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This compilation is part of a series of fresh shopping lists we've been releasing since early September. Make sure to explore the remaining trial shopping categories to discover what we've shared so far. These lists aren't featured in the main article feed, so you’ll need to visit the shopping category daily (accessible via the top menu bar). Now, let’s dive into the world of exploitation!
Exploitation films hold a peculiar and often overlooked niche in American cinema. Despite modern efforts to replicate the chaotic and boundary-pushing essence of classic B-movies, most attempts have failed to capture their unique charm.
Numerous exploitation movies stand out due to the creators behind them, the debates they sparked, or the limits they pushed. Here are ten must-watch titles… unless, of course, you’re too timid to give them a try.
10. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls1970
Starring: Erica Gavin, John LaZar Director: Russ Meyer
Renowned for his low-budget, high-shock films, Russ Meyer produced a vast array of movies often criticized for their quality. His focus on quantity and provocative themes over polished production values brought him fame, and his methods even helped launch the careers of notable filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola (who helmed the horror flick Dementia 13 for Corman) and James Cameron (whose first film was the Corman-backed Piranha II).
This satirical drama stands out as one of Corman’s most acclaimed works, largely due to an unexpected collaboration—he co-wrote it with the iconic film critic Roger Ebert. Ebert openly discussed his brief foray into exploitation screenwriting, though he didn’t necessarily boast about it.
9. Shivers1975
Starring: Paul Hampton, Lynn Lowry Director: David Cronenberg
Shivers is a chilling sci-fi horror film centered around an alien parasite outbreak with a unsettling focus on venereal disease themes. It’s grotesque, unsettling, and expertly crafted, a hallmark of the soon-to-be-legendary horror filmmaker David Cronenberg.
This movie is also significant for being produced by Ivan Reitman, who later directed iconic comedies like Ghostbusters and its sequel. It marked his first collaboration with Cronenberg, followed by Rabid, a slightly more famous film featuring adult film star Marilyn Chambers.
8. Pink Flamingos1972
Starring: Divine, David Lochary Director: John Waters
John Waters, an artist never associated with subtlety, brought his bold style to filmmaking. While his more mainstream works like Cry-Baby (featuring a young Johnny Depp) and Serial Mom have their own eccentric charm, Pink Flamingos remains the most infamous of his early creations.
Pink Flamingos, a film following criminals on the run led by the drag queen Divine, defies all notions of good taste, which explains its unrated release. With its surreal and darkly humorous tone, it’s essential viewing for exploitation film enthusiasts—provided they can endure its infamous final scene.
7. Super Fly1972
Starring: Ron O’Neal, Sheila Frazier Director: Gordon Parks, Jr.
The blaxploitation genre, a unique branch of B-movies, was a treasure trove of eccentric and extreme storytelling, launching stars like Fred “The Hammer” Williamson and Pam Grier. Directed by Gordon Parks, Jr.—son of the iconic Shaft director—this film stands out as one of the finest, offering a gritty pimp narrative anchored by Ron O’Neal’s captivating performance.
Another highlight is the film’s legendary soundtrack, one of the greatest ever created. Crafted by former Impressions singer Curtis Mayfield as one of his first solo ventures, it’s widely regarded as a masterpiece of 70s funk and a career-defining achievement.
6. The Toxic Avenger1984
Starring: Mitch Cohen, Mark Torgl Director: Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman
Lloyd Kaufman, arguably the most audacious filmmaker on this list aside from Corman, is the creative force behind Troma Studios, renowned for its wild assortment of low-budget, eccentric films. This movie propelled the studio into a semblance of recognition, for better or worse, and remains one of their most polished and cohesive works.
The Toxic Avenger tells the story of a bullied janitor who gains superpowers after a chemical waste accident. It’s a chaotic blend of absurd characters and over-the-top, cartoonish violence. For fans of the genre, it’s a must-watch—a testament to Troma’s relentless effort to transform exploitation cinema into its own unique form of bizarre art.
5. Caligula1979
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren Director: Tinto Brass
Caligula stands out as one of the strangest films on this list, being the only movie produced by Penthouse magazine. Directed by Italian filmmaker Tinto Brass, it includes additional explicit scenes filmed by Penthouse’s publisher, Bob Guccione.
Despite its controversial nature, this film boasts an impressive pedigree. Written by acclaimed author Gore Vidal, it stars Malcolm McDowell, Peter O’Toole, Helen Mirren, and John Gielgud—the latter two having achieved the acting “Triple Crown” with Oscar, Tony, and Emmy wins. The film, known for its lavish production, extreme violence, and explicit content, was heavily criticized upon release (including by Roger Ebert), but has since gained a cult following and recognition for its artistic value.
4. Cannibal Holocaust1980
Starring: Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi Director: Ruggero Deodato
This infamous film is renowned for two key reasons. First, it pioneered a new genre; the tale of a documentary team vanishing in the Amazon, with the latter half presented as their recovered footage, making it the first-ever found footage film. This genre gained popularity nearly two decades later with 1999’s The Blair Witch Project and remains influential today.
Second, its horrifying special effects were so convincing that director Ruggero Deodato was summoned to an Italian court to prove no actors were harmed during filming. Though exonerated, the film was banned in multiple countries and remains shocking in its graphic violence—definitely not for the squeamish.
3. Blood Feast1963
Starring: Mal Arnold, Lyn Bolton Director: Herschell Gordon Lewis
Considered the grandfather of the exploitation genre, 1963’s Blood Feast is the oldest film on the UK’s Video Nasty list. Directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis, it aimed to shatter cinematic norms of the era. The story follows a deranged caterer who uses his victims as ingredients in meals dedicated to an Egyptian goddess, delivering unprecedented levels of graphic bloodshed and gore.
Lewis, who was disappointed by the lack of gore in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho three years prior, carved out a notable career in exploitation cinema. He directed iconic films like The Wizard of Gore and Two Thousand Maniacs!, leaving a lasting impact on modern horror by boldly showcasing what no filmmaker had dared to before.
2. I Spit On Your Grave aka Day of the Woman1978
Starring: Camilla Keaton, Richard Pace Director: Meir Zarchi
Originally intended as a poignant commentary on sexual violence and feminism by director Meir Zarchi, 1978’s The Day of the Woman—more famously known as I Spit On Your Grave—remains one of the most divisive and notorious films in history. The story follows writer Jennifer Hills (Camille Keaton in a grueling role) as she is brutally attacked by a group of locals at her secluded cabin. After surviving the ordeal, she exacts revenge in a manner even more harrowing than the initial violence.
Roger Ebert’s scathing review of this film was filled with disdain, calling it “a vile bag of garbage, devoid of any artistic merit… one of the most depressing experiences of my life.” Whether you agree with his assessment—not all critics were as harsh—this is undeniably a film that leaves a lasting impression.
1. Thriller: A Cruel Picture1973
Starring: Christina Lindberg, Heinz Hopf Director: Bo Arne Vibenius
This film, described by Quentin Tarantino as “the roughest revenge picture” he’s ever seen, follows a mute young woman forced into heroin addiction and prostitution, who later seeks vengeance on her tormentors. Director Bo Arne Vibenius aimed to create “the most commercial film of all time,” but his vision fell far short of that goal.
Packed with extreme violence and explicit content, this film has sparked numerous rumors, including claims of using a real cadaver for a scene involving an eye stabbing. Marketed under the alternate title They Call Her One-Eye, it has directly influenced modern exploitation films like Tarantino’s Kill Bill.
