B-movies have rarely garnered the respect they deserve from the general public as shown in the name. Originally, the cheaper second half of a double feature that morphed into low-budget genre films during the 50s. It’s now become a massive genre encompassing not just low-budget popcorn movies but unrestrained wannabe blockbusters and even art-house films. With all the different forms B-movies have taken over the decades, one thing seems to be consistent and that’s the lack of strong performances. Fans have to wonder how much better a lot of these could be if they starred actors who were capable of reveling in the cheese.
As a genre used as a vehicle for unknowns and D-listers, it’s not every day that you get a genuinely amazing performance from a B-movie. It takes a special talent to make bad dialogue feel riveting. That said, when the right performer can walk the line between being hokey and charismatic, it results in a truly unique experience. When actors like Uma Thurman in Batman and Robin or Bruce Campbell in Army of Darkness turn out A-list performances with B-movie material, they blur the lines between prestige and camp.
10 Pam Grier as Foxy Brown
‘Foxy Brown’ (1974)
Pam Grier’s blaxploitation era filmsCoffy and Foxy Brown helped pave the way for audiences to accept African American actresses leading Hollywood movies. However, these aren’t just trailblazing films in black cinema but movies overall with Grier’s big screen heroines standing up for themselves and their beliefs, sometimes violently, far before it was popular.
Pam Grier, as Foxy Brown, is so iconic and overpowering that a lot of people forget this film was panned by critics at the time. Despite that, for years Grier’s character mesmerized audiences, fighting men and toting guns while retaining her femininity. Foxy showed Black actresses could be more than the submissive spunky nanny or maid but desirable and independent, helping to forge a new path for Black women in cinema.
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9 Jennifer Tilly as Tiffany Valentine
‘Seed of Chucky’ (2004)
Like most horror franchises, the Chucky series is a franchise that started with lots of promise but, after one too many sequels, almost became a parody of itself. Fortunately, the series threw a curve ball by giving this murderous killing doll a child and wife played by Jennifer Tilly. Known mostly for her supporting roles as the seductive vixen or a simpleton, Tiily would forever change the series.
From her sultry yet humorous voice inflection to her ability to recognize the comedy and terror of a scene, Tilly breathes life into this otherwise mediocre film. Tilly’s performance takes dialogue that would be eye-rolling in other actresses’ hands and makes it engaging, overshadowing Chucky in his own movie. Her unique voice adds to the hilarity of how abrasive and profane this little girl’s doll is. In fact, by the end, Chucky himself seems scared of his bride.
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8 Samuel L. Jackson as Neville Flynn
‘Snakes on a Plane’ (2006)
Samuel L. Jackson himself has commented on the fact that he’s never turned down a movie role. Therefore, it’s no surprise to see him in this notoriously wacky film about poisonous snakes invading a plane. What no one could expect was that he would deliver one of the most classic lines of the 21st century.
While it can be said Jackson has been in several bad movies, what can’t be said is he doesn’t give his all. Jackson understands the absurdity of this script and delivers every line winking at the audience. This makes viewers feel the film is purposefully bad and not just another underdeveloped movie. In fact, Jackson’s self-awareness became the whole basis of their now infamous marketing campaign that allowed fans to laugh with the film and not at it.
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7 Raul Julia as M. Bison
‘Street Fighter’ (1994)
From Broadway to television and film, Raul Julia was known as a character actor with a vast range. He even found mainstream recognition for his role as Gomez in Tim Burton‘s The Addams Family. In his last role before his death, Julia agreed to play General Bison in Street Fighter to spend more time with his children, who loved the game, bringing his Broadway sensibilities to this campy movie.
While Street Fighter is a notoriously cheesy film, fans agree Julia’s performance stands out among its ensemble. The rest of the cast may feel like they’re in a B-movie, but Julia brings a Shakespearean gravitas to Bison. He understands the humor in Bison’s God complex and uses it to make every scene he’s in eventful.
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6 Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (1975)
“I’m a wild and an untamed thing, I’m a bee with a deadly sting!” Jim Sharman‘s film of Richard O’Brien‘s stage show stars Tim Curry as a hyper-kinky mad scientist. Curry has been excellent elsewhere, perhaps otherwise best-known for originating Pennywise the Clown on-screen in the 1990 miniseries of Stephen King‘s It, but this is the actor’s single most iconic and impressive achievement, wall-to-wall inspired weirdness.
