Cult Films: The Best Worst Movies Of All Time (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post   Mallika Rao   First Posted: 09/ 7/2011 9:26 am   Updated: 11/ 7/2011 5:12 am

Tommy Wiseau's accidental cult hit "The Room" may be terrible, but it's successful. How many other plays-based-on-movies land premieres at the American Film Institute? As a counterpoint to our interview with the man himself, we've put together a list of equally bad movies (maybe) with devoted followings. As you click through, keep in mind: "The Room" managed comparable success with no studio backing. Eh? Impressed? He's a genius, we tell you!

Loading Slideshow...
  • 'Plan 9 From Outer Space' (1959)

    This Ed Wood sci-fi/horror bomb is a favorite bad movie in-joke. On the "X-Files," Mulder said he switched it on every time he needed to silence his brain's logic centers.

  • 'Mommie Dearest' (1981)

    Meant to be a biopic about Joan Crawford, "Mommie Dearest," starring Faye Dunaway, has instead became a favorite of camp aficianados, winning five Razzies in its storied career.

  • 'Howard The Duck' (1986)

    This live-action adaptation of the comic book failed to win theater audiences over, mainly because Howard is so creepy, but it's since become a cultural touchstone.

  • 'Troll 2' (1990)

    Italian director Claudio Fragasso helmed this Ebert-approved "best worst movie" under a pseudonym. Good choice Fragasso! It's plagued by terrible acting, a zero count of trolls and a semi-successful followup doc about it called, no surprise, "Best Worst Movie."

  • 'Showgirls' (1995)

    This unlikely DVD bestseller for MGM was widely panned as a shoddy raunch-fest in its early days, but it's since been recast by critics as an intentional satire.

  • 'Birdemic: Shock And Terror' (2008)

    Jason Nguyen's homage to Hitchcock's "The Birds" is laughably bad, with screen-saver special effects. Oh, and Tim and Eric <a href="http://video.adultswim.com/tim-and-eric-awesome-show-great-job/crows.html" target="_hplink">love this one too!</a>


FOLLOW HUFFPOST CULTURE

Tommy Wiseau's accidental cult hit "The Room" may be terrible, but it's successful. How many other plays-based-on-movies land premieres at the American Film Institute? As a counterpoint to our intervi...
Tommy Wiseau's accidental cult hit "The Room" may be terrible, but it's successful. How many other plays-based-on-movies land premieres at the American Film Institute? As a counterpoint to our intervi...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 145
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2 3 4 5  Next ›  Last »  (5 total)
11:24 AM on 09/12/2011
Howard the duck isn't better, its just awful, like the updated star wars trilogy and the new trilogy.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
BigFootJesus
It's alright Ma I'm only bleeding.
09:25 AM on 09/12/2011
They forgot "Black Swan" and "Tree of Life".
04:06 AM on 09/12/2011
Drive-in horror has to be represented, this one has a bit of a mean spirited edge for it's time.
The Flesh Eaters 1964
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tS7POSMD9c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GxgldcoZ7I

and some entertaining 70's "Kung Fu"
The Master of the Flying Guillotine 1974
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmdP1qTjGZY
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
cdub1991
Seek first to understand, then to be understood
10:55 PM on 09/11/2011
Some folks here seem to be having trouble distinguishing "so bad it's good" from just plain bad. Personally, I like to pull out my copy of "Lifeforce" every now and then for some chuckles.
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Gronkie
Radical Independent
02:53 PM on 09/11/2011
I used to be an M. Night Shyamalan fan, and of course he's well known for his Last Airbender bomb, but his lesser known work of incompetence is The Happening, which contains some of the most cringeworthy screenwriting and acting ever committed to film.
02:42 PM on 09/11/2011
Out for Justice....lol....
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
thinkingwomanmillstone
great, green, globs of greasy grimey GOPerspeak.
12:10 PM on 09/11/2011
Lake Placid ....just to watch Betty White.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Lulo
Lord Snarkist I of Aragon
05:14 AM on 09/08/2011
Where is the japanese classic "House"?
photo
Im Awesome again
I don't think I'm better....just smarter.
07:48 AM on 09/08/2011
Good pick.....a personal favorite of mine.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
maigesheng
03:22 AM on 09/08/2011
No Killer Clowns from outerspace?
11:19 PM on 09/07/2011
Great topic! I love "bad" movies, the more clueless non-PC the better. The first two are legit personal favorites, but great trailers all.

Black Samson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPNEYknW6AI&feature=related

The Big Doll House (NSFW)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHo0k4SG5cs&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL9459485A5E990DB0

The Babysitter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0WiHkQQ3HM

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. A Russ Meyers-Roger Ebert creative collaboration!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbqHdDwcNsM
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Sol76
09:30 PM on 09/07/2011
I have seen far worse movies than Showgirls by people far less talented than Paul Verhoeven. When a director is that good, even his worst films are worth watching.
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
cinemaven
Follow me on Twitter :)
08:15 PM on 09/07/2011
How can this list be missing the incomparable Jesus Christ, Vampire Hunter... a cult fave in our house for sure

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311361/
photo
SeeTheFnords
Look out - there's one behind you!
01:10 AM on 09/08/2011
Agreed! Awesome movie!
photo
bobbyperu
Bobby Peru don't come up for air
08:07 PM on 09/07/2011
How bout any film staring Matthew McConaughey?
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Jcaesar319
Twas the worst of times;So we got more beer.
08:14 PM on 09/07/2011
Saharah?
photo
bobbyperu
Bobby Peru don't come up for air
08:03 PM on 09/07/2011
Titanic should have made the list.
photo
bobbyperu
Bobby Peru don't come up for air
08:01 PM on 09/07/2011
TROLL II Greatest film of all time!! Just don't go into any redstate towns called Nilbog.