36 Under Appreciated Movies WORTH WATCHING and Why!!
by osborn-griffith | created - 30 Nov 2012 | updated - 25 Mar 2013 | PublicA list of movies that seem to be underappreciated for their godawfulness or their simple fun to watch status. Bad or Good they all seem to be enjoyable.
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1. True Stories (1986)
PG | 89 min | Comedy, Musical
A small but growing Texas town, filled with strange and musical characters, celebrates its sesquicentennial and converge on a local parade and talent show.
Director: David Byrne | Stars: David Byrne, John Goodman, Annie McEnroe, Jo Harvey Allen
Votes: 7,502 | Gross: $2.55M
Talking Heads music with David Byrne narrating the story, this is a wonderful movie. It is directed by David Byrne and written by David Byrne and Beth Henley. The story is about small town America and its unique characters. The Talking Heads music is sung by different characters within the movies. It is simply a touching, lovely, unique and funny story. Another movie worth watching several times because you always discover new tidbits.
2.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999)
Episode:
Space Mutiny
(1997)
TV-14 | 92 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
Mike and the 'bots learn the 80s were worse than they thought as they endure the putrid sci-fi epic, Space Mutiny (1988).
Director: Kevin Murphy | Stars: Bill Corbett, Patrick Brantseg, Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy
Votes: 1,180
You must watch the MST3000 version. This movie is the BEST WORST movie I can remember. I laughed so hard, of course this was mainly due to the snarky comments from the crew at MST3000. This movie is hilarious (it is so bad I own both versions).
3. Across the Universe (2007)
PG-13 | 133 min | Drama, Fantasy, History
The music of The Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist.
Director: Julie Taymor | Stars: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs
Votes: 114,290 | Gross: $51.66M
Okay, if you are truly into Beatles music this could have one of two effects on you; you are a purist and cannot stand hearing the music sung or arranged by anyone but the Beatles and you hate it; or you just simply enjoy hearing the music as long as it is NOT a commercial or musak and you love it. I fall in the latter category and I loved the rearrangements of the music and I loved the story it told. This movie takes place during the Viet Nam war and is a love story. It is probably a "chick flick."
4. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
R | 104 min | Comedy, Music
Two drag performers and a transgender woman travel across the desert to perform their unique style of cabaret.
Director: Stephan Elliott | Stars: Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp, Rebel Penfold-Russell
Votes: 55,177 | Gross: $11.22M
Wonderful, wonderful movie!! I love the scenery, I love the wardrobe, I love the story. It is starring the incredibly talented Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, and Terrance Stamp. All of them courageous in their careers to take on these roles of drag queens and a transsexual in these days of prejudice. The story is touching and heart warming along with some sad scenes. It is definitely worth watching, a fun movie.
5. The Women (1939)
Not Rated | 133 min | Comedy, Drama
A study of the lives and romantic entanglements of various interconnected women.
Director: George Cukor | Stars: Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland
Votes: 14,908 | Gross: $2.27M
The original is wonderful. The cast is all remarkable women actors. You never see a man. It is so much fun to watch the machinations of the women. It is a funny drama full of witty lines. The play was written by the excellent playwright Clare Booth Luce.
6. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
PG | 103 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Adventurer, brain surgeon, rock musician Buckaroo Banzai and his crime-fighting team, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, must stop evil alien invaders from the eighth dimension who are planning to conquer Earth.
Director: W.D. Richter | Stars: Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum
Votes: 29,377 | Gross: $6.25M
Another hilarious comedy but more than that it is a weird and interesting Sci-Fi movie. It has an incredible cast including: Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Christopher Lloyd, Jeff Goldblum. What a simply unique, funny, clever movie. It has so many strange plot twists and turns. John Lithgow and Christopher Lloyd at their best. Just a fun, funny Sci-Fi comedy.
7. The Haunting (1963)
G | 112 min | Horror
Hill House has stood for about 90 years and appears haunted: its inhabitants have always met strange, tragic ends. Now Dr. John Markway has assembled a team of people who he thinks will prove whether or not the house is haunted.
Director: Robert Wise | Stars: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn
Votes: 42,506 | Gross: $2.62M
Robert Wise directed this riveting film about a house. It is a wonderful dark "little" movie. Julie Harris, Russ Tamblyn, Claire Bloom are interesting in their roles. This is not a scary movie by today's violent standards. It is a marvelous subtle very frightening movie.
