The 10 Best So-Bad-They're-Good Movie Franchises, Ranked (2024)

Some of the most popular movie franchises include Star Wars, Jurassic Park, The Lord of the Rings, and, of course, anything within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, there is no secret to success, and just because a movie spawns a franchise doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be good. They might bring in big bucks at the box office due to dedicated fans who revel in the corniness, bad acting, or downright ridiculous plots. Indeed, chances are that fans of the original will watch whatever comes next, no matter how awful it is.

In some cases, movie franchises are born from unique stories and people watch because of that car wreck effect: it’s seemingly difficult to turn away. These are the movie franchises that are so-bad-they’re-good. They’re thoroughly entertaining for reasons that will never put the movies on the radar for awards season, but everyone loves them, nonetheless.

10 Paranormal Activity (2009-2021)

“Best” Movie: 'Paranormal Activity' (2009)

When it comes to subtlety and jump scares, Paranormal Activity achieves this in spades. But while the concept was great, it got repetitive as the entries continued with more of the same. Now, with seven movies under its belt, there’s a reason the franchise kept going. Even if the movies weren’t receiving high praise, the low-budget production style turned a healthy profit and added a quality that made the movies intriguing and feel more intimate.

Each movie is centered around a different family that is haunted by a demon. But what sets the franchise apart is the style: viewers see what goes on in found footage style through security cameras and recorded footage, adding another level of spooky. While there are no high-budget CGI scenes, they aren’t needed. The Paranormal Activity movies have a corny B-movie feel to them, which is actually a good thing for fans of less flashy horror flicks.

Paranormal Activity

R

Horror

Mystery

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Release Date

October 16, 2009

Director

Oren Peli

Cast

Katie Featherston , Micah Sloat , Mark Fredrichs , Amber Armstrong

Runtime

86 minutes

Writers

Oren Peli

9 Transformers (2007 - Present)

Best Movie: 'Bumblebee' (2018)

Originating as a popular set of robotic, transforming toys, Transformers turned into a massive media franchise that eventually included a total of seven movies, with an eighth on the way, 2024's Transformers One. Most of the movies have received negative reviews, especially those starring Mark Wahlberg, yet people keep flocking to theaters to see a new film any time it’s released. So much so, in fact, that Transformers ranks in the top 20 highest-grossing film series, according to Box Office Mojo, and two of its movies, Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction, made over $1 billion.

Transformers is one of those movie franchises with deeply corny storylines and awful acting. But the action sequences, wonderful graphics, and nostalgic ties to toys that many viewers played with as kids mean that no matter how bad one of the movies is, it’s still downright good. However, 2018's Bumblebee was genuinely good, so perhaps there's hope for this loud and often dumb series.

Bumblebee

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Release Date

December 15, 2018

Director

Travis Knight

See Also

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Cast

Hailee Steinfeld , Jorge Lendeborg Jr. , John Cena , Jason Drucker , Pamela Adlon , Stephen Schneider

Runtime

114

Writers

Christina Hodson

8 American Pie (1999-2020)

“Best” Movie: 'American Pie' (2001)

Defining a generation of Gen Xers, American Pie inspired so many similar movies that came after, featuring corny storylines and raunchy humor. It’s the talented cast that truly makes the movies watchable, leading to the development of a franchise that includes four theatrical movies plus five more direct-to-video films.

The American Pie series follows a group of awkward coming-of-age high school friends through their lives as they get older, get married, and reunite years later. With tons of quotable lines and memorable characters like Stiffler (Seann William Scott) and Eugene Levy as the equally awkward dad, American Pie both kick-started the careers of some of its stars and reinvigorated others. There’s nothing particularly compelling about the movies, with each subsequent film losing a bit of its original appeal, but American Pie movies are still downright fun to watch.

