Sometimes, a movie comes along that defies explanation. It’s not good—oh, no—but it’s so gloriously bad that it becomes unforgettable. These films fail on nearly every level, yet somehow, that’s exactly what makes them incredible. They inspire memes, inside jokes, and unironic fan clubs. These cinematic disasters aren’t just movies; they’re cultural events. Here are 10 films that earned a special place in our hearts for being so bad, they’re beautiful.

1. Morbius (2022)

We can’t talk about this topic without the juggernaut of ironic popularity, Morbius. You might think a Marvel movie starring Jared Leto as a living vampire oozing with CGI effects would have been a slam-dunk. Instead, it gave us “It’s Morbin’ time!”—a phrase that never appeared in the movie but somehow became its legacy online. Critics skewered its lackluster plot, generic villains, and bizarre tone. Yet, the internet embraced it, creating what felt like an entire religion around the film. When millions begged for a rerelease because “they were all busy the first time”, Sony somehow missed the sarcasm and complied. Predictably, Morbius bombed again, cementing its status as a monument to unintended hilarity.

2. The Room (2003)

Ah, The Room. The undisputed pioneer of the “so bad, it’s good” genre. Written, directed, produced by, and starring the enigmatic Tommy Wiseau, no one really knows how The Room got made—or why. The film is filled with wooden acting, awkward subplots that go nowhere (what happened to Lisa’s mom’s cancer?), and some of the most quotable dialogue in history. Seriously, who hasn’t shouted, “Oh, hi Mark!” at least once? The best part? Tommy Wiseau seemingly thought he made a masterpiece, making the unintentional comedy even sweeter. Today, midnight screenings of The Room are celebrated with interactive rituals. Bring your plastic spoons.

3. Cats (2019)

Few bad movies reach the level of fever dream that Cats did. The beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical was turned into a nightmare fueled by CGI that’s impossible to unsee—including “digital fur technology” that gave the actors uncanny cat-human hybrids. Combine that with scenes like Rebel Wilson’s cat cohort unzipping her literal fur and you’ve got a film that made audiences squirm in their seats. Yet, its absurdity quickly became meme heaven. There’s a wild sense of community that emerges from watching Cats—the kind of movie experience where you immediately run to Twitter to scream, “Did that REALLY just happen?”

4. Sharknado (2013)

Flying sharks in a tornado. That’s it. That’s the pitch. And somehow, it worked. Initially intended as another cheesy TV movie from SyFy, Sharknado quickly became an internet sensation thanks to its mind-boggling premise and gleeful refusal to take anything—even logic—seriously. With lines like “We’re going to need a bigger chopper!” and ridiculously bad CGI sequences of sharks defying all known laws of physics, it’s impossible not to love this one. And guess what? It spawned five sequels. By the end, the franchise went completely rogue, with time travel, space sharks, and Tara Reid wielding a lightsaber chainsaw. Iconic.

5. Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010)

What if Hitchcock’s The Birds had no budget, horrendous acting, and birds that looked like gifs from 1997? You’d have Birdemic. This “eco-horror” film is less about scaring viewers with bird attacks and more about inspiring deep belly laughs every five minutes. The birds, which attack with an ear-piercing screech that could rival your worst alarm clock, hover in mid-air like poorly cut-out stickers. One particularly memorable sequence involves the cast fighting off dozens of birds with—you guessed it—coat hangers. You just can’t script something this unintentionally funny. Except, apparently, you can.

6. Batman & Robin (1997)

Nipples on the Batsuit. Need we say more? Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin was an attempt to take Gotham in a campier direction, but instead it became a kaleidoscope of cringe-worthy dialogue, absurd costume choices, and Arnold Schwarzenegger spewing ice puns as Mr. Freeze. “Chill out!” is just one of the gems in his repertoire. Despite being universally panned for its over-the-top silliness, Batman & Robin has become a nostalgic favorite for fans who love to laugh at its sheer ridiculousness. It’s the movie equivalent of a glitter bomb—it makes no sense, but it’s kind of amazing.

7. Troll 2 (1990)

Contrary to its name, there are no trolls in Troll 2. This low-budget wonder is about vegetarian goblins who disguise themselves as people and turn humans into plants before eating them. Sure, why not? The acting is so hilariously bad that it’s almost hypnotic. And the infamous “OH MY GOD!” scene? It’s a meme unto itself, featuring a character delivering the line with all the emotional weight of someone ordering a coffee wrong. Even better, the director maintains to this day that he made a flawless film. Honestly, we love that level of misplaced confidence.

8. Mac and Me (1988)

Imagine E.T., but instead of heartwarming brilliance, you get one of the most blatant product placements in cinema history. That’s Mac and Me. An alien crash-lands on Earth and ends up befriending a kid in a wheelchair, which all sounds innocent enough until you realize nearly every scene is an advertisement. There’s a lot of Coca-Cola and McDonald's, including an unforgettable dance number in a McDonald’s parking lot. Mac and Me is basically a 90-minute commercial—and yet, its cheesy charm and “so, this happened” energy have turned it into a cult classic.

9. The Happening (2008)

M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening is supposed to be a thriller about deadly plants attacking humankind. Instead, it’s a masterclass in awkward dialogue and confusing performances—especially from Mark Wahlberg, who spends most of the movie staring into the distance and asking questions like, “Why are you eyeing my lemon drink?” The “villain,” if you can call it that, is the air itself, which causes people to spontaneously commit suicide. The premise is ambitious, but the execution? Hilariously off the mark. It’s the kind of movie that begs for a drinking game.

10. VelociPastor (2018)

The title alone deserves a standing ovation. VelociPastor is about, you guessed it, a pastor who can turn into a velociraptor. It’s as ridiculous as you’d imagine, with low-budget visuals that lean into their absurdity. A standout scene includes a car exploding—except the filmmakers decided to just use a text overlay that says “[VFX Car on Fire]” instead of actually creating an effect. Pure brilliance. VelociPastor became a viral hit for its campy humor and self-aware approach, proving that sometimes, the more ridiculous the concept, the better.

From flying sharks to unintentional vampiric memes, these films remind us that cinema doesn’t have to be perfect to be legendary. Sometimes, a movie’s flaws make it shine even brighter. Whether it’s the corny acting, questionable special effects, or a script only a mother could love, these films have all carved out a special place in pop culture. They remind us to laugh, meme, and maybe even defend them at 2 a.m. on Twitter. After all, isn’t it a little fun to love a disaster?