Horrifically Hilarious: 10 Horror Movies So Bad, They're Funny

1. "Birdemic: Shock and Terror" (2010)

Let's start our list with this stunning piece of cinematic...disasterpiece? "Birdemic: Shock and Terror" is a low-budget eco-horror film that takes the phrase 'a little birdie told me' to horrifically hilarious levels. The film, directed by James Nguyen, is centered around a software salesman and a fashion model who find themselves fighting off an unexplained bird attack. Yes, you read that right: deadly, dive-bombing birds.

Despite being made on a shoestring budget of around $10,000, it managed to get some attention. It received a gloriously terrible 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and some consider it a cult classic. You know, in the same way one might consider a bad sunburn a unique skin color.

2. "Troll 2" (1990)

Next up is the film that has been famously dubbed the 'best worst movie' – "Troll 2." It's a horror movie that is so bad, it's good, and then loops back around to being bad again. Despite its title, there are no trolls in this film, just goblins.

This movie, laden with bad acting and a bizarre plot about vegetarian goblins turning people into plants before eating them, has an almost legendary status in the realm of so-bad-it's-good cinema. With a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 6%, it is as deliciously terrible as the green icing on the film's infamous goblin cake.

3. "The Happening" (2008)

This is M. Night Shyamalan's unintentional foray into comedy. "The Happening" is a horror film that revolves around an apocalyptic event caused by... plants. Yes, you read that right again: plants. Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel play a couple trying to survive this inexplicable event.

The film, despite its $48 million budget, a respectable box office return of over $163 million, and a cast of popular actors, is most remembered for its unintentionally funny moments. One such scene involves Mark Wahlberg pleading with a house plant. Critics didn't exactly leaf it alone, with Rotten Tomatoes rating it a measly 18%.

4. "The Room" (2003)

Tommy Wiseau's "The Room" is not exactly a horror film, but its dialogue, acting, and plot are certainly horrific. And hilarious. This film, which Wiseau wrote, directed, and starred in, is about a love triangle between a man, his fiancee, and his best friend. With a budget of $6 million, it only made a laughable $1,800 at the box office during its initial release.

However, it has since gained cult status for its often nonsensical plot and dialogue. Despite being universally panned by critics (it has a 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), "The Room" regularly sells out midnight screenings, as audiences revel in its so-bad-it's-good nature.

5. "Plan 9 From Outer Space" (1959)

"Plan 9 From Outer Space" is often considered the worst film ever made, but it's also one of the most entertaining. Directed by Ed Wood, it is an ambitious sci-fi horror film about aliens resurrecting the Earth's dead to prevent humanity from creating a doomsday weapon.

Despite its outlandish plot, terrible acting, and low-budget special effects (gravestones wobble, day turns to night randomly), the movie has a certain charm that makes it hilariously enjoyable. It didn't receive any major award nominations, unless you count the Golden Turkey Awards, where it won "Worst Film Ever". But hey, at least it won something!

6. "House of the Dead" (2003)

Directed by the infamous Uwe Boll, "House of the Dead" is an adaptation of a popular video game that just didn't quite make the cut. With its absurd dialogue and comically exaggerated action scenes, it's a far cry from the horror experience it intended to be.

The film, centered around a group of young adults attending a rave on a mysterious island, encountered hordes of zombies. Sounds chilling, right? Not so much when you see the implausible kung-fu moves against the undead. Rotten Tomatoes graciously gave it a 3% rating, making it a laughably poor adaptation in more ways than one.

7. "Manos: The Hands of Fate" (1966)

Few films manage to achieve the legendary so-bad-it's-good status, but "Manos: The Hands of Fate" did just that. It's a movie that was reportedly a result of a bet that anyone could make a horror movie. Harold P. Warren, a fertilizer salesman, took up the challenge and the result is this masterclass in bad filmmaking.

The plot revolves around a family getting lost and stumbling upon a hidden, underground, devil-worshiping cult led by the fearsome (or should I say hilarious?) Torgo. Critics savaged it, and it earned a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

8. "The Wicker Man" (2006)

No list of this nature would be complete without Nicolas Cage's performance in the remake of "The Wicker Man." This film, in which Cage plays a cop searching for a missing girl on an island populated by a neo-pagan commune, is a goldmine of unintentional comedy.

Despite having a budget of $40 million and grossing around $38 million, the film was critically panned for its convoluted plot and Cage's over-the-top performance. The Rotten Tomatoes rating of 15% seems almost generous when you consider Cage in a bear suit punching a woman in the face – a scene that has since become internet legend.

9. "Jaws: The Revenge" (1987)

The fourth installment in the "Jaws" series, "Jaws: The Revenge," takes the shark-jumping (quite literally) to a new level. The plot is centered around a revenge-seeking shark with a personal vendetta against the Brody family. Yes, you've got it right, the shark is out for revenge. This ludicrous premise, combined with shoddy special effects, resulted in a movie that is far more hilarious than horrific. With a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it might not have the bite of the original "Jaws," but it sure does have the laughs.

10. "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" (1964)

This film, about Martians kidnapping Santa Claus because there's nobody on Mars to give their children presents, is every bit as ridiculous as it sounds. It was made on a shoestring budget and the cheap production values shine through in every scene, from the ludicrous Martian costumes to the sets that look like they were made from cardboard boxes. The movie was a flop upon release and was universally panned by critics, but its absurd plot and laughable execution have earned it a cult following.