After my Cult Movies article got people talking and listing their favorite cult picks, I decided it was time for us at Screen Rant to confess to our favorite (and likely embarrassing) “Guilty Pleasure” movies. Before I get to the list, I wanted to first talk about what a “Guilty Pleasure Movie” is.
A Guilty Pleasure, according to Wikipedia, “is something one considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it. Often, the “guilt” involved is simply fear of others discovering one’s lowbrow or otherwise embarrassing tastes, rather than actual moral guilt. Fashion, music, and food can be examples of guilty pleasures.”
Those are easy-to-list guilty pleasures, along with TV shows (any reality show on VH1, really). However, I’m looking for the MOVIES we all hate to admit we love. To give you an example, Titanic was listed number one by SR owner and editor-in-chief Vic Holtreman. Why is it a guilty pleasure movie? Because Titanic was loved mostly by women, and though many of us were dragged to the film, we probably wouldn’t list it as one of our favorites.
Now that we have the definition out of the way, it’s time to look at a sample of what some of our writers picked:
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VIC HOLTREMAN
Titanic
Point Break
Roadhouse
“Fine, call me a wuss, but my wife bought Titanic on DVD when it came out and pulls it out to watch it about once a year – and I don’t run screaming from the room. I think it’s probably the music by James Horner that sucks me in every time more than anything.”
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KOFI OUTLAW
U.S. Marshals
Hard to Kill
X-Men: The Last Stand
“There are certain movies that steal my attention every time they’re played (ad nauseum) on cable. U.S. Marshals is one of them. While the movie is ostensibly a knock-off spin-off of The Fugitive sans Harrison Ford, U.S. Marshals still packs a great cast (Tommy Lee Jones, Wesley Snipes, Robert Downey Jr.), a great conspiracy story and enough twists to keep you wide-eyed. Just one of those second-tier thrillers I can’t help but enjoy.”
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ROSS MILLER
Legally Blonde
Charlie’s Angels 1 & 2
Gone In 60 Seconds (remake)
“I think the Charlie’s Angels movies, particularly the second one, fall heavily into the category of “Guilty Pleasure movies.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m not oblivious to how cheesy and over-the-top these films are. However, something about them is so fun to watch, not only for the first time but everytime. Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore are all very… watchable in their respective roles, and I think the ridiculousness of some of the scenes just adds to the fun.”
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ROB KEYES
Judge Dredd
Boondock Saints
U.S. Marshals (loved it!)
“Judge Dredd stood out for me as a kid because I loved the character on screen. Confident, cocky, with a sweet (read: big) gun that he could talk to, that could fire all sorts of convenient types of ammunition – if you’ve seen this movie, you know what I’m talking about. The vehicles were sweet and the bad guy robot was scary, I loved the design and look of this movie as a kid and to me, this is a classic that I look forward to watching again.”
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BRUCE SIMMONS
The Boy Who Could Fly
Dog Soldiers
Bad Boys
“Dog Soldiers is just good, down to earth hand to claw combat between soldiers who don’t care who the enemy is, as long as they bleed. There’s no backing down until someone falls. That’s all there is. I approach life much that way and I can relate. That and the werewolf effects are still close to top-notch, even today.”
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HEATH MCKNIGHT
Ladybugs
Deep Rising/Virus/Relic (all one-time summer movies delayed until January because they were rotten)
Godzilla (1998)
“I saw Ladybugs on a double date years ago and didn’t think much of it. About a year after that I saw in on video and I couldn’t stop laughing at Rodney Dangerfield’s jokes. It has since become the ultimate guilty pleasure movie for me, because it’s essentially for tween girls but Rodney’s in it. Which makes no sense, but I love it.”
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Some other picks by the Screen Rant staff: Tango and Cash (Niall Browne), Remo Williams (Mike Wilkerson), Fool’s Gold (Jacob Waldman), Hard Rain (Paul E. Young), and Miss Congeniality (Rob Frappier).
Funny enough, many of us seem to love the same things (you may not see our full lists, but Judge Dredd, U.S. Marshals, and Deep Rising kept popping up). So I’m curious to see what you all think, now that we here at Screen Rant can’t go outside without paper bags over our heads to hide our shame.
