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Article created by: Monika Pašukonytė

There are different categories of films - absolute masterpieces for all time, just good films, one-day movies that you forget about literally the second day after watching, frankly bad movies... But there is also a separate cohort of bad films, which have so many shortcomings that they somehow grow into greatness.

Our selection today is dedicated to exactly such films, the greatest among the bad, which once failed at the box office, and were totally ridiculed by critics - but over time, acquired simply iconic status among movie lovers. So, look through the Top 25 Probably Greatest Bad Movies Ever!

More info: Reddit

#1

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)

Black and white image of a man in a military uniform sitting at a desk in a scene from bad movies that went down in history.

And here's the legend! Ron Wood made perhaps the worst movie ever made, where absolutely everything is bad. Nevertheless, within a couple of years, "Plan 9" entered folklore as the standard of bad movies - and remains so to this day.

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Data1001
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7 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is perhaps the most quotable of all terrible movies, though. "All you of earth are idiots!" "One thing's sure: Inspector Clay is dead — m​u​r​d​e​r​e​d — and somebody's responsible!" "You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!"

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    #2

    Howard The Duck (1986)

    Character Howard the Duck in a dark setting wearing a grey suit, representing bad movies that went so low in history.

    Interestingly, the producers of "Howard The Duck" originally planned to make a full-length animated film, but decided that a movie with quite a decent cast and George Lucas in charge of special effects would be a box office hit. Well, they were dramatically wrong...

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Call me crazy ("You're crazy!"), but I actually enjoy that movie, as a silly, check-your-brain-at-the-door flick.

    #3

    Showgirls (1995)

    Two women sitting together, representing scenes from bad movies that went down in history for their low quality.

    Paul Verhoeven's film was widely considered to be the worst movie of the '90s, although many arthouse critics were already pointing out that it was actually a brilliant satire on contemporary Hollywood. Over time, "Showgirls" gained fame as a truly iconic movie, but the seven "Golden Raspberries" still remained.

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    #4

    Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964)

    Actor in a vintage sci-fi costume with antenna headgear, representing bad movies that went down in history.

    With its primitive sets, hideous makeup, and bizarre satirical jabs at the national space program, it's no wonder the movie was a resounding failure. Critics still consider it one of the worst sci-fi films of all time.

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    #5

    Maximum Overdrive (1986)

    A truck with a large green goblin face on its front driving at night in a scene from bad movies that went down in history.

    A script by Stephen King, a soundtrack by AСDС, Emilio Estevez in the lead role... it would seem that what could go wrong for a sci-fi horror film from the late '70s? But as it turns out, you can be a brilliant writer, but a mediocre director and producer. Stephen King didn't make any more films after that, concentrating on writing.

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    #6

    Sharknado (2013)

    Man defending against a giant shark in a low-budget scene from bad movies remembered for their poor quality.

    Incredibly, in five years, from 2013 to 2018, SyFy managed to make six Sharknado movies, turning it all into a whole franchise. All six films about how a tornado grabs sharks out of the ocean and throws them into a city (yes, the plot practically never changes) featured "Beverly Hills 90210" star Ian Ziering, and "The Big Lebowski" and "American Pie" star Tara Reid.

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    #7

    Troll 2 (1990)

    Group of strange creature costumes in a forest scene from one of the bad movies that went so low in history.

    A low-budget attempt to make a sequel to a fairly popular fantasy horror film of the 1980s, but with no direct plot connection to the original. The film's low budget is also reflected in the characters' costumes - for example, the goblins simply wear cheap plastic masks.

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    #8

    The Giant Spider Invasion (1975)

    Man in white suit fighting giant spider creature on grassy hill under blue sky in bad movies scene.

    Another terrible example of a low-budget sci-fi horror film that flopped at the box office and was brought back to life thanks to "Mystery Science Theater 3000". However, if you want to laugh heartily - stock up on popcorn and watch it!

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    #9

    Mac And Me (1988)

    Alien puppet character from a bad movie scene, representing some of the worst films that went down in history.

    The attempt to repeat the success of "E.T." predictably failed. But the movie already has a unique 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, got two "Golden Raspberries," and is full of product placement - guess what corporation the alien hero of this film is named after?

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Paul Rudd trolling Conan O'Brien with clips from this movie never got old.

    #10

    The Wicker Man (2006)

    Man in white t-shirt talking on phone in forest scene from one of the bad movies that went down in history.

