# What movies were pretty much regarded as stinkers, but you secretly enjoy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2012, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075 "2012-07-13T02:04:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/21 "2012-07-13T03:39:51Z")
another vote for Last Action Hero and I like Escape From LA ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/22 "2012-07-13T03:52:42Z")
Don’t know how much people dislike these movies, or just ignore them… **Joe vs. the Volcano** - Has a certain inspired silliness. It’s only bad if you think it takes place in the real world. **L.A. Story** - Most romantic movies try to make the protagonists as generically appealing as possible. The leads in this are quirky, but perfect for each other. (And me, I fell for Victoria Tennant a little bit the first time I saw it.) > [@ExTank](#): > > \*The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. \* This may be considered a “cheat,” as it’s now 71% “Fresh” on Rotten Tomaotes, but that wasn’t always the case; it seems to have aged well with the critics. I saw it in the theater. I liked it at first, and like it more now. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/23 "2012-07-13T03:59:32Z")
> [@4d3fect](#): > > They Live. > > Big Trouble in Little China. I’m not sure either of those qualify, though, as even the critics seemed to think they were genuinely good movies. I just looked them up on Rotten Tomatoes, and _They Live_ and _Big Trouble in Little China_ have critical ratings of 88% and 82%, respectively. That’s pretty good, although _Big Trouble_ didn’t make its money back at the Box Office. _They Live_ made over four times it’s budget back, but I’m not sure that says a whole lot as I think it was payed for by the change John Carpenter found in the cushions of his couch. Anyway, my entry is _Chronicles of Riddick_. That thing’s got a 29% at Rotten tomatoes, but I love it, and think it’s an underrated movie. It’s got a much tighter plot than most other sci fi action movies, pretty good special effects, and it knows exactly what it’s trying to accomplish. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/24 "2012-07-13T04:02:27Z")
Death Wish III is hilarious. I mean, Charles Bronson rides a bus from the midwest into New York City during the opening credits, and the bus is shown going into Manhattan across the 59th Street bridge (from Queens!), then on to the Port Authority terminal, which is on the west side of Manhattan. (All long-distance buses, even coming from, say, Albany, use the Lincoln Tunnel from New Jersey to the PA.) Even if you want to say he took the bus from JFK or LaGuardia, it was a _Trailways_ bus, and the first thing he does at the bus terminal, is call his friend in Brooklyn! (And the rest of the movie was shot with London standing in for Brooklyn anyway.) And that’s just the first five minutes. It gets even better from there. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/25 "2012-07-13T04:05:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > - > > Fast Times at Ridgemont High\* > [@Krokodil](#): > > **Almost Famous** > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > **L.A. Story** I realize that these threads are somewhat subjective, but in what universe are these considered stinkers? Fast Times is at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. Almost Famous is at 88%. (This is one of my favorite films, and as I remember Roger Ebert’s review, he was positively giddy he loved the film so much. I think he identified with the teenage journalist character.) And L.A. Story is at _94%_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/26 "2012-07-13T04:11:04Z")
Secret, shmecret. I enjoyed _Toys_ well enough, it’s not a favourite but I don’t get the hate. I like _Hudson Hawk_ as well, because let’s face it; how can you not love Sandra Bernhard and Richard E. Grant as bad guys? And Bruce Payne’s scenery chomping in _Highlander: Endgame_ is the best. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/27 "2012-07-13T04:11:27Z")
_Prometheus_. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/28 "2012-07-13T04:16:08Z")
2012 was easily a better film than Independence Day, so I could see why someone would love it. (I personally like Independence Day more). Mars Attacks! is also one of my favorite movies and I don’t understand why anyone hates it. Pretty much the best “parody” film ever made. I am and always will be a big fan of the Dune movie. Saw it many, many times, and eventually read the first 2 books. They were obviously far better than the film, but I do still enjoy it, even though I recognize it’s not objectively very good. Contact is my favorite film of all time and I think it is Jodie Foster’s best acting. It’s not usually considered a stinker, but if the world loved it as much as I do it would have tons of accolades and awards. I haven’t read the book but would like to some day. Nothing But Trouble is also fucking hilarious, and is one of the lowest ranked movies on IMDB. I have watched it countless times and I love it. What is there to hate about this movie? One of Chevy Chase’s best I think, honestly. Conversely, it was one of John Candy’s worst (and he’s usually one of my favorite comedy stars). ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/29 "2012-07-13T04:23:28Z")
I’ll also second _Dune_ and _Contact_. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/30 "2012-07-13T04:41:22Z")
