So Bad They're Good
by fnmanchild | created - 02 Apr 2015 | updated - 02 Apr 2015 | PublicLike watching a car crash, it's horrible but difficult to look away. This is a list of movies that evoke vicarious embarrassment, horror and schadenfreude.
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1. Showgirls (1995)
NC-17 | 128 min | Drama
A mysterious young drifter who calls herself Nomi Malone hitches a ride to Las Vegas, Nevada, and begins working as a strip club dancer, and sets about clawing her way to the top of the Vegas showgirls.
Director: Paul Verhoeven | Stars: Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Glenn Plummer
Votes: 74,694 | Gross: $20.30M
2. Battlefield Earth (2000)
PG-13 | 117 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
It's the year 3000 A.D., and the Earth is lost to the alien race of Psychlos. Humanity is enslaved by these gold-thirsty tyrants, who are unaware that their 'man-animals' are about to ignite the rebellion of a lifetime.
Director: Roger Christian | Stars: John Travolta, Forest Whitaker, Barry Pepper, Kim Coates
Votes: 83,122 | Gross: $21.47M
3. Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
Not Rated | 79 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
Evil aliens attack Earth and set their terrible "Plan 9" into action. As the aliens resurrect the dead of the Earth, the lives of the living are in danger.
Director: Edward D. Wood Jr. | Stars: Gregory Walcott, Tom Keene, Mona McKinnon, Duke Moore
Votes: 40,452
4. Robot Monster (1953)
Approved | 66 min | Comedy, Family, Horror
The monstrous Ro-Man attempts to annihilate the last family alive on Earth, but finds himself falling for their beautiful daughter.
Director: Phil Tucker | Stars: George Nader, Gregory Moffett, Claudia Barrett, Selena Royle
Votes: 5,456 | Gross: $1.00M
5. Howling II: ... Your Sister Is a Werewolf (1985)
R | 91 min | Horror, Thriller
A man discovers that his sister was a werewolf, and helps an investigator track down a gang of the monsters through the United States and eastern Europe.
Director: Philippe Mora | Stars: Christopher Lee, Annie McEnroe, Reb Brown, Marsha A. Hunt
Votes: 8,117
6. The Black Gestapo (1975)
R | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
General Ahmed has started an inner-city People's Army to try and relieve the misery of the citizens of Watts. When the locals are put under increasing pressure by Mafia thugs, Ahmed's ... See full summary »
Director: Lee Frost | Stars: Rod Perry, Charles Robinson, Phil Hoover, Edward Cross
Votes: 1,339
7. Frankenstein Island (1981)
PG | 97 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
When a hot-air balloon crashes on a remote island, the crew discovers Dr. Frankenstein's ancestor carrying on the family work, along with a race of mutants and a population of Amazons.
Director: Jerry Warren | Stars: Robert Clarke, Steve Brodie, Cameron Mitchell, Robert Christopher
Votes: 1,302
8. The Room (2003)
R | 99 min | Drama
In San Francisco, an amiable banker's seemingly perfect life is turned upside down when his deceitful fiancée embarks on an affair with his best friend.
Director: Tommy Wiseau | Stars: Tommy Wiseau, Juliette Danielle, Greg Sestero, Philip Haldiman
Votes: 95,053 | Gross: $0.22M
9. Mortal Kombat (1995)
PG-13 | 101 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Three unknowing martial artists are summoned to a mysterious island to compete in a tournament whose outcome will decide the fate of the world.
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson | Stars: Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Linden Ashby, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Votes: 124,679 | Gross: $70.45M
10. Road House (1989)
R | 114 min | Action, Thriller
A bouncer hired to clean up the baddest honkytonk in a Missouri town. Armed with a black belt in karate and a degree in philosophy, Patrick Swayze sets out to tame the Double Deuce for its owner.
Director: Rowdy Herrington | Stars: Patrick Swayze, Kelly Lynch, Sam Elliott, Ben Gazzara
Votes: 101,137 | Gross: $30.05M
11. Maniac (2012)
Not Rated | 89 min | Horror, Thriller
As he helps a young artist with her upcoming exhibition, the owner of a mannequin shop's deadly, suppressed desires come to the surface.
