# What is your favourite “B-movie”?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** movies
**Created:** [June 11, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489 "2025-06-11T19:38:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/41 "2025-06-12T10:25:09Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#):
>
> The term used to be a financial statement
I thought it was a term going back to the times when double features were standard-- B-films were the ones packaged with really bankable films to create the “double” that would be shown as a matinee, or an evening show on a less desirable day-- a Tuesday, or a Friday that happened to be a minor holiday.
They weren’t so bad that anyone would complain about them, but they weren’t good enough for the stand-alone shows on the weekends and evenings.
They were like the “B-side” of a 45 record.
Some films were B-films at the time, even though they were pretty good, and are considered important now, because they starred unknowns who happened to become famous later, and some films that are considered B-films because they are sort of “comfort” films, better for the couch than a theater, like _Yours, Mine and Ours,_ were actually A-films in their time, seeing as they starred to people who guaranteed full houses for the first week.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/42 "2025-06-12T11:26:06Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#):
>
> I thought it was a term going back to the times when double features were standard-- B-films were the ones packaged with really bankable films to create the “double” that would be shown as a matinee, or an evening show on a less desirable day-- a Tuesday, or a Friday that happened to be a minor holiday.
It wouldn’t be impossible for both to be true. Here’s what Wikipedia has to say:
> [@](#):
>
> A **B movie** , or **B film** , is a type of cheap, low-budget commercial [motion picture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_picture). Originally, during the [Golden Age of Hollywood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_Hollywood_cinema), this term specifically referred to films meant to be shown as the lesser-known second half of a [double feature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_feature), somewhat similar to [B-sides](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-side_and_B-side) in recorded music. However, the production of such films as “second features” in the United States largely declined by the end of the 1950s. This shift was due to the rise of commercial television, which prompted film studio B movie production departments to transition into television film production divisions. These divisions continued to create content similar to B movies, albeit in the form of low-budget films and series.
> **[B movie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_movie)**
>
> A B movie, or B film, is a type of cheap, low-budget commercial motion picture. Originally, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, this term specifically referred to films meant to be shown as the lesser-known second half of a double feature, somewhat similar to B-sides in recorded music. However, the production of such films as "second features" in the United States largely declined by the end of the 1950s. This shift was due to the rise of commercial television, which prompted film studio B mov...
The NYT article I cited didn’t say anything about the need to fill out the lower half of a double bill; just the fact that the B-films were lower-budget.
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### Author:  [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/43 "2025-06-12T11:56:14Z")
And for the non-politcally-correct, any of the Charlie Chan movies (but only the ones starring Warner Oland.)
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### Author:  [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/44 "2025-06-12T12:11:19Z")
I’ll always watch **Tank Girl** if I come across it. I’m not sure if it qualifies as a B movie; was it a big hit when it came out?
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/45 "2025-06-12T12:14:37Z")
Tank Girl is a delight, as is Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy. I also enjoy Reform School Girls, though it’s a send-up of the genre.
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### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/46 "2025-06-12T12:28:11Z")
> [@susan](#):
>
> Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy
I remember catching this on late night TV about 25 years ago. I was like, “WTF is this?” Great movie, though, with awesome sets.
I think a B movie needs to be more than just “low budget,” since I can think of low budget films that are really good in other ways. I mentioned **Clerks** above. I think it was made for less than $30K, but the writing/script is exceptionally clever, IMO.
And I just remembered another B film I love: **Forbidden Zone**.
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### Author:  [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/47 "2025-06-12T13:10:49Z")
Yes, that is my definition of B-movies as well. I remember the drive-in A and B movies from when I was a kid, and usually enjoyed the B movie more. Campy fun! I’d often sleep through the A movie.
And movie theaters make more money from concessions than from ticket sales, Studios take most of the box office (often 50–65%), leaving theaters with slim profits from the movie itself. But, with markups over 800% and nearly all revenue going to the theater, soda and popcorn are pure gold. So keeping folks longer and eating makes sense.
