The Golden Turkey Awards

The Golden Turkey Awards represents one of the earliest attempts at comprehensive bad movie criticism, cataloging cinema's most spectacular failures from the silent era through the late 1970s. Michael Medved, who would later become a prominent conservative commentator, collaborated with his brother Harry to create this irreverent taxonomy of cinematic disasters, complete with categories like "The Worst Film of All Time" and "The Most Ridiculous Monster." What distinguishes this 1980 collection from typical film criticism is its infectious enthusiasm for terrible movies rather than mere snark. The Medveds approach films like Plan 9 from Outer Space and Robot Monster with genuine affection, arguing that spectacular failure often proves more entertaining than mediocrity. Their detailed synopses and behind-the-scenes anecdotes reveal how budget constraints, eccentric directors, and misguided ambition combined to create unintentional comedy. The book's significance extends beyond humor—it helped establish the cult movie phenomenon and contributed to the rehabilitation of directors like Ed Wood, decades before Tim Burton's biographical film.

Michael and Harry Medved's irreverent catalog of Hollywood's worst films became a cult favorite among movie buffs when published in 1980. This snarky compendium awards "Golden Turkeys" to cinema's most spectacular failures across various categories of awfulness. Liked: - Witty, sharp commentary that skewers bad movies without being mean-spirited - Well-researched behind-the-scenes anecdotes about notorious flops and B-movies - Organized categories make it easy to browse specific types of cinematic disasters - Captures the charm of pre-home video era when finding terrible films required effort Disliked: - Some humor feels dated and relies heavily on 1970s cultural references - Brothers' comedic partnership occasionally produces forced, trying-too-hard jokes - Limited scope focuses mainly on older Hollywood films, missing broader genres The Golden Turkey Awards succeeds as both entertainment and film history, offering genuine insight into what makes movies fail spectacularly. While the humor doesn't always land, the Medveds' enthusiasm for cinematic train wrecks proves infectious, making this an enduring guilty pleasure for anyone fascinated by Hollywood's magnificent failures.

Fifty Worst Films of All Time by Harry Medved, Randy Dreyfuss - Harry Medved continues the systematic demolition of cinema's most spectacular failures. Son of Golden Turkey Awards by Harry Medved, Michael Medved - The Medved brothers return with more deliciously detailed autopsies of Hollywood disasters. The Official Razzie Movie Guide by John J. B. Wilson - The founder of the Razzie Awards delivers equally merciless coverage of Tinseltown's biggest embarrassments. Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese by Michael J. Nelson - Mystery Science Theater 3000's host applies the same razor-sharp wit to B-movie monstrosities. The Disaster Artist by Greg Sestero, Tom Bissell - An insider's account of creating "The Room," modern cinema's greatest unintentional masterpiece. If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell - The cult actor's memoir celebrates the joyful absurdity of low-budget filmmaking. Your Movie Sucks by Roger Ebert - Ebert's collection of scathing reviews demonstrates how great criticism can elevate terrible cinema. The Horror of It All by Joe Bob Briggs - The drive-in movie critic's gleeful celebration of exploitation cinema's beautiful awfulness.

• Co-authored by brothers Michael and Harry Medved in 1980, this became the first book to systematically celebrate Hollywood's worst films with mock awards ceremonies. • The book coined the term "turkey" for bad movies and directly inspired the creation of the annual Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies) in 1981. • Plan 9 from Outer Space received the book's "Worst Film Ever Made" award, launching Ed Wood's posthumous cult fame decades before Tim Burton's biopic. • Michael Medved later disavowed the book's mean-spirited tone, calling it "cruel" after becoming a more serious film critic and conservative commentator. • The book spawned two sequels and remains the template for "so bad it's good" film criticism, influencing Mystery Science Theater 3000's format.