2016 was a year in which I found myself having the expectation for many movies to be average: Marvel movies to be typical Marvel movies, "Rogue One" to be alright and every horror film to be about the same level of greatness as "Lights Out" (which is rather generic). However, I discovered a fair amount of films that took me by surprise. Hopefully you've seen some of these, but some might have slipped past you, so I hope I can convince you to seek them out to watch.

1. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"

I was a mild Harry Potter fan going into this film. I had yet to see all of the films (which I now have), and had no expectations of what this movie should be other than that it should be better than "Chamber of Secrets." However, I discovered that this film caters to mild Harry Potter fans. Not only does it have little to do with the primary story line of the Harry Potter universe, but it is the first to tackle specific social issues like repression. The film also featured some of the better "big action" I saw all year, and the use of CGI (which was heavy) looked great (it usually doesn't). I also found a sense of lightheartedness in this film which the later Harry Potter films did not have (but for good reason). Nevertheless, it provides the same sensation of wonder and lightheartedness that the early Harry Potter films seem to provide and was one of the best blockbuster releases of 2016.

2. "Don't Breathe"

This movie sold me since the first (and only) time I saw the trailer. (I didn't want to spoil any more of the film for myself.) Apparently later trailers spoiled a pivotal point in the film, so if you haven't seen any trailers for this, go get it and watch it. "Don't Breathe" may be my favorite horror film of 2016. It perfectly blends entertainment and art. In a nutshell, "Don't Breathe" is a mild ode to sleazy exploitation films of the past decades in a facade of incredibly well-constructed shots and flashy presentation.

3. "The Nice Guys"

This was another one that sold me since the first trailer. This was another film that provided what seems like a relic from the past, a buddy-cop movie. This film doesn't exploit the nostalgia it generates from being a buddy-cop film or its 1970s setting. It's able to mix modern film-making and storytelling with the classic genre while still commenting on current issues. I find it rather difficult to find a recent comedy movie that hits theaters that is truly enjoyable from start to finish. I should also mention the immense talent shown by the two lead roles, Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. "The Nice Guys" had me intrigued and laughing throughout the entire run of the movie, and I was impressed with its capability to make a classic buddy-cop movie work with a new twist.

4. "Deadpool"

Another comedy that I found insanely enjoyable from start to finish came in the form of the movie I was most skeptical about this year. I was massively weary of this film due to the merc with a mouth's last portrayal in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" going entirely south, but Marvel catered to the die-hard Deadpool fan I've been since about age 13. Ryan Reynolds and director Tim Miller seem to just get Deadpool. This film provides the perfect amount of fan service while also doing a great job of introducing the character (and world) of Deadpool to a large, mainstream audience. Not only is there no other superhero film like this one, but "Deadpool" provides satire of the Marvel films that I seemed to start tiring of, which is the most Deadpool thing to do. If you are part of the Marvel cinematic universe craze that seems to just keep going (or even if you aren't), you're doing yourself a huge disfavor by not experiencing this film.

5. "Green Room"

"Green Room" was on my radar for a bit, but it sadly didn't seem to hit theaters in a big way, and I can't understand why. This film is phenomenal. The story of this horror film is about a punk rock band facing off against a group of neo-nazis. If that plot isn't enough to sell you, then the gorgeous cinematography and awesome soundtrack should be. What really sells this film to me, other than Sir Patrick Stewart and Anton Yelchin's compelling performances, is the grittiness and realistic portrayal of how everything goes down. No extravagant or over-the-top deaths exist in "Green Room." Friends aren't afraid to leave friends behind to save their own skins. Deaths are quick and brutal even if it's just a gunshot. People get hurt and they stay hurt. This film is relentless, and I love it. I said "Don't Breathe" may be my favorite horror film of 2016 because "Green Room" gives it a run for its big-budget money.

Go watch it on Amazon Prime right now!

5. "Swiss Army Man"

This movie came out of nowhere for me. I got on Twitter one day and just saw a few people tweeting about "the farting corpse movie." That was enough to intrigue me, but once I saw that Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliff were the lead roles, I had to catch it. I'm sure glad I did, too. This movie is bizarre, understand that. Paul Dano's character, Hank, befriends a corpse, played by Daniel Radcliff, that can talk and fart. The first five minutes has Paul Dano riding Daniel Radcliff as a farting jet-ski. Once you get past the absurdity, though, "Swiss Army Man" provides commentary on a central core value that everyone should strive for. However, the movie gets more clever as it provides a twist on the value it is striving to educate the viewer on, which makes the film even funnier and more interesting. I never imagined that a movie about a journey through the wilderness with a farting corpse could be so funny and heartfelt as "Swiss Army Man," but directors Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert somehow did it.

Now, go watch them.