397 Roger Corman Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

Both a prequel and a sequel to the widely acclaimed crime film The Godfather, it continues the story of Michael Corleone as he survives several misfortunes while expanding the family business, and puts it in contrast to the early struggles of his father, Vito Corleone, recording his introduction into a life of crime.

In this Academy Award-winning psychological thriller, FBI trainee Clarice Starling is pulled from her training to interview former psychiatrist and imprisoned cannibalistic psychopath Hannibal Lecter in connection with grisly murders by another serial killer, nicknamed Buffalo Bill, who skins his victims. However, she can only retrieve information from the manipulative killer in exchange for exposing her own psychological traumas.

The Gunfighter is a western film which tells the story of Jimmy Ringo, a gunfighter who is quite skilled, but his skill always leads him to trouble since other fighters are constantly out to challenge him to put his skills to the test. He tries to reconcile with the woman he loves, although she does not wish to see him again.

After his sister Elizabeth dies due to mysterious circumstances, Francis vows to find out the reason behind her death. He soon finds himself in a castle belonging to Nicholas, his brother-in-law.

A medieval Italian prince, Prince Prospero, is devoted to the pursuit of evil. The evil prince doesn't care much about the Red Plague that destroys the peasant population and enjoys his life in his eerie country castle.

House of Usher is a horror film which tells the story of a man who believes that his family is doomed, as they have been cursed by incurable insanity. When his sister Madeline announces her engagement to a man named Philip Winthrop, he decides to stop at nothing to prevent the marriage from happening, so that their bloodline will not continue.

The movie, based on the aborted 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, follows Jim Lovell and his team as they prepare to fly Apollo 13, NASA's third lunar landing mission. After the launch everything is fine, until an explosion in one of the oxygen tanks puts the lives of the astronauts at risk. Back at NASA, Kranz, John Aaron and Ken Mattingly struggle to bring back the astronauts safely.

One of the first mainstream Hollywood films to acknowledge HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, and homophobia, Philadelphia is a gripping tale of a homosexual senior associate at a large corporate law firm who gets fired due to his sexuality, and his fight to get justice. 

Tales of Terror is an anthology horror thriller film which is based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe. The first story is about a father and a daughter, who are reunited after a long time. However, problem is that the father still blames the daughter for the death of her mother. The second story is about Fortunato Luchresi, who is challenged to a wine tasting by his rival. The third story is about a dying man in great pain, who decides to take the help of a hypnotist to cheat death.

Erasmus Craven is a magician who is still suffering from depression two years after the death of Lenore, his beloved wife. One day, he is visited a Adolphus Bedlo, who has been transformed into a raven after he lost a duel against Dr Scarabus, an evil wizard. After Erasmus turns him back into a human, Bedlo claims that Lenore may still be alive, as he thinks that he saw her in the castle of Dr Scarabus.

Dr Xavier is a scientist who invents a special eye drop which gives him the ability to see through objects. However, he learns that his invention can lead to disastrous consequences when it seems he is unable to control it anymore.

Walter Paisley is a busboy working in a café, who is attracted to his beautiful co-worker Carla. When he accidentally kills a cat, he decides to hide its body under a layer of plaster. This unintentionally leads to an artwork being created, which Carla and her friends find quite amazing. Therefore, Walter decides to create even bigger and better artwork, using the same process. Soon, people start disappearing mysteriously.

Joseph Curwen is a warlock who is burnt alive for his witchcraft by the people of a town named Arkham. However, before dying, he places a curse on the town, promising that he will take his revenge, even if it means he has to rise from the grave. Over a century later, his descendant Charles Dexter Ward visits the town, to visit the house that he has inherited.

Several years after his beloved wife had passed away, Verden Fell gets acquainted with another woman named Lady Rowena. They eventually get married but problems arise in their relationship because Fell is still infatuated with his late wife.

A television journalist Karen White, in Los Angeles, gets traumatized due to an encounter with a serial killer, while she was aiding the police. She is eventually sent to a psychiatric retreat in a remote mountain resort. However, she soon learns that the residents are not what they seem.  

Based on real events, this crime drama film shows us the events that lead to an infamous shootout, between rival gangs that were led by Al Capone and George Moran.  In order to claim his status as the most powerful mobster of his time, Capone had ordered his men to disguise themselves as cops and murder all the important men in Moran’s gang, which eventually resulted in immense bloodshed.  

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden is a fantasy drama film which tells the story of a teen girl Deborah, who is suffering from schizophrenia. Unable to determine what is real or unreal, she attempts suicide, and lands up in a mental institution. However, the hostile environment worsens her condition even further until Dr Fried tries to help her distinguish between fantasy and reality.     