    One of the first films of the era when Nicolas Cage went absolutely wild, transforming himself from Hollywood superstar and Oscar winner into bait for producers of low-budget action films. However, this remake of a '70s horror movie is still not as bad as many of Cage's later films...

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    #11

    Mommie Dearest (1981)

    Woman with pale face makeup holding a doll, scene from one of the bad movies that went down in history.

    It's a rare case of a successful big-budget film, a biographical drama, making it onto this list. The movie was a huge success at the box office, but critics left no stone unturned in the movie, concluding that it was one of the worst films of the decade.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Faye Dunaway could chew scenery like nobody else, though! "CHRISTINA!!!!"

    #12

    Reefer Madness (1936)

    Black and white scene from a bad movie featuring people around a classic convertible car in front of a building window.

    An attempt to make a propaganda film about the dangers of substance use by people who actually had little understanding of substances at all. Commissioned by a small church community in the mid-'30s, today it's just another lame and bad movie, nothing more.

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    Mary Morris
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tell that to four generations of young people that had their lives destroyed over a joint.

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    #13

    The Room (2003)

    Scene from a notorious bad movie showing a man with long dark hair sitting on a couch in a dimly lit room.

    Another legend of bad movies! Just agree, the nickname "Citizen Kane of bad movies" must be earned. However, for Tommy Wiseau, nothing was actually impossible. The picture became legendary almost immediately, and a decade and a half later, even a film about this movie was released, where Wiseau's role was played by James Franco. Interestingly, this biopic collected six times more at the box office than the original...

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    #14

    Road House (1989)

    Two men share a smiling moment outdoors at dusk, representing scenes from bad movies that went down in history.

    The original 1989 film was a box office success but received mixed reviews from critics. However, over time, the film has gained cult status, and a remake with Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor was also released in 2024.

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hey, don't knock Road House! Gotta love Sam Elliott in anything.

    #15

    Spice World (1998)

    Four women looking shocked and screaming into a metal container, representing bad movies that went down in history.

    Yes, the film made its money at the box office and even turned a profit, but it's worth remembering that it was 1997, when the Spice Girls were at the height of their fame and turning everything they touched into gold. As for the purely artistic component of the movie, the incoherent plot, not very good acting and failures in direction ensured that it was a critical smash.

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    #16

    Birdemic: Shock And Terror (2010)

    Flock of birds flying over a city with columns of dark smoke rising from multiple fires in the background.

    The film, shot for $10K as a kind of homage to Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece, was a complete failure. Critics point out the absolutely weak acting, terrible sets and computer graphics... on the other hand, what did they expect for $10K?

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    #17

    Hackers (1995)

    Actress with short hair and bruised eyes in a dramatic scene from one of the bad movies that went down in history.

    The film received mixed reviews from critics upon its release, but the box office was merciless - with a budget of $20M, the film collected only a little over seven. All this despite a pretty good cast and a young Angelina Jolie in one of the main roles.

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    #18

    Miami Connection (1987)

    Scene from a bad movie featuring a group of people standing in a dimly lit room, highlighting infamous bad movies.

    The low-budget crime thriller flopped at the box office - and would certainly have been forgotten if it hadn't been re-released by enthusiasts in 2012. On a wave of post-irony, the movie became nearly iconic, but this still doesn't cancel out the low quality of filming and acting.

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    #19

    Samurai Cop! (1991)

    Scene from a bad movie featuring a man in a leather jacket talking to a woman in a white coat with a stethoscope.

    Full of cliches and unintentional humor, this movie was released straight to video and acquired classic status over time. A quarter of a century later, even a sequel was released, but it didn't have the same "success".

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    #20

    R.o.t.o.r. (1987)

    Man in black leather jacket, helmet, and sunglasses standing in a dimly lit room, representing bad movies history.

    Just imagine a low-budget mix of "Terminator," "Robocop" and "Judge Dredd" and you have "R.O.T.O.R." There were plenty of low-budget sci-fi action movies in the '80s, but only a couple were successful. This one is definitely not one of them.

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    #21

    Ishtar (1987)

    Scene from a bad movie featuring a woman in dark clothing and large sunglasses talking to a man with messy hair.

    The comedy with Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman started well at the box office, but then everything turned into a commercial failure. Some people say that this result is only a consequence of the directorial competition between Beatty and David Putnam, who headed Columbia Pictures that same year, and some - that the movie is just bad. If you want to form your own opinion, just watch it yourself.


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