25 iconic movies that are so bad they’re good

Revolution Studios With so many films in production each year–over 940 in 2021, according to the annual Motion Picture Association Theme Report–there are bound to be a few duds mixed in with the award winners and box office hits. Movies are as varied as the taste of their viewers. Some horror flicks are truly terrifying, others campy. Some comedies generate deep belly laughs, while others leave viewers laughing at the film instead of along with it. Still, many enjoy the guilty pleasure of watching so-called “bad” films. A 2014 survey revealed that many viewers enjoy the sheer entertainment value and uniqueness of such movies. This love of bad cinema has even inspired The Razzies, a spoof awards show honoring the worst of the worst each year. Stacker researched these bad but beloved films and spotlighted a few that live on in horrible movie history. To make the list, the film had to score less than a 4.0 IMDb user rating with at least 5,000 votes or have a Metascore below 35. Keep reading for 25 movies that are so bad they’re actually entertaining, listed from highest to lowest IMDb user rating. You may also like: Famous movie quotes from the year you were born Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) Paramount Pictures – Director: Rob Hedden – IMDb user rating: 4.5 – Metascore: 14 – Runtime: 100 minutes As the eighth of 12 films in the lengthy “Friday the 13th” series–and a film that takes Jason Voorhees away from the familiar setting of Crystal Lake–it’s no surprise “Jason Takes Manhattan” falls short for many viewers. The movie follows Jason (Kane Hodder) as he is resurrected, murders a group of people aboard a ship, and spends a surprisingly short amount of screen time terrorizing the film’s title borough. The hockey-masked killer still draws fans in, though, with some arguing that this film provides the most important character development in the entire series. Highlander II: The Quickening (1991) Highlander Productions Limited – Director: Russell Mulcahy – IMDb user rating: 4.2 – Metascore: 31 – Runtime: 91 minutes Acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert proclaimed “Highlander II: The Quickening” “almost awesome in its badness.” This second of six films in the franchise features highlander Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) fighting to save Earth as the ozone layer disappears. Although the plot is illogical and often difficult to follow, big-name stars like Sean Connery, Michael Ironside, and Virginia Madsen make it interesting to watch. Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957) Reynolds Pictures – Director: Edward D. Wood Jr. – IMDb user rating: 3.9 – Metascore: 56 – Runtime: 79 minutes In “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” aliens descend upon Earth to resurrect the dead and implement their evil plan. This cheaply made blend of science fiction and horror elicits more laughs than fear, with plenty of errors visible on-screen: the shadow of a boom mic, a script on an actor’s lap, and scars that move around on a character’s face. The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) Castle Rock Entertainment – Director: Ron Underwood – IMDb user rating: 3.8 – Metascore: 12 – Runtime: 95 minutes “The Adventures of Pluto Nash” is a futuristic action-comedy about a lunar nightclub owner named Pluto Nash (Eddie Murphy) who refuses to sell his business to mobsters. The $100 million film didn’t just bomb with critics; it also tanked at the box office with just $7.1 million to show for it. But with Eddie Murphy starring and an ensemble cast including Rosario Dawson, Luis Guzmán, Jay Mohr, Joe Pantoliano, and Randy Quaid, even a bad movie can be good for a laugh. Reefer Madness (1936) Warner Bros. – Director: Joel Schumacher – IMDb user rating: 3.7 – Metascore: 28 – Runtime: 125 minutes Despite grossing nearly $240 million worldwide at the box office, “Batman & Robin” received scathing reviews from critics and fans. There’s plenty that is laughable about the film, like the anatomically graphic rubber costumes and the plethora of cringey one-liners. Yet the cast (featuring George Clooney, Chris O’Donnell, and Alicia Silverstone) and the soundtrack (showcasing tunes from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Jewel, and Smashing Pumpkins) manage to conjure the perfect late ’90s nostalgia that viewers still enjoy today. The Room (2003) Wiseau-Films – Director: Tommy Wiseau – IMDb user rating: 3.6 – Metascore: 9 – Runtime: 99 minutes “The Room” is a story viewers have seen before: A woman cheats on her fiancé with his best friend, forever changing their relationship. However, a poorly developed plot and unintelligible dialogue–not to mention an overabundance of absurd sex scenes–hindered the execution of this trope. The film spent only two weeks playing in two theaters upon release, but a combination of monthly midnight shows, private screenings, and word-of-mouth from popular celebrities turned it into a cult classic. The Master of Disguise (2002) Revolution Studios – Director: Perry Andelin Blake – IMDb user rating: 3.3 – Metascore: 12 – Runtime: 80 minutes Even comedic icons such as “Saturday Night Live” alum Dana Carvey get it wrong sometimes. In “The Master of Disguise,” Carvey plays an Italian waiter who uses the power of disguise–an outlandish assortment of costumes, makeup, and wigs–to save his parents. The schtick gets old even in a film that lasts only 65 minutes before the outtake-filled credits, but many fans still enjoyed the exaggerated style of slapstick comedy. Sharknado (2013) Southward Films – Director: Anthony C. Ferrante – IMDb user rating: 3.3 – Metascore: data not available – Runtime: 86 minutes “Sharknado” is the type of movie that is purposely absurd, which is exactly why it works. 1990s screen stars Ian Ziering and Tara Reid lead the fight to save Los Angeles from thousands of killer sharks lifted out of the ocean by a waterspout. With a little something for everyone–action, comedy, disaster, and science fiction–the entertainment value is high even though the plot, acting, and special effects are lacking. Shanghai Surprise (1986) HandMade Films – Director: Jim Goddard – IMDb user rating: 3.2 – Metascore: 16 – Runtime: 97 minutes “Shanghai Surprise” brings an odd blend of adventure and romance set in late 1930s China. Then-newlyweds Madonna and Sean Penn star as a missionary nurse and the man who helps her find opium to treat her patients’ pain. George Harrison also makes a cameo, is credited as co-executive producer, and wrote music for the film–but his star power isn’t enough to outweigh Madonna’s lackluster performance, which earned her a Razzie Award for Worst Actress. You may also like: 25 iconic closing shots from film history Kazaam (1996)