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"I Refused To Watch It On Principle": 25 Movies And TV Shows People Thought They’d Hate, But Ended Up Really, Really Loving

2026-09-27 06:01
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"I was expecting a generic military movie with a bit of sci-fi that glorifies the army. Instead, I got a movie with a hunting alien killing soldiers left and right."View Entire Post ›

    “I Refused To Watch It On Principle”: 25 Movies And TV Shows People Thought They’d Hate, But Ended Up Really, Really Loving

    “I was expecting a generic military movie with a bit of sci-fi that glorifies the army. Instead, I got a movie with a hunting alien killing soldiers left and right.”

    Sometimes, you first look at a movie or TV show and believe it is beneath your refined tastes, so you swear you'll never watch it. But then people give a movie or show a chance, and now they can’t get enough of it.

    Two people sit on a couch watching TV, one with a bowl of snacks. The room has eclectic decor with art and shelves in the background

    Reddit user @Famous_Aspect_9374 asked people in this Reddit thread to share the movies and TV shows they thought they’d hate but ended up loving, and there were plenty of great recs.

    1. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)."

    Spider-Man in costume stands on a rooftop with a cityscape view in the background

    2. "Bluey."

    Bluey, Bingo, and Chili stand by a car. Bandit checks under the hood while others watch, with various tools nearby

    3. "Ted Lasso. I was REALLY unsure about it. I remembered the commercials where he was introduced, and that made me worry that the show would end up being like 'Cavemen' — a moderately cute commercial character getting exposed as just that. It is one of my top five, all-time sitcoms."

    A person with a mustache wearing a sporty jacket opens a door with a smile, holding a small box

    4. "Andor. I was burnt out from Star Wars in general, and I didn't like Rogue One, so I had no interest in Andor as a character, but as we all know, the show is fantastic."

    A person in a sci-fi setting, wearing a futuristic outfit with an intense expression, sits in a high-tech cockpit

    5. "Breaking Bad."

    A man in glasses and a patterned sweater holds his hands up in a tense scene with a flame in the foreground

    6. "Schitt’s Creek. I refused to watch it on principle for the longest time, but immensely enjoyed it when I finally broke down and started it."

    Five people stand outdoors, dressed in various casual and stylish outfits

    7. "Severance. I was confused for far too many episodes, but it’s now one of my all-time favorite shows."

    A person with straight hair wearing a suit stands indoors with a neutral expression, in a well-lit environment

    8. "Bob's Burgers. I had no interest for years, but after watching the first episode, I was hooked."

    Animated family looks at a large structure made of sticks in their living room, displaying surprise and curiosity

    9. "The Queen’s Gambit."

    Person with focused expression, styled hair, wearing a simple outfit. Background is blurred, emphasizing the intense facial expression

    10. "Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)."

    Two people sitting on a couch, one in a floral dress and the other in a patterned robe, conversing and smiling

    11. "Game of Thrones. Started watching it to pacify the girlfriend, and was watching it without her by Season 2.”

    A person with long, light hair and a thoughtful expression stands indoors, with candlelight softly illuminating the background

    12. "One Piece. I was an avid hater for years until I finally gave it a real try."

    Anime character in a straw hat and sleeveless vest smiles with hands on hips against a blue sky

    13. "Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). I thought the idea of a talking raccoon was really stupid and would be cringy. Now, I freaking love all the Guardians movies and the Christmas special. And I love Rocket.” "

    A person looks surprised in a futuristic setting with holographic displays showing text "Obscene Gesture Alert!"

    14. "The Lego Movie (2014)."

    Smiling LEGO figure wearing a construction outfit with flames in the background, suggesting an action-packed scene

    15. "New Girl. I thought it was going to be a show about a manic pixie dream girl living with three guys who lusted after her, because that was the way the trailers made it look. It was really a show about how men and women are equally neurotic but about completely different things, and I found it really charming when I finally watched it."

    Person with long dark hair and bangs sits indoors, looking forward with a thoughtful expression. Background features shelves and decor

    16. "The Housemaid (2025). I thought it was going to be a rip-off of the Korean film, but it was so good"

    Two women stand side-by-side indoors. One wears glasses and a sweater vest; the other wears a knit sweater with pearl accessories

    17. "The Office. I dragged my feet on watching it for years, then binged nine seasons in like two weeks and weirdly felt homesick when it ended."

    Three office workers at a table, each on a phone call, appear focused and serious. A notepad and pen are on the table

    18. "Supernatural."

    Two men stand in a dimly lit space, looking intently forward. Both wear casual jackets

    19. "War Machine (2026). I was expecting a generic military movie with a bit of sci-fi that glorifies the army. Instead, I got a movie with a hunting alien killing soldiers left and right. It was pretty entertaining."

    Man in military uniform looks determined in a misty, wooded area with a tipped-over vehicle in the background

    20. "Silo. The previews made it look cheesy and stupid, but it's amazing!!"

    A person with a focused expression, wearing a sleeveless top, stands in front of an orange-lit, industrial background

    21. "Galaxy Quest (1999). I thought they were making fun of science fiction fans, but it was very much a loving tribute."

    Actors in sci-fi costumes look surprised, with intense expressions, in a movie scene set on a spaceship

    22. "The Sheep Detectives (2026). Not necessarily hate; I just didn't think I'd enjoy it. But I bloody loved it."

    Three sheep with woolly coats curiously peer down at the camera against a backdrop of a blue sky with clouds

    23. "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It just seemed like another cringeworthy American comedy to me, but boy, was I wrong. I loved it."

    Group of people sitting in chairs during an event; one person gestures expressively while others look on attentively

    24. "Deadpool (2016). I had seen a bunch of Marvel movies, but this one didn’t seem interesting for some reason. Now, it's one of my favorites."

    Character in red and black suit with a mask, equipped with weapons, appears contemplative against a cloudy sky

    25. And finally, "Friends. I never watched it when it was on TV and wasn't ever planning to, until my wife showed it to me on DVD."

    Six people sit around a table playing cards in a cozy room, concentrating on the game

    I’m really glad these TV shows and movies ended up proving these initial haters wrong, because they truly are peak entertainment. How about you? Are there any movies and TV shows you thought you wouldn’t stand, but ended up loving? Please share in the comments or in the anonymous form below!

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