Buzz
Humor is deeply personal, and it's challenging to outright dismiss someone else's sense of comedy. However, unintentional humor? That's something everyone can agree on. Whether you're the most refined or the most straightforward, there's a universal joy in witnessing a disaster—as long as you're not the one causing it.
Jokes designed to amuse often fall flat just as frequently as they land, but nothing guarantees laughter quite like a botched attempt at seriousness. This is because, deep down, we're all flawed beings who find pleasure in the missteps of others. Embrace this truth and indulge in a collection of films that, despite their earnest efforts, ended up achieving a level of hilarity their creators never intended. Here are 20 movies that are unintentionally hilarious, best enjoyed with the right perspective.
Battlefield Earth (2000)
Roger Christian, an Oscar winner for his art direction in the original Star Wars, earned a Golden Raspberry for directing John Travolta's $50 million Scientology-themed project. Set in the year 3000, Earth is dominated by the Psychlos, alien beings resembling humans but with enormously tall heads. The film suffers from poor acting, a low-budget aesthetic, and a dreary color scheme ranging from muddy brown to sickly yellow. To top it off, the storyline is utterly baffling. Yet, if you can't find humor in John Travolta and Forest Whitaker debating humanity's fate while wearing oversized wigs, you might be missing a sense of fun.
Where to stream: Vix
Wild Mountain Thyme (2020)
Christopher Walken's painfully bad Irish accent is enough to secure this film a place on the list, with Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan similarly struggling to deliver any semblance of authenticity. The romantic comedy's plot is largely forgettable, focusing on two neighbors who linger on adjacent farms without much purpose until they eventually unite—also without much justification. While the film is generally dull, the real draw is its bizarre, unexpected, and downright absurd magical twist ending.
Where to stream: Hulu
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
Speaking of Jamie Dornan! The peculiar, watered-down BDSM cultural sensation that was 50 Shades hit the big screen with Dornan and Dakota Johnson, portraying a relationship meant to shock and excite, though it often feels like they're acting in entirely different films. He's perpetually brooding and overly serious, while she's timid and quirky, always appearing as though she wandered in from a romantic comedy set next door. Except that movie wouldn't include lines like, "What are butt plugs?" As if the answer isn't obvious from the name itself!
Where to stream: Max
Batman & Robin (1997)
Joel Schumacher clearly understood the campy, queer, and eccentric tone he was aiming for, intending to mix superhero action with humor. However, the result is almost entirely comedic, except when it tries to be. The so-called "jokes," like the Bat credit card and chicks digging the car, fall flat, but the absurdity of the nipple-adorned batsuits and Arnold Schwarzenegger's cringe-worthy one-liners provide plenty of unintentional hilarity.
Where to stream: Max, Prime Video
The Happening (2008)
This M. Night Shyamalan film carries a deliberate B-movie vibe, though its twist is arguably the weakest in the director's career. While some claim the film's absurdity is intentional, its overly earnest approach to the premise—a bizarre suicide epidemic—often results in unintentional hilarity. For instance, a scene featuring "terrorist" lions leisurely devouring a zookeeper aims for shock value but ends up feeling ludicrous. Given Shyamalan's other works, it's hard to believe he intended the film to be this comically absurd.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Troll 2 (1990)
The film isn't a sequel and features no actual trolls, immediately plunging it into the realm of unintentional comedy. Directed and written by Claudio Fragasso, the movie is based on a story by his wife, Rosella Drudi, who aimed to critique vegetarians through a bizarre narrative—goblins force their victims to consume food that turns them into vegetable paste, a supposed jab at vegetarianism. The production was chaotic, with the cast speaking English and the crew primarily Italian, resulting in a film that was meant to be serious horror but ended up hilariously absurd. One standout scene involves a child saving the day by urinating all over a dinner table.
Where to stream: Tubi, Hoopla, Kanopy
Roadhouse (1989)
Sandwiched between Dirty Dancing and Ghost in Patrick Swayze's career, Roadhouse is a delightfully low-budget mix of action and romantic drama. When not engaged in steamy scenes with Kelly Lynch, Swayze's bouncer character clashes with Ben Gazzara over control of the titular bar—for reasons that remain unclear. Filled with bafflingly macho lines like "dig a hole" and "pain don't hurt," the film peaks with Swayze's character ripping out another man's trachea, a moment that's far more amusing than it sounds.
Where to stream: Max
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Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010)
The first 40 minutes of James Nguyen's film are dedicated to introducing characters who lack the depth or backstory to justify the screen time. Rod is a corporate professional skilled at PowerPoint, while Nathalie is a high-fashion model shooting in what looks like repurposed closets. When the bird attacks finally begin, the predators hover aimlessly, leaving the violence to the viewer's imagination. The film later reveals the birds are attacking due to the harmful effects of fossil fuels—a valid point. While it may seem like intentional comedy, Nguyen's serious intent was inspired by Hitchcock's The Birds and Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, creating an unexpected mashup. Ironically, his intentionally satirical sequel falls short of this film's unintentional hilarity.
Where to stream: Peacock, Tubi, Freevee, Redbox, Plex
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Hayden Christensen, a capable actor in other roles, struggles under the weight of the second Star Wars prequel. While Anakin Skywalker's tragic arc is meant to evoke sympathy, his whiny and immature demeanor often leaves viewers longing for James Earl Jones' iconic voice to take over. One of the most unintentionally hilarious moments in the saga is Anakin's inexplicable rant about sand, a scene that stands out for all the wrong reasons.
