The Wrong Impression: 5 Movies That Turn Out Differently Than You Expected

Movie titles and posters are like book covers – they contribute to our first impressions of the stories themselves. But just as with books, those first impressions can often turn out to be wrong. These five films are prime examples.

Saturday Night Fever (1977, 6.8 on IMDb)

Available on: Paramount+, Hulu, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime

Released a year before Grease, this movie tells the story of Tony Manero, an ordinary blue-collar man who works his fingers to the bone during the week in order to enjoy the dancing at his favorite discotheque on Saturdays, may seem like just another dance movie. Even the star, John Travolta, makes that impression. But in fact, Saturday Night Fever is a drama about the clash of generations, happiness and crime.

Stardust (2007, 7.6 on IMDb)

Available on: Paramount+, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime

Matthew Vaughn's star-studded film has all the trappings of a stereotypical fantasy movie: the 'chosen' hero, magic, fantastic worlds. But it's not a cheesy fantasy movie. Following Yvaine, a fallen star hunted by witches and power-hungry princes, Stardust is an unforgettable and hilarious film with great performances from A-list actors like Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer.

First Blood (1982, 7.7 on IMDb)

Available on: Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime

Ironically, the first installment of the Rambo franchise is nothing like the movie series as a whole. Rambo films are notorious for being dumb macho action. But First Blood isn't like that, or at least it's more than that. It's a survival thriller about a Vietnam War veteran who, after a series of unfortunate events, must survive a brutal government-organized manhunt.

Singin' in the Rain (1952, 8.3 on IMDb)

Available on: Max, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime

One of the most famous black and white films, this is an absolute classic of the musical genre. But Singin' in the Rain is not a generic rom com with characters singing about everything and nothing. Centering on a group of silent film stars caught in the middle of the transition from silent movies to talking pictures, it turns out to be a movie about filmmaking itself and the history of cinema.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946, 8.6 on IMDb)

Available on: Apple TV+, Amazon Prime

Another black and white classic, this Christmas movie is unlike any other Christmas flick you've ever seen. Focusing on Goerge Bailey, a selfless man who gives up his dreams to help others and becomes suicidally unhappy, the movie tells the story of divine intervention when a guardian angel visits him on Christmas Eve to prevent him from making the fatal mistake.