Let’s name horrible movies but had really great soundtracks.
Xanadu always comes top of mind when I think of this list. It had a budget of $20 million and only $23 million box office receipts. I believe it was one of the original contenders for a Razzy. However, the soundtrack reached #2 in the UK and #4 in the US, and reached double platinum and produced 5 top 20 singles.
Number 2 on my list is Purple Rain. While it was much more profitable, $7 million budget and $70 million box office, the movie was more of a reflection of Prince’s success and stardom, than the merits of the screenplay or the acting. The soundtrack album reached #1 on multiple charts and was 13x platinum in the US. It won grammy’s and an oscar.
I would not say The Black Hole is horrible, exactly. It is definitely uneven, but it has occasional high points sprinkled in here and there. Overall, though, it’s pretty much a whiff.
That said — the score by John Barry is solid gold, just aces from beginning to end. It’s so good it occasionally fools you into thinking the movie is better than it is.
Young Einstein, what was supposed to be Yahoo Serious’ big break in America. Incredibly stupid and not particularly funny movie, but a great selection of 80s Aussie alternative acts on the soundtrack. Unfortunately the soundtrack album also includes dialog snippets, which made the vinyl version a drag, but made the skip button a much loved feature on the CD version.
I know some may consider this “blasphemous” but enjoyed some of the songs from Grease 2. (I actually enjoyed the movie as well but I know some people consider it horrible.)
Now, I’m going to disagree with you - I don’t think this fits the topic because the movie wasn’t horrible. Acting was pretty good - especially considering that the lead actor was a musician; I don’t remember the script being horrible or the directing being bad. No, it wasn’t up for Best Picture, but I wouldn’t say it was horrible.
Back on topic, my example is always Blues Brothers 2000. Pretty much the same plot as the Blues Brothers, with some of the things being very contrived and pushed in there. Acting was mediocre at best. But the music… there is some abolutely FANTASTIC music in there. Blues Travlers “Maybe I’m Wrong”; Blues Brothers “Funky Nassau”; and my favorite - Blues Brothers (vocals by Dr. John) “Season of the Witch”. Slow, bluesy version. Much creepier than Donnovan.
Empire Records, a 1995 film about a Delaware music store; 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and a commercial flop but I remember songs from the soundtrack getting constant airplay on 1990s rock stations.
“With Honors”. A forgettable tragedrama with Joe Pesci playing Robin Williams in a Tom Hanks role. The soundtrack is a wonderful 90s-alternative time capsule.
I think the 1980 Flash Gordon, original soundtrack by Queen, gets the prize for Greatest Disconnect: either the worst film with a good soundtrack, or the best soundtrack for a bad film.
That is a brilliant description!
Oh, and a lot of people probably know or remember Madonna’s song Live to Tell, but how many remember or saw At Close Range, the Sean Penn vehicle it was used in?
The Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band movie was an awful film, but the soundtrack gave us such gems as Aerosmith’s version of “Come Together”, and “Got to Get You Into My Life” by Earth, Wind and Fire
I liked The Commitments but the soundtrack was still better. Agree with Purple Rain.
Very likely to be true for any commercial movie sort of about The Beatles but not made by them not a documentary. But didn’t see that movie about the dude who goes back in time or something and then sings all their songs. Maybe it was better than I thought.
judgment night which mixed gangsta rap with hard rock/heavy metal with gangsta rap and inspired a lot of interesting projects … like body count and others
although I stilll say disorder is about the original gulf war …
