Last night, I watched a movie that sucked. I know I’m awful for saying something so mean about a film that people probably put their heart and soul into, but truly I mean it as a compliment. Over the past few years, I have developed an appreciation for movies that are considered terrible. Many of my favorite movies to rewatch are ones that flopped in the box office or did not hold up to the test of time, like Madame Web or Twilight. There’s something incredibly comforting and beautiful about a terrible movie. Just so we’re clear, I have no way to define what makes a movie good or bad. To be honest, it’s a hard thing to define. When I’m talking about bad movies in this article, I’m mostly referring to ones that the general masses have defined as bad or cringey. There’s a certain charm in watching a movie that’s completely heartfelt and yet terrible.
The brilliant thing about a terrible movie is that no matter what the creators intended, they all fall into the same genre: comedy. This is especially true when you’re watching with a group of friends who love to crack a joke. In fact, my roommate and I became infinitely closer after watching Velocipastor together (which is about a pastor who turns into a velociraptor and is just as insane as it sounds). We were able to bond over the ridiculous plot and even more ridiculous dialogue. To this day three years later we quote random bits from that movie and many more from the movies we’ve seen since. Bad movies provide a common thing to make fun of and in that they bring people together. Having something to laugh about and bond over is incredibly powerful, and bad movies are the best way to crack uncomfortable ice.
 When I’m sitting down to watch a movie, it’s usually after a long day when I’m looking to unwind. With how heavy the world feels sometimes, I usually want either a movie that I’ll get totally lost in – like a fantasy – or something that’ll make me laugh. This is what bad movies are perfect for. I don’t feel the pressure that comes with a good movie to understand a complex plot, or feel raw and deep emotions. I get a chance to unwind and watch a movie with no worries about forming an opinion on the deeper message. On top of that, a terrible movie leaves me with no expectations about the quality or acting that I will see in the movie. It’s exactly the kind of low-stakes chilled-out vibe I need after a hard day. Who cares about the problems in my life when I can focus on the hilarious problems of the movie?
My biggest red flag is that I love to talk during movies. It’s a terrible habit, I know, but one that I cannot break! Luckily, the people around me usually don’t get annoyed when I make a joke mid movie, but I am especially forgiven when it’s a bad movie. During a bad movie, no one cares when I make a stupid joke about the characters or call out the hypocrisy of the plot. In fact, it’s encouraged. In a way, the jokes we make around the movie make it more memorableÂ
What I hope to call into question through this article is the definition of a good movie. Who gets to decide and what puts their metric above all others? Movies, cinema, and art are all made to be enjoyed. There are so many movies that I consider amazing and iconic that others would consider an affront to cinema. Take Twilight for example. People cringe at the weird filters and awkward acting. I think it’s one of the funniest movies of all time. I remember watching it for the first time in a theater full of people who were shouting and laughing at every iconic scene. While the movie didn’t set out to be a comedy, it’s become one in the eyes of fans. Movies are what we make them. Whether that’s good, bad, a comedy, a drama, a flop, or a raging success. Even the “worst” movies, ones about a college acapella group or a cop that’s a samurai, can be a raging success. It’s all in the eye of the beholder.Â