Director: Franck Khalfoun | Stars: Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, America Olivo, Megan Duffy
Votes: 40,373 | Gross: $0.02M
12. The Giant Claw (1957)
Approved | 75 min | Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Global panic ensues when it is revealed that a mysterious UFO is actually a giant bird that flies at supersonic speed and has no regard for life or architecture.
Director: Fred F. Sears | Stars: Jeff Morrow, Mara Corday, Morris Ankrum, Louis Merrill
Votes: 4,422
13. The Terror of Tiny Town (1938)
Approved | 62 min | Family, Western
An evil gunslinging midget comes to terrorize the good little people of Tiny Town. The townspeople organize to defeat him, and zany antics ensue.
Director: Sam Newfield | Stars: Billy Curtis, Yvonne Moray, 'Little Billy' Rhodes, Billy Platt
Votes: 1,945
14. Satan's Sadists (1969)
R | 86 min | Action, Drama, Horror
The "Satans" are a very cruel biker gang led by Anchor. The gang goes to a diner in the middle of nowhere in the California desert where they begin to terrorize Lew and his patrons and his ... See full summary »
Director: Al Adamson | Stars: Russ Tamblyn, Scott Brady, John 'Bud' Cardos, Robert Dix
Votes: 1,150
15. Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977)
Not Rated | 77 min | Horror
A bed possessed by a demon spirit consumes its users alive.
Director: George Barry | Stars: Demene Hall, William Russ, Julie Ritter, Linda Bond
Votes: 2,632
16. Ben & Arthur (2002)
Not Rated | 85 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
A pair of recently married gay men are threatened by the brother of one of the partners, a religious fanatic who plots to murder them after being ostracized by his church.
Director: Sam Mraovich | Stars: Sam Mraovich, Jamie Brett Gabel, Michael Haboush, Bill Hindley
Votes: 8,262
17. Shark Attack 3: Megalodon (2002 Video)
R | 99 min | Action, Adventure, Horror
When two researchers discover a colossal shark's tooth off the Mexican coast, their worst fears surface: the most menacing beast to ever rule the waters is still alive and mercilessly feeding on anything that crosses its path.
Director: David Worth | Stars: John Barrowman, Jenny McShane, Ryan Cutrona, George Stanchev
Votes: 5,659
18. The Roller Blade Seven (1991)
96 min | Action, Sci-Fi
In a futuristic society, a sword-wielding roller skater fights evil ninjas, punk roller skaters and is sent on an important rescue mission
Director: Donald G. Jackson | Stars: Scott Shaw, Frank Stallone, Karen Black, Don Stroud
Votes: 505
19. Ishtar (1987)
PG-13 | 107 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Two terrible lounge singers get booked to play a gig in a Moroccan hotel but somehow become pawns in an international power play between the C.I.A., the Emir of Ishtar, and the rebels trying to overthrow his regime.
Director: Elaine May | Stars: Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman, Isabelle Adjani, Charles Grodin
Votes: 12,035 | Gross: $14.38M
20. Troll 2 (1990)
PG-13 | 95 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
A vacationing family discovers that the entire town they're visiting is inhabited by goblins, disguised as humans, who plan to eat them.
Director: Claudio Fragasso | Stars: Michael Paul Stephenson, George Hardy, Margo Prey, Connie Young
Votes: 34,692
21. Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
Not Rated | 70 min | Horror
A family gets lost on the road and stumbles upon a hidden, underground, devil-worshiping cult led by the fearsome Master and his servant Torgo.
Director: Harold P. Warren | Stars: Tom Neyman, John Reynolds, Diane Adelson, Harold P. Warren
Votes: 37,543
22. Y'ur Height Only (1981)
88 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The diminutive Agent 00 must rescue a kidnapped scientist and stop a mysterious warlord from taking over the world.
Director: Eddie Nicart | Stars: Weng Weng, Yehlen Catral, Carmi Martin, Anna Marie Gutierrez
Votes: 1,224
23. Batman & Robin (1997)
PG-13 | 125 min | Action, Sci-Fi
Batman and Robin try to keep their relationship together even as they must stop Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from freezing Gotham City.
