The Hollywood landscape is populated by big-budget productions, but underneath them all are B-movies. B-movies are usually made by small studios with little funds. As such, they are characterized by weak production values and lesser-known cast members.
Although most B-movies are of poor quality, they tend to be very enjoyable, and many fans consider them guilty pleasures. However, there are a few B-movies that are well-made, despite the limited resources. These films have higher ratings on IMDb, so fans can find the very best of the genre.
10 Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon Pays Homage To Slasher Movies
IMDb Rating – 6.7
Mockumentaries are a great way to make fictional events seem real. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon takes that direction by inserting audiences in a world where all the popular serial killers are real. At the center of the proceedings is a journalist who is keen on covering the journey of an aspiring serial killer.
Behind the Mask is held afloat by its deadpan humor and gore. Since the film doesn’t take itself very seriously, the horror elements are less scary, and the crimes mirror some of the funniest slasher movie kills. There are also plenty of intelligent references to villains such as Jason Voorhes, Michael Myers, and Freddy Kruger.
9 Merriment Turns Ugly In House On The Haunted Hill
IMDb Rating – 6.8
B-movies have become more common in recent years, but a few were released in the Golden Age of Hollywood. One of those is House on the Haunted Hill, which sees everything go wrong after a millionaire invites five friends to a haunted house party.
Cinephiles will be quick to notice how the premise resembles the plots of Glass Onion and The Menu, but the B-movie sets itself apart because the victims' fates are much more gruesome. Additionally, there’s a perfect mix of supernatural and slasher elements, making House on the Haunted Hill a treat for fans of both horror subgenres.
8 The Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra Parodies Old Sci-Fi Movies
IMDb Rating – 6.8
Shot for less than $100,000, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra is the quintessential B-movie. With such minimal funds, the plot is straightforward: a scientist seeks to bring an ancient skeleton back to life. With such a small budget, the visuals are unlikely to be good, so the director opts to parody popular ‘50s and ‘60s sci-fi movies rather than compete with modern ones.
Hilarious tropes from the era appear in every scene and so do strange-looking aliens with odd habits, such as sipping cocktails and collecting precious metals. The Lost Skeleton is also shot in black-and-white as a true reflection of the era it pokes fun at.
7 Elvis And JFK Face A Major Threat In Bubba Ho-Tep
IMDb Rating – 6.9
Rock ’n’ roll, politics, and monster-hunting are topics that don't seem to work together, but Bubba Ho-Tep combines them for a fun ride. In the comedy horror, two men have evidence that they are Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy, respectively. They go on to fight a mummy.
Bubba Ho-Tep works because of the efforts of its lead, Bruce Campbell, who has starred in some great horror franchises. There’s plenty to unpack in the movie, like whether Elvis and JFK are real and how the mummy became re-animated. Nonetheless, following the proceedings is all worth it as there are plenty of laughs as well as a huge payoff in the end.
6 The Return Of The Living Dead Is A Perfect Zombie Comedy
IMDb Rating – 7.3
The zombie genre is oversaturated, but there’s always an appetite for it. In Return of the Living Dead, the mayhem starts when two individuals accidentally release a gas that ends up triggering zombies.
Return of the Living Dead has spawned several sequels. It has become one of the most influential zombie movies, as it was the first to feature zombies that could survive a gunshot wound and kickstarted the trend of the undead eating brains. Such details have been copied by many other productions over the years and have now become the norm.
5 Crippled Avengers Has Endless Bloody Duels
IMDb Rating – 7.3
One of the underrated martial arts movies is a B-movie from the ‘70s, which has a fascinating revenge story. In the movie, four brothers go hunting for a Kung Fu master, who beats students up and cuts off their limbs.
Crippled Avengers distinguishes itself from the numerous martial arts movies of the ‘70s and ‘80s by featuring some of the best-choreographed fight scenes and interesting heroes. Crippled Avengers has a very outdated title, but the film teaches interesting lessons about overcoming expectations and working as a team.
4 Master Of The Flying Guillotine Is One Of The Best Martial Arts Movies
IMDb Rating - 7.4
Master of the Flying Guillotine is one of the best martial arts movies of the '70s. The story follows a one-armed martial artist who's trying to protect himself from an assassin. The title refers to the assassin’s hat-like signature weapon, which is capable of decapitating a victim’s head.
Throughout the runtime, Master of the Flying Guillotine focuses primarily on epic action sequences and fight scenes. The protagonist’s eventual victory is incredibly emotional, given the immense pain he endures to achieve it.
3 Dead Alive’s Excessive Gore Remains Unmatched
IMDb Rating – 7.5
Dead Alive’s opening moments can easily fool audiences into believing they are about to be treated to a teen drama. What starts as a beautiful romantic tale between two teenagers descends into bloody mayhem when the boy’s mother gets bitten by a rat-monkey and becomes a zombie.
The abrupt genre swap is reason enough for fans to keep watching. The mother establishes herself as one of the most formidable zombies in cinema by obliterating everyone in her path. The gory ending is iconic, as the son must escape his mother's body after she swallows him.
2 The Incredible Shrinking Man Is A Sad Yet Fascinating Tale
IMDb Rating – 7.6
The Incredible Shrinking Man analyzes marital woes when a husband begins to shrink in size after coming into contact with a mysterious ring. As he reduces to the size of a child and later an insect, the conflicts with his wife become bigger.
The sci-fi film overflows with unforgettable moments, notably one where the man’s wedding ring falls out of his finger and another where he battles the family cat. There is no happy ending to the proceedings, as the husband, who has now shrunk to sub-atomic level, is abandoned by his wife.
1 To Die Is Hard Is Almost As Good As The Movie It Imitates
IMDb Rating – 7.7
Obviously, To Die is Hard is a parody of the Bruce Willis-led action movie, Die Hard. To Die is Hard is an entertaining film that follows a college professor. He attempts to fight terrorists who have invaded his campus.
Right from the opening minutes, To Die is Hard doesn't hide the fact it’s a parody, and audiences will find it difficult not to laugh at the absurd action scenes. The plot is nearly identical to Die Hard where the hero takes on terrorists inside a tower. Even the professor’s name. Dr. Joe McCann, is borrowed from Bruce Willis’ character, Detective John McClane.