8. Dark Shadows (2012)
PG-13 | 113 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.
Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Helena Bonham Carter
Votes: 280,580 | Gross: $79.73M
Fun, silly, beautiful movie! I loved this movie! As I kid I ran home after school to watch Dark Shadows. This movie was a silly parody of the TV series. The characters were over the top, the scenes were laughable. I think this movie got panned because for some devotees it wasn't an homage to the TV show as they may have expected. Johnny Depp was wonderful as Barnabas Collins, the movie being set in the 70's was perfect, the culture shock he experienced was funny. The wardrobe was a wonderful flashback. Just a fun movie worth seeing!
9. Tarzan the Ape Man (1981)
Approved | 115 min | Adventure, Drama
While on an African expedition with her father, Jane Parker meets Tarzan, and the two become fascinated by each other.
Director: John Derek | Stars: Bo Derek, Richard Harris, Miles O'Keeffe, John Phillip Law
Votes: 6,229 | Gross: $36.57M
Another great one from the destructive team of John and Bo Derek. If you can make it through the slow motion action scenes(yes, I am absolutely serious), Richard Harris' abominable performance, the hilarity of Miles O'Keefe, and of course Bo Derek's fingers in her mouth to express tension - YOU DESERVE AN AWARD!!!! This is such a godawful movie. It is worth every minute of the gut-busting laughter!!!
10. Time Bandits (1981)
PG | 110 min | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
A young boy accidentally joins a band of time travelling dwarves, as they jump from era to era looking for treasure to steal.
Director: Terry Gilliam | Stars: Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, John Cleese, Katherine Helmond
Votes: 68,397 | Gross: $42.37M
Written by Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin of Monty Python fame, and directed by Terry Gilliam, this is a lovely movie. It has one of my all time favorite insults: "he is mercifully free of the ravages of intelligence." This movie has interesting, silly, crazy characters out the wazoo! It is so much fun! The story is absolutely unique in its twists and turns. Well worth watching over and over and over!
11. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
R | 88 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
In this parody of blaxploitation movies, a black hero wannabe reunites former black heroes from the 70s to help him get revenge on Mr. Big.
Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans | Stars: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas, Steve James
Votes: 14,989 | Gross: $13.03M
This movie is from the gifted comedic mind of Keenan Ivory Wayans. He wrote it, directed it and starred in it and he does a creative, imaginative job in all three roles. This movie is a consummate parody of blaxsploitation movies of the early 70's. It is absolutely perfect - it is brilliant and clever - it is so funny and smart. This is truly one of the funniest comedies I have ever seen. Keenan Ivory Wayans is a genius. This movie has a cast of 70's who's who of black stars. This is definitely a " must see" comedy.
12. Le Dîner de Cons (1998)
PG-13 | 80 min | Comedy
A few friends have a weekly fools' dinner, where each brings a fool along. Pierre finds a champion fool for next dinner. Surprise.
Director: Francis Veber | Stars: Thierry Lhermitte, Jacques Villeret, Francis Huster, Daniel Prévost
Votes: 44,371 | Gross: $4.07M
The French version is the must see version. This is an great comedy with some pathos thrown in to add depth. Plus you get to see some amazingly weird art work! This is such a funny, poignant, enjoyable movie.
13. Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
R | 92 min | Drama, Horror
The filming of Nosferatu (1922) is hampered by the fact that its star Max Schreck is taking the role of a vampire far more seriously than seems humanly possible.
Director: E. Elias Merhige | Stars: John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, Udo Kier, Cary Elwes
Votes: 44,191 | Gross: $8.29M
Absolutely fascinating scary as hell story. This movie is about the rumor that Max Schreck, the star of the 1922 silent version of Nosferatu, was rumored to be a real vampire (I'm telling you Max Schreck was very convincing in 1922 movie and it is also well worth watching). Willem Dafoe plays a consummate Max Schreck. He is absolutely chilling. John Malkovich plays the director and he, as usual, is equally brilliant. This is a wonderfully alluring frightening movie. The atmosphere vibrates with moodiness.
14. Death Race 2000 (1975)
R | 80 min | Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
In a dystopian future, a cross country automobile race requires contestants to run down innocent pedestrians to gain points that are tallied based on each kill's brutality.
