These Guilty Pleasure Movies Are The Ones You Don’t Display On Your DVD Shelf
We all have that one movie we like but are too embarrassed to admit we actually like it. You don't want anyone to know you watch it, but you can't help yourself when it's on TV. It's our guilty pleasure movie.
These movies aren't always horrible. Some films did so well both critically and financially that disastrous sequels followed. But, there are cheesy movies that are badly done, overdone, or made silly parodies that mock other films. Still, though, these movies draw you in with a warm bag of popcorn.
Dirty Dancing
Photo Credit: Vestron Pictures/MopvieStillsDb
Initially a low-budgeted film, Vestron Pictures was a new production company with a dream. Little did they know that their first movie would become a box office success.
With Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, the movie generated one of the most popular songs, "The Time Of My Life," by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
Lost Boys
The movie was more than just a reference to the Lost Boys in Peter Pan. Instead of a group of kids who never grew up, this was actually a group of young vampires... so you can see the connection.
Kieffer Sutherland stepped into the limelight with his role as David, one of the vampires who "befriends" Jason Patric's Michael Emerson. But, the more comical relief to this movie was the Frog brothers- one of them played by Cory Feldman.
Independence Day
The film focuses on people who converge in the Nevada desert after a worldwide attack by an extraterrestrial race.
Stars like Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum helped make this a significant turning point of the Hollywood blockbuster circuit. The film earned over $817.4 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1996. Just ahead, the bad boy meets the good girl in a movie that also became the second-highest selling album in 1977.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
The third installment of the National Lampoon franchise was written by John Hughes.
Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo return as the Griswold's, with Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki as the Griswold children. Since its release, the movie has become a modern Christmas classic.
Ghostbusters
Eccentric parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York. Dan Akroyd conceived the movie as a project for himself and Harold Ramis.
Little did they know that the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry.
Grease
Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/MovieStillsDb
The bad boy meets the good girl. Grease was successful both critically and commercially. The soundtrack was the second-best selling album in 1977.
The film earned one Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for "Hopelessly Devoted To You." A sequel was released in 1982, but it didn't meet anyone's expectations. Mel Brooks was known for his comedy films, but his space parody in 1987 was one of his best films. Find out which movie that is shortly.
Roadhouse
Patrick Swayze stars as a bouncer at a new roadside bar. He protects the town from a corrupt businessman played by Ben Gazzara.
With Kelly Lynch as his love interest, the movie was somewhat of a flat romantic attachment. Needless to say, it wasn't Swayze's best role.
Clue
It's not every day a board game becomes a movie. Clue was left with mixed reviews, despite Tim Curry and Christopher Lloyd appearing as Wadsworth and Professor Plum.
In keeping with the nature of the board game, the theatrical release includes three possible endings, with different theaters offering viewers a different possibility.
Spaceballs
The film's setting and characters parody the Star Wars trilogy, as well as Star Trek and Alien. Since it's release, Spaceballs not only has become a cult classic, but is arguably one of Mel Brooks' best films.
In addition to John Candy and Rick Moranis, Dom DeLuise and Rudy De Luca make cameo appearances. Still on the way, the best Tom Cruise movie that's not Mission Impossible or Risky Business.
Point Break
The title refers to the surfing term 'point break' when a wave breaks as it hits a point of land coming out from the coastline.
Keanu Reeves stars as rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah, who's investigating a string of bank robberies that are being committed by surfers.
Con Air
Critics gave the film mixed reviews, but they praised Nicolas Cage. The actor was noted for his performance as well as action sequences and stunts.
John Malkovich's portrayal of the villain was very well done. The film borrowed its name from the nickname of the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transporation System.
Top Gun
The action sequences, effects, aerial stunts and the acting performance of Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis were enough to make a good movie.
It maintained its popularity over the years, with the name of the movie becoming a roller coaster ride at parks around the world. Jim Carrey's whacky role made him a star thanks to Dan Marino and a dolphin.
Armageddon
The science fiction disaster film came from the mind of Michael Bay. Complete with its ensemble cast, the plot focuses on deep-core drillers sent by NASA to stop an asteroid from colliding with Earth.
Although the movie did well at the box office, some people believed that Deep Impact, released two months before Armageddon, was the more scientifically accurate film.
Footloose
Kevin Bacon plays an upbeat Chicago teen who moves to a small town. But, the new town has a ban on dancing and rock music thanks to a local minister, played by John Lithgow.
The film is based on actual events that took place in a small community of Elmore City, Oklahoma.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
An animal detective is tasked with finding a dolphin belonging to the NFL's Miami Dolphins that was abducted.
It received unfavorable reviews from the critics, but this movie was responsible for one thing. It helped launch Jim Carrey's career, and spawn the sequel Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. Coming up, a children's classic that was actually disowned by author Roald Dahl.
Karate Kid
The underdog story in the mold of a rise-to-fame flick, much like Rocky. The film features the Goju Kai style of karate. It became a commercial success upon its release and gained critical acclaim.
Pat Morita would earn a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad!
Leslie Nielsen starred as a silly police lieutenant in a film that features slapstick comedy. It's based on the character portrayed by Nielsen in the television show Police Squad.
The film was so good at the box office that two more sequels followed in 1991 and 1994.
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
This was the adaption of the 1964 novel by Roald Dahl. In fact, Dahl was credited with writing the film's screenplay.
But, David Seltzer was brought in to re-work the screenplay, against Dahl's wishes. Seltzer made major changes in the end, including adding musical numbers. These changes made Dahl disown the film.
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
This whacky science-fiction comedy starred Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, and George Carlin.
Two slackers, Bill and Ted, travel through time to assemble historical figures for their high school history project. With positive reviews, the sequel didn't live up to its expectations.
Mars Attacks!
Tim Burton's science fiction horror film wouldn't be complete without the ensemble cast.
The film aims to be a science fiction B movie overall, including elements of dark comedy and political satire. But, nobody expected Tom Jones to save the fate of humanity against a bunch of aliens.
