100 essential bad movies, as chosen by you

[indianasmith]

Better jump in one more time while I can . . .

THE LOST EMPIRE

Three D-cup actresses and not a brain cell between them produce lines of dialogue like:


"I hate robot spiders!"

[CheezeFlixz]

Is it possible that no one has listed ...

"Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"?

I think this is 95

[Patient7]

Greetings,

Well I've been lurking around here for a while, and this topic finally spurred me on to register. Hope I'm not out of line suggesting

84. Clash of the Titans

Really?  You're going to nominate a Harryhausen flick as one of the essential bad movies of all time?  I'd have gone with Ferrigno's Hercules myself.  Then again that mechanical owl is darned annoying.  If ever we do a top 100 list of most annoying creatures in movies that owl would have to rank as #1!

Are you kidding, I love Bubo!

[Rev. Powell]

Wow, you guys really went to town on this list last night and this morning!

I apologize, but I have to do this:

96. THEY SAVED HITLER'S BRAIN

Because this list needs more pain...

Make the last 4 good ones!

[Andrew]

97.  "3 Dev Adam" - the Turkish spider man.  It was either this or else the Indian Superman.

[TexasCharlie]

Wow, you guys really went to town on this list last night and this morning!

I apologize, but I have to do this:

96. THEY SAVED HITLER'S BRAIN

Because this list needs more pain...

Make the last 4 good ones!

Ouch, I'm hurting just thinking about that movie.

[AndyC]

98 - Megaforce - Tight jumsuits, lightning-bolt camo, flying bluescreen motorcycle and Persis Khambatta!

[ghouck]

I'm not sure how both "Bad Taste" and "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" missed the list, but if anyone wants to second one of them, ,

[peter johnson]

Have you thought of pulling any of these?

While I have grave doubts that "Carnival of Souls" or "Spider Baby" belong on here, both of them certainly being eccentric films, but, I would argue, actually quite good movies, I absolutely do NOT think Todd Browning's "Freaks" belongs on ANY list with "Plan 9" and these others.

"Freaks" was way ahead of its time in portraying alienation and overweening greed -- Even Eric von Stroheim's "Greed" doesn't go as far.  Browning made a difficult film, sure, but a bad one?  I'd rethink that . . .
peter johnson/denny crane

[brooky1969]

Greetings,

Well I've been lurking around here for a while, and this topic finally spurred me on to register. Hope I'm not out of line suggesting

84. Clash of the Titans

Really?  You're going to nominate a Harryhausen flick as one of the essential bad movies of all time?  I'd have gone with Ferrigno's Hercules myself.  Then again that mechanical owl is darned annoying.  If ever we do a top 100 list of most annoying creatures in movies that owl would have to rank as #1!

Well, with a list that includes such classics as Death Race 2000, Evil Dead 2, Flash Gordon (1980), and The Road Warrior then yeah I feel like it belongs. It's a fantastic movie that people with mainstream tastes tend to roll their eyes at when I mention it. Plus Harry Hamlin gives it some "bad" cred, it has gratuitous nudity, and a popular catch phrase "Give us back the eye!!!" as well. And the owl.

In honor, I have chosen Medusa as my avatar.

This is a great list. I'll have to bump a few of these I haven't yet seen up in my netflix queue. Surprised Barbarella isn't on here.

[Kester Pelagius]

99. Creature

Because it's the ONLY hybrid knock-off of Alien and Planet of the Vampires, plus it has Klaus Kinski.  And the alien creature SFX are just plain awful.

[Rev. Powell]

Have you thought of pulling any of these?

While I have grave doubts that "Carnival of Souls" or "Spider Baby" belong on here, both of them certainly being eccentric films, but, I would argue, actually quite good movies, I absolutely do NOT think Todd Browning's "Freaks" belongs on ANY list with "Plan 9" and these others.

"Freaks" was way ahead of its time in portraying alienation and overweening greed -- Even Eric von Stroheim's "Greed" doesn't go as far.  Browning made a difficult film, sure, but a bad one?  I'd rethink that . . .
peter johnson/denny crane

I don't know, PJ/DC.  My plan was just to allow open nominations, and let people pick what they want, whether I agreed or not.  

Some of the movies chosen (like NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD) really aren't bad at all, but they were influential on bad movies that followed, so I think they belong.  

I'd defend CARNIVAL OF SOULS and FREAKS on the list.  SOULS was technically very bad, but the badness actually added to the otherwordly feel of the movie, and so made it an accidental success.  FREAKS is a tougher call, but the acting and the outre, exploitative  subject matter make it appropriate to me.

The ones I wouldn't have added as "too good" are CLASH OF THE TITANS, SPIDER BABY, THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES, and THE ROAD WARRIOR.  

These types of lists always have some controversal choices on them, whether they are picked by badmovies posters or the AFI.  The debate about what belongs and doesn't belong is most of the fun.

That said, if someone were willing to voluntarily retract their own choice to make room for something else, that would be great.  I's be willing to retract DEATH RACE 2000 to make more room if people want.  It may be "too good" for the list.

Also, we can continue debating about what should be on the list even after the 100 point mark.

[Kester Pelagius]

I'm not sure how both "Bad Taste" and "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" missed the list, but if anyone wants to second one of them, ,

It does seem like sci-fi and fantasy got short shrift.  Granted spaghetti space operas are an acquired taste but how did Galaxy of Terror not make the list?

Guess there's only one thing to do.  Make this the TOP 500 ESSENTIAL BAD MOVIES list!   Who seconds the motion?  (And don't you dare remove DEATH RACE 2000!!!!!!) 

[Patient7]

I'm not sure how both "Bad Taste" and "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" missed the list, but if anyone wants to second one of them, ,

It does seem like sci-fi and fantasy got short shrift.  Granted spaghetti space operas are an acquired taste but how did Galaxy of Terror not make the list?

Guess there's only one thing to do.  Make this the TOP 500 ESSENTIAL BAD MOVIES list!   Who seconds the motion?  (And don't you dare remove DEATH RACE 2000!!!!!!) 

Seconded. 

[Kester Pelagius]

Greetings,

Well I've been lurking around here for a while, and this topic finally spurred me on to register. Hope I'm not out of line suggesting

84. Clash of the Titans

Really?  You're going to nominate a Harryhausen flick as one of the essential bad movies of all time?  I'd have gone with Ferrigno's Hercules myself.  Then again that mechanical owl is darned annoying.  If ever we do a top 100 list of most annoying creatures in movies that owl would have to rank as #1!

Well, with a list that includes such classics as Death Race 2000, Evil Dead 2, Flash Gordon (1980), and The Road Warrior then yeah I feel like it belongs.

Point taken.  Yet. .

It's a fantastic movie that people with mainstream tastes tend to roll their eyes at when I mention it. Plus Harry Hamlin gives it some "bad" cred, it has gratuitous nudity, and a popular catch phrase "Give us back the eye!!!" as well. And the owl.

I agree.  Great little flick with moments of utter bad.  Like the owl.  

That said it's a very interesting list.  A lot of movies I remember my friends saying I had to see and quite a few I've never seen but mean to.  Like Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter.  I've been meaning to pick this up but just haven't ever gotten around to it. And there's even a few I've tried to forget I ever saw. . . LOL.