20 comedy films that are so bad they’re good

The movie is... something else. A fever dream, maybe. The Cable Guy is memorable and enjoyable for so many reasons. The first is Jim Carrey being Jim Carrey. The entire cast and crew are absolutely stellar; with Judd Apatow producing, Ben Stiller directing, and the acting talents of Matthew Broderick, Leslie Mann, and Jack Black, a beautiful dark comedy was born. Also, Apatow and Mann met on the set of this film, so it gets extra points for that. Super quotable and underrated, in my opinion.

Not going to lie, I don't remember much of this film, but I don't think you really have to to love it. If you are a '90s baby, this film belongs in your collection, especially since it is impossible to stream anywhere! Rewatching Spice World is an absolute treat because you are reminded that incredibly talented actors Alan Cumming, Richard E. Grant, and Stephen Fry are somehow in this! It's just so much fun, and we live for the nostalgia.

It could be because I grew up in the Midwest, but Joe Dirt was a staple in my household. I am only just now finding out that Adam Sandler was an executive producer, which makes a lot of sense as to why I love this film. David Spade is great in anything he's in, but he and Sandler working together is always magic. Sure, Joe Dirt has questionable moments, but it is a heartwarming story of a man trying to find his family. Once again, an awesome cast that has provided us with so many hilarious quotes, making it one of the better "bad" good movies. The sequel, on the other hand, is another story. 

This film got ripped to shreds by critics, so I wasn't expecting to love it. But, come on, it's Adam Sandler. Sure, I was a kid when I first watched this and didn't realize it was a remake of Frank Capra's 1936 film, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, but it stands on its own. Sandler has a way of making audiences fall in "lub" with whatever character he plays, Deeds included. Of course, it is no masterpiece, but it is humorous and worth putting on if you need a good laugh. So I would have to strongly disagree with "top critic" Peter Bradshaw from the Guardian; Mr. Deeds is, in fact, funnier than (checks notes)... orphanage fires?? 

It's a comfort movie; what can I say? Or an emotional support bad comedy? Either way, I don't know many people who don't like this movie, but it has bad reviews for some reason. Obviously, not a perfect film and probably doesn't age well like most comedies from the 2000s, but it's become somewhat of a cult classic. I mean, who can forget the iconic "A Thousand Miles" scene with Terry Crews in the convertible?? Legendary!

We love a good bad rom-com! Honestly, any comedy released in 2006 is probably considered bad. I don't make the rules, but I also don't care about the rules. This film had everything, or rather, it had everyone: Ashanti, Brittany Snow, Sophia Bush, Penn Badgley, and so on. Who doesn't love a classic revenge story where everyone, ultimately, learns their lesson in the end? That might cover just about every high school movie ever to exist, but again, they make for perfect comfort movies. Ask yourself, "Would I put this on during a sleepover?" If the answer is yes, it's a good movie!

Another Adam Sandler-produced project, The Benchwarmers was stupidly funny, and we wouldn't have it any other way! It's hard to hate on a film where it was just a bunch of friends hanging out and having fun, but critics always find a way. Again, most Sandler films are in no way masterpieces and should not be critiqued as such. In middle school, this movie was one of the funniest things we had ever seen, especially with Napoleon Dynamite himself (Jon Heder) joining the crew. If the movie becomes an inside joke with you and your friends, it's a keeper.

Where do I even begin with this one? Out of all of the films on this list, I probably watch The Pink Panther the most. Say what you want about it, but it is an absolute riot from beginning to end. I will quote this movie until the day I die — from "so you are Yuri the trainer who trains" to "I would like to buy a hamburger." Steve Martin never misses, Kevin Kline is just iconic, and Beyonce... Need I say more?  Give me an incredible cast with a subpar plot, and to me, that's cinema. 

Don't worry, we're almost out of the year 2006! Granted, this was the era of Dane Cook, and everything he did was funny, at least to me. Regardless, the rest of the cast was great; Dax Shepard and Efren Ramirez delivered some funny moments, as well as Zack's (Cook) crew. It all comes down to how quotable the movie is and whether or not you would watch it again, even if it's just a low-key night in. After all, sometimes you just need a simple comedy to lighten the mood.

