before the launch of the Wii.A book, film, show, or what-have-you is just getting started. It may be purely original (well, as original as can be), unaffiliated with any previous book, movie or TV show, or if it is an adaptation, the work is relatively obscure. Because of its status, it has little hope of standing out among the established goldmines of franchises. Critics mock it. The public isn't expecting it. It gets even worse if things go awry on its production. Then, when released, it pulls a megaprofit stunt and becomes an instant classic. Contrast with Vindicated by History, where a work initially fails but then gradually builds a very high reputation.
Subtrope of Sleeper Hit; in this case, the work has to be actively derided before release, not just ignored. Compare It Will Never Catch On, for when characters in a work mock something that would eventually be successful, usually for humorous Dramatic Irony. See also Magnum Opus Dissonance when it's the creator who doesn't expect the work to succeed. It can also be combined with Hollywood Hype Machine, if the contrast between expectations and popularity is too great, and some of the audience turns to the initial fears as still meaningful.
Examples:
- Comic Books
- Disney
- Films — Animation
- Films — Live-Action
- Literature
- Live-Action TV
- Music
- Video Games
- Western Animation
- Other Media
- Real Life
