What is a b-movie? This question has plagued humanity since the begining of time. How would you define a b-movie? (patriotic music in background) I'll tell what a b-movie is. The "B" in "B-Movies" stands for bad. But does this mean all b-movies are bad? No it does not. I'm posting this post 'cause I'm sick of people saying that "insert title here" is not a b-movie. You don't to be mean to this movie or that movie. I would classifiy all anime, and most sci-fi and horror as b-movies. Lets be serious, how often do you see an anime, sci-fi, or horror movie win an oscar? Sure it does happen sometimes, but it's usually a chik flick or a Steven Stilberg film. Have you ever seen godzilla win an oscar? Hell no!!! Sure it's fun to insult godzilla, but we all love the crappy rubber suits and the food coloring blood. We call them b-movies because the cinema snobs won't call the "Movies". Thus they are thrown to the bottom of the the trash, for people like use to feed are minds. I have never heard a critic say something good about anime or sci-fi. Some horror movies yes, but almost never. Sure, b-movies are not the cream of the crop, and no they don't rise to the top, but most b-movies aren't truely bad. I said most, this doesn't include Lost In Space, Spawn, and Jim Carry's The Grinch.
*sniff* *sniff*
God Bless B-Movies!!!!
My understanding of the term 'B-movie' is that it goes back to the days of double features, which had an 'A-picture' and a cheaper 'B-picture.' I might not have that quite right.
Anyway, my feeling is that the definition is outdated and something broader is needed. In my opinion, any film that captures the spirit of B-movies, whether that be in cheapness, badness, limited appeal, etc., could be considered a B-movie. Straight-to-video cheese of the 80s, made-for-TV miniseries, and stuff the studios release to theatres outside the peak season, with minimal fanfare. That last one (off-season releases) is actually pretty close to the idea of A-pictures and B-pictures, with the A-pictures being released in the summer or Christmas seasons, and the B-pictures getting a quiet early-spring release.
I'd say to me a b movie is a movie that is unintentionally bad, but good. I think. I don't know. 80s comedys anyone? Now those are a guilty pleasure. I don't go around watching straight-to-video drama movies for kicks tho. I think b-movie is too broad a term. Because while one person may find a jim carrey movie so bad its good to make fun of, another may think its intentionally funny. Or something like that.
-Dan
I dunno really, I just know a b-movie when I see it, kinda like Congress's definition of pornography.
From what i have read the "B" in b-movie stands for backend. Of course I agree that it probably has broadened since then.(Considering we don't have many double features these days.) But I am with C. Hill, you know it when you see it.
I'm with AndyC on this one. I see it as anything that isn't aimed at mainstream Western audiences is a "b-movie". Anything with sci-fi or horror elements is usually included in this definition. It's only when a sci-fi/horror bent movie becomes mega-successful that it ceases to be a b-movie, ie. STAR WARS or THE SIXTH SENSE.
Also, any movie that is just bad is usually included in this definition. Supposed-to-be blockbusters can be included if they stunk up the theater so much that mainstream America wouldn't accept them as their own. So PEARL HARBOR is not a b-movie because, even though it's bad, it was accepted by quite a number of people.
So it's a broad definition, but I don't use the term "b-movie" very often. In fact, I very rarely use genre definitions at all.
Oh, and by the way, FishStik, Roger Ebert has professed his love for sci-fi and anime many times. He gave METROPOLIS four stars. He's even got a commentary track on the DVD of DARK CITY, even though he had nothing to do with the production of the movie.
a) Without entering quality standards: Any movie released without a great advertising campaign filmed for the screen, direct-to-video or direct-to-TV (more likely than filmed to the screen), which uses ideas or plot structures from previous mainstream productions, has low budget and not an stellar cast. This last thing usually means that main characters are played by those who only appear in blockbusters as supporting actors (Dennis Hopper, Michael Madsen).
b) Entering quality standards: Anything cheaper and/or more imaginative (for good or for bad) than the usual blockbuster.
Well, I would have to say that the term deals with the afore mentioned double featue. The "B" Movie was the movie that was made on a lower budget that the main attraction and would NOT have been able to stand by itself. (Some production companies are starting to sell DVDs this way. They are selling 2 packs of DVDs, one movie that was a favorite among the populas and another that they could sell even in the theater.)
Some of the terms we have today about movies are old carry overs from that time. The term Movie Trailer come from the fact that adds for new movies used to "trail" behind the main movie. (You mean you didn't notice that most of the movies made long ago don't have long end credits.) Today, we still use the term trailer, but it does not have the same meaning.
B-Movie is a term that probably has had the same thing happen to it's meaning. It's long been forgotten.
got this quote from http://www.bmania.tv/
it seems to do the trick for me anyway...
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"The traditional definition of a B Movie is a film that was the low-budget backend of a double feature. However, like their A-List Hollywood brethren, B Movies have evolved over the years.
While there are no specific, mutually agreed upon definitions for what comprises a B Movie, there are many factors that help distinguish them. We have comprised a modest list of elements that we feel makes a great B Movie:
Cult classics (Rocky Horror Picture Show,Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, The Toxic Avenger)
Spaghetti westerns
Drive-In movies (Son of Godzilla, Demetia 13)
Direct to video treasures
Short films and animations
Student or independent films
Low budget compared to those Hollywood Big Budget films
Undiscovered talent or recognizable actors, now "one hit wonders"
Unique plots (in some cases lack of a plot)
Evolution of B Movies:
1920's: B Movies were the non-feature or "backend" of a double feature (hence, the beginning of the "B"). Created as filler by the studios, these films were created on low budgets and were a launching pad for aspiring actors and directors.
1950's: B Movies develop a new association: the Drive-in theater. This popular theater type grew from hundred locations in the late 40's to the thousands in the late 50's and Hollywood produced an assembly line of movies to meet the demand. Science fiction and Horror movies were some of the most popular genres of this period.
1970's: B Movies enter the modern era. The advent of cable television and home video dramatically changed the face of movie making, allowing for a more diverse range of movie concepts
1990's: New digital technologies revolutionize the creation of movies. Filmmakers are able to produce higher quality films at lower costs. Movies such as The Blair Witch project demonstrate the wide-ranging appeal of B fare."
Good definitions all. I would leave out major studio box office bombs (Waterworld) not because they aren't bad movies, they are, but because of their high production value and, for lack of a better word, "Hollywoodness."
Ed Wood's movies are entertaining because his love of movies shows through, along with his lack of talent. The major studios stinkers "we want a big payday in order to buy a new condo in Aspen."
If B movies are crap and unsuccessful in theatres what happens when b movies become really popular with cult audiemces? do they cease to become so bad theyre good or are they just good surely then they cant have been bad in the forst place. Plan 9 is one of those movies when youve seen it a few times you actually notice the political dimension to the film more than the z grade fx i think b movies get their status from the concept that the people who make them are naive filmakers incompetent so we can all have a good laugh but actually people like wood had plenty to say.
I am intrigued. Call me ignorant but I've yet to notice any deep subtext to Plan 9. Please enlighten me.