Top 30 Movies So Bad They're Good

There’s no denying that the plotlines of the “Fast and Furious” franchise have gone beyond the pale in terms of ridiculousness. That said, the massive box office returns prove that the acting and execution continue to sit well with fans. This is despite the film’s plot centering around our heroes saving the world from a villainous John Cena. This is actually an inspired bit of casting, since the parallels between the “Fast and Furious” saga and professional wrestling’s high drama are strong. “F9” ultimately delivers all of the CGI-enhanced stunts and high-octane action that followers have come to expect.

The folks over at Troma Entertainment have been developing and distributing exploitation entertainment for decades now, but it’s “The Toxic Avenger” that helped put the company on the map back in 1984. The film followed in the footsteps of 1980’s “Mother’s Day” in that it allowed Troma to transition from its focus on sex comedies to a blend of B-movie tropes that proved to be a hit with audiences. Toxie would become the company’s mascot, while “The Toxic Avenger” spawned a franchise that would include a more kid-friendly animated series titled “Toxic Crusaders.” The OG is where it’s at, however, a gratuitously gross and over-the-top celebration that turned bad taste into a (profitable) art form.

Sometimes, it takes a “so bad it’s good” kind of audience to lend older films a new lease on life. “Miami Connection” came and went back during its original 1987 run. It wasn’t until 2012 when a new restoration of the film earned it a cult following that continues today. Make no mistake: “Miami Connection” is totally ridiculous, but not without some merit. The fight choreography is good whenever writer, director, producer, and lead actor Y.K. Kim is on screen. The acting, however, ranges from poor to…well, did we mention the fighting is pretty good? There’s also a number of fantastic musical set pieces featuring the fictional band, Dragon Sound. These alone make “Miami Connection” worth investigating with your friends.

The stories behind the development and production of “Vampire’s Kiss” all seem so strange, chaotic, and beyond belief. Yet, we have the actual 1988 film as evidence that this thing exists, a film that was intended as a comedy, but actually contains some fairly troubling themes. The word “unhinged” doesn’t even begin to describe Nicolas Cage’s performance here as an extremely unlikable protagonist who believes himself to be a vampire. The actor bugs his eyes, jumps around like a lunatic and even eats live cockroaches! “Vampire’s Kiss” mulls over the consequences of obsession, self-loathing and sexual fulfillment (or a lack thereof) with an approach that’s singularly mad, yet impossible to forget.

Gene Simmons made a number of memorable film appearances throughout the 1980s, from “Runaway” in 1984 to this wacky action feature co-starring John Stamos! Simmons leans heavily into camp when it comes to his portrayal of genderqueer gang leader Velvet Von Ragnar. The performance never comes across as mean-spirited, however, instead showcasing how much fun the KISS man is having playing such a colorful psychopath. Meanwhile Stamos and his co-star Vanity bring their good looks and charm to a picture that’s part spy thriller, part action flick and ALL ‘80s cheese. Heck, James Bond himself, George Lazenby, even shows up for a part!

The writer, director, and producer of this movie, Rod Amateau, primarily worked in the adventure and sex comedy genres. His creative work tended to be lowbrow and low-hanging, which makes his last theatrical film, “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” something of a fitting coda. This is a cash-in grotesquery that’s ostensibly trying to appeal to kids. However, the gross-out humor and themes at play ultimately keep it from achieving this goal. Yet, we admit to having a perverse appreciation for this ‘80s time capsule, if only for the cool pop soundtrack and the imaginative animatronic suits. We’ll say it: if enjoying “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” is wrong, then we don’t want to be right.

This Yuletide entry from 1964 actually isn’t the first time good old Saint Nick found himself facing a formidable opponent to his good cheer. “Santa Claus” from 1959 was a Mexican film that actually saw Santa go up against the Devil, of all things. Meanwhile, “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” takes the Christmas icon up into space to save the day against villainous aliens out to ruin the holiday. This is campy ‘60s sci-fi to the max, and pretty fun to watch – if you’re in the right state of mind. The phrase “it was a different time” just about covers it when it comes to this movie, a hokey romp that’s definitely “so bad it’s good.”

A film that hangs on the premise of sentient produce attempting to take over the world was never going to take itself too seriously. But we think “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” still meets our criteria thanks to its execution. The performers react to the troublesome tomatoes with exactly the right amount of shock and awe. “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” knows that there’s a fine line between clever and stupid, and it’s thanks to this that the film is able to be good, bad, and awesome…usually all at the same time.

