10 Movies That Are “So Bad They’re Good,” Ranked

Some movies aim for greatness but land in a glorious mess, becoming cult classics for all the wrong reasons. These films, with their bizarre plots, clunky dialogue, or over-the-top performances, are so entertaining in their awfulness that I can’t look away.

What makes a movie ‘so bad it’s good’? It’s the charm of earnest failure—filmmakers pouring their hearts into something that misses the mark spectacularly. Here’s my ranked list of 10 films that turn terrible into terrific, starting from the least bad to the ultimate disasterpiece.

10. ‘The Wicker Man’ (2006)

Nicolas Cage’s remake of the 1973 horror classic costs about $40 million and flopped with a 15% Rotten Tomatoes score. Cage’s wild performance, screaming about bees and punching women in bear suits, overshadows the film’s attempt at eerie mystery.

The shoddy script and laughable dialogue, like ‘How’d it get burned?!’, make it a riot. I rewatched it just for Cage’s unhinged energy. It’s a masterclass in accidental comedy that horror fans love to hate.

9. ‘Miami Connection’ (1987)

This low-budget martial arts flick, made for $1 million, follows a synth-rock band battling ninjas in Orlando. The acting, especially from Y.K. Kim, is stiff, and the fight scenes are comically sloppy.

The catchy soundtrack and earnest anti-drug message add to its charm. I laughed through every awkward line, like ‘Friends for eternity!’ It’s a cult hit for its pure, unpolished heart, rediscovered after years of obscurity.

8. ‘Troll 2’ (1990)

With a $100,000 budget, ‘Troll 2’ is a horror-comedy with no trolls, just goblins eating vegetarian goo. The acting, led by Michael Stephenson, is painfully amateur, and the dialogue—‘Oh my God!’—is iconic for its awfulness.

Shot in Utah with a non-English-speaking director, it’s a mess of bad costumes and worse logic. I love its chaotic energy, and the documentary ‘Best Worst Movie’ seals its legacy. It’s a must-watch for bad movie nights.

7. ‘Birdemic: Shock and Terror’ (2010)

Made for just $10,000, this eco-horror rip-off of Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’ features CGI eagles that look like clip art. The wooden acting by Alan Bagh and Whitney Moore, plus a preachy global warming message, make it laughably bad.

The birds spit acid and explode on impact, defying all logic. I was in stitches watching the coat-hanger defense scene. It’s a modern B-movie gem that spawned an equally terrible sequel.

6. ‘Samurai Cop’ (1991)

This $500,000 action flick stars Matt Hannon as a katana-wielding cop fighting a Yakuza gang. The dubbed dialogue, cheap wigs, and choppy editing scream low-budget chaos.

The fight scenes are hilariously unconvincing, yet Hannon’s deadpan delivery is magnetic. I couldn’t stop laughing at the random lion head prop. Rediscovered via YouTube, it’s a staple for fans of gloriously bad action.

5. ‘Showgirls’ (1995)

Paul Verhoeven’s $45 million NC-17 drama about a Las Vegas stripper, played by Elizabeth Berkley, bombed with a 23% Rotten Tomatoes score. The over-the-top sex scenes and melodramatic dialogue, like ‘I’m not a w*o*e!’, are pure camp.

Berkley’s wild performance and the absurd plot twists make it a guilty pleasure. I enjoyed its unapologetic excess, and its home video success proves its cult appeal. Is it satire? Who cares—it’s fun.

4. ‘Manos: The Hands of Fate’ (1966)

Shot for $19,000 by fertilizer salesman Harold P. Warren on a bet, this horror film is a technical disaster. Shaky camerawork, endless driving scenes, and Torgo’s bizarre limp make it barely watchable.

The cult worshiping ‘The Master’ is unintentionally hilarious, with editing so bad it feels like a fever dream. I was glued to its sheer incompetence. ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ made it legendary for bad movie lovers.

3. ‘Plan 9 from Outer Space’ (1959)

Ed Wood’s $60,000 sci-fi horror, often called the worst film ever, features aliens resurrecting zombies to stop a doomsday weapon. Bela Lugosi’s posthumous appearance via stock footage and a fake stand-in is comically obvious.

The cardboard sets and stilted dialogue, like ‘Future events will affect you in the future,’ are pure gold. I adore its earnest absurdity. It’s the king of B-movies, celebrated for its spectacular failure.

2. ‘Battlefield Earth’ (2000)

This $44 million Scientology-inspired sci-fi epic stars John Travolta as a dreadlocked alien overlord. With a 3% Rotten Tomatoes score, its tilted camera angles and over-the-top acting from Travolta and Barry Pepper are gloriously bad.

The nonsensical plot about enslaved humans in the year 3000 is laugh-out-loud bizarre. I couldn’t believe the ‘mwu-ha-ha’ villainy. It’s a cult classic for its sheer audacity and epic flop status.

1. ‘The Room’ (2003)

Tommy Wiseau’s $6 million passion project is the ultimate ‘so bad it’s good’ masterpiece. The incoherent plot, wooden acting, and iconic lines like ‘You’re tearing me apart, Lisa!’ make it a cinematic trainwreck.

Wiseau’s bizarre delivery and random subplots, like the rooftop scenes, defy logic. I’ve joined midnight screenings, tossing spoons and shouting along. It’s the gold standard of terrible movies, beloved for its earnest disaster.

Which of these gloriously bad movies is your favorite, or did I miss a cult classic you love? Share your pick in the comments!