13 Awesome 2016 Movies Everyone Thought Would Suck

Why It Should've Sucked: Marketing basically suggested this Blake Lively-starring shark movie was going to be 90-or-so minutes of leering creep-shots at the actress in a string bikini, with occasional reminders that her life is in peril. Oh, and considering Lively's dubious talents as an actress, is a one-woman show really the best idea?

Why It Was Awesome: Probably one of the best ever entries into the "shark movie" genre that so rarely takes itself seriously, The Shallows mines a tremendous amount of suspense out of a wounded woman desperately trying to reach shore, and Lively proves beyond pretty much any doubt that her acting chops can almost entirely carry a movie.

Also, credit to director Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan, Non-Stop) for not perving over Lively's body as much as expected: the trailers clearly embellished it for marketing reasons.

A few third-act absurdities prevent it from being a straight-up suspense classic, but a highly entertaining genre film all the same.