Director: Paul Bartel | Stars: David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone, Simone Griffeth, Mary Woronov
Votes: 30,923 | Gross: $8.00M
David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone, Martin Kove, what could possibly be wrong with this movie? The flagrant bad acting? The laughable plot? This movie is NOTHING like the remake with Jason Stratham. This movie is about a race where you get points for killing people. Young and older people are worth more. As one of the drivers heads towards a road packed with old people in wheel chairs he says the memorable line: "Euthanasia day at the geriatric ward." One of the "sex" scenes between Frankenstein, yes, Frankenstein (played by David Carradine) and his "girlfriend/navigator" has contortions that look like she might break her back and have to leave the movie, which she probably would have preferred at that point! What a simply great movie this is!!!
15. It Came from Hollywood (1982)
PG | 80 min | Documentary, Comedy
Popular comedians watch and give comments about the worst and silliest films from Hollywood.
Directors: Malcolm Leo, Andrew Solt | Stars: Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong
Votes: 1,027 | Gross: $2.57M
If you want to see snippets of the worst Hollywood had to offer with snarky remarks added for your pleasure, this is it!!! It stars the late Gilda Radner and John Candy plus, Dan Ackroyd, Cheech and Chong. It is so much fun!! You will be amazed at what atrocities came out of Hollywood. My spouse and I have made it our greatest ambition to own each of these movies. Just a fun sometimes shocking in its badness, movie to see.
16. The Best of Everything (1959)
Approved | 121 min | Drama, Romance
An expose of the lives and loves of Madison Avenue working girls and their higher ups.
Director: Jean Negulesco | Stars: Hope Lange, Stephen Boyd, Suzy Parker, Martha Hyer
Votes: 2,359
I am in a state of shock, as I looked up this movie I saw there was a remake and a TV series, just more proof people in Hollywood are desperate idiots. My spouse and I call this movie "The Worst of Everything:" the worst script, the worst acting, the worst movie. Of course it is starring the worst of the worst actors: Stephen Boyd. This movie has every possible bad movie cliche: alcoholism, unwanted pregnancy, mistresses, unrequited love and best of all our first introduction to fatal attraction. This melodrama will bring you to tears of laughter!!!!
17. Rashomon (1950)
Not Rated | 88 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The rape of a bride and the murder of her samurai husband are recalled from the perspectives of a bandit, the bride, the samurai's ghost and a woodcutter.
Director: Akira Kurosawa | Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Machiko Kyô, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura
Votes: 180,596 | Gross: $0.10M
A wonderful film by the extraordinary director Akira Kurosawa. A world reknowned Japanese director. Once again, great action film with a wonderful plot and actors.
18. Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
PG | 107 min | Drama, Horror
Count Dracula moves from Transylvania to Wismar, spreading the Black Plague across the land. Only a woman pure of heart can bring an end to his reign of horror.
Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz, Roland Topor
Votes: 40,571
I am now on a vampire movies kick, please forgive me. This vampire movie is from the gifted accomplished team of Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski so you know it has to be fascinating. It is a remake of the silent movie Nosferatu (which is also well worth watching in it's sheer creepiness). This movie is scary, creepy and brilliantly acted. You will enjoy Klaus Kinski's weird acting and Werner Herzog wonderful directing. They made several other movies and have had an interesting convoluted relationship.
19. Harold and Maude (1971)
PG | 91 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Young, rich, and obsessed with death, Harold finds himself changed forever when he meets lively septuagenarian Maude at a funeral.
Director: Hal Ashby | Stars: Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivian Pickles, Cyril Cusack
Votes: 81,877
You will probably never believe it but I saw this movie when it first came out in the theatre, albeit my friend and I were the only 2 people in the theatre! This truly a unique experience. The story is an eccentric "romance" and a very black "comedy." The characters are brilliantly portrayed by Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort. Some of the funniest, bizarre scenes are when Harold's mother tries to set him up for dates. It is a charming and challenging romantic black comedy about 2 lonely characters. Be prepared to be shocked by some of the scenes and relationships, maybe not so much after some of the movies of today but in the 70's it was a bit shocking. Well worth your time!
20. House of Flying Daggers (2004)
PG-13 | 119 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A romantic police captain breaks a beautiful member of a rebel group out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.
Director: Yimou Zhang | Stars: Ziyi Zhang, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Dandan Song
Votes: 116,287 | Gross: $11.05M
Simply a breathtakingly beautiful movie, each shot an exquisite picture. The characters and the story are filled with poignance. It is an appealingly sad story of three characters. The martial art scenes are artistic and fascinating. Worth watching on so many levels.
