14 Awesome 2015 Movies Everyone Thought Would Suck

12. Goosebumps

Why It Should Have Sucked: Trailers for this big-screen adaptation of the beloved R.L. Stine children's books didn't suggest anything more than a lame attempt to sell the franchise to a new generation, complete with terrible CGI beasties and a "throw everything including the kitchen sink at the wall" approach. Simply, was there anyone actively asking for this movie to be made? Why It Was Awesome: Though not the most nuanced or clever family movie ever made, Goosebumps was nevertheless a huge surprise, an unexpectedly uproarious romp which pulls out almost every trick in the Goosebumps canon and, while totally undemanding family entertainment and little more, nails its targets perfectly. Jack Black was ultimately an excellent casting choice to play Stine, the kids are a hoot, and if you can get past the ropey CGI (which ultimately kinda works because the movie never pretends to be anything more than B-movie kitsch), seeing classic series staples like Slappy the dummy come to life once again is pure nostalgia bait for an entire generation of 20-somethings. Plus, R.L. Stine's cameo, in which he plays a character called Mr. Black, is a thing of genius.