Geeky orphan Seymour works in Mushnik’s failing flower shop and dreams about co-worker Audrey. After a solar eclipse, he finds a strange plant which he names Audrey II. The flourishing plant fetches good business, but weirdly, it has voracious appetite for human blood and flesh. Audrey’s sadistic boyfriend Orin appears to be a fitting candidate; but what about Audrey II’s next meal? 

Gravis Mushnick owns a florist shop which is staffed by himself and two employees. One of them creates a new plant species which he names as Audrey Junior, in honor of his girlfriend Audrey. However, things get complicated when the plant starts to speak and demands human blood and flesh, for food.

Set during the 1930s, the film is loosely based on the real life gangster, Machine Gun Kelly. Kelly is extremely scared of death and it is his mistress Flo who persuades him to commit bigger crimes. After a bank robbery goes wrong due to his fear, he decides to switch to kidnapping to earn more money. The move eventually paves way for his downfall.

Highway Dragnet is a crime drama film, which tells the story of an ex-Marine, who is wrongly accused of killing of a bar-girl. He tries to flee from the police, and is forced to hitch a ride with a photographer and her model. 

Death Race 2000 is a science fiction sports film which takes us to a dystopian future where a cross country automobile race takes place, which requires its contestants to run down innocent pedestrians to gain points.

Kym, who has been in drug-rehab, is released for few days to attend her sister’s wedding. At the family home, she becomes an object of attention for watching eyes. Kym takes her father’s concern as his distrust, whereas Rachel resents her big day getting overshadowed by Kym. Her arrival brings back memories of past conflicts, bitterness and tragedy, affecting the family dynamics. 

This crime drama thriller film revolves around the rise and fall of a crime lord named Joe Sante. The film shows his life in flashbacks, as he appears before a Senate subcommittee.

Gulf War veteran Major Bennett ‘Ben’ Marco starts looking into his past after experiencing vivid dreams. While investigating his friend, Sergeant First Class Raymond Shaw, now a senator, who was also part of the same mission, Marco unveils a conspiracy by elite politicians and the Manchurian Global corporation. 

Boxcar Bertha is a romantic crime drama film which takes us to the time of the Great Depression. The film revolves around a union leader and a young woman, who are both forced to a life of crime. They eventually join forces on a revenge mission.

This biographical war drama film is about Manfred von Richthofen, a German air force veteran during the First World War. The film revolves around his struggle with the enemy aces as well as some jealous German officers.

An advertizing executive leaves her cheating boyfriend and her home in Los Angeles, intending to reach New York by car. On the way, she picks up a young couple, who robs not only her purse, but also her car. Stranded without any identity card, she enters a bar and asks the bartender for a phone so that she can report the incident. What follows is a terrifying tale of humiliation and danger. 

Also known as Guns, Sin and Bathtub Gin, the movie follows a young farm girl who leaves for Chicago where she ends up in prison and becomes a prostitute. She also falls in love with the American Gangster, John Dillinger, and descends further into a life of crime. 

Anna, a disc jockey, who has to care for her alcoholic father, discovers that her mother had an affair with a married man for 15 years. Therefore, she starts her own affair with a married man as well. 

Set in the times of unemployment and economic turmoil, the film follows the life of ironworker Jensen Ames, who is falsely accused of murder. Sent to the Terminal Island, the ruthless Warden Hennessey gives option of competing in prison’s dreadfully dangerous car race as masked Frankenstein to gain freedom, or continue endless imprisonment. Watched by millions, he participates in the 3-stage death race. 

For a highly treacherous operation behind the enemy lines, the Allies recruit a group of 5 tough criminals against a promise of early pardon. Their mission is to rescue an Italian general held captive by the Nazis at a fortress in Dubrovnik. The felons collectively use their dark skills to achieve the impossible task. Can they succeed in this infiltration operation? 

After learning that corrupt land developers want to evict him and his neighbors for real estate development, and the police is of no help, an Arkansas farmer named Tom Hunter, wages a one-man war against the corporation. 

Piranha is a horror film which tells the story of a few guests having fun in the river in a summer resort. But horror is unleashed when they realize that flesh-eating piranhas have been released into the water.

White Star is a 1983 musical drama film which revolves around a rock music journalist and his view towards the new generation of angry and excited punk lovers.

After John Haloran passes away, his widow Louise is worried that she will not receive any inheritance. She tries to come up with a way to get her hands on it, and moves into the estate belonging to her husbands’ family. However, she is unaware of the fact that there is an axe murderer loose in the estate, and she might be the next target.

A horror novelist inherits a home from his aunt, but finds that it has been invaded by ghosts and ghouls.

Barbara Bonney accidently kills a member of ‘The Black Widows’ girl-gang, while fighting over Eddie Rand, leader of ‘The Vandals.’ The Black Widows prepare to take revenge by killing Barbara, and use all possible means to collect money for a rumble. Barbara rushes to Eddie and the Vandals for protection. They get ready as the girl-gang arrives with their male counterparts, The Tarantulas. 