I know, I know. Too many Adam Sandler-produced movies on this list. But it's the last one, so, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. This movie... is dumb, yes. Hilarious? Also yes. I went to a rooftop screening of this movie in LA, if that says anything about the cult following of this film. We have Sandler's peeps: Peter Dante, Allen Covert, and Nick Swardson (also co-writers), plus Jonah Hill, Linda Cardellini, and so many more hilarious actors in this underrated comedy. Why watch it? How about, why not?

Walk Hard was somewhat mixed with positive critic reviews (oddly enough) but still bombed at the box office. If you get it, you get it. This film is comedy genius, parodying biopics like Walk the Line (2005) and Ray (2004) that spoof various musicians along the way. If you needed more reasons to watch, the Beatles scene with Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Justin Long, and Jason Schwartzman is one of the best things you'll ever see. 

I remember watching Hot Rod for the first time on a DVD rental and falling in love when Rod Kimble suffered an extremely long and painful fall. This is the first film by The Lonely Island following their recent popularity on Saturday Night Live, and they absolutely knocked it out of the park. The movie would not be the cult classic that it is if it weren't for the entire cast being incredibly good sports; with star power and SNL cast members/alums, this film is up there with Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story simply because it is just a good time.

Observe and Report proves that a good cast is enough to make a decent (to most) comedy. This film is, in one word, underrated. Granted, I watched a lot of bad movies back in the day, but are they bad if you enjoy them? Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Michael Pena, and Aziz Ansari always deliver, and somehow, Ray Liotta is there, too. That said, it was 2009, and there are some questionable pieces of dialogue, so take it for what it is: a dumb comedy. 

Year One is on just about everyone's list of dumb comedies they rewatch regularly, and it should be despite critics' ratings. This was Harold Ramis' last acting role and his last film as a director. Fans of the movie recognize the flaws and love it anyway. If you're looking for a straightforward plot, you will be disappointed, but where is the fun in that? Honestly, just enjoy the ride that is any Apatow-produced project. 

First, no, I do not like that this film was produced by Weinstein Co. and, apparently, Kevin Spacey. But this film holds a special place in my heart because, well, Star Wars. Fanboys is for Star Wars fanatics with a sense of humor. Dan Fogler, Jay Baruchel, Sam Huntington, Chris Martinez, and Kristen Bell are absolutely hilarious, and Seth Rogen plays two different characters, so that's fun. We get a few unexpected cameos that make it worth a watch. It really made my friends and I want a Star Wars van of our own and taught us all a valuable lesson: "Nobody calls Han Solo a b—h!" 

Not going to lie, the fact that this movie is based on real events is kind of off-putting, but aside from that, it's not terrible. Again, great actors with a script that could have been better, but there are a lot of funny moments that make me want to rewatch it every now and then. Michael Pena as the hitman is probably the funniest part of the entire movie, and of course, Danny McBride makes for a great dumb villain. With Ben Stiller as producer, it's not a complete dud, right?

We're the Millers unsurprisingly did better with audiences than critics. Maybe not your first choice to see in the theater, but it makes for a great rental on a night in. However, I would probably still see it in a theater because critics were wrong on this one! Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, and many other talented actors make for a well-rounded cast that makes this film so much fun to watch. 10/10.

I was not in a hurry to watch The Interview, but I'm glad it exists just because, looking back on it now, the controversy surrounding the film was so ridiculous... and it was hilarious! A classic Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg collaboration, this film gives their fans everything they loved about Superbad (2007) and Pineapple Express (2008), plus a Katy Perry-loving Kim Jong-un played by Randall Park. It has also given us the ever-inspiring phrase, "They hate us because they ain't us!" Brb, going to rewatch this immediately. 

I would say that this movie is probably a stretch for most people, but going in with zero expectations, The Package was low-key hilarious. As a fan of Eduardo Franco (Stranger Things, Booksmart) and Geraldine Viswanathan (Miracle Workers, Blockers), I figured it was worth a watch, and I was right! Though the critics' consensus on Rotten Tomatoes states that "a pėnis joke does not a movie make," I have to politely disagree. 

Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga came to us at a time when we all needed a laugh. Though the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest was canceled due to the pandemic, the film gave audiences an appreciation for the event despite how ridiculous it may have been. Critics gave it mixed reviews, basically saying that the original music was great but then blasted the script and runtime. To me, the film was creative and unique, and for a Netflix original, that's huge.