Billy Bob Thornton's Guilty Pleasure Is This 'Horrible' Sci-Fi Movie | Sorry Not Sorry
Landman (2024) remains an ongoing treat for Taylor Sheridan fans. With Season 2 here, star Billy Bob Thornton sat down with JustWatch to promote the show. But not everything was all business. When asked about his favorite guilty pleasure movie, Thornton absolutely understood the assignment. "There's a movie called Robot Monster. We watch it fairly often, which is kind of sad commentary on my life."
WATCH: You'll Never Guess Billy Bob Thornton's Guilty Sci-Fi Pleasure
Phil Tucker's 1953 sci-fi flick with a killer title straddles two schools of thought. While some label it one of the worst movies ever made, others call it a misunderstood classic. With an ape-like alien in a space helmet hellbent on destroying humanity until he crushes on a human woman, Robot Monster is a bit like King Kong got a villainous, extraterrestrial makeover. It's undeniably low-budget sci-fi schlock that ranks alongside other '50s favorites like Invasion of the Saucer-Men (1957) and Devil Girl From Mars (1954).
But, hey, that's not a bad thing. If people didn't love movies like this, then Mystery Science Theater 3000 wouldn't exist. In fact, the 1989 version of the show even featured Robot Man in Season 1, Episode 7.
'Robot Man' Has Low-Budget '50s Sci-Fi Charm
Let's be real. Robot Man's main character might have one of the most bizarre costumes in all of cinema. After all, it's not every day that you see a giant gorilla monster wearing a bubble helmet. Yet, it's that exact type of ridiculousness that's made Robot Man so memorable. Its low budget lends it a certain charm that will most certainly delight anyone who appreciates the innate camp and cheesiness that come with productions like this.
In the interview, Thornton even describes one of his favorite "so-bad-it's-good" moments in Robot Monster, saying, "You know how they used to have the old paper spaceship, you know, on a string going across the screen? But in this one, there's a guy doing it like this." Thornton pretends he is holding a little paper spaceship. "And you actually see his fingers—tips of his fingers—come into the side of the frame."
It's the faux pas like these that have turned Robot Monster into a cult classic. While there are defenders of the movie's surreal tone and score, most people booting up Robot Monster are there for the laughs, the cringe, and the cheesy effects and set pieces. It's also got a divisive ending that is sure to spark debate among anyone brave enough to check it out.
Why To Watch 'Robot Monster' (And What To Watch After)
To quote Billy Bob Thornton, "Robot Monster. Everybody go out and get Robot Monster." Truthfully, it's just one of those movies you have to watch for yourself. If you're like me and frequently find yourself wondering, "What kind of schlock can I watch today?" Then, this is the movie for you. After all, there are a lot of terrible movies, but not all terrible movies have the honor of ascending to cult status like this one.
If Robot Monster left you craving more B-movie sci-fi, consider other cheesy '50s offerings like The Colossus of New York (1958) and Gog (1954) or the aforementioned Invasion of the Saucer-Men and Devil Girl From Mars. More modern movies like Mars Attacks! (1996) might also scratch that itch, but there's nothing quite like the magic of '50s sci-fi except for movies from that era.
