15 Unexpectedly Awesome 2014 Movies Everyone Thought Would Suck

3. John Wick

Why It Should Have Sucked: Another limp Keanu Reeves action flick sticking to the revenge template, substituting the usual kidnapped or dead daughter or wife shtick for a dead dog. In fact, John Wick even appeared on this author's own article about movies which might score 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. Why It Was Awesome: As it turns out, Wick racked up a super-strong 84% on the website and near-tripled its budget at the box office, likely leading to the production of a sequel in the future. So, what makes John Wick work against the odds, then? Aside from the fact that this is Reeves' most lively performance in quite some time ("Yeah, I'm thinking I'm back" has instantly entered the One-Liner Hall of Fame), it does just enough to toy with the revenge movie template to feel like something different from another Death Wish retread. In addition, the action is superbly shot, lingering on long, steadily-filmed takes rather than quick cutting, allowing audiences to savour the carnage in "real time", and impressively, Reeves appears to do much of the stunt-work himself. Wick racks up a considerable body count in his quest for vengeance, and all of the set-pieces look like a million bucks. With fine supporting work from the likes of Willem Dafoe, Alfie Allen and John Leguizamo, John Wick is an uncommonly involving, thrilling action flick sure to reignite fanfare for its star.