My Big Fat Greek Wedding

WHY IT SHOULDN'T HAVE WORKED An unknown cast; a too-simple, too-silly premise; a small, indie release. Here was a true ugly duckling.

WHY IT DID Star/writer Nia Vardalos had charm to spare, spurring the movie (which bowed in April but didn't go wide until August) to stay in theaters for a year. It became the biggest word-of-mouth hit of all time — and, at $241 million, the top romantic comedy.

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