15 Unexpectedly Awesome 2014 Movies Everyone Thought Would Suck

10. Penguins Of Madagascar

Why It Should Have Sucked: A spin-off movie starring the penguin characters from the Madagascar franchise? Fun though they are in small doses in that trilogy, can they really sustain a movie themselves? Why It Was Awesome: As it turns out, yes they can. Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private make for a frequently hilarious gang of heroes, and though the movie is mostly froth and little of actual substance, you know what? It totally works. It's snappily paced, short, visually dynamic, and boasts an excellent supporting cast (including Benedict Cumberbatch, John Malkovich, Ken Jeong, Peter Stormare and...Werner Herzog): what's not to like? Sure, spoiling the hilarious Cheezy Dibbles gag in the trailer is a shame, but there's still plenty to marvel at here nonetheless. As an added kicker, with a 68% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes, it's better-reviewed than the first two Madagascar films, and proof that sometimes spin-offs really can work.