21. Priest (2011)
PG-13 | 87 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror
A warrior priest disobeys church law to track down a pact of vampires who have kidnapped his niece.
Director: Scott Stewart | Stars: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Karl Urban
Votes: 124,174 | Gross: $29.14M
An interesting take on vampires in the future. Very moody picture, with wonderful performances by Paul Bettany and Karl Urban. Quite a violent movie, though.
22. Vampires (1998)
R | 108 min | Action, Horror, Thriller
Recovering from an ambush that killed his entire team, a vengeful vampire slayer must retrieve an ancient Catholic relic that, should it be acquired by vampires, will allow them to walk in sunlight.
Director: John Carpenter | Stars: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith
Votes: 63,787 | Gross: $20.24M
Okay, I feel guilty cause I "dissed" Daniel Baldwin on another list. I love him on "Smoking Gun: World's Dumbest . . . " on TruTV and now I will admit he can act and he has a wonderful sense of humor. But I digress, I LOVE vampire movies, vampire books, vampire whatever. This is an excellent movie about a vampire killers. It is starring the wonderful but weird James Woods and of all people the classic actor Maximilian Schell. It is a wonderful story but, of course, violent. Well worth the viewing.
23. OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006)
Not Rated | 99 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Secret agent OSS 117 foils Nazis, beds local beauties, and brings peace to the Middle East.
Director: Michel Hazanavicius | Stars: François Damiens, Jean Dujardin, Khalid Maadour, Youssef Hamid
Votes: 23,123 | Gross: $0.30M
Absolutely hilarious weird parody of James Bond movies starring the incredible Jean Dujardin ( Oscar winner for "The Artist"). This movie is part of a series about the character OSS 117.
24. Bartleby (I) (1976)
96 min | Drama
A bailiff's study engages a young man, Bartleby, pale, stiff, not speaking and expressing no emotion. One fine day Bartleby refuses certain tasks, then all work.
Director: Maurice Ronet | Stars: Michael Lonsdale, Maxence Mailfort, Maurice Biraud, Dominique Zardi
Votes: 96
A fascinating French film once again comedic with weirdness and pathos thrown in.
25. La Cage aux Folles (1978)
R | 97 min | Comedy
The manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and his star attraction, are a gay couple. Madness ensues when his straight son brings home a fiancée and her ultra-conservative parents to meet them.
Director: Édouard Molinaro | Stars: Ugo Tognazzi, Michel Serrault, Claire Maurier, Rémi Laurent
Votes: 11,914 | Gross: $20.42M
The French version is the must see version. The characters and the acting are so much better. It is just a marvelous movie.
26. Shall We Dance? (1996)
PG | 136 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A successful but unhappy Japanese accountant finds the missing passion in his life when he begins to secretly take ballroom dance lessons.
Director: Masayuki Suô | Stars: Koji Yakusho, Tamiyo Kusakari, Naoto Takenaka, Eri Watanabe
Votes: 11,741 | Gross: $9.68M
This is the Japanese version of the American movie of the same name. It tells a much more interesting story with the cultural differences playing a big part. The story is fascinating and the characters are marvelous.
27. Seven Samurai (1954)
Not Rated | 207 min | Action, Drama
Farmers from a village exploited by bandits hire a veteran samurai for protection, who gathers six other samurai to join him.
Director: Akira Kurosawa | Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima, Yukiko Shimazaki
Votes: 367,035 | Gross: $0.27M
Another must see movie from Akira Kurosawa. This is the basis for The Magnificent Seven. Seven Samurai is a much better movie.
28. Babette's Feast (1987)
G | 103 min | Drama
During the late 19th century, a strict religious community in a Danish village takes in a French refugee from the Franco-Prussian War as a servant to the late pastor's daughters.
Director: Gabriel Axel | Stars: Stéphane Audran, Bodil Kjer, Birgitte Federspiel, Jarl Kulle
Votes: 22,049 | Gross: $4.40M
A lovely moving movie. Interesting and beautiful.
29. Dick (1999)
PG-13 | 94 min | Comedy
After wandering off during a White House tour, two high school girls inadvertently become Richard Nixon's top secret advisers at the height of the Watergate scandal.
