on the screen.

But it's important to remember that the budget also includes the larger upfront salaries paid to stars like Gosling and Evans because of streaming's lack of box office residuals.

Many people ignorant to this then expressed surprise that The Gray Man didn't really feel like a traditional $200 million movie you'd watch in cinemas, both in terms of scale and VFX quality.

It's as true on streaming as it is on the big screen, though - a great cast and skilled filmmakers do not a great movie automatically make, and while The Gray Man was an amusing enough diversion if you set your expectations correctly, many massively overestimated what all involved were shooting for.