Anthropologists have often been portrayed as brave, intelligent, and clever adventurers who infiltrate deep into thought-to-be long lost, untouched, primitive peoples and villages, or skillful explorers who uncover the mysteries of unknown civilizations,  outwit booby traps, or foil the clumsily laid plans of greedy villains.
Admittedly, Hollywood takes some liberties and pushes some boundaries, but sometimes things go really wrong and films, like these 5, get made!
And so, for your next ‘Bad Movie Date Night’ here are some awesome (yet, offensively terrible, cringe worthy) picks perfect for a bit of good-natured mockery!
 
#5. Sphinx  (1981) Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner- While doing research for a paper, Egyptologist, Erica Baron (Lesley-Anne Down) witnesses a murder of  a shady art dealer and the drama ensues! Naturally, rather than report the death to the authorities, the heroine sets off to solve the crime herself.

 
#4. When Women Had Tails (1970)-  “An Italian prehistoric sex farce”- I don’t need to add anything else to that.

 
#3. Cavegirl (1985) Directed by David Oliver- A nerdy, awkward anthropology student, Rex (Daniel Roebuck) goes on a regular, ol’ field trip but then he gets trapped in a time warp him up he ends up in cave times. Naturally, he meets a hot lady and goes native!

 
#2. Cannibal Holocaust (1979) Directed by Ruggero Deodato- A film team is lost in the jungles of South America. An anthropologist leads a team into unknown territory on a rescue mission to retrieve the lost film footage. Vile and offensive? Or is there a deeper social commentary on the grotesque consumption of the sensational? Your choice. This NC-17 film will definitely make you make that incredulous ‘wtf’ face.

 
 
And finally…
#1. Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) Directed by  J.F. Lawton– Starring Shannon Tweed AND a young, Bill Maher, the sexy anthropologist sets out to find a society where even sexier, wild, fierce women rule! This low budget film will NOT fail to provide you with a chuckle and a bit of secondhand embarrassment when Shannon Tweed says, with a straight face, “I am not a chick. I’m an ethnohistorian with a doctorate in cultural anthropology”. Um, girl power?
https://youtu.be/wAmuZsI75kc
 
Honorable Mention? The 1992 classic, Encino Man! Starring Pauly Shore, Samwise  Gamgee, and Brendan Fraser.

 
Well, there you have it! What bad anthro inspired films would make your list? Let me know in the comments below!