If you watch films, even semi-regularly, you’re going to stumble across a lot of bad films. Some can be dull, lifeless, and instantly forgettable. But then there are the movies that are so outrageously bad, so comically incompetent, that they once again become entertaining.
Whether this is through baffling writing, stiff and wooden acting, or unintentionally hysterical dialogue, these films give you a break from the epics and the serious. Here are some of the best (or worst?) ‘so bad it’s good’ movies out there that you need to watch.
The Room (2003)
Everyone knows this masterpiece. Attempting to be a movie about love, betrayal and friendship, it has often been described as “the Citizen Kane of bad movies.”
The movie does have it all. Tommy Wiseau delivers a baffling performance, not helped by his accent and inexplicable line delivery. Lines like “Oh hi, Mark” and “You’re tearing me apart, Lisa!” have pervaded cinephile memory as some of the most unintentionally funny dialogue ever spoken.
Combine this with the nonsensical writing, bizarre character arcs and pointless sex scenes, and you have an absurdist comedy that is equally a disaster and a masterpiece. Despite its many flaws, The Room has amassed a cult following, with midnight screenings and audience participation turning it into an interactive comedic experience.
The movie does have it all. Tommy Wiseau delivers a baffling performance, not helped by his accent and inexplicable line delivery. Lines like “Oh hi, Mark” and “You’re tearing me apart, Lisa!” have pervaded cinephile memory as some of the most unintentionally funny dialogue ever spoken.
Sharknado (2013)
Who would have thought that a film about a tornado hurling sharks through a city would turn out to be a horrible film? Yet, somehow it has managed to grace itself into existence and has even spawned its franchise.
It’s raunchy and completely brainless. It embraces its ridiculousness, with over-the-top action, daft CGI, and campy characters. It’s a wonderfully cheesy experience that is best enjoyed with friends. The acting is wooden, the plot is nonsensical, and the special effects are laughably bad — but that’s exactly what makes it so much fun. Sometimes you just need to see sharks flying through the air and call it a night.
Fateful Findings (2012)
My personal favourite of the ‘so bad it’s good’ genre is this not-quite-Lynchian, utterly outrageous mess of a film. Directed by Neil Breen, it follows the story of his self-insert, Dylan, as he employs his unexplained psychic powers to tear down the corrupt government.
If you think that sounds absurd, just wait until you watch it. Every scene somehow manages to outdo the last in sheer bafflement. Some of the best moments come when an enraged Neil Breen over-dramatically smashes his laptops. We’re also treated to the sight of Neil Breen’s character able to effortlessly enchant every woman in the film — not something he wrote in himself to boost his ego.
It’s weird, poorly shot, and nonsensical, but I urge everyone to watch it. The final scene alone makes it all worth it. The combination of awkward acting, incomprehensible dialogue, and laughable special effects creates an unintentional comedic masterpiece.
Why We Love Bad Films
Low budgets, bad acting, and poor production make these films genuinely terrible. But can they really be so bad? Especially if they have managed to entertain us in a way that so many other films have failed.
I would say that the worst crime in filmmaking is making your film boring and jaded. But ‘so bad it’s good’ movies have managed to endlessly entertain us. Sometimes you just need a break from highbrow cinema and embrace the chaos. After all, if a film can make you laugh — even unintentionally — hasn’t it done its job?
Sometimes you just need a break from highbrow cinema and embrace the chaos. After all, if a film can make you laugh — even unintentionally — hasn’t it done its job?