American Pie

NR

Comedy

Romance

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Not available

Release Date

July 9, 1999

Director

Paul Weitz , Chris Weitz

Cast

Jason Biggs , Chris Klein , Thomas Ian Nicholas , Alyson Hannigan , Shannon Elizabeth , Tara Reid

Runtime

95

Writers

Adam Herz

7 Fifty Shades (2015-2018)

“Best” Movie: 'Fifty Shades of Grey' (2015)

Considering how much attention the book series by E.L. James received, it’s no surprise that readers clamored to theaters to see Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele and their electric chemistry on screen. Starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, the R-rated movies — Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, and Fifty Shades Freed — teeter the line in terms of what can be acceptable on screen. But the franchise also became among the highest-grossing R-rated movie franchises of all time, grossing over $1 billion.

It's all about seeing the words from the page depicted on screen in all their sexually graphic glory. The Fifty Shades movies have developed a cult following of fans of the books, so whether they’re actually good or not really doesn’t matter. If James were to write another novel in the series, chances are another movie would be made and would garner just as great a reception as a perfect guilty pleasure like the others.

Fifty Shades of Grey

R

Drama

Romance

Thriller

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Not available

Release Date

February 13, 2015

Director

Sam Taylor-Johnson

Cast

Dakota Johnson , Jamie Dornan , Luke Grimes , Jennifer Ehle , Eloise Mumford , Rita Ora

Runtime

125 minutes

Writers

Kelly Marcel , E.L. James

6 Jaws (1975-1987)

Best Movie: 'Jaws' (1975)

Starting way back in 1975, Jaws is one of the most iconic movies ever made, following a great white shark that’s attacking people at random. Considered a bonafide classic and arguably the first modern blockbuster, Jaws' high production value (at the time) fascinated people, along with elements like the unforgettably intense score and Steven Spielberg's precise and unexpected thrills.

Three sequels followed Jaws, none of which quite lived up to the first; it, of course, didn't help that Spielberg did not return for subsequent movies. But it was still a historical moment to see each one when it came out. Jaws is one of those movies that started on a high before degenerating into self-parody. It’s worth watching each one to see just how different they are from one another, including that memorably awful 3-D movie. Despite the cheap effects that carry over, there’s still something endearing about the Jaws movies.

Jaws

PG-13

Adventure

Horror

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Release Date

June 20, 1975

Director

Steven Spielberg

See Also

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Cast

Roy Scheider , Robert Shaw , Richard Dreyfuss , Lorraine Gary , Murray Hamilton , Carl Gottlieb

Runtime

124 minutes

Writers

Peter Benchley , Carl Gottlieb , John Milius , Howard Sackler , Robert Shaw

5 Scary Movie (2000 - Present)

“Best” Movie: 'Scary Movie' (2000)

It started as a corny parody movie of the Scream films that everyone loved because it knew exactly what it was. But somehow, Scary Movie turned into one of the biggest horror movie franchises ever, poking fun at other franchises and continuing to this day along with other general horror tropes. Each entry in the Scary Movie series centers around a group of people trying to survive some unexpected horror villain.

Developed by Keenen Ivory, Shawn, and Marlon Wayans from In Living Color, the first three movies are downright hilarious, exaggerated and ridiculous, which makes them so appealing. With guest roles from people like Tori Spelling, Tim Curry, David Cross, and Charlie Sheen, each movie is funnier than the next in a weird way. The last two entries were more mediocre than expected, but the first three remain entertaining as unique and absurd pieces of noughties culture. There’s reportedly a sixth movie in the works, scheduled for release sometime in 2025.

Scary Movie

R

Comedy

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Release Date

July 7, 2000

Director

Keenen Ivory Wayans

Cast

Carmen Electra , Dave Sheridan , Frank B. Moore , Giacomo Baessato , Kyle Graham , Leanne Santos

Runtime

88

Writers

Shawn Wayans , Marlon Wayans , Buddy Johnson , Phil Beauman , Jason Friedberg , Aaron Seltzer

4 Fast & Furious (2001 - Present)

“Best” Movie: 'Fast & Furious 6' (2013)

No one would argue that the storylines and the acting in any of the movies are good; no one is winning any high-caliber awards for these movies. But the fast-paced action, amazing stunts and car chase scenes all combine to make them highly enjoyable and rewatchable. There could probably be no dialogue, and fans would still watch these movies.