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### Author:  [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/48 "2025-06-12T13:21:06Z")
I am too young to remember the double-feature era, but I am old enough to remember the tail end of the grindhouse era. My fond memories are of early Chuck Norris movies, Sho Kosugi’s ninja trilogy, and Cannon Group/Golan-Globus movies.
Good Guys Wear Black
Enter the Ninja
Sword of the Valiant
Lifeforce
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### Author:  [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/49 "2025-06-12T13:39:32Z")
It’s hard to define a single favorite to be honest but, if pressed to do so …
[_ **Sukiyaki Western Django** _](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukiyaki_Western_Django)
I really got off on the fact that it is a Japanese western! A Japanese western you ask incredulously?!! Yep, a Japanese western! LOL
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### Author:  [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/50 "2025-06-12T13:40:02Z")
Another feature of the B movie is that they are much more likely to make a profit than a major feature film. So much so, that by the 1960s, both films on a double feature were likely to be B movies.
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### Author:  [@groovie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groovie)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/51 "2025-06-12T13:45:44Z")
There was a spate of movies in the early-mid eighties that epitomized the spirit of b-moviedom.
Zone Troopers, Trancers (by-line “Jack Deth’s back, and he’s never been here before”), Critters too. There’s probably others.
Larry Cohen made some really good movies around this time, The Stuff comes to mind prominently, and “Q The Winged Serpent”.
I remember Strange Behavior also (Michael Laughlin?).
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### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/52 "2025-06-12T13:51:55Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#):
>
> Another feature of the B movie is that they are much more likely to make a profit than a major feature film.
[How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime](https://www.amazon.com/Made-Hundred-Movies-Hollywood-Never/dp/0306808749) is the title of Roger Corman’s autobiography.
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### Author:  [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/53 "2025-06-12T14:36:32Z")
If Kelly’s Heroes counts then that. It’s almost a B movie made with real stars.
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### Author:  [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/54 "2025-06-12T14:40:30Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#):
>
> _They Live_ - stands up very well in relevance, fight sequences, tongueness-in-cheek, and plenty of reasons to re-watch it periodically.
>
> Since director John Carpenter was already known for _The Thing_ and _Big Trouble in Little China_ [another B fave and contender], its probably more of an off-kilter A Movie, given a B for subject matter.
I think there are arguments to be made for either side.
That said, any movie with a line like “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass … and I’m all out of bubblegum” deserves mention in any discussion where an excuse an be found to mention it.
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### Author:  [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/55 "2025-06-12T14:43:30Z")
Speaking of John Carpenter; I think his classic B movie is the awesome **Assault on Precinct 13**. Great film!
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### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/56 "2025-06-12T14:48:51Z")
In the OP I deliberately avoided a tight definition of B-movies. I liked the fluff shown on Saturday afternoon TV: _Sssssss_, _Godzilla and Mothra_, _Chitty Chitty Bang Bang_… but these are not my favourite B-movies.
I saw Star Wars, Jaws, Raiders, Clash of the Titans at the drive-in. The only B-movie I remember was The Deep, mainly because of the stellar “performance” from Jacqueline Bisset.
_Tank Girl_ also had a stellar soundtrack.
[ ](https://iv1.lisimg.com/image/20286302/740full-jacqueline-bisset.jpg)
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### Author:  [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/57 "2025-06-12T14:56:57Z")
I think the original 1979 _Mad Max_ would qualify as a B movie. I hadn’t seen it in years but caught part of it recently and was struck by the low production quality. The idea behind the film was smart, though, and it quickly became a successful franchise afterwards.
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### Author:  [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/58 "2025-06-12T15:10:46Z")
I think that the first Terminator flick qualifies as a “B” movie.
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### Author:  [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/59 "2025-06-12T15:11:00Z")
_Hobo with a Shotgun_. _Snakes on a Plane_. A couple that have no purpose other than drenching you with ridiculousness. Lots of others in that category, but those are the first that came to mind.
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### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favourite-b-movie/1019489/60 "2025-06-12T15:39:28Z")
The IMDB lists 100+1 B-movie bests. Unsurprisingly, I have seen less than a third of these.
> **[The 100+1 Best "B Movies" of All Time](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls021244931/)**
>
> by Paste Magazine
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