10 Surprisingly Great Movies From Summer 2016

What We Expected: A remake of a dubious classic that's hardly particularly good or well-known in the first place, sure to waste talents like Robert Redford, Bryce Dallas Howard and Karl Urban, with a director who has zero blockbuster experience. To make matters worse, the atrocious marketing campaign will probably make it a box office bust too.

What We Got: A tender, calm, surprisingly affecting little adventure flick that, while an undeniable financial bomb, makes good use of director David Lowery (Ain't Them Bodies Saints) to deliver a perfect compromise between art-house quiet and blockbuster bombast.

Though the adult characters save for Redford feel a little underserved, the relationship between boy and dragon is terrific to watch, with lead Oakes Fegley conveying the tragic heartbreak of loss and beauty of friendship.

Sadly it may be destined for nothing more than cult status like the original movie, but it also happens to be a rare remake that improves significantly on what came before.