10 Terrible Movies That Inspired Their Own Cult Followings

8. Glen Or Glenda

When pressed to tell someone what the worst film Ed Wood made is, most will utter the immortal phrase "Plan 9 From Outer Space", which does hold a regular #1 spot in most critics' 'worst films ever' lists. However, as terrible as Plan 9 might be - it's badly made, for sure, and its misleading use of Bela Lugosi in his "last performance" before his death is more than a little distasteful - it can hardly hold a candle to the strangely awful Glen Or Glenda. Loosely based on the controversy surrounding a 1950s sex-change operation, Ed Wood decided to alter the story to better suit his interest in transvestitism, and focuses on Glen/Glenda, a cross-dressing man (played by Wood). They struggle with their identity and can't find the courage to tell their fiancee about their secret alter-ego, and after a bizarre, thematically (but not story) related dream sequence they decide to tell her and she accepts Glen/Glenda. Although bold subject matter for the time in which it was produced, Glen or Glenda still suffers from Wood's persistent incompetence as an actor and storyteller, and is regularly mentioned when discussing his status as the worst director in history. New footage from the film was recently released which prompted some recent, serious discussion of the film among academics, despite its reputation. The production of Glen Or Glenda was famously chronicled in Tim Burton's biopic Ed Wood, and references to the film still crop up in movies today, from Seed Of Chucky to Jack & Jill.