5 Seemingly Dull Movies That Turn Out to Be Surprisingly Good Halfway Through

If a movie is good, you watch it with excitement, whether it lasts two or three hours. But if a movie is bad, a few minutes are a burden. These five may seem like the latter, but they gradually turn out to be quite good.

Zoolander (2001, 6.5 on IMDb)

Available on: Paramount+, Amazon Prime

Ben Stiller's classic comedy follows Derek Zoollander, a professional male model in New York whose career begins to wither and whose life experiences a wave of tragedy when several of his best friends die in a 'freak gazoline fight accident'. Fortunately, Derek receives an offer to do one more runway for a legendary designer, which turns out to be a big trap for him.

Zoolander may seem like just another silly comedy, but there are moments so ridiculous you can't help but laugh – like the coal mine scene.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022, 7.0 on IMDb)

Available on: Peacock, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime

This action-comedy starring Nicolas Cage follows his fictional self through a mid-life crisis. His roles are becoming increasingly boring. His ex-wife and daughter are becoming increasingly estranged. It's time for a change, but first he has to take one last lucrative gig. A Spanish billionaire hires Cage to host his birthday party in Mallorca. And what seems like a boring gig suddenly becomes fraught with danger when certain secrets are revealed.

The movie may seem monotonous, but the moment Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal's characters meet, the chemistry is irresistible.

Real Steel (2011, 7.1 on IMDb)

Available on: Apple TV+, Amazon Prime

In this sci-fi sports drama, Hugh Jackman stars as Charlie Kenton, a former boxer who had to learn to train robots when they replaced humans in the sport. Charlie dreams of reaching the pinnacle of success with the help of a somewhat outdated but very capable robot he has found, but after the death of his ex-girlfriend, he also must take care of their eleven-year-old son, with whom he has never had any contact.

The robot boxing premise may sound boring, but once the family drama kicks in, Real Steel becomes an interesting watch.

Training Day (2001, 7.7 on IMDb)

Available on: Tubi TV, Amazon Prime

The crime thriller centers on Ethan Hawke's Jake Hoyt, an LAPD narcotics officer on his way to becoming a detective. For his evaluation, Jake is paired with Detective Alonzo Harris for a day. The two quickly prove to be too different to work together, as Jake doesn't accept Alonzo's near criminal style of work and gets into more trouble as the day goes on.

It may seem like a corny dirty cops movie, but the drama of Jake and Alonzo's relationship makes up for it.

District 9 (2009, 7.9 on IMDb)

Available on: Sling TV, Amazon Prime

Set in South Africa in the early 2000s, this sci-fi action tells the story of an alien species that found shelter on Earth but was placed in an internment camp called District 9. As the locals have grown resentful of the outsiders over the years, the government orders the aliens to be relocated. But things go wrong.

The story may be a bit cheesy and convoluted, but when the central alien family takes the stage and earns your sympathy, District 9 shows its beauty.