Bad Movies: Should You Waste Your Time With Them?

“No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough.”

— Roger Ebert

Introduction

What qualifies as a bad movie? One that is boring? Poorly made? Poorly written? Promotes harmful messages? These seem like reasonable qualifications. But does it have to be all of these at once? Or just one of them? How do we decide when it’s bad? And should we even bother spending our time watching bad movies?

When we try to nail down what is considered a “bad” movie, we really only have one thing we’re comparing them to… other movies. We’re looking at the movies we consider “good” and then by that standard, regarding a movie as “not good,” etc. But what qualifies a movie as good? Well, by comparing it to other movies, of course.

I am not suggesting one should not compare movies to each other. But I hope that it provides perspective that nailing down what makes a movie “bad” or “good” is a bit tricky when we’re just comparing them to other movies. Because at what point is something beyond “good” and is now “bad?”

When it comes to “bad” movies, are they a waste of time, or is there a reason to watch them? Let’s explore this topic further:

Nuance to the Conversation

Before looking at either side of the argument as to why one should, or shouldn’t, watch bad movies, let’s explore some further nuance to the conversation.

I like to think of movies being on a scale. On one end is “really good” and on the other end is “really bad.” Any particular movie you watch falls somewhere on this scale. There isn’t a defining moment when a movie is no longer good, so much as it gets closer to being “really bad.” Movies very often are a mixture of good and bad elements. We can really like a movie for certain aspects, but not as much for other aspects. And by some conglomeration of these elements, we deem it better than, worse than, etc.

Another huge component is whether or not a movie is entertaining. Some movies have all the “right” elements, and yet, can be a complete bore. Some movies have horrendous production design, acting, and writing, and yet, we are deeply entertained. So is it that a “bad” movie can be better than the “good” movie? Is entertainment value the standard by which we judge a movie good or bad?

Ultimately, this conversation is a subjective one. There really isn’t a single metric we can use to rate a movie. Of course, there are some universal guidelines that if a movie follows, help it become more popular with more people.

General Guidelines for Rating Movies

Here are a couple guidelines I think people use to determine if a movie is good or bad.

How well does it meet the criteria it set out to meet? If it’s a comedy, is it funny? If it’s a drama, does it pull at your heartstrings? Does it try to be larger than life and succeed? Does it inspire awe but feel cheap?
Entertainment – Does it keep you hooked from beginning to end? Are you on the edge of your seat, desperate to know what happens next? Is it so funny you can’t stop laughing? Does it evoke a sense of nostalgia that makes you feel warm on the inside?

I believe these are the two primary criteria people have when they try to rate a movie. Sure, there’re a lot more things you could break down and evaluate, such as production quality, acting, etc… but these smaller elements will tend to fall in one category or the other.

Reasons to Watch Bad Movies

Now for the fun part! Here are some reasons you should watch bad movies.

There are many bad movies have a cultural significance. The one I probably saw referred to the most throughout my research was The Room. It’s generally considered a really bad film, but incredibly iconic. Howard the Duck is not as iconic, but was the first theatrically released Marvel film. Cats attempted using a new technology to create “fur skin” and, well, it wasn’t as well received as hoped… And of course, there are a ton more bad movies out there to be found, many of which will have a cult following because they are so iconic or funny.

Another reason one might watch bad movies is to learn from them. If one is a student of film, watching bad movies is a good way to learn how NOT to do something. You can watch what happens when something falls flat on its face and learn why. Then of course, not repeat the same mistake yourself. Quentin Tarantino suggests watching all forms of cinema, including the bad movies, to learn and appreciate what they have to offer.

The last reason is that watching bad movies can be just pure entertainment, especially when doing it in a group setting. Sure, some bad movies are an absolute bore (Oz the Great and Powerful comes to mind for me…) but some truly do go beyond “competent” bad to “bizarrely” bad that they are truly hysterical to watch. And being with some friends to watch and laugh at the movie together is a time to bond in ways that can’t happen if you’re watching a completely engrossing film where everyone is quiet and on the edge of their seats.

Reasons to NOT Watch Bad Movies

Many see watching bad movies as a waste of time. Let’s be honest – you have one life to live. To watch a bad movie that is going to make you cringe and roll your eyes may not be how you want to spend your time. Why not watch things that are well done, thoughtful, and delightful? We are already pressed for time between work, kids, and household chores… and we want to use that spare time well. If you’re going to watch a movie, it better be a good one. Because watching a bad one is going to make you wish you had just gone to bed earlier.

Some bad movies may promote harmful messages. A lot create completely unrealistic expectations for relationships or even celebrate toxic relationships (such as Twilight). Some movies have the intention of sharing a good message, but end up painting a a bad picture of anyone who disagrees with the message (God’s Not Dead). Why promote movies like this? We want movies that are nuanced, and even if they are promoting a specific value, at least present a fair argument. If a movie is being harmful, you may not want to give it your time of day, because there are better things to do than encourage movies like this.

Last argument I will cover – to watch bad movies is to fill your mind with junk. Our world is already filling our minds with more junk than we would like between social media and the news. We don’t need bad stories, namely movies, adding to that. Watching movies should be a safe space, free from the world and its jargon. No need to expose yourself to more negative messages or just crappy filmmaking.

Conclusion

As stated earlier, whether you intentionally watch bad movies or not, boils down to personal opinion. And what falls into the “bad” movie camp is a subjective discussion. You have to understand what your own values are, and based on that, prioritize how you want to spend your time.

The last thing I will comment further on is to be mindful of what you may be promoting by what you are watching. We’ve seen far too many franchises keep cranking out junky sequels because people keep watching them (Jurassic Park, Transformers, and Star Wars). Universally, we agree these sequels are not great, and yet, we keep watching them. Why? Maybe because they are just entertaining? And just because something is entertaining, is that reason enough to watch it? Whatever the reason we keep watching these movies, it’s enough for the studios to keep cranking out more, because they’re making a billion dollars per movie.

If we want better movies, there is an argument to be made about being mindful about where you place your precious money and time. Because the funny thing is, our movies are going to reflect what the culture values the most. And then those movies, in return, create our culture’s values. If you want a better cycle for our cultural’s beliefs and movies, be the difference.