You’ve heard about this book or movie all month. Everyone loves it. It’s, like, the best ever. You go to the bookstore (or click download) or stand in line for your ticket. You’re so excited! And then that feeling washes over you. The feeling that maybe this really isn’t going to be as good as you thought.
Yeah, this isn’t that kind of list. This is the opposite of that kind of feeling. This is the list where we tell you which books and movies actually did live up to the hype. The book we just couldn’t stop reading or the movie we got so absorbed in that we forgot all about our popcorn.
Let us know the books and movies that left you with your expectations intact!
Film and Fiction That Deserved the Hype
The Martian by Andy Weir
This one had a lot of hype and it deserved every bit of it. I first heard about it from one of the Mythbusters talking it up, and knew I had to give it a go. So happy that I did. I absolutely love the foul-mouthed scientist and his fight to survive. – Lilyn
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
I’ve never been a huge fan of Dean Koontz. I think his stories are good but they never seem to have an actual ending. So when so many people said I should read Odd Thomas I was not very interested. It took me awhile to get to it. Once I did I loved it. I like Odd as a character and I like his stories. Some day I’ll finish the series. – GracieKat
Haunted – Chuck Palahniuk
In this book, 17 writers hole up in a theater for a writer’s retreat. This book disgusts, shocks, revolts, and terrorizes the reader. It’s even said that during a live reading, someone fainted as Palahnuik read “Guts”, the story of a man removing his large intestine. This isn’t for the casual horror fan. It totally lives up to the hype. – Nico
House of Robots by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
Me and the Monster heard oodles about this zany series and how fantastic it was. I had my doubts, but I picked up the first book for us, and we eagerly devoured every installment after that. For us it was the relationship between the brother and his little sister with a chronic illness that planted it in our hearts, I think. – Lilyn
House of Leaves – Mark Z. Danielewski
I heard about this book so much but it’s…daunting, to say the least. So it took me awhile. But when I finally bought it I decided to go whole hog and get the full-color pretty edition. While it’s not exactly an every year read for me it certainly lived up to its hype. I loved it. Don’t let its size intimidate you. – GracieKat
Boy’s Life by Robert R. McCammon
I did not want to read this book. I DREADED reading this book. I had heard so much about it. Everyone gushed about the feels and stuff. Jen (from Book Den) even offered to buy me a copy so I would read it. She didn’t have to – but that was the start of an awesome friendship right there! So about a month later, I ended up doing a buddy read with her, and I was… flabbergasted? shook? astounded? with how absolutely beautiful, moving, and magical this book was. And not too much longer after that, I bought my own copy! – Lilyn
The Girl with All the Gifts – Mark Carey
When people started talking about this book, I assumed it was an overrated, post apocalyptic, stereotypical zombie story. I was wrong. This story twists tension, compassion and human morals together into a story that will stick you. But skip the movie. The book is way better. – Nico
Battlefield Earth – L. Ron Hubbard
I was hesitant to read Hubbard. With so much controversy around his name, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, but I’m glad I have this book a chance. It lived up to ever positive review I’d read. Again, skip the movie. The book blows the movie away. – Nico
IT
I’m sure anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that I’m very harsh on adaptations and remakes. And IT was hyped like a hopped up helium balloon on acid. So, yeah, I was a bit skeptical of whether or not it could maintain that level. IT was definitely worth it. Most of the changes they made, made sense and even the ones that didn’t still felt like it was being true to the spirit of the novel and original movie. Let’s hope that I can say the same for the sequel. – GracieKat
Black Panther
Oh my god, the hype for this movie was EVERYWHERE. And I fully admit, I thought it was probably going to be at least 80% undeserved, but because it was a movie with nearly an all-minority cast, even if I was ‘done’ with MCU movies, I was going to go watch this one. Let my dollars do my talking. Luckily, I walked out of the movie absolutely ecstatic. They did such a good job in all aspects of this movie and every single bit of the hype was deserved. Even months later I still remember how much I loved some of the scenes from it! – Lilyn
We’ve told you ours, now tell us yours! What books or movies absolutely lived up to the hype that they got? Are you someone that falls for the hype frequently or – are you like some of us – and complete Doubting Thomases? Talk to us!
GracieKat was the first co-host of Sci-Fi & Scary, Lilyn’s partner-in-crime, and sub-head of the Coolthulhu Crew. She reviews horror books, movies, and games for the site. She also does a weekly Focus on the Frightful feature, and is the site list-maker. She is also in control of the Sci-Fi & Scary podcast which will relaunch soon.
Gracie is also a member of the Ladies of Horror Fiction crew.
Odd Thomas was a fantastic read and I loved the movie. Sadly, none of the following books in the series are quite as good as the first.
Battlefield Earth I read for the first time way back in 7th grade. It did lead me to read his Mission Earth decology but I was young enough that no lasting damage was done 🙂 However, over 25 years later I still love Battlefield. It’s just a great book.
For me, Thor: Ragnarok was a movie that exceeded the hype for me. It really impressed me.
I read up to Brother Odd but I couldn’t go on. I saw in a review that Odd strts toting guns and that seems so unlike him that I shied away. I did like the movie a lot, as well. Which surprised me because I didn’t think I would. I loved Anton Yelchin as Odd but I wasn’t crazy about the actress who did Stormy.
It think it was for one book he used a gun, and complained about it the whole book to the reader. Koontz did a good job of forcing him to carry it but still make it go against the grain.
I liked Yelchin too but honestly, I can’t remember what the actress who played Stormy looked like at all 🙂
That’s good, I think I will give the rest a go then, thank you! She had the Stormy ‘look’ like she’s described but the actress (in my opinion) seemed to be trying way too hard to be cutesy and charming.
They did a good job with Thor: Ragnarok. Much better than a lot of the MCU movies.
I had an ex who was obsessed with the movie Bend it Like Beckham. Obsessed. I never watched it with him, that rebellious streak. After we broke up, I watched it wanting to hate it. Sigh. Totally lived up to the hype.
Can’t say I’ve seen that one! I think the name always put me off.
Westworld
Book or TV series?