If there’s one thing Hollywood loves making movies about, it’s itself. (Babylonis the most recent example.) But more than that, there’s a fascination with awful filmmakers in particular. Audiences are intrigued by terrible movies.BirdemicandTommy Wiseau’sThe Room, for example, havebecome cult classicsprecisely because they’re such stinkers.
RELATED:10 of the Most Famous Hollywood Adaptations of Classic Japanese Movies
Directors have cottoned on to the so-bad-it’s-good phenomenon. As a result, some pretty great films have been made about atrocious filmmakers, from biopics likeEd Woodto documentaries likeAmerican Movie. There’s something endearing about artists who doggedly pursue their craft, despite a total lack of talent. It’s frequently hilarious too.
10’CQ' (2001)
IMDb score: 6.2/10
CQis a stylish and surreal film directed byRoman Coppola(son ofFrancis Ford Coppola). Set in Paris in the late 1960s, the film follows the creative struggles of Paul (Jeremy Davies), a young American filmmaker who works as an editor on a low-budget science fiction movie while dreaming of making his own artistic film. At the same time, he struggles with his complicated love life and the temptations of the Parisian counterculture.
RELATED:10 Great Movies That Disprove The “Dump Months” Concept
The movie-within-a-movie is hilariously bad, butCQitself is visually striking, thanks to Coppola’s distinctive use of color and design. The cast is talented too, especiallyElodie Bouchez,Gerard Depardieu, andGiancarlo Giannini.
9’Be Kind, Rewind' (2008)
IMDb score: 6.4/10
Be Kind, Rewindis a heartwarming comedy directed byMichel Gondry. It’s about two friends, played byJack Black,andMos Def, who accidentally erase all the tapes in their friend’s video store and are forced to recreate the films themselves to save the store from closing down. The duo enlists the help of the local community to recreate classics such asGhostbustersandRush Hour 2using only a handheld camera and their imagination.
RELATED:10 Movies About Classic Hollywood That Are Always Essential Viewing
The film features Gondry’s signature visual style and quirky storytelling, as well as a terrific supporting cast includingDanny GloverandMia Farrow. It makes for a charming and nostalgic ode to the power of storytelling and the importance of community.
8’Silent Movie' (1976)
IMDb score: 6.7/10
Silent Movieis a comedy directed byMel Brooks, in which he stars as Mel Funn, a down-on-his-luck director who decides to make a silent film to save his failing career. Along with his two sidekicks, played byDom DeLuiseandMarty Feldman, Mel sets out to recruit Hollywood’s biggest stars for his film, includingBurt Reynolds,James Caan, andLiza Minnelli.
However, things quickly fall apart, and the set turns into a train wreck (there’s one particularly funny scene where they mix up a seeing-eye dog with an untrained lookalike).Silent Movieworks thanks toBrooks’s trademark brandof irreverent humor, clever sight gags, and some impressive physical comedy.
7’Seven Psychopaths' (2012) - IMDb: 7.1/10
IMDb score: 7.1/10
Seven Psychopathsis a darkly comedic crime thriller directed byMartin McDonagh. It centers on struggling screenwriter Marty (Colin Farrell) who gets caught up in a surreal and violent underworld after his friend, played bySam Rockwell, steals a gangster’s beloved Shih Tzu. As Marty attempts to finish his screenplay, he encounters a cast of unstable characters, including a vengeful gangster played byWoody Harrelsonand a mysterious masked vigilante played byTom Waits.
Like In BrugesandThe Banshees of Inisherin,Seven Psychopathsdisplays McDonagh’s penchant for witty dialogue and explosive violence. It’s a carnival ride through the dark corners of the human psyche, and a biting commentary on the art of storytelling.
6’Best Worst Movie' (2009)
IMDb score: 7.2/10
Best Worst Movieis a documentary exploring the cult phenomenon surroundingTroll 2, widely considered one ofthe worst filmsever made. Through interviews with the cast and crew, as well as die-hard fans and critics,Best Worst Moviedelves into the strange allure of this infamous cinematic disaster.