Where to stream: Disney+
Mommie Dearest (1981)
While the film sparked a nationwide conversation about child abuse, there's no denying the sheer entertainment value of a woman in a collagen mask having an epic meltdown over metal hangers. Faye Dunaway delivers a delightfully over-the-top performance that's impossible to forget.
Where to stream: Max
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
The film's title is a chaotic mix, blending legal case-style abbreviations with a colon hinting at future installments. Memorable moments include a pivotal scene revolving around Lex Luthor's peculiar obsession, Batman inexplicably gaining dream-based foresight into future sequels, and the climactic battle ending abruptly when the heroes realize their mothers share the same name.
Where to stream: Max, Prime Video
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
As depicted in Tim Burton's acclaimed biopic, Ed Wood, the B-movie maestro, was a whirlwind of enthusiasm and misplaced confidence, making this sci-fi disaster a true classic. The film's threadbare plot involves aliens reanimating the dead to conquer Earth, but the real draw is its sheer absurdity. Featuring wrestler Tor Johnson, horror icon Vampira, and a posthumous appearance by Bela Lugosi—played by Wood's chiropractor in hilariously disjointed scenes—this movie is a masterpiece of unintentional comedy.
Where to stream: Tubi, Freevee, Plex, Pluto, Mubi, Hoopla, The Roku Channel
Mac and Me (1988)
Essentially a low-budget knockoff of E.T., this film introduces MAC, the "Mysterious Alien Creature," while shamelessly promoting McDonald's at every turn. The infamous McDonald's dance sequence, complete with a cameo from Ronald McDonald, is both cringe-worthy and unforgettable. Thanks to Paul Rudd's recurring gag on Conan O'Brien's show, the film's unintentional humor, including a wildly chaotic wheelchair scene, has cemented its place in pop culture history.
Where to stream: Prime Video, Tubi
The Wicker Man (2006)
This film's bizarre and over-the-top moments have fueled endless debates about whether its humor was deliberate. Nicolas Cage, portraying Edward Malus, later claimed it was, though doubts remain. Iconic lines like "No, not the bees! Not the bees!"—delivered during a bee-related torture scene—epitomize Cage's unique style and live on as memes. A standout scene features Malus, clad in a bear costume, delivering an unexpected punch to a cultist mid-ritual. Oddly, the movie is dedicated to Johnny Ramone, adding another layer of mystery. If the comedy was intentional, director Neil LaBute severely misjudged audience appetite for a satirical folk horror tale.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Pompeii (2014)
Paul W. S. Anderson, known for directing numerous Resident Evil films, ventures into historical epics with questionable success. Kit Harrington delivers a solid performance, but Keifer Sutherland's portrayal of a Roman Senator feels out of place, exacerbated by the jarring mix of accents. The film adopts a Michael Bay-inspired approach, awkwardly blending CGI-heavy action with a melodramatic historical romance. The climactic scene, where lovers are dramatically fossilized by lava (spoiler: Pompeii doesn’t survive), is both absurd and unintentionally hilarious, defying all logic but somehow fitting the film's tone.
Where to stream: Netflix
Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
A highlight of Michael Caine's "paycheck era," this film inspired his infamous quote: "I have never seen it, but by all accounts it is terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific!" The Jaws franchise hits rock bottom here, with a plot about a shark seeking vengeance against the Brody family. Ellen Brody, widow of Roy Scheider's character, inexplicably moves to the Bahamas, only for the shark to follow—now inexplicably roaring like a lion. Characters who die often reappear, adding to the absurdity. If viewed as a shark-themed comedy rather than a serious sequel, it’s oddly entertaining.
Where to stream: Netflix
Serenity (2019)
Matthew McConaughey stars as Baker Dill, a fishing boat captain obsessed with catching a massive yellowfin tuna he calls "Justice." Anne Hathaway portrays his manipulative ex-wife, who hires Dill to kill her current husband by tossing him overboard. The film starts as a noir-inspired tale, though its portrayal of female characters, like Diane Lane's Constance, feels outdated and shallow. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the story takes a sharp turn into sci-fi territory—or is it a murder thriller? The constant twists push the plot into absurdity, making Serenity a wildly entertaining mess.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)
Directed by John Huston and starring Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor, this adaptation of Carson McCullers' novel should have been a prestige drama. Instead, it’s a melodramatic fever dream, blending strong performances with over-the-top theatrics. The film’s final scene, while spoiler-heavy, perfectly encapsulates its tonal inconsistencies, often veering into unintentional comedy. While it deserves credit for addressing queer themes in 1960s Hollywood, the execution falls far short of its ambitions.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Staying Alive (1983)
While Saturday Night Fever is celebrated for its iconic disco scenes and grounded 1970s realism, its sequel abandons all subtlety. Staying Alive trades the original's gritty narrative for a string of flashy musical numbers with little coherence, none of which match the original's charm. The film embodies the unapologetic excess of the 1980s, lacking any trace of irony or self-awareness. It’s like watching an overly ambitious friend chase their theatrical dreams despite having no talent—equal parts cringe and comedy.
Where to stream: Paramount+
The Room (2003)
Tommy Wiseau's unintentional comedic gem, The Room, is a chaotic blend of nonsensical dialogue, baffling accents, and cringe-worthy romantic scenes that might forever alter your perception of intimacy. The film’s title remains a mystery, as its connection to the story—beyond a few room-based scenes—is anyone’s guess. If you have any theories, feel free to share.
Where to stream: Sadly, The Room isn’t available on any streaming platform. For a taste of its bizarre brilliance, check out highlight reels on YouTube—they capture the essence perfectly.
