Top 10 Best Troma Movies

In this horror/comedy, a family of hillbillies uses a toxic waste barrel to distill moonshine, and, as a result, they create a green substance that turns them, and their entire community, into zombies. Meanwhile, city slickers camping nearby are unaware of the zombie outbreak that awaits them. Portraying country folk as lazy, stupid, and illiterate, this film plays on every redneck stereotype in the book. The performances don’t come off as flat-out mean-spirited, however. Shot entirely on videotape with a shoestring budget, “Redneck Zombies” is full of overacting, funny dialogue, and plenty of gore, ultimately making for some good old cheesy fun and a typical Troma joint.

Directed by Charles Kaufman, Lloyd Kaufman’s brother, this exploitation film begins with three friends who met in college reuniting for their yearly camping trip. In the middle of the remote wilderness, the women are kidnapped and held captive by two hicks who live with their controlling, sadistic mother. Upon its release, the film was hated by critics – most notably Roger Ebert – for being violent and disturbing, but that’s usually a badge of honor for a Troma movie. Regarded as a horror classic, “Mother’s Day” was so influential (to some); it was remade in 2010 by “Saw II” director Darren Lynn Bousman. Just don’t get it mixed up with the Garry Marshall movie of the same name.

Following an airplane crash on a desert island, a group of survivors find themselves at odds with a terrorist faction plotting to destroy America. Mixed with wacky slapstick, the film was meant to be ambitious satire on the Reagan era’s infatuation with war, as well as a parody of “Rambo” and other action flicks that came out of the late ‘80s – and it succeeded. With a budget of three million dollars, it’s the most expensive of any Troma movie, which comes through in its production value. Known as “1000 Ways to Die” in the U.S., “Troma’s War” was a flop at the box office, but is still a popular entry among fans.

This film is centered on a fried chicken restaurant, named the American Chicken Bunker, which opens up in small town New Jersey. Unfortunately for its patrons, the restaurant is built on top of an Indian burial ground, prompting an attack from defiled spirits who take the form of chicken zombies. A satirical look at the fast food industry, “Poultrygeist” is possibly the most disgusting film ever put out by Troma. Released a few years after 9/11, the movie also pokes fun at Islamic Extremists with its character, Hummus, a devout headdress-wearing Muslim who works at the restaurant. Hey, we never said it was politically correct…

While the first two “Toxic Avenger” sequels were all right, the fourth film in the franchise was a return to form in all its disturbing glory. In this sequel, The Toxic Avenger – Tromaville, New Jersey’s favorite superhero – winds up in another dimension, in a mirrored reality version of his home, aptly named Amortville. When The Toxic Avenger returns from the alternate dimension, he must face his evil double, The Noxious Offender, who’d been running amok in Toxie’s absence. Tackling controversial subjects, such as the Columbine massacre and abortion with an “awe shucks” attitude, “Citizen Toxie” isn’t for the faint of heart. However, it is full of scattershot gags and cameos from various celebrities.

Co-written by “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn, this film is a modernized update of the classic Shakespeare tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet” – go figure, eh? However, you don’t have to be a fan of Shakespeare to enjoy the movie, as it takes certain liberties not found in the original play, including the addition of incest and a completely different ending. “Tromeo and Juliet” is set in New York, where the families of two ex-partners in the adult film business are engaged in a heated rivalry. Caught in the middle of the rivalry are of course Tromeo and Juliet, whose relationship is complicated by Juliet’s father. Marking his first appearance in a Troma movie, Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead serves as the narrator.

“South Park” co-creator Trey Parker wrote, directed, and starred in this musical while he was still a film student at the University of Colorado – and his brand of twisted humor is right at home in a Troma flick. “Cannibal!” is loosely based on the real life story of Alfred Packer, a settler who was put on trial for cannibalism after five of his companions died during a gold expedition. Lighthearted in tone, the film is full of upbeat songs, yet still contains the same type of dark humor that Parker would later use in “South Park.” Speaking of which, “South Park” co-creator Matt Stone also plays a small supporting role as one of the ill-fated companions.

Following the success of the “Toxic Avenger,” Lloyd Kaufman decided to make another horror movie about the consequences of nuclear power. In this film, chemical side effects from a nuclear plant located next to Tromaville High School turn the school’s honor students into a gang of radioactive drug dealers called “The Cretins.” When Warren and Chrissy smoke nuclear tainted marijuana grown by “The Cretins,” Warren develops mutant powers, and Chrissy gives birth to a horrible monster. Excellent practical effects and an effective climax help make “Nuke ‘Em High” one of the best movies Troma Entertainment ever produced – disturbing as it may be.

Loosely adapted from Lloyd Kaufman and James Gunn’s book “All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I learned from the Toxic Avenger,” this slasher flick takes place – appropriately – on the set of an out-of-control Troma production. Making matters worse, a serial killer is stalking the film crew and murdering them one by one. “Terror Firmer” contains some of the funniest gags and most outrageous scenes ever found in a Troma movie, and one of the film’s highlights is Kaufman playing a blind, eccentric director. Towards the end of the film, there’s also a PSA starring Matt Stone and Trey Parker about hermaphrodites. You know, typical slasher movie stuff.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- “Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.” (1990)
- “Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1” (2013)

In this cult classic, a 98-pound weakling janitor named Melvin falls into a vat of toxic waste and becomes the Toxic Avenger, the “First Superhero from New Jersey.” Gaining superhuman strength from his transformation, the Toxic Avenger decides to use his newfound powers to rid his hometown, Tromaville, of all the forces that corrupt it. Everything about this film is cartoonish and hyperbolic, from the sociopathic villains to the gruesome death scenes. With three sequels, an animated series, and a rumored PG-13 remake in the works, this film created a franchise and helped make Troma into what it is today. Campy? Yes. Gruesome? You betcha. A cult classic? No doubt.

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