So Bad They’re Good Movies WTF 101
Drunk Film School
What is the “So Bad Its Good” or “Best of the Worst” movie genre and where did it start. We analysis
and discuss the beginnings, rise of popularity and the appeal of So Bad they’re Good movie.
The Golden Age (1930’s - 1970’s) of So Bad They’re Good
It is hard to debate when the So Bad they are Good genre first happened. The film Reefer Madness
(1936) is probably a good bet. The film is a silly propaganda film that tries to scare kids into not doing
marijuana. If you smoke weed you will become a wild, sex crazy, maniac killer. The concept is so absurd
that it is hard not to laugh at its premise and hence, this is where the genre first started. The director Ed
Wood, known for his cheesy 50s sci fi - horror films from the 50s slowly picked up the mantle and
arguably even created the best So Bad its Good movie of all time in Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959).
Other notable movies from this era Glenn or Glenda, Maniac (1934), The Giant Claw (1957)
The Modern Age (1980s - Early 1990s)
The “So Bad they’re Good” genre (or “Best of the Worst”, a term recently made popular from
RedLetterMedia, link below) refers to that the movie is so bad, that it becomes humorous and funny.
The TV show, Mystery Science Theater 3000 is also based off this idea, that movies that are so
horrendously bad, they form their own type of unique entertainment. Mystery Science should be even
created of creating the genre itself because if it wasn't for them, audiences would be unaware of these
movies that have a different form of entertainment. Audiences must have been appalled watching Plan
9 for the first time, but watching it in hindsight and know what to look for, it provides tremendous
amount of laughs. Since the 80s was the boom for straight to video movies, there became a plethora of
So Bad They are Good movies making this Age the best and highest quality of the genre. Those movies
include Troll 2 (1990), arguably the best So Bad its Good movie of all time, Deadly Prey (1987), Samurai
Cop (1991), and even a newish discovery film that is my personal favorite Miami Connection. The 80s,
with everything being so over the top, really did make the best “So Bad” movies we will ever see.
The Post-Modern Age (Early 1990s - present)
There has been plenty of newer movies that have become minor cult classics selling out smaller theater
nationwide, this includes The Room (2003), Birdemic (2010), and Sharknado (2013). These newer films
where made to actually be good, but missed the mark. Unfortunately, directors nowadays make movies
specifically to be So Bad, its Good, and they totally miss the point. Nobody wants to watch a movie
made intentionally to be bad, there is only one film franchise that succeeded by doing so and that is the
Sharknado franchise.
Links:
RedLetter Media:
http://redlettermedia.com/
The Giant Claw:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050432/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Glen or Glenda:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045826/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Bridemic: Shock and Terror:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1316037/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Samurai Cop:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130236/?ref_=nv_sr_2
Ed Wood:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000248/?ref_=nv_sr_2
Plan 9 from Outer Space:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052077/?ref_=nv_sr_1
MST3K:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094517/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Troll 2:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105643/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Miami Connection:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092549/?ref_=nv_sr_1
The Room:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368226/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Sharknado:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2724064/?ref_=nv_sr_1
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