This is the sort of film that exemplifies the cheesy sci-fi B-movies of the 1950s. This was an age of irradiated monsters and interstellar menaces, all seeking out Earth’s destruction. A world of square-jawed heroes and curvaceous damsels-in-distress. It’s the titular antagonist, “Ro-Man” that’s ultimately the most interesting thing about “Robot Monster,” particularly when it comes to his deliberately stunted manner of speech. Oh, he’s also wearing a hairy ape suit with a spaceman helmet on top, complete with antenna! “Robot Monster” is the ultimate campy drive-in movie, perfect for snuggling up with your sweetheart and a huge bucket of popcorn.

This is one of those otherwise obscure ‘50s drive-in flicks that’s somehow entered the cultural consciousness. This is partly thanks to the outstanding poster art that accompanied the feature, one that immediately lets the audience know what they’re in for up on the screen. “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” also contains some true emotional pathos in its plot, since Nancy already begins the film with a set of problems, prior to her growth spurt. She’s being cheated on and gaslighted by her cad of a husband, so when Nancy finally rises to the occasion and gets her revenge, we’re rooting hard, all the way.

How do you kill a franchise with just one movie? The creative team of “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation” could probably give you a step by step guide. After the 1995 “Mortal Kombat” film was a hit, a sequel was almost certainly a given. But “Annihilation” only made a slight profit against its thirty-million-dollar budget. And it’s not hard to see why. Multiple members of the main cast were recast without warning, the acting is over the top and the special effects are awful. While those issues doomed the movie’s theatrical release, fans grew to love the shoddy visuals during the fight scenes and the hokey dialogue. This campy fighting tournament has attracted many spectators by embracing how ridiculous it is.

Any campy movie that fully commits to its ridiculous nature deserves applause. This is one of the reasons why “Spice World” hits all the right notes for fans. On the surface, the movie follows the popular girl group in the days leading up to a big concert gig. However, the film also takes numerous detours into plots that range from helping a pregnant friend deliver a baby to meeting aliens. And the Spice Girls also lean on the fourth wall before breaking it completely in the credits. Thanks to the baffling plot, famous film critic Roger Ebert said “Spice World” was one of the biggest cinematic disasters of 1998. But fans of this silly movie celebrate the quirky story as an absurd masterpiece.

Younger Marvel fans have no idea how good they have it today. Just a few decades ago, campy superhero movies like 1990’s “Captain America” were the best ones around. This particular big screen adaptation was absolutely overstuffed with plot. In just one film, Steve becomes Captain America, gets frozen in ice, and wakes up years later to fight Red Skull. He also steals cars. While the movie definitely feels rushed, it has a few big merits. Red Skull is intimidating, actor Matt Salinger looks great as Captain America, and we can’t help but laugh at the choppy editing used for the action scenes. It certainly doesn’t measure up to most MCU tales. However, it’s still worthy of a watch.

Warwick Davis’ Leprechaun character had already been to Vegas and Outer Space by the time this spin-off sequel was released back in 2003. So, it would’ve been easy to write-off “Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha Hood” as yet another direct-to-video cash in for the franchise. And it is. However, we just can’t get enough of that Davis charisma. He carries a lot of the movie with his talent for giving us some groan-inducing puns and plenty of self-aware schlock. Although “Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha Hood” certainly isn’t as good as the OG film, it still proved that fans will always line up to see what Warwick Davis brings to the table.

Honestly, how could we NOT include this legendary slice of seventies lunacy for all to see and celebrate? There’s just so much to love about how ill-conceived the “Star Wars Holiday Special” is. One of the biggest problems that emerges quickly revolves around Chewbacca and the rest of the wookies. Since none of their vocals or expressions come with subtitles, the audience has to guess together what’s being said in their inexplicably long scenes. Viewers also get a sensual song with Diahann Carroll, a kind of awesome song with Bea Arthur, and an animated Boba Fett doing excellent stuff. The inexplicable creative choices add up to a strangely brilliant product. It’s the perfect holiday present that no one ever asked for.

The nineties actually had plenty of awesome, direct-to-video action junk that works really well with a crowd. One of the sharpest campy films of the time was unquestionably “Samurai Cop.” Title character Joe Marshall is brought in to use his specific set of sword skills to stop a criminal organization known as Katana. His adventures are full of infamous fanservice and over-the-top violence. Since voices were missing from the original film, director Amir Shervan had to go back and do some terrible dubbing. And “Samurai Cop” Joe Marshall can also be spotted wearing a wig in certain scenes because he cut his hair before reshoots were finished. While the production was troubled, the movie has no problem with getting audiences to check it out today.

