What Makes A Good Bad Movie?
Part 1: Question and Answer
A friend asked another friend who asked me, "In your opinion what makes a good bad movie?"
I read the text, pondered the question for a bit, and then my gut landed on a simple answer.
Absurdity. Absurdism. Or Absurdist humor. Take your pick.
It can't be that simple, though. Can it?
So, then I moved on to considering specific examples.
Oh, there's.... Manborg... And... I'm not sure that I've actually watched that many good bad movies... Hmm.
Let's find a list to maybe jog my memory. I'm sure I've seen more...
Oh... I've seen like none of these
Let's try.... Huh... I still haven't seen many, but this list (sorted by popularity) lets me see a trend. Most of these are low budget action or horror.
Is that the key? Are good bad movies simply ones that are good despite their budget? That doesn't feel right...
How does my absurdism theory hold up?
Based off of the ones I've seen, the ones I know about, and the artwork, I'd say it holds up pretty well. Most on those lists are absurd in one way or another.
But what about The Beach? And Maze Runner? And Batman and Robin? And etc.?
They all feel different for different reasons.
They also don't fit neatly into the absurdist theory.
Hmm...
Let's try another. This one is of no help.
...
...
...
Is the answer just fun? Is it that simple? Do I default to absurdism because that's my sense of humor and what I find fun?
Hmm. That might be it...
Fun.
Good bad movies are movies that are bad, but fun can still be had with them.
I think that's it.
This feels really anti-climactic.
I thought going into this I'd either meander around and come back to absurdity, or I'd land on some deep, satisfying answer. Instead, all I have is the glaringly obvious fact that people like to have fun.
Good and bad are bullshit. All that matters is fun.
Part 2: Other Answers
For the past, I don't know how long, my friends have been going back-and-forth on this question. I haven't had time until now to sit down and think about it. I've been trying to ignore their discussion the best I can in order to capture the most honest representation of my thoughts on the topic. But, now I will go read their messages and see if that changes what I think.
...
I'll probably just live type my responses and give some context to what they're saying as I go.
...
They shortened good bad movie to GBM... I should have done that.
- Self awareness
I'd say it's definitely a common trait, but not necessary. And a self-aware bad movie can still just be bad.
- Is it a mindset going in?
Interesting. Maybe that's why The Beach and Maze Runner felt different for me. I watched them without that filter. I get it, but it wasn't my experience.
- The Room feels out of place
I actually have a take on this. I can't remember what it was, but I saw a YouTuber who had the take that The Room is this weird double take into Tommy Wiseau's psyche where Tommy intends to say one thing, but can't get out of his own way and instead the movie unintentionally becomes a take on Tommy's actual views on relationships. I'm articulating this terribly. I only vaguely remember the video, and I haven't actually seen The Room (sorry) so talking about it is very much like walking on water.
Okay, I've wasted too much time trying to find the video. I can't do it. Regardless, the point is; The Room doesn't fit the normal criteria because it has a psycho-analytical component that most others do not.
- Earnestness is required
Hmm idk. Again, definitely common, and having it will get you far. But... no. I like this one. I can get behind GBM being genuine attempts at making art that just fall flat in one way or another, but because the heart is still there it can still struggle on and be enjoyable.
- Counter Point: Kirk Cameron
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Fair.
- You know it when you see it, but still need something more concrete.
Yeah. I think fun is a bit more concrete, but still vague.
- They said that the conversation could be a podcast, and then said that it had to be 45 minutes of them talking and then me coming in for the last 15 minutes and adding my input...
Well shit.
- They called on the almighty ChatGPT. AI says the key quality is unintentional humor and is ultimately a matter of personal preference.
I can get behind that. I'm going to say 'fun' is a better and simpler way of saying that. But that's just me.
- How would you go about making a GBM? List of different qualities, then comments that a GBM can be found for every good or bad quality.
I'm going to stick to my theory and rephrase it in a way that riffs off of ChatGPT as well.
A GMB is a movie that is fun despite its flaws. A movie with no or minimal flaws is just good. A movie with major flaws that isn't fun is just bad. A GBM is the sweet spot where there are major flaws, but fun is still to be had.
I think I would argue it is impossible to genuinely make a GBM. They have to be happy accidents. You can get close if you are paying homage, like with Manborg, but you need to copy already GBM to do so. A genuine GBM needs to be somewhat uniquely flawed, and I'd argue you can't manufacture a flaw, or else it very quickly become inauthentic and turns into Sharknado.
- Most that have bad acting have over-acting instead of under-acting.
So, could it be a compensation for known flaws/ limitations that is a key factor?
Part 3: We're All Caught Up
Here is where I should send them what I've written and then add their response to this mess of text. I'm not going to do that, though. I've already spent way too much time on this. I need to go to bed.
Part 4: Conclusion
Good Bad Movies are special because they are human movies. They are flawed, but there is still some ineffable quality about them that makes them worth watching. They teach us to not take life too seriously and instead just sit back and let yourself have fun once in a while.