Director: Joel Schumacher | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman
Votes: 268,229 | Gross: $107.33M
24. Mommie Dearest (1981)
R | 129 min | Biography, Drama
The abusive and traumatic adoptive upbringing of Christina Crawford at the hands of her mother, screen queen Joan Crawford, is depicted.
Director: Frank Perry | Stars: Faye Dunaway, Diana Scarwid, Steve Forrest, Howard Da Silva
Votes: 18,364 | Gross: $19.03M
25. The Oscar (1966)
Approved | 119 min | Drama
Snotty Hollywood actor becomes even more full of himself after he's nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Director: Russell Rouse | Stars: Stephen Boyd, Elke Sommer, Milton Berle, Eleanor Parker
Votes: 1,463
26. The Giant Spider Invasion (1975)
PG | 84 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
Giant spiders from another dimension invade Wisconsin.
Director: Bill Rebane | Stars: Steve Brodie, Barbara Hale, Robert Easton, Leslie Parrish
Votes: 4,599 | Gross: $0.29M
27. The Wicker Man (2006)
PG-13 | 102 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A sheriff investigating the disappearance of a young girl from a small island discovers there's a larger mystery to solve among the island's secretive, neo-pagan community.
Director: Neil LaBute | Stars: Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Leelee Sobieski, Kate Beahan
Votes: 71,451 | Gross: $23.64M
28. Miami Connection (1987)
R | 87 min | Action, Crime, Music
A martial arts rock band goes up against a band of motorcycle ninjas who have tightened their grip on Florida's narcotics trade.
Directors: Woo-sang Park, Y.K. Kim | Stars: Y.K. Kim, Vincent Hirsch, Joseph Diamand, Maurice Smith
Votes: 6,612
29. Maximum Overdrive (1986)
R | 98 min | Action, Comedy, Horror
A group of people try to survive when machines start to come alive and become homicidal.
Director: Stephen King | Stars: Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, Yeardley Smith
Votes: 35,877 | Gross: $7.43M
30. Hell Comes to Frogtown (1988)
R | 86 min | Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
After a worldwide nuclear war, where 68% of the male population was wiped out and virile men becoming a rarity, Sam Hell, a scavenger and a highly virile man, is assigned to help rescue a group of fertile women kidnapped by humanoid frogs.
Directors: Donald G. Jackson, R.J. Kizer | Stars: Julius LeFlore, RCB, Roddy Piper, William Smith
Votes: 7,323
31. Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)
PG | 81 min | Comedy, Crime, Family
Ernest P. Worrell is a bank janitor sent to jail when people mistake his identity for a look-alike.
Director: John R. Cherry III | Stars: Jim Varney, Gailard Sartain, Bill Byrge, Barbara Tyson
Votes: 10,089 | Gross: $25.03M
32. Last Action Hero (1993)
PG-13 | 130 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
With the help of a magic ticket, a young movie fan is transported into the fictional world of his favorite action movie character.
Director: John McTiernan | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, F. Murray Abraham, Art Carney, Charles Dance
Votes: 163,941 | Gross: $50.02M
33. License to Drive (1988)
PG-13 | 88 min | Comedy
A teen decides to go for a night on the town with his friends despite flunking his driver's test.
Director: Greg Beeman | Stars: Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Carol Kane, Richard Masur
Votes: 22,639 | Gross: $22.43M
34. 3 Ninjas (1992)
PG | 84 min | Action, Comedy, Family
Each year, three brothers visit their grandfather for the summer. He is highly skilled in ninjutsu, and for years he has trained the boys in his techniques.
Director: Jon Turteltaub | Stars: Victor Wong, Michael Treanor, Max Elliott Slade, Chad Power
Votes: 23,306 | Gross: $29.00M
35. Con Air (1997)
R | 115 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Newly-paroled ex-con and former U.S. Ranger Cameron Poe finds himself trapped in a prisoner-transport plane when the passengers seize control.
Director: Simon West | Stars: Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Colm Meaney
Votes: 319,455 | Gross: $101.12M
36. Drop Dead Fred (1991)
PG-13 | 103 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A young woman finds her already unstable life rocked by the presence of a rambunctious imaginary friend from childhood.
