Worst Movies of All Time

There’s nothing like sitting down to enjoy a great movie. But there’s also nothing like sitting down to experience a truly bad movie. Since 1929, when the Academy Awards were created, we’ve been celebrating the “best” films ever made. But what about the best worst movies ever made?

They are the movies that are so bad they’re good. They could be obscure B-movies with atrocious plots and worse production values. They could be blockbuster hits which made bank but left their integrity and competency on the cutting-room floor. Or they could be just plain awful.

A good schlockfest can bring as much joy as some Oscar winners, and many bad movies are worth a watch. But only when you’re in the right mood for murderous television sets, women-stealing dummies, beds that eat people, and more mad scientists and gorilla suits than you can shake a rubber gun at.

So welcome to the reverse Academy Awards. Here are the worst movies from every year since 1929.

Director: James Cruze

Starring: Erich von Stroheim, Betty Compson, Donald Douglas

Budget: N/A

Box office: N/A

“[T]he story is slim, predictable, and stiffly done — padded out by lots of big and unintentionally hilarious musical numbers. A curio for film buffs.” — TCM

Gabbo, Gabbo, Gabbo! “Simpsons” fans might notice a familiar name in the title. The episode “Krusty Gets Kancelled” is inspired by this movie (or possibly “The Rival Dummy,” the story on which the film is based). “The Great Gabbo” is an odd little movie about a ventriloquist named Gabbo and his obsession with his doll, Otto. Plus, there are random musical scenes. 

During the film, Gabbo finds a love interest, Mary, but he refuses to leave Otto at home, taking him to dinner and everywhere else. Mary, not wanting to live with a manchild, leaves Gabbo. But Gabbo is still in love with Mary and declares his love for her in the dressing room.

Mary isn’t interested in the great Gabbo, though. She’s interested in the wooden doll with the pageboy haircut. “Don’t hurt your little nose again, Otto,” she tells the doll, stroking the tip of its wooden nose. “I loved you. I think I always have. And I think I always will.”

After Mary leaves, Gabbo punches Otto in the face, apologizes, interrupts the musical number on stage, screams at the audience and is fired. 

We’ve been making bad movies for a really, really long time. 

Director: Lloyd Bacon

Starring: John Barrymore, Joan Bennett, Lloyd Hughes, Noble Johnson

Budget: $604,000

Box office: $797,000