Best Worst Movie (2010)
90%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 1 nomination
Good-natured and mirthful, Best Worst Movie is a sweet deconstruction of how a cinematic folly can become a triumph.
Best Worst Movie is a hilarious and heartwarming documentary that proves that even the worst movies can have a cult following. Watching the cast and crew of Troll 2 come to terms with their infamy is both cringe-worthy and endearing, and the film’s exploration of the strange world of B-movie fandom is fascinating. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Troll 2 or just love a good underdog story, Best Worst Movie is a must-see. Plus, who doesn’t love a good laugh at a terrible movie?
Production Company(ies)
Mosfilm Vtoroe Tvorcheskoe Obedinenie
Distributor
Area23a
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2009
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 31m
-
Language(s):English, Italian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 23, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 16, 2010
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Troll 2, Michael Stephenson, Mary Francis Groom, Brad Klopman, Claudio Fragasso, B-movie, cult classic, former child actor, Alabama dentist, ill-fated sequel, behind-the-scenes, cinematic folly, triumph, good-natured, mirthful, deconstruction, box office, gross USA, budget, critic reviews, Laura Kern, J.R Jones, Bill Goodykoontz, Perri Nemiroff, Brian Tallerico, Roger Ebert, Jason Adams, Richard Propes, Federico Furzan, Debbie Lynn Elias, David Harris, audience reviews, pathos, underground cultural phenomenon, bloated runtime, bittersweet, funny, exciting, moving, terrible movie
Worldwide gross: $109,895
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $151,887
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,977
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 16,563
US/Canada gross: $109,895
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $151,887
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,591
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,503
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $7,606
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,757
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Michael Stephenson – Self
Darren Ewing – Self
Jason Wright – Self
Randall Colburn – Self
Adam Deyoe – Self
Director(s)
Michael Stephenson
Writer(s)
Michael Stephenson
Producer(s)
Mary Francis Groom, Brad Klopman
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (70) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (66) | Rotten (4)
[The] doc offers fittingly low-tech amusement throughout –which is a hell of a lot more than can be said about the tediously incomprehensible movie it champions.
June 28, 2013
Laura Kern
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Troll 2 has become a midnight favorite, and Stephenson looks at the phenomenon while catching up with his profoundly untalented costars and the grouchy Italian director.
December 30, 2010
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A documentary so enthusiastic, good-natured and sweet about such an abject disaster that it almost makes Troll 2 worthwhile.
August 19, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Delivers a well-rounded look at a remarkable turn of events without ever overdramatizing the actors’ despair or over glamorizing their fame.
August 13, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Perri Nemiroff
CinemaBlend
TOP CRITIC
It’s not often that a behind-the-scenes documentary is more entertaining than the movie itself but Best Worst Movie is not your typical Hollywood tale. There’s nothing typical about Troll 2.
July 30, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Tallerico
Movie Retriever
TOP CRITIC
This curiously touching doc has a bittersweet ending.
July 29, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
Y’all, I can’t exclaim this loudly enough: Best Worst Movie is a really wonderful accomplishment.
July 2, 2021
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
There’s something completely joyous about watching a film in which the entire cast has sort of surrendered themselves to the journey.
September 2, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
An endearing look into love for cinema, in all its forms and results. [Full review in Spanish].
June 3, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Federico Furzan
Cinelipsis
Follow your dreams. Follow your heart. BEST WORST MOVIE — living proof that time does heal all wounds — and bad movies.
November 7, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
After an hour of non-stop adulation, Best Worst Movie begins to wear out its welcome.
October 24, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
Takes cinematic trash and turns it into comedy gold.
August 5, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row…
Plot
In 1989, unwitting Utah actors starred in the undisputed Worst Movie in History: TROLL 2. Two decades later, the legendarily inept film’s child star unravels the improbable, heartfelt story of an Alabama dentist-turned-cult movie icon and an Italian filmmaker who come to terms with this genuine, internationally revered cinematic failure.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary Best Worst Movie features former child actor Michael Stephenson, who starred in the infamous B-movie Troll 2.
Michael-Stephenson.jpg
