There have been such a wide array of movies that have been made in the hundred years cinema has existed. Movies of all different genres, budgets, runtimes, and so on. Many movies have very high budgets or are award-worthy, while many do not possess those qualities. There is a multitude of “B” movies in existence that have had to fight through the laundry list of “A” movies thatgrab audiences' attention. A-movies receive more promotion and marketing, making it nearly impossible for a smaller B-movie to survive post-production.
Despite this, B-movies can be some of the most interesting and entertaining movies out there.A large budgetor intense advertising does not make a movie worth watching. Genres such as sci-fi and horror are particularly known for producing B-movies, and many times they are influential in creating new tropes and pushing boundaries. It does not have to be the best-made movie, it just has to hold its audience. With that being said, here are some B-movies that are definitely worth your time:
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8From Beyond (1986)
This movie is a wild ride from start to finish.From Beyondis an ’80s horror movie written by H.P. Lovecraft that has completely flown under the radar over the last 30+ years. It follows scientist Dr. Edward Pretorius and his assistant, Crawford Tillinghast, as they develop the Resonator, a machine that stimulates the sixth sense through the pineal gland. The machine allows them to see creatures in the air that normally a human being wouldn’t be able to see. It is so ridiculous and filled with creature gore, that it is an absolute must-watch.
7Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
The original 1956Invasion of the Body Snatcherscame out at a time whenMcCarthyism was at its peakand the threat of communism scared many Americans. The movie takes place in a small town in California and follows a doctor whose patients have been behaving abnormally, making their family members uncomfortable. These family members all claimed that their loved ones had been replaced by imposters. This was a fitting allegory for the feelings of the time, where people were terrified that the enemy was hiding among them, pretending to be someone they were not.
6Spree (2020)
Starring Joe Keery ofStranger Things,Spreefollows wannabe YouTuber Kurt Kunkle in his desperate attempt to go viral on social media. Joe Keery really gets to let loose in this movie as Kurt will quite literally do anything to get views. He starts off by attempting to poison his Spree passengers with free water bottles, but it somehow only gets worse from there.Spreeis worth the watch for the absurdity, but also to see Keery completely unhinged.
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Sam Raimi’sThe Evil Deadis an excellent example of a B-movie that turned into an icon of its genre. The massive cult following that theEvil Deadtrilogy has accumulated over the last four decades is nothing short of incredible considering Sam Raimi and a total of 13 cast and crew members rented an old cabin in the woods of Tennessee, hoping for the best when they shot this. This is also the movie that launched Bruce Campbell’s B-movie career.
4Hush (2016)
Hushwalks the line between indie and B-movie, but it works for the purpose of this list. Blumhouse is known for producing movies that creep you out, and this is no exception. A deaf writer, played by Kate Siegel, who lives alone in the woods must fight to survive against a masked killer stalking her from outside her house.This moviemakes excellent use of noise to add to the suspense since our protagonist doesn’t hear what’s going on around her.
3The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Director Tobe Hooper set the stage for the slasher genre when he releasedThe Texas Chainsaw Massacrein 1974. What inspired an absurd amount of remakes over the decades actually started out as a low-budget B-movie with a budget of $140,000 and a cast of unknown actors. It ended up being one of the most influential slasher films and one of the most influential horror films in general.
A couple of Pennsylvanians hide out in an old abandoned farmhouse to escape the swarm of flesh-eating zombies that are ravaging the East Coast in George A. Romero’sNight of the Living Dead.While it was made on a budget of an estimated $114,000, it was received well enough in the horror community that it led to countless sequels and remakes over the years and helped to shape the formula for zombie movies.
1Silent Running (1972)
Silent Runningis the directorial debut of George Trumbull, who was also a special effects supervisor. The movie depicts a futuristic Earth where all flora and fauna ceased to exist. The only remnants of Earth’s ecosystem are kept in large pods attached to a spaceship. Eventually, the crew members are told they are to launch the pods into space to be destroyed, which means they can go home. The entire crew is thrilled by the news, except for botanist Freeman Lowell, who perhaps loves the forest a bit too much for comfort.