Director: Andrew Fleming | Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Dan Hedaya, Will Ferrell
Votes: 21,373 | Gross: $6.24M
A wonderful retrospective with an inventive story. What if 2 teenage girls were Deep Throat? Has some unexpected stars in it: Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Teri Garr, Dan Hedaya ( as a brilliant Nixon), Harry Shearer (as a hilarious G. Gordon Liddy) and many more. Just a silly sweet movie.
30. The Opposite Sex (1956)
Not Rated | 117 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical
Former nightclub singer Kay Hilliard, married 10 years and mother of a young daughter, is informed that her husband Steven is having an affair with chorus girl Crystal Allen, so she goes to Reno for a divorce.
Director: David Miller | Stars: June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan
Votes: 1,964 | Gross: $6.02M
This is an awful, atrocious, hilarious remake of The Women. Everything about it reeks! It is just so funny. Wonderful to watch the two movies together. It is amazing what Hollywood considers an appropriate remake.
31. The Ladykillers (1955)
Not Rated | 91 min | Comedy, Crime
Five oddball criminals planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians.
Director: Alexander Mackendrick | Stars: Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom
Votes: 31,415
Alec Guinness at his best. A wonderful movie about a group of bank robbers with a twist ending. DO NOT BOTHER WITH THE REMAKE. This is the best.
32. The Man in the White Suit (1951)
Approved | 85 min | Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
An altruistic chemist invents a fabric which resists wear and stain as a boon to humanity, but big business and labor realize it must be suppressed for economic reasons.
Director: Alexander Mackendrick | Stars: Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Cecil Parker, Michael Gough
Votes: 10,820 | Gross: $0.01M
Another Classic from the British Ealing studio. Once again with Alec Guinness in the lead, it is a hilarious story about a suit he invented and tries to sell. British Comedy at its best
33. The Member of the Wedding (1952)
TV-G | 93 min | Drama, Family
Her older brother's wedding forces preteen tomboy Frankie to face her own immaturity.
Director: Fred Zinnemann | Stars: Ethel Waters, Julie Harris, Brandon De Wilde, Arthur Franz
Votes: 1,585
Written by the brilliant Carson McCullers this is a story of the coming of age of a character played by the inimitable Julie Harris. This story is filled with pathos. Keep the kleenex handy when you watch it.
34. BUtterfield 8 (1960)
Not Rated | 109 min | Drama, Romance
A beautiful New York model and socialite enjoys a very active night-life, but all things change when she falls for a married man and the consequences are tragic.
Director: Daniel Mann | Stars: Elizabeth Taylor, Laurence Harvey, Eddie Fisher, Dina Merrill
Votes: 7,286 | Gross: $16.46M
Okay, this is the movie Elizabeth Taylor hated, but they gave her an Oscar for it because she should have gotten one the year before. It is based on a book by John O'Hara which should tell you it is really an incredibly tacky soap opera. Not that Elizabeth didn't make other horrible movie choices but this is one of her worst. She and Laurence Harvey are so over the top in their acting. It is so fun to watch.
35. Samson and Delilah (1949)
Approved | 134 min | Drama, Family, History
When strongman Samson rejects the love of the beautiful Philistine woman Delilah, she seeks vengeance that brings horrible consequences they both regret.
Director: Cecil B. DeMille | Stars: Hedy Lamarr, Victor Mature, George Sanders, Angela Lansbury
Votes: 9,001 | Gross: $28.80M
To quote Groucho Marx when talking with CB DeMille about Samson and Delilah: "Well, there's just one problem, C.B. No picture can hold my interest where the leading man's tits are bigger than the leading lady's." This movie is starring Victor Mature (of "I'm not an actor and I have 64 films to prove it") and Hedy Lamarr along with a brilliant group of character actors but unfortunately it doesn't save this tripe. It is one of those epics that DeMille was famous for and it stinks the same as the rest. But thanks to Victor Mature it is a hoot!
36. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
Approved | 101 min | Comedy, Romance
A food writer who has lied about being the perfect housewife must try to cover her deception when her boss and a returning war hero invite themselves to her home for a traditional family Christmas.
Director: Peter Godfrey | Stars: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald Gardiner
Votes: 12,033
This movie is a fine example of a "screw ball comedy." It is starring the wonderful Barbara Stanwyck who was mainly known for drama but she has a remarkable touch with comedy. It has a wonderful supporting cast with SZ Sakall, Sydney Greenstreet (yes, in a comedy and he does great!), Una O'Connor, Reginald Gardiner and Dennis Morgan. It is simply a happy, funny, lovely Christmas movie!
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