What are some of YOUR deep, dark. guilty pleasure movies? Don’t be afraid – most of you use aliases! 
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I LOVE U.S. Marshals.
there was a plan todo a 3rd film where Gerard is framed for murder and he turns to Richard Kimble for help.
But the films box office didnt warrant a sequel,
or they thought better of the idea .
We will never know.
I saw only a little bit of it–time to watch US Marshals!
Heath
Ladybugs! hahaha You’re absolutely right that it was an odd combination to put ol’ Rodney Dangerfield in that movie!
“yeah, nice view… All he sees is his dad’s read end. He’ll grow up and marry a guy named Ralph and they’ll wonder why!”
Gotta add 9 Months, too. Love the scene where they beat up Arney… It was so cathartic for those of us who hate Barney.
Mine would be the AVP films, the Bloodrayne films, Enchanted
How about When Harry Met Sally?
@The Critic
Most definitely! Love that movie.
It’s funny, once in a while my wife picks out a chick flick to make me watch, but she knows how to pick films that I’ll like despite that since she knows my tastes.
Vic
Mine would have to be Never Back Down, starring Djimon Hounsou, Amber Heard, Sean Faris, and Cam Gigandet. It’s like The O.C. meets Fight Club, and I love it!
And by the way, Dog Soldiers is brilliant; there’s nothing to feel guilty about there!
For me personally…
Idle Hands- One of my favorite horror movies for reasons i can’t explain!
Boondock Saints- I love it, some hate it!
Dogma- I don’t know why the people around me dislike it, but they do.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh- I love to look at all the characters from a psychology point of view. It’s very interesting to view their problems from that standpoint.
Little Shop of Horrors/Rocky Horror picture show- I combine them for obvious reasons!
Rudy- Again reasons I can’t explain
And finally…
Ghost-I can’t resist watching this film when someone puts it on!
Boondock Saints is a guilty pleasure?Even though it was low budget(thanks to Troy Duffy being a complete idiot),it was a great movie.
Not to get racial,but every white guy that I’ve ever met loves Road House(those who’ve seen it,at least).I’ve only seen bits and pieces of it,but it’s gotta be the biggest “white guy” movie in the history of cinema.
My personal list:
Encino Man
Toy Soldiers
any Sandra Bullock romantic comedy
Serendipity
Harley Davidson And The Marlboro Man
Street Fighter with JCVD – its better than Legend of Chun LI, and is always good for a laugh
Freddy vs Jason – Its Funny PERIOD.
All Friday the 13th Movies – ROFL all around
The Big Hit – 1997 (mark Wahlberg, Bokeem Woodbine, Lou Diamond Phillips)
Bad Moon
The Relic was good
Deep Rising was funny and gasp a Stephen Sommers Film
Dog Soldiers is one of the Best Low Budget Werewolf movies around though the werewolves are beaten out by Bad Moon’s werewolf
@ Longshanks
Not white and enjoy Roadhouse, especially where the guy gets his throat ripped out. And patrick Swayze screaming EMMIT LOL.
Longshanks,
I’m white and I don’t like “Road House”.
Starship Troopers
I know, I know, everything about it sucks, the acting, the casting, the effects, and especially the way it bastardized the novel. But what can I say? I’m a sucker for the bugs.
Anaconda with Ice cube and henifer Lopez. i remember seeing it in the theatre when i was a teenager and really enjoying it.
thought of some more
Killer Klowns From Outer Space
Waxwork – 80s film with Zach Galligan
Guyver 2 Dark hero
It’s Alive Trilogy – Sorry but those Killer babies over taking grown adults is just funny
Great guilty pleasure picks!
Judge Dredd for me was one of the “I’m really excited for this film” movies. When I was younger, starting with Burton’s Batman in 1990, I’d get really pumped up for a movie. I’d put posters on my wall, read articles, watch the interviews, etc. (Pre-Internet, Pre-SR, of course.)
I was 19 and really excited about Dredd. While it couldn’t live up to my expectations, it was still a fun movie!
heath
I got three for ya:
Lost In Space, Starship Troopers, and Last Action Hero.
Actually paid theater prices to see Lost in Space and Starship Troopers.
