Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a great example of a movie that follows the established lighthearted Marvel approach until it becomes something dark and frightening, flirting with horror elements.
It's becoming popular adding a slightly dark turn in happy-go-lucky stories to surprise viewers and also add depth to the narrative. Sometimes the change to something tragic takes place gradually, and the Harry Potter franchise is a great example; it starts with a lightsome fantasy story until it becomes a dangerous battle against evil forces in the last movies. According to Ranker, these are 10 great standalone lighthearted movies that all of sudden get dark.
Note: Due to the nature of Ranker's voting, these results may change. At the time of publication, this list is correct.
Click (2006)
At first, Click seems to be just another Adam Sandler slapstick comedy as he plays a workaholic architect, Michael, who finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind different parts of his life. This, naturally, delivers hilarious moments as he goes over the many possibilities the remote offers.
However, the movie suddenly turns into a depressing story after the remote starts to malfunction and uncontrollably skip important moments of Michael's life. He misses his kids growing up and loses his wife. Ultimately, he ends up obese and alone on the brink of death. He's given a second chance at the end, but the movie's dark turn sticks in the viewer's mind.
Swing Kids (2018)
Swing Kids establishes a Korean War setup from the very beginning but seemingly aims at something much more happily energetic and lively. Set in the Geoje prison camp, the film starts off as a comedy musical and follows a North Korean soldier who falls in love with tap dancing and his dance team named "Swing Kids".
Soon their dreams about dancing is put in danger when viewers are reminded of what the movie is really about, addressing the horrors of war as the characters face the brutality of the conflict. It's an unflinching look and turn that will leave viewers feeling off-balance as a result.
Downsizing (2017)
Downsizing offers a very interesting premise: in the near future people can shrink their bodies to a five-inch height, in order to slow global warming effects and address overpopulation issues. Paul and his wife decide to undergo the procedure with the hope that it will allow them to live in luxury and splendor.
What starts as a straightforward comedy quickly gives space to drama as soon as Paul finds himself alone among the community of shrunken humans and finds out that the procedure isn't really what it seems. The film, ultimately, exposes matters of class discrimination and an exploration of immigrants, as well as portraying a decaying American dream.
Sorry To Bother You (2018)
Sorry To Bother You is a perfect example of a movie in that viewers must go blind to fully enjoy the story's insanity. It starts off as a surreal corporate satire set in an alternate business world where Cassius Green discovers the secret to professional success, diving deeply into a new workplace environment that withholds a dark secret.
From then on, the social commentary lingers but is delivered in a much more preposterous approach, as the movie gets weirdly comfortable in its disturbing absurdity, even addressing body horror elements and a dehumanizing reality. Sorry To Bother You ends up being a hilarious, yet terrifying anti-capitalist satire.
Colossal (2016)
Colossal takes a turn in quite a few genres; it can be a monster movie, a Rom-Com, a drama, and more. With Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis in the roles of Oscar and Gloria, the movie initially gives hints that a romance will develop between the two characters until they find out about their connection with a giant creature threatening Seoul.
With such a dense setup the movie could take any direction, and it opts for a surprisingly dark turn as Oscar shows his true self as a toxic, controlling person. Leaving, Gloria desperately trying to escape his manipulative nature, which reflects some terrible real-life relationships.
He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (2002)
He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not feels like two movies in one, starting with a promising rom-com setup before switching mid-way to an uneasy stalker thriller. The film begins with a ionate romance between a young art student, Angélique, and a married doctor told from the woman's perspective, as she hopes that he will leave his wife for her.
When the film finally switches to the guy's perspective, it's clear that things are not what they seemed. It reveals that Angélique isn't at all a reliable narrator and might turn out to be a dangerous person. For fans of You, the film will definitely feel like a gender-swapped version with Angélique as Joe Goldberg.
The World's End (2013)
The World's End had the perfect setup for a goody sci-fi comedy as five friends reunite in an attempt to complete a pub crawl they failed 20 years earlier, only to find out about a creepy alien invasion taking over their small town.
All of a sudden, The World's End gives way to some of the scariest scenes in Edgar Wright's movies, while also addressing serious themes like alcoholism, depression, and suicide. All of that is dealt with smart hints of dark humor which makes the movie stick the landing as a comedy, but the lighthearted approach from the beginning fades away almost completely.
Something Wild (1986)
Something Wild introduces the unconventional romance between the conservative "yuppie" Charlie and the offhand Audrey as they begin to fall in love with each other. They mutually change to something better, and when everything seems to be perfect Audrey's dangerous ex-husband shows up to ruin the couple's happiness.
That's when things start to escalate into a terrifying thriller and the charming couple is no longer safe. The lighthearted romance story then gives place to a violent struggle for survival.
Life is Beautiful (1997)
This Oscar-winning movie initially follows the happy life of a Jewish waiter and a teacher as they marry and raise their charming son. Their joyful life comes to an abrupt halt when WWII begins, and the entire family ends up in a concentration camp.
Even after this dark turn, the movie tries its best to balance the horror of the Holocaust with the love that keeps the family together, as the father tries his best to convince his son how that whole nightmare is a game that will soon end. The ending is absolutely heartbreaking, making Life is Beautiful one of the saddest comedies of all time.
Miracle Mile (1988)
Miracle Mile is a beautiful story about a man who finally finds the love of his life. Then, he finds out that a nuclear war has started and missiles are about to hit the city in a few minutes.
Harry and Julie meet and click instantly, but their love is interrupted by the actual apocalypse. Harry manages to safely cross the chaos that surrounds him in order to protect the girl he loves. The movie quickly becomes a straight-up apocalyptic thriller with no hopes of a happy ending, but viewers will cheer for the couple until the final moments.