The very epitome of a cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show got off to a rocky (“Rocky!”) start at the box office before bewitching fans across the world. It has since broken all kinds of records for theatrical longevity. It’s a corny, strange film with great songs and one hell of a lead performance.
5 Samuel L. Jackson as Russell Franklin
‘Deep Blue Sea’ (1999)
It’s hard to narrow it down to one entry for this iconic actor. From Jungle Fever to The Avengers, Jackson is a master at taking small roles and making them memorable. Jackson’s natural charisma makes it hard for even killer sharks to overshadow him in a movie.
Despite being about super-intelligent sharks outsmarting a bunch of scientists, Jackson plays his character in Deep Blue Sea completely straight. Jackson is a much-needed anchor for the otherwise formulaic film. While the other actors feel more subdued, Jackson gives a rousing, charismatic performance that wakes the audience. This makes it even more shocking when he’s eaten mid-sentence during a rousing monologue. Even though his role was minimal, it’s his classic demise that fans still call back to.
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4 John Leguizamo as Violator
‘Spawn’ (1997)
John Leguizamo has been in his share of B-movies from The Pest to the notorious Super Mario Bros. However, he’s still been a part of classics like Carlito’s Way, To Wong Foo and even Ice Age. Whether good or bad, Leguizamo never seems satisfied just playing the same type of roles, proving why he’s a formidable character actor.
Spawn may be another pulpy comic-book movie with a half-baked script, but Leguizamo’s performance almost transcends this film. He truly becomes unrecognizable, not just in appearance but in cadence. His Violator is frighteningly funny and mysterious, turning every scene with him and Spawn into an intriguing psychological drama.
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3 Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock
‘Venom’ (2018)
After seeing Tom Hardy in the abysmal Star Trek Nemesis, fans never thought he’d become a respected method actor who keeps audiences and costars on their toes. Nor did they expect the B-movie tone of Venom’s infamous first trailer.
This movie should be bad by all accounts, but Hardy’s performance as Venom is so unexpectedly bizarre it truly makes up for anything the film is lacking. Venom’s random one-liners written by Hardy himself, along with his almost romantically possessive relationship with Eddy are undeniably entertaining. Hardy’s deep growling voice repeating lines like “turd in the wind” or “let’s bite all their heads off, and pile them up in the corner” make scenes that should fall flat laugh-out-loud funny even if it’s out of sheer disbelief. While fans were sure this movie would bomb they should know not to count out this once-in-a-lifetime talent.
2 Uma Thurman
‘Batman and Robin’ (1997)
Since the beginning of Uma Thurman’s career, she has always bounced between critical acclaim like Kill Bill and box office disasters like My Super Ex-Girlfriend. In Batman and Robin, Thurman achieves both, being the best part of this box-office disappointment.
While no one will ever accuse this movie of being good, Thurman’s performance has always been lauded by fans for bringing a much-needed surge of energy and credibility to the film. Thurman’s Ivy picks up where Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman left off, being an over-the-top sultry temptress who draws in the audience with her campy presence. Thurman is also one of the few cast members having fun, which viewers can feel through the screen and reciprocate. Decades later and her presence still makes this film oddly rewatchable. To be clear: Batman and Robin stretches the definition of B-movie to its limits. The picture had a big budget, but the spirit of it all is pure B-movie energy thanks to Joel Schumacher.
1 Bruce Campbell as Ash
‘Army of Darkness’ (1992)
It’s funny to think Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimimade a small-scale movie in 1981 that would blossom into a classic horror franchise still active today. While experimenting with different tones through the years without Campbell’s brilliant performance as the regular joe Ash, the franchise wouldn’t be relevant today.
Anytime a sequel adds time travel, that’s usually a sign of disaster, a la Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3. That’s why Campbell is not just the hero of the story but of the film itself. His performance keeps this campy sequel from falling apart at the seams. Campbell can play the heroic protagonist who slays an army of skeletons while still being lovably dimwitted with neither taking away from the other. He also uses his physical comedy and facial expressions to sell cheesy bits that would be ludicrous otherwise. Campbell’s able to subtly morph Ash to serve the new tone while keeping the heart of the character, proving he’s a true talent.
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