Director: Ate de Jong | Stars: Phoebe Cates, Rik Mayall, Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson
Votes: 31,452 | Gross: $43.88M
37. Anaconda (1997)
PG-13 | 89 min | Action, Adventure, Horror
A "National Geographic" film crew is taken hostage by an insane hunter, who forces them along on his quest to capture the world's largest - and deadliest - snake.
Director: Luis Llosa | Stars: Jon Voight, Jennifer Lopez, Eric Stoltz, Ice Cube
Votes: 112,077 | Gross: $65.89M
38. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
PG-13 | 88 min | Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Aliens who look like clowns come from outer space and terrorize a small town.
Director: Stephen Chiodo | Stars: Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson, John Vernon
Votes: 45,519 | Gross: $15.63M
39. Mannequin (1987)
PG | 90 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
A young artist, searching for his vocation, makes a mannequin so perfect he falls in love with it. Finding the mannequin in a store window, he gets a job there and his creation comes to life.
Director: Michael Gottlieb | Stars: Andrew McCarthy, Kim Cattrall, Estelle Getty, James Spader
Votes: 35,703 | Gross: $42.72M
40. Splice (2009)
R | 104 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
Genetic engineers Clive Nicoli and Elsa Kast hope to achieve fame by successfully splicing together the DNA of different animals to create new hybrid animals for medical use.
Director: Vincenzo Natali | Stars: Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chanéac, Brandon McGibbon
Votes: 101,815 | Gross: $17.00M
41. Masters of the Universe (1987)
PG | 106 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The heroic warrior He-Man battles against the evil lord Skeletor and his armies of darkness for control of Castle Grayskull.
Director: Gary Goddard | Stars: Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, Meg Foster, Billy Barty
Votes: 44,337 | Gross: $17.34M
42. Howard the Duck (1986)
PG | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
A sarcastic humanoid duck is pulled from his homeworld to Earth where he must stop an alien invasion with the help of a nerdy scientist and a struggling female rock singer.
Director: Willard Huyck | Stars: Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins, Ed Gale
Votes: 50,774 | Gross: $16.30M
43. No Holds Barred (1989)
PG-13 | 93 min | Action, Sport
A TV-network boss pits a wrestler called Zeus against a wrestler called Rip in a wrestling match.
Director: Thomas J. Wright | Stars: Hulk Hogan, Joan Severance, Kurt Fuller, Tom Lister Jr.
Votes: 6,980 | Gross: $16.09M
44. Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
PG-13 | 121 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
An officially "dead" cop is trained to become an extraordinary unique assassin in service of the US President.
Director: Guy Hamilton | Stars: Fred Ward, Joel Grey, Wilford Brimley, J.A. Preston
Votes: 13,890
45. Over the Top (1987)
PG | 93 min | Action, Drama, Sport
Tough trucker Lincoln Hawk is determined to win back his son and triumph at the world arm wrestling championships.
Director: Menahem Golan | Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Robert Loggia, Susan Blakely, Rick Zumwalt
Votes: 59,434 | Gross: $16.06M
46. The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987)
PG | 100 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Dodger must confront the struggles of life as he is visited by the Garbage Pail Kids and intimidated by some older bullies.
Director: Rod Amateau | Stars: Anthony Newley, Mackenzie Astin, Phil Fondacaro, Katie Barberi
Votes: 8,724 | Gross: $1.58M
47. Mac and Me (1988)
PG | 99 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
An alien trying to escape from NASA is befriended by a wheelchair-bound boy.
Director: Stewart Raffill | Stars: Christine Ebersole, Jonathan Ward, Tina Caspary, Lauren Stanley
Votes: 14,527 | Gross: $6.42M
48. Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
Not Rated | 79 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
Evil aliens attack Earth and set their terrible "Plan 9" into action. As the aliens resurrect the dead of the Earth, the lives of the living are in danger.
Director: Edward D. Wood Jr. | Stars: Gregory Walcott, Tom Keene, Mona McKinnon, Duke Moore
Votes: 40,452
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