Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) - It’s very popular now of days to watch movies so bad they’re good (The Room, Sharknado). Well, the film that started it all was a little picture called Plan 9 From Outer Space. Directed by cult-film icon Ed Wood, it tells the story ( the story being a loose term here) of an old man who’s wife is killed, then he’s killed and then flying saucers come down and turn them into zombies. The Tim Burton film ED WOOD stars Johnny Depp as Wood during the filming of Plan 9 and it is a must see.
W.R. Hearst commanded all of his publications to neither condemn nor promote the film as a gesture towards the friendship between the Hearsts and the Welles families. Since Hearst had a near monopoly on U.S. publications in print across the states, it was perceived as a dud film by the public as they couldn't garner a review either way. Remember now, these were times when people relied on papers for their news and pennies were short. Too short to waste on a film with no review from their only news sources.
The film opened to mixed reviews and exclusive theaters anti-Hearst promotions. It still profited. It was only after W.R. Hearst and Howard Hughes' deaths that the film actually gained any notoriety. It's a good film for the history of its back story. Not for it's exclusive artistry.
Bridge Over The River Kwai. The Sound Of Music. The Best Years Of Our Lives. Stalag 17. The Exorcist. Doctor Zhivago. .... There are so many more that deserve to be on this threads list. Sadly, they're not.