Summer is blockbuster season. Whether you've just watched the latest Spider-Man, Toy Story 5, or Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island, the conversation afterwards often begins with the same question:

"So... what did you think?"

After years of talking about films with friends, family and students, I've noticed that the same expressions come up again and again. Here are five that you'll hear regularly—and that you can easily start using yourself.

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1. "It was better than I expected."

This is one of the most common reactions you'll hear. Maybe the trailer didn't impress you, or perhaps your expectations were low.

"I wasn't planning to see it, but it was better than I expected."

Expectation = what you think will happen before you experience something.

You can use this expression for much more than films:
• The restaurant was better than I expected.
• The book was better than I expected.

2. "It really picked up."

Some films begin slowly before becoming much more exciting. When that happens, native speakers often say:

"It really picked up in the second half."

Pick up (phrasal verb) = to become more exciting, more interesting, or faster.

You'll hear it in lots of different situations:
• The meeting picked up after lunch.
• Business usually picks up in the summer.

3. "The villain stole the show."

This doesn't mean the villain literally stole anything!

Steal the show (idiom) = to be the most memorable or impressive person or part.

"Spider-Man was great, but I thought the villain stole the show."

You can use this expression outside films too:
• Her presentation stole the show.
• The comedian stole the show.

4. "I didn't see that coming."

One of my favourite movie expressions. When something surprises you, this is a very natural reaction.

Notice that native speakers often shorten the full sentence:
• Full form: "I didn't see that coming."
• Natural conversation: "Didn't see that coming."

Dropping the "I" is very common in informal spoken English when the meaning is obvious.

5. "It lived up to the hype."

Before a big film is released, everyone talks about it. That excitement is called hype. If the film is as good as people hoped, we say:
• Positive: "It lived up to the hype."
• Negative: "It didn't live up to the hype."

Live up to (phrasal verb) = to be as good as people expected.

You'll hear this expression for restaurants, holidays, books, concerts, and almost anything people are excited about:
• The holiday really lived up to the hype.
• The restaurant didn't live up to the hype.

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The next time someone asks, "What did you make of it?" try using one or two of these expressions.

You don't need unusual vocabulary to sound natural. Very often, it's these everyday chunks of English—the expressions native speakers use without thinking—that make conversations flow more naturally.