My Top 10 Guilty Pleasure Movies

When it comes to my ratings of films, I go based on my enjoyment, not how ‘good of a film' it is. I think any film can be enjoyed by any person, no matter how high the quality is. I enjoy looking at Rotten Tomatoes scores, IMDB ratings, and award buzz, they can be fun measurements but just because a movie may not check one of those boxes, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed. I decided to come up with this list of movies that may not be on my all-time favorites list and may not be considered ‘great films,’ but are ones that I can always watch and enjoy. Just for kicks, to show these aren’t widely considered good films, I’m going to include their Rotten Tomatoes critic’s scores.

The Meg (47%)- ‘The Meg’ is my bar. It’s the perfect film because it is exactly what you want it to be. A movie about a giant shark and Jason Statham attempting to fight said shark. If they continue to crank these movies out, my wife & I’s butts will be in the seats.

Twilight (49%)- Go ahead, judge me. I can handle it. Whenever I would have a sick day from school, I would make my way to the couch and watch all 5 Twilight movies (Breaking Dawn P2 is my fav). They’re cheesy. Most of the acting is subpar. The effects are okay at best. But that’s what makes them fun. The ultimate love triangle and if you’re curious… I run with the pack #TeamJacob

Fantastic Four (28%)- When I was a kid movies like ‘X-Men’, ‘Spider-Man 2,’ & ‘Iron Man’ were coming out. But my favorites to watch were the two Fantastic Four films. My standards have since changed, but I still find enjoyment in these movies. I do think they’re very well cast and the effects aren’t too bad. I do not enjoy the 2015 version, because I do have some standards.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lighting Thief (49%)- My favorite book series as a kid was easily Percy Jackson. And while not faithful to the source material, I still think there are some highlights in the original movie (looking at you ‘Poker Face’ casino scene). While I enjoy the TV show more and think the second movie is straight trash, the first one is a film I can still revisit.

Alvin & the Chipmunks (29%)- Another movie I adored as kid. I thought the Chipmunks were so comical, I still get a kick out of some of the jokes. I also loved movies that had the live action-animated blend, a la Space Jam. The songs were catchy, though obviously a little annoying, and I also think the fact that Jesse McCartney voices Theodore is awesome.

Cars 2 (39%)- Widely considered the worst Pixar movie (hard disagree). I’ve never understood the ‘Cars 2’ hate. It’s not necessarily deep like some Pixar films, but I think that’s just because this is targeted for a younger audience. What is so wrong with Mater taking the forefront and being a spy? Nothing. Hilarity ensue.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze (36%)- I love the Ninja Turtles. Mutant Mayhem was my favorite film of 2023 and one of my all-time favorites, but as a kid my brother and I watched the live action 90s trilogy on repeat. I & III have 42% & 19%, respectively, on Rotten Tomatoes, but I think they all deserve more (not actually, but they’re fun)

Grown Ups (10%)- I think just about any Adam Sandler could have made this list because none are very well received critically but most are well received Shane-ically (what?). ‘Grown Ups’ is probably my favorite and it may be the best on screen assembly besides ‘The Avengers.’

The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (59%)- Though not quite as low as the others on here, this movie is very commonly despised by Tolkien fans. Not this one though. For a long time I preferred ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy to the LOTR trilogy (it’s a toss up now), because they’re so fun. This one is actually my least favorite of the 3, but it’s the only one with a super low score so it made this list.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (35%)- My jaw dropped when I saw this score. I had no idea people considered this movie bad. Hot take: I prefer it to the original. It takes all the fun of the first and moves it to the big city. It goes urban. And I’m all for it.

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Top 10 Movie Trees

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My Top 10 Animated Movies