This crime thriller film tells the story of a young man Eddie Moore, who along with his new girlfriend, witness the corrupt local Sheriff killing his deputy. Things even turn worse as the Sheriff try to frame them for the murder.

Two escaped killers hide in  bar ‘Cloud Nine,’ taking everyone hostage, including bar-singer Julie, a big-mouth hooligan, a crook, a boxer and a small man ‘Shorty,’ who is smitten with Julie. Often slighted by tough guys, Shorty suffers from inferiority complex. Now, bar-room big men get intimidated by the criminals, but turning into ‘little big man,’ Shorty sets everything right, winning Julie. 

This comedy film takes us the 1920s, and revolves around a World War I veteran named Charlie, who wants to be the first person to win a transnational motorcycle race. He eventually meets a woman and her son, and picks them up.

The exploitation movie is set in the ancient Roman town of Brundisium, where a group of slave girls are sold to Timarchus, who puts them in a gladiatorial arena to fight to the death. Two of the girls, Mamawi and Bodicia, stick together to survive. 

A coy Buckman participates in the Trans-American Grand Prix, an underground road racing spanning the continent with his Pontiac. The rules are clear, that there are no rules, no heed for law and no speed limits. The participants will do anything to win this race which includes dirty tricks and low-down.

After Confederate soldiers escape from Union Prison, Major Walcott sets out to hunt them down. They also kidnap Walcott’s fiancée Emily and head towards the Mexican border. On their way, they kill a Union courier carrying news of the end of the Civil War. This results in more conflict with Union soldiers.

This action film tells the story of Howard, the rebellious son of a small town sheriff, who steals the race car of a professional racing driver, and how the sheriff attempts to retrieve it. 

Harley Thomas, a Florida moonshine runner, faces rivalry from girlfriend Nancy Sue’s father Ralph Hunnicutt. Ralph’s soda-pop plant is a façade to hide his moonshine manufacturing, funded by the mob. When he sends out a consignment of poisoned brew, Nancy and Harley race to track it. As the mob tries to take control, the state police join the chase, adding to complications.

Sorority Girl is a drama film which revolves around a malicious teenage girl, who is not accepted by the sorority girls at her boarding school. Therefore, she starts planning revenge to teach them a lesson.

Frank Webster, wrongly convicted of murder, breaks out of prison and kidnaps Connie, a young woman with a Jaguar sports car, to participate in a cross-border sports car race to Mexico. While struggling with her constant escape attempts, they develop feelings for each other and she tries to convince him to clear his name instead of escaping.

Harry Black is a pilot who is hired to fly a man named Carlyle to Istanbul. However, things get complicated when the man is murdered. Now a local gangster is after Harry, thinking that Harry possesses the currency plates that Carlyle was carrying.

The Terror is a horror film which tells the story of André, a lieutenant in Napoleon’s army, who gets separated from his unit accidentally. While wandering near the coast, he sees a young mysterious woman, whom he asks for directions. She doesn’t answer or even greet him. André continues following her and reaches the castle of Baron Von Lepp. Upon trying to enter the castle, the Baron tells him that there is no woman in the castle, but shows him a picture of the Baroness who died twenty years ago. André is shocked to see that it is the same woman he has been following.

A spaceship that has been sent on a rescue mission encounters a gigantic structure resembling a pyramid. Soon it seems that this structure might make their worst fears become a reality.

A crazy artist who believes himself to be the reincarnation of a murderous vampires starts killing several young women, after which he boils their bodies in a large tub. 

Teenager Jimmy Wallace, when viciously assaulted by a gang of other teenage hoodlums, fights back and believes that he has killed two of the gang. So when the police officers, who have the area encircled, order him to surrender, Jimmy is terrified and takes some random man, a woman and her baby as hostages, and along with them hides in a storeroom. 

Will is a young cowboy who rides into a tiny frontier town. He is soon targeted by the town’s corrupt sheriff, who puts him in jail. When Billy and Gabe come to his defense, they are thrown behind bars as well. Now their only hope is a waitress named Marva, who may find a way to free them.

As the United Nations plans its first satellite in the space, it receives a warning to discontinue or terminate those operations. But when the United Nations ignores these warnings, an ‘Unknown Force’ threatens to start a war against Planet Earth. In order to disrupt the space explorations, the alien forces manipulate a missile expert by taking control of his mind.

In the third movie in the Scream film series, production of a horror film Stab 3 is under way when a new Ghostface appears and begins killing the cast of the film. Sydney, who is leading a secluded and protected life in California, is forced to come out because of these murders. In order to stop the murder, Sydney must deal with her past.