Good thing about “Guilty Pleasure” movies? They can normally be found in the DVD Bargin Bin,
Any Creature Of the Black Lagoon movie.
where is the remake Hollywood?
The Core – When I first saw this in the theater, I said it was just OK; but everytime it came on the TV, I just had to watch it. I just went ahead and bought the DVD.
Last Action Hero – What is it about this movie that makes me watch it everytime it comes on? Arny, maybe?
Bad Boys 2 – People really hate this movie but I love it. Makes me roll on the floor laughing.
Pretty Woman – For me, the top chick-flick of all time! Hector Elizondo, I thought, stole the show.
Van Helsing – Many here have complained about this movie but all you guys know you wouldn’t mind being bitten by those Drac babes.
I’m black and I loved Road House.
I was at the first showing of Titanic and no woman had to drag me there.
It is not a guilty pleasure though for me. It is a genuine pleasure.
Titanic is one of the finest motion pictures ever made.
More than any film in recent memory Titanic
is fully appreciated in the theater and I
saw the film four times during its run.
I have the DVD but never watch it
preferring to rely on the haunting
images that remain my in memory.
Another film I consider a guilty pleasure and this is kind of recent one is “Monster X Strikes Back”.
I have to give another vote to Starship Troopers, it’s like a car wreck, you simply can’t pull your eyes away from the carnage.
Other movies that were panned universally but I like just because I do….
The 13th Warrior
Speed Racer
The Whole Ten Yards
Super Mario Bros.
This was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I remember the first time I saw it. I just randomly flicked on the Disney Channel, and the film had just started (you know the opening where’s its two badly animated dinosaurs talking), I was confused but I kept watching, and then the Super Mario Bros logo showed up.
I had never even heard of the movie, despite being a bid Mario fan, and I was instantly hooked.
Others on my short list:
Lady in the Water
Planet of the Apes (Remake)
Van Helsing
Anything anime (since all my friends hate it)
Speed Racer was my favorite film of 08. Do I feel guilty, “F-NO!”
Deep Rising was a great film. Virus was unwatchable.
Never watched the entire Titanic film just the ending.
I guess my picks are:
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,,, (everyone loves this guy, come on)
Ace Ventura 2,,,(when Ace poops out of the Cow I had to be rushed to the ER for stomach cramps)
Mad Max, Beyond Thunderdome. (Telle the tale Capt Walker!)
Escape from LA. (Surfs up tonght!)
And everyone at Screen Rant’s favorite, Terminator 3, Rise of the Machines…(We must go, its not safe here)
I’m sure I’ll think of some more,,,,
Fantastic Four 1 and 2
National Treasure 1 and 2
All 4 are just mindless, fun B popcorn movies that I can’t resist and have a urge to put in the DVD player every now and than, especially the sequels to both franchises.
Oh my days, Deep Rising – and I thought I was the only one! the elevator/muzak scene where Treat Williams asks “What the hell is that?” and Joey deadpans “Girl From Ipanema” always makes me grin, as does Williams’s final irritated “NOW what??”
Kahless, I own The Core on DVD as well. Love it for the same reason as Deep Rising: pacey, unpretentious fun.
At The Earth’s Core (in fact any of those Doug McClure monster movies from the `70s). Caroline Munro made quite an impression.
The Fifth Element. Total dross, but I get sucked in by the visual style every single time. It’s everything Mega-City One should have been (and wasn’t for me) in the Judge Dredd movie. Ditto Jean-Paul Gaultier’s lunatic costume designs.
Chick flicks: Desperately Seeking Susan and Bridget Jones’s Diary. I can offer no justification whatsoever except that both times I was dragged along expecting a nightmare and ended up thoroughly enjoying them. Must have been the company…
Mortal Kombat(the original), King Kong vs Godzilla, and the Swamp Thing. They’re cheesy as anything, but I can watch them over and over.
@Gary
Here’s your answer:
http://screenrant.com/creature-black-lagoon-director-pauly-10608/
Vic
Anyone remember when Arnold said that “Last Action Hero” was the best script he’s ever read?
Kinda like when he said he wouldn’t raise taxes.
I actually like “Last Action Hero” as well, but has anyone noticed that you can’t find it in Widescreen and the current print that’s available looks like it was taken off a VHS print. I smell vengeance,,,