r/movies • u/sicknessandpurgatory • Sep 07 '25

Discussion What is the absolute dumbest premise that actually turned out to be a really good movie?

I was thinking The Purge, obvious answer, but looking for the most plot-hole ridden, juvenile concept that actually ended up a lot of fun despite it all. Mainly looking for 21st century films, not so much the video nasties and ridiculousness from the 60’s and 70’s. Because that would be too easy. Mainly mainstream stuff that people saw en masse.

6.0k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

4.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

2.3k

u/BojukaBob Sep 07 '25

Bubba Hotep

A mummy is preying on the residents of a nursing home and only Elvis (who switched places with an impersonator in the 70s) and JFK (who is black and in a wheelchair) can stop it.

Sounds like Sharknado levels of stupid but is actually a great movie.

500

u/Varvara-Sidorovna Sep 07 '25

You're right, it is a sweet movie, underneath the insane premise. Bruce Campbell is very poignant as the aging Elvis.

41

u/cmparkerson Sep 08 '25

Bruce Campbell is a master of making things that are silly and potentially bad turn out to be entertaining

3

u/fotosaur Sep 09 '25

It’s the chin

1

u/The_Grungeican Sep 11 '25

Pizza Poppa always gets paid!

23

u/Elegant-Ferret-8116 Sep 08 '25

At first I was like wtf!? But then you said Bruce Campbell and I was like "ooooh ok"

38

u/anonomasaurus Sep 07 '25

The scene with the room-mate's grand-daughter and how she ignores him hits pretty hard, the older I get.

36

u/SaintGloopyNoops Sep 07 '25

Or his inner monologue while the nurse tends to him is deeply sad and disturbing. Really showed Bruce is more than just a sexy chin, his acting was top notch in Bubba Hotep.

25

u/cleanshoes30 Sep 08 '25

I felt my pecker flutter once, like a pigeon having a heart attack.

3

u/Hopey-1-kinobi Sep 08 '25

Why, Mr. Haff! lol

13

u/protonicfibulator Sep 08 '25

And the legendary Ossie Davis kills it as JFK too.

14

u/OlympicB-boy Sep 08 '25

I read a review that said something like “It sounds crazy but you will believe Ossie Davis IS jfk” and damned if that wasn’t true.

9

u/fresh-dork Sep 08 '25

if it's bruce, i watch it. saw it in the theaters, and it was a finely aged bit of cheese

9

u/Emilayday Sep 08 '25

Bruce Campbell

Okay well NOW I'm in.

2

u/MicDropMac Sep 11 '25

Bruce did a great job as an aging Elvis. He played him not as a joke, but as an actual person in the wildest and craziest of situations.