The debut of Syfy's "Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!" on July 22 is cause for celebration, just for the title alone. But the fact that the "Sharknado" movies have become annual events shouldn't make us forget that SyFy cranks out similar monster-movie fare at the rate of about 24 films per year.



That's an awful lot of sharks, mad scientists, unholy creature hybrids, endangered bikini girls, sharks, '80s pop-stars and other pop-culture-relic actors, sharks, and prehistoric predators awakened from their slumbers and looking for breakfast. Did we mention sharks? You have to admire the creativity the filmmakers draw upon to come up with new monsters, new monster-on-monster battles, and new ways to kill characters and wreak mayhem, all despite tiny budgets that don't allow for lavish production values, quality costumes and special effects, or awards-caliber acting.



With all that cheesy deliciousness oozing forth from the channel every other Saturday night for the last 14 years or so, it's hard to tell the good movies from the so-bad-they're-good. Here's a list that should help. When we get that zombie western starring members of the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync, we may have to revise it, but whichever end of the list it winds up on, it'll have big footprints to fill. Or rather, Bigfoot prints.