With five sequels to date, plus the spin-off movie and even an animated series, , Fast & Furious has made billions over the years. The franchise is interesting in that the first few films were widely criticized for the lack of story, but the later films have become more thematically engaging, albeit admittedly simple and somewhat uninspired.

PG-13

Action

Crime

Thriller

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Release Date

May 24, 2013

Director

Justin Lin

Cast

Vin Diesel , Paul Walker , Dwayne Johnson , Jordana Brewster , Michelle Rodriguez , Tyrese Gibson

Runtime

130

Writers

Chris Morgan , Gary Scott Thompson

3 Resident Evil (2002-2021)

“Best” Movie: 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter' (2016)

Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, the Resident Evil movies didn’t quite perform as expected, nor did the short-lived TV series of the same name. Despite the negative reviews, however, the franchise grossed over a billion dollars worldwide through its six movies. There was even a reboot, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, released four years after the final movie.

Even with lackluster reviews, the Resident Evil series about a world overtaken by zombies maintains the record for the most live-action film adaptations of a video game. There’s just something about Milla Jovovich’s performance, along with supporting roles from actors like Michelle Rodriguez, Ali Larter, Iain Glen, and Wentworth Miller, that draws fans of the video game in. The lack of a cohesive plot in each one is unimportant because the action scenes fabulously make up for it.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

R

Horror

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Where to Watch

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Not available

Release Date

December 23, 2016

Director

Paul W.S. Anderson

Cast

Ruby Rose , Milla Jovovich , Ali Larter , Iain Glen , Shawn Roberts , William Levy

Runtime

106 minutes

Writers

Paul W.S. Anderson

2 Twilight (2008-2012)

“Best” Movie: 'Twilight' (2008)

It doesn’t get much cornier than teenage romance stories involving vampires and werewolves, but Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight was a massive hit with the younger generation and even some older readers. So, when the stories became live-action movies, they were bound to be a hit. With five installments in total, as the final movie split the fourth book in two, the story follows the love between young woman Bella Swan and vampire Edward Cullen, complicated by a love triangle with a werewolf and the battle between several vampiric threats.

Just hearing the story sounds ridiculous, and the acting was always quite wooden, despite knowing today that the two leads are all wonderfully talented actors. Nonetheless, the story was addictive, and Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson's chemistry was too good to ignore. Twilight is pure fan service that is as bad as the books, yet also weirdly incredibly good.

Twilight

PG-13

Drama

Adventure

Fantasy

Romance

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Release Date

November 20, 2008

Director

Catherine Hardwicke

Cast

Kristen Stewart , Robert Pattinson , Billy Burke , Peter Facinelli , Elizabeth Reaser , Cam Gigandet

Runtime

120 minutes

Writers

Melissa Rosenberg , Stephenie Meyer

1 Sharknado (2013-2018)

“Best” Movie: 'Sharknado' (2013)

Sharknado is one of those puzzling anomalies, a made-for-television sci-fi, action, comedy, horror, disaster film that people caught wind of, watched, and fell in love with because of how bad it is. The movie about a cyclone that causes man-eating sharks to circulate the Earth became a massive franchise that expanded to include video games and comics.

Starring Beverly Hills, 90210’s Ian Ziering and American Pie’s Tara Reid, the movie doesn’t take itself seriously at all, yet it doesn’t present like a parody either. It’s like someone dreamt up scenarios with shark attacks and tornados and thought it brilliant to put them together. Just hearing about the concept sparks curiosity, which is what drew people to the initial movie in the first place. Sharknado is a great saga to put on with a group of people to laugh at the stupidity and marvel at the tremendous entertainment value. There are six movies in the franchise, with titles like The Second One, Oh Hell No!, and Global Swarming. Mind-numbingly dumb and fun, the Sharknado films are the ultimate guilty pleasure movies.

Sharknado

Not Rated

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Release Date

July 11, 2013

Director

anthony c. ferrante

Cast

Ian Ziering , Tara Reid , John Heard , Cassie Scerbo , Jaason Simmons , Alex Arleo

Runtime

86 minutes

Writers

Thunder Levin

NEXT: 15 Iconic So-Bad-They're-Good Movies