While many Stephen King film adaptations are certified horror classics, the writer directed a much less well received adaptation of one of his own stories. In “Maximum Overdrive,” average citizens are sent scrambling when a comet gives inanimate machines the ability to do what they want. What sounded like a chilling story failed to spook up anything higher than a 15% on Rotten Tomatoes. While the movie fails to scare, it does succeed at making us laugh at green goblin trucks and how evil soda machines can be. It also helps that it features performances from actors who are trying to do the best with the material they have. “Maximum Overdrive” is a bumpy ride that fans of cheesy movies should definitely take.

Ripoff films are nothing new. However, “Mac and Me” is such a blatant imitation of a much better film that it deserves its cult status. Just like “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” this ripoff largely centers around an alien bonding with a boy while trying to navigate Earth. While both movies have humor and drama, “Mac and Me”’s tone is a lot more uneven. The ripoff also differs from “E.T.” by including an absolutely shameless McDonald’s product placement scene. Against all odds, “Mac and Me” has endured as an awful sci-fi cinematic classic. Paul Rudd also leans on the film for a funny running interview gag. Any movie that gets this much attention from both Ant-Man himself and McDonald’s can’t be all bad.

Speaking of obvious ripoffs, try to guess what Hitchock movie “Birdemic: Shock and Terror” is trying to imitate. The 2010 film tries to make winged creatures threatening onscreen once more. But “Birdemic'' doesn't land close to making the animals menacing. Throughout the movie, the special effects for the birds are laughably bad. Even if the winged creatures looked good, the pitiful dialogue and bizarre acting choices would still get in the way. The film does deserve a little credit for its attempts to promote an environmental message. And the sight of heroes fighting fake birds with real hangers never fails to get a huge laugh. While Hitchcock probably wouldn’t have given “Birdemic” a second glance, adoring fans will never stop rewatching it.

It may shock fans of this cult classic to learn that “Reefer Madness” was actually intended for a serious purpose. Originally, a church group genuinely wanted to address what they perceived as problems with cannabis use with a grounded movie. But when producer Dwain Esper got his hands on the footage, he decided to add ridiculous scenes to this morality tale. The finished product has overacting, unrealistic situations and doesn’t exactly feel like it’s based in fact. It honestly feels more like a parody of a propaganda film than a movie with an earnest message. But anyone who loves this film is probably thankful it went from a serious product to a ridiculous tale about cannabis use.

Putting a beloved action star of the ‘90s into an adaptation of a popular video game franchise seemed like a surefire recipe for greatness. While “Street Fighter” was a financial success, it wasn’t exactly a critical masterpiece. The movie comes off as a big, dumb, and overblown action epic that doesn’t know the meaning of the word “subtle.” Jean-Claude Van Damme presents the normally 100 percent American Colonel Guile with an outrageous Belgian accent with no shame. Meanwhile, Raul Julia hams it up as the ultra-evil General M. Bison. Ultimately his commitment to having a good time amongst the cheesy makeup and dialogue helps elevate “Street Fighter.” The film, which is dedicated to his memory, is all the better because of his work.

Much was made at the time of “The Happening”’s original 2008 release about it being the first R-rated film from writer/director M. Night Shyamalan. And, the story of some unknown biological agent causing an outbreak of involuntary self-destruction was certainly intriguing. However, the execution of said premise, and questionable directing choices, resulted in “The Happening” becoming one of the biggest duds of the 2000s. Both Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel looked lost in a story where ordinary plants are the big bads. Their line delivery and dialogue is consistently bizarre in a plot full of nonsensical turns and weird characters. But the biggest twist of the lackluster “The Happening” is that it’s actually a lot of fun to watch.

Describing the plot of this infamous video game adaptation in a coherent manner would take hours. The movie turned a simple premise about a plumber trying to rescue a princess into a tale that incorporates meteorites, de-evolution rays, and alternate dimensions. Instead of trying to understand the madness, it’s best to just enjoy the film with a simply astonishing 28% on Rotten Tomatoes. Viewers of this film will see a legendary villainous turn from Dennis Hopper as President Koopa. At the same time, Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo do everything in their power to make their lines sound convincing. While their efforts may have not earned the film coins at the box office, it’s grown into a nostalgic piece of video game movie history.

