There are tons of movies that are “so bad they’re good.” You know, those guilty pleasures that are so ridiculous that they’re hilarious. A couple of my favorites are Troll 2 and The Room–filled with cheesy lines and bad acting. Despite being far from blockbusters, these films are perfect for a laugh-filled movie night. But then there are those truly awful movies that are just plain unbearable—so bad that you might find yourself reaching for the remote halfway through.
From my experience, the key ingredients for a terrible movie include bad cinematography, shoddy editing, and cringe-worthy sound design. When a film’s script is packed with clichés, plot holes, and flat characters, it’s a major buzzkill. And let’s not forget the agony of watching overhyped actors struggle to deliver their lines convincingly. If the plot doesn’t make sense, that’s a deal-breaker, too.
These epic fails are so shockingly bad that they practically beg to be discussed. So, if you’re in the mood for some gloriously awful cinema, here are the best “worst movies,” according to online message board users.
The Howling: New Moon Rising
This 1995 low-budget horror movie shows what happens in a small Southern California town when mysterious murders begin taking place after the arrival of a lone biker. If you’re a fan of country music, awkward line dancing, and hilariously lousy singalongs, you might actually like this one–otherwise, it’s a struggle to get through. Sure, it’s recommended for bad movie lovers, but be warned: it’s just as boring as it is unintentionally funny. There is a werewolf, but it only shows up in the last 30 seconds—despite being the movie’s big ‘moment.’
Actors wander aimlessly, blurting out lines at awkward moments. The cast’s acting leaves something to be desired. Plus, the jokes are more cringey than funny. It’s a country-western-horror-musical mashup with no real actors, but hey, that’s part of the charm—or not. You decide!
Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey
I had a favorite Winnie the Pooh plushy that I carried around everywhere as a kid. When I heard about Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey being released, I was worried it might ruin a childhood classic. My inner child would be traumatized to see Pooh and Piglet in a horror film. But I’ll admit, I was curious.
The slasher reimagining of the cartoon classic follows Winnie the Pooh and Piglet as they terrorize Christopher Robin and other victims on a murder spree. The idea was interesting, but the execution was a bit off. The CGI and costumes are terrible. Pooh and Piglet look like awkward human-animal hybrids with masks that look like cheap Halloween costumes.
Gigli
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s 2003 movie Gigli is often hailed as the worst movie ever, and for good reason. It bombed at the box office, making just $7 million on a $54 million budget, and became a punchline for epic flops.
Even though J. Lo and Ben were dating in real life at the time of filming, there’s zero chemistry on screen. Even Ben Affleck admitted the flood of bad reviews made him question everything. Can you blame him?
Madame Web
Madame Web taught us that not all Marvel movies are gold. This 2024 superhero flick directed by S.J. Clarkson stars Dakota Johnson from Fifty Shades of Grey.
This movie is a mess from beginning to end. The jump cuts are jarring, and the voiceovers don’t even match the actors’ mouths—seriously, how did a major studio let that slide? The writing and dialogue are weak, and the cast, including Sydney Sweeney, is underused and often looks bored. The camera work is so chaotic it’s almost distracting.
House of the Dead
Can a film be so misguided and ridiculously awful that it’s actually entertaining? Absolutely. But that doesn’t make it a good movie. House of the Dead is the rave-turned-zombie-fighting movie you never need to see. Watching the same zombies get blown up repeatedly and the actors fumbling their lines like they’re reading from cue cards are some of the worst faux pas. The narration is overly dramatic and monotone.
Atlas Shrugged Part 3
If you think the first two Atlas Shrugged movies are a train wreck, wait for part three. This sci-fi film based on Ayn Rand’s novel of the same name should’ve been the big payoff with John Galt finally showing up, the world falling apart in epic disaster scenes, and a romance between Galt and Dagny Taggart. So, how did they mess it up? The trilogy’s low budgets and poor execution are to blame. Instead of showing interesting events, they’re narrated tediously, and the on-screen action is flat and uninspired.
Jack and Jill
Most people agree that Adam Sandler’s movies took a steep and rapid decline after Big Daddy in 1999. Jack and Jill is an especially rough movie in the Happy Madison universe, where Adam Sandler plays twins. Watching this feels like enduring a prank gone wrong. Some people probably wish the theater lights would dim, only to reveal a screen mocking them for believing this movie was real.
It’s a chaotic mix of bad ideas, with scenes appearing out of thin air. Everyone involved somehow manages to stay unashamed while acting alongside Sandler in an absurd costume. The movie’s rhythm is so off that it tries to cover up the missing humor with a new cameo every five minutes. Some say the last 60 seconds explain everything, but is it worth it? Probably not.
The Many Saints of Newark
As a prequel to HBO’s beloved hit The Sopranos, The Many Saints of Newark had big shoes to fill, diving into Tony Soprano’s younger years amid a mob war. Unfortunately, it fell short of the hype, opening to mixed reviews and a dismal $5 million box office against a $50 million budget.
Rumor has it that writer David Chase was pressured to cram in references from The Sopranos, which stifled the story’s depth and character development. The timeline feels off, and commenters agree: “If you’re a Sopranos fan, just forget this movie exists.” Another added, “It’s a tough watch with too many continuity errors and a terrible ending.”
Wonder Woman 1984
Ever sat through a movie that feels way too long and painfully slow? Wonder Woman 1984 drags on for two hours and 31 minutes with not one but two openings—seriously, who thought that was a good idea? Many loved the first movie, but this one? Not so much.
The script is a mess, with long stretches where nothing happens, and Gal Gadot just gazes into space, mourning her dead boyfriend. Despite the trailer promising a nostalgic trip with great music, the movie could be set in any era, and you wouldn’t miss a thing.
Battlefield Earth
If you’re a fan of the book, the Battlefield Earth movie will likely be a huge letdown. Nothing about this film makes sense—the filming, editing, audio, and even the basic logic are all out the window. The acting is painful, the dialogue cringeworthy, and the camera angles are strange. It’s so poorly done that it’s actually hard on the eyes, ears, and neck.
One film review says that if you want to show someone what plot holes look like, you should just pop into Battlefield Earth. Good luck finding a copy, though—few people have wanted to rent it, so it’s rare!
The Love Guru
Mike Myers had some classic hits from Wayne’s World to Austin Powers. But even if you’re a die-hard Myers fan, you probably still can’t sit through The Love Guru. For every joke that hits (and there aren’t many), a dozen miss the mark. Plus, recycled gags from his earlier films are just not funny anymore.
What’s wild is that this 2008 release feels like a relic from the ’90s. People say it would have been tone-deaf back then, but it was downright bizarre in 2008. It’s like they dug up a comedy script from a decade earlier and forgot to update it.
Son of the Mask
A continuation of the story of Jim Carrey’s The Mask, most people agree that Son of the Mask completely misses the point of the first movie. It’s like they tried to force Jim Carrey’s iconic performance into Jamie Kennedy’s version, but it completely backfired.
The whole concept feels off. One scene with a baby flying around in a room is just bizarre and unsettling. Even though the art direction is creative, it comes off as weird, garish, and unpleasant. Plenty of lines are supposed to be funny, but they fall flat.
Source: Reddit
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