Some movies become major hits years after their debut, and for some reason, the (pop)corny classic, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, is one of them.

There’s no set formula that dictates what old movies are going to have a resurgence and when, but it happens nonetheless. Sometimes it takes a while for movies that deserve more notoriety to get the attention they seemingly deserve. What may have bombed at the box office, could become a major cult classic later.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space was a direct-to-VHS movie that was released in 1988. It’s extremely goofy and campy, but it’s good. Though it was released years ago, and on face value doesn’t seem like the kind of movie people would still be talking about today, it’s seen a major resurgence.

Killer Klowns plays at movie theaters around the Halloween season, and the movie has even inspired a line of decor and costumes at seasonal stores like Spirit Halloween. With sequels and video games in discussion, Killer Klowns from Outer Space is having a second wind, and it’s been lasting for several years now. But why?

If you take a moment to look around you, sometimes it may seem difficult to determine what decade we're in. From fashion to music to movies and TV, inspiration from past decades is all around us. Every few years, there seems to be a change in the guards, so to speak, and a new decade becomes the focal point. A few years ago the '70s were all the rave, the naughties are often coming in and out of popularity, same with the '90s. But one decade that always seems to have a place in modern day is the '80s.

The bright colors, big hair, glamorous rock scene and everything else in between makes the '80s an instantly recognizable decade. When key aspects of the 1980s appear today — whether it be in street fashion or on TV — people get nostalgic. Those who lived through the '80s reminisce on the past and fond memories, while those who never saw the '80s grow nostalgic for an experience they didn't have. And nostalgia sells. Just look at Stranger Things. The '80s-based Netflix show is a global hit.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space is very '80s. It's extremely embellished and perfectly follows the recipe for typical '80s horror movie. That's part of what makes the movie so fun to watch. It's corny and fun all around, chock-full of '80s humors and whacky visuals. Plus, the movie comes complete with its own theme song "Killer Klowns from Outer Space," by punk rock band The Dickies.

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Killer Klowns from Outer Space is one of those B-rated horror movies that you either love or hate — like the 2010 killer tire comedy, Rubber. To enjoy it, it requires a certain level of appreciation for bad movies. You have to be able to look past the shoddy effects and the questionable, over-the-top acting to reach the conclusion that the movie is so bad, that it's actually really good. While some people may think the movie is bad, that level of "badness" is part of what makes it such a great watch.

It's incredibly campy, with its popcorn guns and cotton candy cocoons, but the movie ultimately doesn't take itself so seriously. It knows it's not a blockbuster hit and it's not trying to be. It really just feels like it was made for fun, which is why watching the movie over and over is such a good time. People like serious, gritty movies that require some thought to enjoy and understand, but not all the time. Sometimes it's nice to sit back with something goofy — like Killer Klowns — and just have fun with it. This is likely another part of the movie's sudden resurgence. Simply put, it's just fun to watch. It's not overly scary — unless you have a major clown phobia — and it doesn't require a ton of focus or effort to enjoy. And honestly, you can have just as much fun watching it by picking the movie apart and laughing at the slightly cheap, 1988 production value.

When Stephen King wrote It in 1986 — and was followed up by a miniseries and later remakes — people's coulrophobia — or the fear of clowns — was given new life. Thematically, It is about the loss of childhood innocence, and what better way to show innocence lost than by taking a clown and making them an evil, killing machine. The evil clown trope is a great example of effectively juxtaposing two wildly different themes. Clowns are supposed to be smiling, jovial, fun-loving beings that live to make you balloon animals and laugh. Rewriting the narrative and making clowns evil and scary suddenly makes all clowns, good or bad, unsettling.

Evil clowns had shown up in media before King's Pennywise character, like the Ghost Clown from Scooby Doo. However, It was truly the turning point for evil clowns and the fear they spark in many people. While Killer Klowns from Outer Space isn't as terrifying as It or other clown horrors like Terrifier, it still uses clowns as its main characters. And whether they're scary or not, clowns just do really well in the genre. They make great costumes, great Halloween decor, and ultimately, great movies.

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If you've visited a Spirit Halloween in the past year or so, you've likely noticed entire aisles dedicated to Killer Klowns merchandise. From door mats to coffee mugs and prop decorations, Killer Klowns merch has been all the rave. But it's not just physical merchandise that's reviving the movie. Among talks of a sequel, there's also a Killer Klowns from Outer Space video game currently in development.

The game looks like it's going to be a blast. The trailer features recreations of iconic scenes from the movie, like the pizza delivery scene, and also uses the Killer Klowns theme song in the background. The game trailer says it'll be a multiplayer horror game and seems a lot like the Friday the 13th survival game — which makes sense since the Killer Klowns game is using the same executive producer. There's no set release date for the game yet, just that it should arrive in early 2023.

The new game — and sequels, if those ever take off — are going to reignite the love for the movie even further among those who already enjoy the film. It'll also generate new fans as video game lovers and reviewers who may have never seen the movie pick up the game and get into the characters and story.

Whether you love it or hate it, Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a major cult classic. Though it was released years ago in 1988, the movie has maintained its popularity over the years, and if anything, it's only grown.

Maria is a freelance writer and editor who operates her own freelance business, Total Type LLC. Maria enjoys covering a wide variety of topics, but has always had an avid love for pop culture.