“Manos: The Hands of Fate'' is an excellent example of an obscure horror picture that received a new lease on life thanks to its spotlight on “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” That show’s riffing helped celebrate the film's herky-jerky editing, clumsy dubbing, and absolutely nonsensical plot. While the movie tale about a family escaping a cult is interesting, the story of this movie’s production might be more fascinating. Lead actor/director Harold P. Warren famously bet he could easily make a horror flick. Although his dismal budget didn’t allow proper lighting or decent cameras, he did technically win the bet. Movie fans and “Mystery Science Theater 3000” are still celebrating Warren’s commitment to proving doubters wrong today.

Did you know that the infamous bees scene from the 2006 “Wicker Man” remake doesn’t appear in the original movie? Yup, this oft-cited example of Nicolas Cage going, well, FULL Nicolas Cage, only appears in an alternate cut. But the film doesn’t need that iconic scene to be a “so bad it’s good” masterpiece. The tale centers around a man who tries to find his missing daughter on a mysterious island. During his quest, he has to wear a bear suit, throw a few punches, and scream about a burned doll. Shockingly, these antics weren’t well received by critics in the slightest. But a 15% Rotten Tomatoes score doesn’t do justice to how quotable and entertaining 2006’s “The Wicker Man” can be.

After appearing in 1990’s “Troll 2,” actor Michael Stephenson directed a documentary about his experience called “Best Worst Movie.” Although the film certainly isn’t the most terrible movie out there, its legacy as a bizarre movie continues to grow amongst fans of weird cinema. “Troll 2” was an “in-name-only” sequel to the original “Troll” from 1986. Not only does the follow-up have goblins instead of trolls, but it’s also full of unforgettable performances and line deliveries. Even a weird dinner table scene becomes iconic thanks to the cast fully embracing the baffling script. While the movie’s full of great moments, the memeworthy reaction to a certain on-screen death is usually enough to sell people on the legendarily bad film.

To say that “mileage may vary” when it comes to director Joel Schumacher’s “Batman and Robin” is an understatement. There are Batman fans that absolutely hate this film for its cartoony dialogue, over-the-top action set pieces and off-kilter sense of self-referential humor. Then again, there are also those who defend Schumacher’s vision for the exact same reasons. It all depends on how much fun fans like their caped crusader to have. “Batman and Robin” takes the spirit of the high camp of the 1960s television show to craft imaginative sets and tons of ice puns. While it’s not the dark knight tale fans deserved at the time, is the one they could use for a laugh right now.

When a woman named Nomi tries to become a Vegas “Showgirl,” she finds herself in the center of mature and scandalous adventures. While the film's commitment to sensual content earned it an NC-17 rating, its bad script and dialogue would pave the way for it to win seven Razzie awards. The film was blasted for its acting, directing, and chemistry between actors before it was given the dishonor of being named worst film of the decade. So, why do so many people still flock to see it today? Some fans admire its courage to incorporate racy content. Others genuinely enjoy the humor and bad lines. No matter what pulls people in, “Showgirls” is living proof that the most unlikely movies can become guilty pleasures.

“Plan 9 From Outer Space” has been labeled in the past as “the worst film ever made.” But that label fails to mention how entertaining this ‘50s film truly is. In this ambitious story, aliens have a plan to unleash zombies if the humans fail to heed their warnings. But the plot is hard to take seriously when the flying saucer footage looks like it’s taken from an elementary school film project. Since the actors are giving legitimately committed performances, the movie’s flaws come from infamous auteur Ed Wood’s script and direction. His unique vision certainly isn’t for everyone. But those who are willing to check out Wood’s low budget sci-fi plan might find themselves pleasantly surprised by a fun and definitely out-of-this world story.

As soon as the first line of “The Room '' is uttered, it’s clear that the film will be a complete disaster from start to finish. Audiences couldn’t help but gawk at the cringy dialogue, embarrassing ADR dubbing, awkward love scenes, and air of strangeness that permeates the film. “The Room” is seemingly supposed to be a serious drama about infidelity and betrayal. But writer, director, and lead actor Tommy Wiseau later labeled it as an intentional black comedy. The way the actors approach every ridiculous turn 100 percent seriously certainly supports that notion. It’s still unclear whether Wiseau’s trying to save face by saying it was a comedy or truly set out to make us laugh. Either way, he’s responsible for one great bad movie.