Slipstream- I’ve mentioned this movie in a previous thread similar to this, this movie was PANNED viciously by critics, called easily one of the worst movies of all time. WTF are they on about? It has a interesting concept(post apoc aviation, android slave on the run) amazing scenery and location shooting in Turkey, plus Mark Hamill as the villain. It is a competent B movie and far from worst film ever made. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/31 "2012-07-13T04:55:22Z")
Many of mine have already been mentioned, but I wanted to add **Stuart Saves His Family** , one of my very favorite SNL movies. Joe ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/32 "2012-07-13T04:56:12Z")
Dude, Where’s My Car? Seriously. I mean, in a so-bad-it’s-good type of way. But I’m pretty sure they were purposely going for that type of appeal. They succeeded. Also, Mallrats. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/33 "2012-07-13T04:58:42Z")
_The Wicker Man_ – the remake with Nick Cage. But I don’t like it in a good way. I think it’s so bad it turns a corner to hilariously bad. I swear to Og I’ve almost passed out from laughing so much watching it, especially after he gets in the bear suit. I really would love to see the MST3K people put this one through the wringer. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/34 "2012-07-13T05:36:52Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > _The Wicker Man_ – the remake with Nick Cage. But I don’t like it in a good way. I think it’s so bad it turns a corner to hilariously bad. I swear to Og I’ve almost passed out from laughing so much watching it, especially after he gets in the bear suit. I really would love to see the MST3K people put this one through the wringer. [Good news!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyeHf1ZK2dY) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/35 "2012-07-13T05:40:51Z")
_Road House_, most definitely. I’d like to add _Point Break_, but it somehow has nearly 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, so I don’t know that it would qualify; I’ll always think of it as my favorite bad movie ever. I…am…an…FBI…line?..AGENT!! ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/36 "2012-07-13T05:44:48Z")
Babylon AD- With the caveat that I only saw the first half of the movie and never managed to see the rest 🙂 It however was badly panned, but the movie I saw was enjoyable if not groundbreaking. It was cool to see a dystopia/post apoc movie set in Russia and Asia, the market scene was cool. Pretty standard but well done, unless the last half was REALLY bad I think the hate was undue. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/37 "2012-07-13T05:46:31Z")
> [@greenslime1951](#): > > My personal stinker-favorites are: > > The Postman in “Kevin Costner.” Yes, I know it’s supposed to be the other way around, but this was as blatant a vehicle as I’ve ever seen. However, I enjoy the Reluctant Hero and Defeat the Army of Assholes tropes, as well as the sheer ludicrousness of many (many, many) of the scenes. > > “The Edge.” Bear runs around trying to kill Alex Baldwin and Anthony Hopkins. Alex Baldwin and Anthony Hopkins run around trying to kill each other. I like this because the scenery/cinematography is fantastic and the soundtrack is compelling. I enjoy how Anthony Hopkins takes some absolutely awful lines and makes them work. I also enjoy the premise of two men who want very much to kill each other, but can’t, because they need each other to survive (I’m sure this theme has been used before somewhere). If you use the word “people,” I believe this theme is traditionally called marriage. I like _The Postman._ Sort of _Stuart Saves the [World]_ on 'ludes. And _Waterworld_ is great; Mad Max Goes to Hawaii (and wipes out.) Men At Work is a fun movie that’s Fast and Superfluous . _Summer Rental_ I love. A guy trying to give his family a good vacation and slipping on every banana. Which leads me to _Capt. Ron._ Kirk Russell “garrring” in an eyepatch (not escaping New York.) Family on the “boat” (it’s a stretch) opens the freezer (on a boat?) for a real seafood dinner and finds a bunch of frozen fishsticks. The little Asian (or Fillipino) guy who has obviously caught, and eaten, too many flies. He makes paper hats look good. A real feel-good movie. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/38 "2012-07-13T05:48:38Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Babylon AD- > > With the caveat that I only saw the first half of the movie and never managed to see the rest 🙂 It however was badly panned, but the movie I saw was enjoyable if not groundbreaking. It was cool to see a dystopia/post apoc movie set in Russia and Asia, the market scene was cool. Pretty standard but well done, unless the last half was REALLY bad I think the hate was undue. You saw the good half. After the action shifts to the US, it gets stupid and nonsensical. But the first part was pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/39 "2012-07-13T05:59:27Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > _North_ is famously one of Roger Ebert’s most disliked movies. I don’t know why, as I thought it was fun. Maybe I just understood the humour it was going for. There are some really bad movies that people are liking here, but you are really sick. Seek help. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075/40 "2012-07-13T06:08:42Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > There are some really bad movies that people are liking here, but you are really sick. Seek help. It has been a long time since I watched it, maybe I wouldn’t like it so much anymore. But it seemed to me to be a fable like a more light-hearted Roald Dahl story. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-were-pretty-much-regarded-as-stinkers-but-you-secretly-enjoy/628075.md?page=3)