Led by a convicted murderer, a group of prisoners plan an escape from a notorious fortress located in French Guiana. However, it seems to be far more difficult than they thought, since they will have to attempt to move through shark infested waters.  

Angels Hard As They Come is an action thriller drama film which revolves around the adventures of a biker gang consisting of Long John, Juicer and Monk, who get invited to a race, after a drug deal goes off.

The film tells the story of a group of four nurses from America who are working in the Republic of San Rosario. However, they get kidnapped by a band of guerillas.

Two American soldiers find themselves to be the only survivors of a unit wiped out in a battle with Japanese troops. Although they are not fond of each other, they try to put aside their differences in order to evade enemy forces and survive, and find a way back home.

After people in a town claim that they are being terrorized by a series of crimes by Apaches, the US government sends an agent, in order to investigate. However, it soon seems that a different force might be behind these crimes.

Set in the Civil War period, the film depicts five outlaws who are offered pardon from their death sentences to join Confederate army and capture a stagecoach carrying a Confederate traitor and gold. As they wait at the stagecoach station run by Shalee Jethro, they take her hostage. When four of them start fighting over her, she is saved by fifth, Govern Sturges.

Russian spaceship, Homeland, has been built on a space station and the crews are waiting for the command to start on their mission to Planet Mars. Meanwhile, American spaceship, Typhoon, arrives at the same station with some mechanical problems. The film portrays the rivalry beet Russia and America to become the first nation to land on Mars.  

Joe Machin is a womanizer and a reckless auto-racer who stops at nothing to win race or women. When Steve Children, a former-racer-turned-writer, realizes that his girlfriend had an affair with Joe, Steve accompanies Joe on tour, determined to expose his conduct. When Joe realizes Steve’s plan, the two compete in a personal grudge match. What will be the outcome of the race?

Chris, a nightclub owner is attracted to the club’s singer Natalie, but she has her eyes on someone else. The man she loves is a local gangster named Stanley, who eventually manages to take control of the club.

The Wild Racers is an action drama film which tells the story of a daredevil racing driver who is paid by an auto tycoon to finish at the second place in a race, instead of the first place. However, he decides to rebel against the latter.

Duke Bradley’s boat has been hired to sail a group of people to the Hawaiian Islands. His passengers include Zac Cotton, his alcoholic girlfriend Max McKenzie, and a pair of thugs Mitch and Sonny. Duke is completely unaware of the fact that they are planning to commit a robbery.

The Brain Eaters is a sci-fi horror film which takes us to the life of Glenn Cameron, who finds a 50-foot cone sticking out of the ground near a small town in Illinois. The discovery is reported and the government sends a UFO committee. Soon, it appears that several people in the town have vanished, including Glenn’s father.

An adventurer is kidnapped while diving and taken to an island where a mad scientist is running experiments in an attempt to make a human-animal hybrid super race. However, the scientist's daughter begins to doubt his ability to succeed.

Proximates is a tyrannical ruler, who tries to persuade a Greek hero Atlas, into fighting for him. Atlas however realizes that the king is wicked, and decides to fight against him instead.

In the distant planet of Ura, rival warlords Zeg and Bal Caz are constantly at war. A mercenary warrior named Kain arrives and pledges to join the highest bidder. But he ends up battling all the warlords and freeing the villages after falling for the sorceress Naja. 

After a poisonous gas from a military facility kills everyone over 25 and Texas is taken over by a Gestapo-like police force, a hippie named Coel and his new girlfriend Cilla flee to New Mexico looking for a better place. On the way, they are joined by another couple, Marissa and Carlos, and are terrorized by a football team.

After spending six years in prison, Steve returns to a ranch that was left to him in a will in order to claim it. He soon learns that the town is in the middle of a rough election which has been masterminded by Marie, who owns a saloon. Steve soon finds himself on the side of the opposition and his beautiful daughter.

Being chased by the police on charges of inflammatory writing, Marquis De Sade, revolutionary philosopher and writer, takes refuge in an abandoned family mansion. The film then takes a flashback and depicts his life, infamous for his erotic behavior.  

This Mexican sci-fi horror films tells how a swarm of highly intelligent killer bees, which were imported into the US, start attacking helpless people across the country, in an attempt to halt man’s destruction of the environment. 

An American woman vacationing in Mexico, spots a giant, one-eyed amoeba rising from the ocean. She tries to inform the authorities about this, but they refuse to believe her. She eventually meets and teams up with a marine biologist, and together they attempt to destroy the creature. 

This action war film takes us to the time of the Second World War. It revolves around an American patrol, which has to cross behind enemy lines by skis in order to blow up a railroad bridge. However, due to the conflicts between the veteran sergeant and the inexperienced lieutenant, as well as the constant attacks by Nazi forces, the task becomes harder for the team.