The quality of a piece of art is fully dependent on the audience, since if something makes you cry or laugh, it is really up to your own sensibilities. Of course, an artist can aim to capture a given emotion, which is why you’re often scared when watching horror movies instead of relaxed.

Even with all their might put into making a serious piece of filmmaking, the following titles failed to deliver, turning into comedies in all but genre. They tried to awe or startle audiences with their plots and effects, only to generate laughter and chuckles in theaters. At least they tried.

The Room

Tommy Wiseau wrote, directed, and starred in this 2003 independent drama. Intended as a serious melodrama, it quickly became an iconic cult classic thanks to its completely bizarre dialogue and legendary unintentional comedy.

Plan 9 from Outer Space

Often called one of the worst movies ever made, this low budget 1957 sci-fi flick was directed by Ed Wood. It gained a massive cult following simply because the cheap effects and inept production are endlessly hilarious.

Hard Ticket to Hawaii

Andy Sidaris wrote and directed this low budget 1987 action film. It achieved serious b-movie notoriety for completely absurd scenes, perfectly highlighted by a moment where someone uses a rocket launcher to take down a skateboarding assassin.

Miami Connection

Martial artist Y.K. Kim produced and starred in this 1987 independent action film. Centering on a martial arts rock band fighting motorcycle ninjas, it found new life as a beloved cult hit after its 2012 rerelease.

Samurai Cop

Amir Shervan wrote and directed this 1991 direct-to-video action film. Starring Matt Hannon and Robert Z’Dar, it gained a dedicated cult following thanks to its famously awkward fight scenes and hilarious dialogue delivery.

The Wicker Man

Neil LaBute wrote and directed this 2006 folk horror film about a police officer investigating a secluded island. Nicolas Cage screaming about bees turned it into an absolute comedy classic.

Batman and Robin

Joel Schumacher directed this 1997 superhero film starring George Clooney alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. The endless ice puns and deeply weird costume choices made it far funnier than anyone in the studio ever intended.

The Happening

M. Night Shyamalan wrote and directed this 2008 science fiction thriller. Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel spend the movie running away from the wind and talking to plastic plants, making for some truly unbelievable accidental comedy.

Battlefield Earth

John Travolta starred as an alien villain in this 2000 sci-fi adaptation. Directed by Roger Christian, it won 7 Razzie Awards and was named Worst Picture of the Decade thanks to its ridiculous camera angles and costumes.

Mac and Me

Stewart Raffill directed this 1988 sci-fi film that became infamous for blatantly ripping off a much better alien movie. The endless product placement for fast food and soda makes every single scene feel like a ridiculous commercial.

Cool as Ice

David Kellogg directed this 1991 musical film specifically as a star vehicle for rapper Vanilla Ice. His incredibly awkward attempts to be a dramatic leading man make the entire movie feel like a long, strange fever dream.

Cats

Tom Hooper directed this 2019 adaptation of the famous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. The bizarre digital fur technology gave everyone human faces on tiny bodies, resulting in terrifying visual effects that audiences found completely hilarious.

Foodfight

Lawrence Kasanoff directed this 2012 animated film after a famously troubled production. Charlie Sheen voices a dog detective in a supermarket universe filled with terrifyingly bad graphics and bizarre jokes that leave viewers completely speechless.

Gigli

Martin Brest wrote and directed this 2003 crime comedy starring a very high profile celebrity couple. It flopped severely at the box office because the supposed romantic chemistry looked incredibly awkward and the dialogue was deeply weird.

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