The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies

Ranker Community
Updated September 23, 2023 262.9K votes 10.4K voters 483.5K views
Over 10.4K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies
Voting Rules
Vote up the cheesiest movies you love watching anyway.
Latest additions: Expend4bles, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Most divisive: Commando

What makes great guilty pleasure movies? This is a movie that you love to watch, but won't display on your DVD shelf... or maybe you will stop to watch when you flip by it on TV, but never if someone else is in the room. These movies are not always bad movies per se, but our cultural zeitgeist has determined that they are corny, dumb, or cheesy movies - badly done horror flicks, overdone dramas, overwrought or made entirely of syrup. But, still, these movies draw you in. You love them. Secretly. You're not exactly bragging about how many times you've watched them—or maybe you are, if self-deprecation is your thing.

What are the best guilty pleasure movies? This list of guilty pleasures is bound to be emotionally personal, so odds are, your #1 might not even be listed! Vote on this list and then rank your own list and add your missing faves.

 

Ranked by
  • The Mummy
    1

    The Mummy

    Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah
    1,443 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: Stephen Sommers
    In the heart-pounding adventure film The Mummy, Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) stumbles upon an ancient tomb in the midst of a battle-ridden Middle East. Unbeknownst to him, the tomb houses the malevolent Princess Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella), cursed for eternity by her own people. As the princess awakens from her crypt, she embarks on a vengeful mission to reclaim what is rightfully hers. The movie, rich in Egyptian mythology and action-packed sequences, unravels as Morton battles this resurrected ancient power. This captivating tale masterfully intertwines history and fantasy, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • Home Alone
    2

    Home Alone

    Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
    2,384 votes
    • Released: 1990
    • Directed by: Chris Columbus
    Home Alone, a comedic family film, spins the tale of Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), an 8-year-old boy accidentally left behind when his family flies to Paris for Christmas. In their absence, he must defend his suburban Chicago home from two bumbling burglars, Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern). Using wit and daring traps, Kevin turns the tables on the intruders. Directed by Chris Columbus, this movie won a British Comedy Award and received two Academy Award nominations, cementing its place in holiday movie history. It's a delightful mix of humor, adventure, and the indomitable spirit of a child.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
    3

    Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

    Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom
    2,267 votes
    • Released: 2003
    • Directed by: Gore Verbinski
    In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey to reclaim his ship, the Black Pearl, from cursed pirates. Alongside him is blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), who's desperate to rescue his love, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), kidnapped by these supernatural sea-robbers. This adventure-fantasy flick, directed by Gore Verbinski, offers a thrilling blend of humor, swashbuckling action and eerie curses. It earned five Academy Award nominations, cementing its status in the annals of modern cinematic classics.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
    4

    National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

    Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid
    2,331 votes
    • Released: 1989
    • Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik
    In the comedic holiday film National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) dreams of hosting a perfect, old-fashioned family Christmas. His wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) and kids Rusty (Johnny Galecki) and Audrey (Juliette Lewis) are along for the ride. The arrival of both sets of in-laws and eccentric Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) ensures the festive season is anything but smooth. Amidst the chaos of power outages, tree mishaps and an unexpected holiday bonus debacle, hilarity ensues. An iconic comedy classic, it has been a seasonal staple since its release in 1989.

    Available On:

  • Mrs. Doubtfire
    5

    Mrs. Doubtfire

    Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan
    1,893 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Chris Columbus
    In the heartwarming comedy-drama Mrs. Doubtfire, Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is a fun-loving father who finds himself distanced from his children after a bitter divorce. Resorting to an unconventional solution, he transforms into the affable Scottish nanny, Mrs. Doubtfire, played with remarkable conviction by Williams. The film, directed by Chris Columbus, explores themes of family and identity in its engaging narrative. Sally Field co-stars as Miranda Hillard, Daniel's ex-wife, while Pierce Brosnan plays her suitor, Stu. This delightful film bagged an Academy Award for Best Makeup.

    Available On:

    subscription

    free

  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
    6

    Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

    Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan
    1,082 votes
    • Released: 1984
    • Directed by: Steven Spielberg
    Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) is a high-stakes action-adventure film, directed by Steven Spielberg. The title character, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), finds himself in India, where he's asked to find a mystical stone. Accompanied by Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) and Short Round (Jonathan Ke Quan), Jones stumbles upon a secret cult committing enslavement and human sacrifices in the catacombs of an ancient palace. Amidst danger and dark magic, our hero confronts his adversaries head-on in a bid to stop their sinister plans. This movie won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

    Available On:

    subscription