Z-movies
Ultra-cheap film productions
Z-movies are ultra-low-budget films that fall below even the B-movie tier—productions so cheap and amateurish they occupy the bottom of cinema's quality scale.
The term suggests a hierarchy where if B-movies are bargain entertainment, Z-movies are barely watchable: We spent the night watching Z-movies and laughing at the terrible special effects.
Often associated with Ed Wood-era schlock, backyard horror films, and deliberately campy productions.
Venue serving seated motorists
Extreme fear or disgust
- sci-fiFuturistic fiction, abbreviated
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- slasherKnife-wielding horror villain
- monsterFrightening imaginary creature
splatter · gore · schlock · trash · grindhouse · sexploitation · zombie · alien
Costing relatively little
- amateurNonprofessional participant
- camcorderPortable video recording device
- backyardOutdoor space behind home
- DIYAmateur home projects
shoestring · microbudget · guerrilla · homemade · indie · basement · garage · direct-to-video
Lacking necessary skill
- unwatchableImpossible to watch
- amateurishLacking professional skill
- ineptLacking skill or competence
- laughableWorthy of derision
terrible · atrocious · cheap · shoddy · dreadful · awful · rock-bottom · cringe
drive-in
Venue serving seated motorists
fandom · collectors · obscure · forgotten · rediscovered
horror
Extreme fear or disgust
- sci-fiFuturistic fiction, abbreviated
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- slasherKnife-wielding horror villain
monster · splatter · gore · schlock · trash · grindhouse · sexploitation · zombie · alien · mutant
low-budget
Costing relatively little
- amateurNonprofessional participant
- camcorderPortable video recording device
- backyardOutdoor space behind home
DIY · shoestring · microbudget · guerrilla · homemade · indie · basement · garage · direct-to-video · royalty-free
incompetent
Lacking necessary skill
- unwatchableImpossible to watch
- amateurishLacking professional skill
- ineptLacking skill or competence
laughable · terrible · atrocious · cheap · shoddy · dreadful · awful · rock-bottom · cringe · trainwreck