In particular, the documentary focuses on actorGeorge Hardy, who played the lead role inTroll 2, as he comes to terms with his unexpected fame and connects with the passionate fan community surrounding the film.Best Worst Movieis a touching and often hilarious tribute to the enduring power of bad movies, and a testament to the strange and wonderful world of cult cinema.
5’The Disaster Artist' (2017)
IMDB score: 7.3/10
“Oh, hi Mark.“The Disaster Artistis a biographical comedy-drama chronicling the making ofThe Room, another movie in the running for the worst film ever made.James Franco(who also directs) stars as Tommy Wiseau, the enigmatic and eccentric director and star ofThe Room, whileDave FrancoplaysGreg Sestero, the actor who befriended Wiseau and starred alongside him in the film.
The Disaster Artistis a hilarious and poignant exploration of the creative process and the power of friendship, featuring standout performances from the Franco brothers as well as an impressive supporting cast includingSeth RogenandAlison Brie. It captures both the absurdity and the genuine passion behind the making ofThe Room. Although Franco and co. make ample fun of Wiseau, they clearly also feel affection forThe Roomand the cult phenomenon it has become.
4’The Player' (1992)
IMDb score: 7.5/10
The Playeris a satirical crime-thriller directed byRobert Altman, the legendary filmmaker behindMAS*HandNashville.Tim Robbinsstars as a Hollywood executive who becomes embroiled in a series of increasingly dangerous and mysterious events after he starts receiving threatening postcards from an anonymous screenwriter. As he attempts to track down the culprit, he navigates the cutthroat world of Hollywood power players and deals with his own personal and professional struggles.
The Playeris a satire of the movie industry and - like many Altman projects - an ensemble film, featuring stellar work byGreta Scacchi,Whoopi Goldberg, andPeter Gallagher. Altman draws on his wealth of experience in show business to produce a sharp and insightful critique of the Hollywood system that remains relevant to this day.
3’Barton Fink' (1991)
IMDB score: 7.6/10
Directed by theCoen Brothers,Barton Finkrevolves around the titular character played byJohn Turturro, a successful New York playwright who is hired to write a screenplay for a Hollywood studio. As he struggles to find inspiration and overcome writer’s block, Barton becomes increasingly entangled in the strange and sinister world of the hotel where he is staying, and with the colorful characters he meets there, including a mysterious salesman played byJohn Goodman.
Barton Finkis a masterful exploration of themes of creativity, artistic integrity, and the conditions in which storytellers work, featuring stunning cinematography and a haunting score. Turturro’s performance as the tortured Barton ranks among his best. The Coen brothers would return to similar territory withHail, Caesar!, butBarton Finkremains their most memorable story about Hollywood.
2’American Movie' (1999)
IMDb score: 7.8/10
Another documentary,American Movietells the story ofMark Borchardt, an aspiring filmmaker from Wisconsin who is determined to make his dream project, a horror film calledCoven, despite numerous setbacks and financial struggles. Along the way, we meet Mark’s eccentric family and friends, including his best friend and collaboratorMike Schank.
DirectorChris Smith’s sensitive approach to the subject matter, coupled with his masterful editing and pacing, make for a compelling documentary about DIY filmmaking and one man’s quest for artistic success. The heart of the film, though, is Borchardt himself, who radiates an infectious enthusiasm for his craft.Edgar Wrightisa massive fanofAmerican Movie, calling it “extraordinary” and saying that he was “obsessed” with it.
1’Ed Wood' (1994)
Ed WoodisTim Burton’s biographical comedy-drama about the eponymous filmmaker (played byJohnny Depp), known for his notoriously bad and low-budget movies, includingPlan 9 from Outer Space. As he struggles to get his projects made and recognized, Ed forms close relationships with fellow outsiders, including his girlfriend Dolores Fuller (Sarah Jessica Parker), and the aging horror iconBela Lugosi, played byMartin Landauin an Oscar-winning performance.
The film delves into both the joy and the tragedy of Ed’s life and career. Depp’s performance as the optimistic and passionate Ed is one of his most memorable, while Landau’s portrayal of Lugosi is spot-on both and deeply moving. Most of all, Burton’s love for the weird and offbeat are on full display. The result is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film; the best movie about bad movie-making.
