Bad Movies We Love

by Edward Margulies, Stephen Rebello, Sharon Stone (Foreword)

Describes poorly made motion pictures which still please because of subject matter, unique perspective, enthusiasm, or audacity

Genres: Media Tie In, Nonfiction, Film, Humor

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Jill H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all have that certain film that we really love, knowing it is truly awful but not caring......or a film that we thought we loved until we see it again after several years and it makes us realize that it is a true turkey. That is what the humorous book is about............guilty pleasures.

It is divided into chapters with such heading as "All This And Troy Donahue Too" or "Bring On The Bimbos" or "Slay It With Music". You know most of the films here since these are not necessarily obscure but you might disagree with some of the choices. They do, however sometimes "star" people who usually disappeared after a couple of films (think Pamela Tiffin, Gardner McKay or Joey Heatherton).

If you are a fan of bad acting, silly plots, or overwrought films, this is for you. It is not a book to be read straight through but as a supplement to your main read. It will make you chuckle.

[Douglas Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it, a must read for movie buffs! This book has inspired me to start a Bad Movies Viewing club! My only complaints are that one, I didn't write this book first, and two, the work of Joan Crawford appears here way too many times!

[Sarai · Rating 5 out of 5]

from Amazon: By tmp "snippy reviewer"
I hate to say it, but I think I have seen every movie in this book, most more than twice. This is a very funny (and helpful for the afficianado) book. The premise is different than the usual book about "bad" movies: no "Plan Nine from Outer Space" et al- that's left to Michael Medved and his ilk. No, these are movies that just are slightly crazed, over the top, or just, well, BAD. Ones that will make you ask "What were they thinking? What were they smoking! " Some of the movies are laugh-out-loud stinkers like "Female on the Beach", some are just jaw-droppingly awful like "Xanadu". But the writing is funny and fresh, and you will find yourself agreeing with the reviews of the movie you have seen, and going to the video store for the movies you have not. Unfortunately one of the authors is no longer living, but I would hope that they could collect the rest of the reviews from Movieline (the magazine from which this book sprang) and put out more editions as soon as possible.

I used to subscribe to this magazine and this was one of my favorite articles, so I grabbed up this book and devoured it, laughing all the way. I think it is probably best taken in small doses rather than read straight through, but if you're the kind of person who loves bad movies, you'll really get a kick out of this book.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly this author's favorite non-fiction book of all time. The snarky commentary from these gentlemen concerning the craptastic films discussed within the collection are laugh-out-loud hilarious and SPOT-ON. They know that the movies are dreadfully bad and yet revel in them. They also know that it takes a special kind of film to make the grade, so to speak. In other words, the bigger the budget, the more lunatic the casting and the more direly serious the tone, the more likely the film will be included. Unintentional hilarity can be every bit as fulfilling as traditional comedy. Sadly, they never got to print a follow-up to this, even though they did do many other reviews.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fun book about, as the title suggests, bad movies we love. A lot of these movies I had never heard of and they tend to favor the really old ones (Douglas Sirk gets some love). My only quibble is that they could've updated this book several times over. But a fun idea that should be copied more.

[Carol Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books ever written about bad movies -- though I take strong exception to including MASQUERADE starring Rob Lowe and Meg Tilly. This Dick Wolf production is actually a very romantic movie with complex characters and amazing suspense!

[patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before there was Television Without Pity, there was this book!
I laugh out loud every single time I read it. priceless.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just laugh out loud funny and a must for any bad film lover...

[Julio The Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anybody can make a bad movie, ask Steven Spielberg, but not every one of those wins a place in our hearts. What makes for a lovable bad movie? Let us count the ways. Persistent stupidity. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does. That explains the love quotient of MYRA BRECKINRIDGE, which TIME critic Jay Cocks labeled "about as funny as a child molester". Another dubious quality is the "who do the film makers think they're fooling?" element. How could anybody not know that THE GREEK TYCOON has Jacqueline Bissett playing Jackie Onassis and Anthony Quinn channeling Aristotle Onassis under fake names? How about aging, fatty, past middle age directors trying to convince the audience they're really hip and savvy. Otto Preminger and SKIDOO, anyone? Or Stanley Kramer's RPM (revolutions per minute, get it?). Next, the disease of the month club; you know, where the star is stricken with a terminal disease that just begs "Oscar bait"? LOVE STORY, or "Camille with bullshit" as TV GUIDE critic Judith Crist called it, wins hands down. See how much fun you can have just naming your own personal favorites. But remember, they must be lovable. Tom Cruise in COCKTAIL makes the grade. Tom Cruise in DAYS OF THUNDER, and FAR AND AWAY, and EYES WIDE SHUT, does not.

[Ron Popp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complete brain candy but the author is funny as hell describing the films.

[Markku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply hilarious.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good glimpse into so bad it's good cinema. I've had my copy since '93 and still refer to it. Would love to see it get revised.

[Chuck White · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a different approach to skewering bad movies. Instead of the usual suspects (Plan 9 from Outer Space, Robot Monster, and other low-budget, Grade Z fare) this book picks on the big budget and/or big star productions that may have looked good on paper (and even that is doubtful), but didn't quite translate to the big screen.

I enjoyed the book, enough, and appreciated the different approach. But, many of the movies were too similar (a lot of "chick flicks"), so it was best to just read a few entries at a time, to avoid the repetition.

Recommended to film fans.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The list is valuable for watchlist's sake, but the tone of this is kinda mean. I gave 5 stars, unironically, to a lot of these movies. I don't see movies the way these people do.

- June 2023

I've come back to add a star to my original rating of 2 stars because I feel bad. Honestly, I've been having a lot of fun watching the movies within this book and then coming back to read the sections on them. I may not agree with the author about how "bad" some of these movies are per se but reading the descriptions has been fun.

- April 2024

[David Ward · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad Movies We Love by Edward Margulies and Stephen Rebello (Plume 1993)(791.4375) attempts titillation but instead achieves - well, nothing. The only interesting or relevant review in my opinion is of the 1960 movie "Where the Boys Are." The rest of the movies listed were Low C grade or worse, so I believe them to be irrelevant. My rating: 2/10, finished 9/19/11.

[Nancy Loe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite film books ever. This is a compilation of eponymous columns from the now defunct [i]Movieline[/i] magazine and a goldmine of snark.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting commentary, but quickly devolves into "how gross can these movies be?" with unnecessary detail.