It's very logical to say that cult movies are the movies that have gathered a cult following, but, be as it may, such a statement does not explain a thing. And while definitions of a cult film might vary, there's one thing that unites them all, and it is being counterculture, transgressive, and against the mainstream. A more inclusive definition would also add the movie being a total commercial or critical flop that has nevertheless gained a reasonable number of fans. Fans of such cult classics, in their own right, aren't just your usual fans - they are usually thoroughly devoted to said artwork by forming a subculture surrounding the movie or, in some cases, like The Big Lebowski, even spawning a religion. So, basically, a cult movie is a very underrated-at-the-time movie that has gathered a fanbase of very loyal fans. This is to simplify it to its bones, and if you are, in fact, a loyal fan of, say, Heathers, please excuse us if we got something wrong. However, if you are hearing the term for the very first time and the description has piqued your interest, why not check out some of the most iconic cult classics in our list dedicated to them? While the movies are in no particular order, the ten first ones also have short descriptions added to them so you'll know what you are getting yourself into.
Are you ready to try some majestically weird movies that follow no tropes and cliches? If so, scroll just a bit further down and check out our list of the most amazing cult movies! From such gems as The Rocky Horror Picture Show to The Room and Showgirls, you'll definitely find a movie that's your kind of weird.
#1 The Big Lebowski
1998 | 1 hour 57 minutes | Directed by Joel Cohen and Ethan Coen
Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore
The Big Lebowski by the Coen brothers not only has gained a cult-like following but has also inspired a whole new philosophy called Dudeism. Peppered with hilarious and memorable performances from supporting actors (Turturro's Jesus is by far one of the greatest supporting characters ever), The Big Lebowski is a real adventure to watch. And if you haven't already, we strongly recommend it!
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48points
#2 The Rocky Horror Picture Show
1975 | 1 hour 40 minutes | Directed by Jim Sharman
Starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a musical comedy horror film and the only movie where you get to see Tim Curry frolicking around with stockings and a corset, all looking super serious while frolicking around in his creepy mansion. Oh, and singing catchy tunes, of course! This image alone guarantees The Rocky Horror Picture Show a cult status, but add in some naughty fun, extraordinary musical pieces, and an absolutely unique premise, and it turns into a real crown jewel of weird movies.
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46points
#3 Monty Python & The Holy Grail
1975 | 1 hour 31 minutes | Directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones
Starring John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle
Monty Python and The Holy Grail is a comedy film inspired by the Medieval Arthurian legend. Thus, the premise is exactly that - King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table set out for a very low-budget, totally ragtag hunt for the Holy Grail. It being the work of the Monty Python troupe, you should expect some iconic spoofs, absurd events, and meme-worthy images supplied by knock-you-out-of-your-socks humor. No wonder this movie soon became a mega-hit earning itself the title of a cult movie!
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44points
#4 This Is Spinal Tap
1984 | 1 hour 22 minutes | Directed by Rob Reiner
Starring Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest
This Is Spinal Tap is a mockumentary that marked Rob Reiner's directorial debut. It goes like this - Spinal Tap, an English heavy metal band, goes on an American tour that's documented by a filmmaker fan. The group is headed for a crisis, and it all ends with the infamous stage prop accident. This Is Spinal Tap has ingeniously witty dialogue, the humor is as good as gold, and although the premise might seem like an overly familiar one, Reiner's take on it leaves no doubts about the story's freshness. Not only is This Is Spinal Tap a bona fide cult movie, but it has also been nominated as one of the best movies of all time by numerous sources.
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43points
#5 Donnie Darko
2001 | 1 hour 53 minutes | Directed by Richard Kelly
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell
Donnie Darko is an independent science fiction psychological thriller by Richard Kelly. It's an ominous story of a troubled teenager Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal), who starts seeing visions of Frank - a rabbit-like monster - who warns him that the world will end in 28 days. Soon, Donnie starts manipulating Frank to commit heinous crimes. The movie itself is chillingly ominous and menacing; it's like watching clouds gathering right before the storm of the century. And when you think that it is basically about the teenage angst that you yourself have felt when growing up, it all starts to feel even eerier. A real cult classic movie that you should've watched yesterday.
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34points
#6 Heathers
1988 | 1 hour 43 minutes | Directed by Michael Lehmann
Starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty
Heathers is a black comedy teen film portraying four teenage girls (three of them named Heather) in a clique at an Ohio high school. All goes well for the Heathers and Veronica until a human-hating new kid enters their school with a plan to kill them all and stage it as a suicide. Despite being highly stylized and hyperbolized satire, Heathers somehow captures the real essence of a high school - a ruthless place filled with murderous teens who'd do anything to relieve their angst. A cult comedy, for sure!
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34points
#7 Office Space
1999 | 1 hour 29 minutes | Directed by Mike Judge
Starring Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman
A commercial flop upon its release, Office Space later did so well with selling on home video and DVDs that it gained a cult-like following just a couple of years later. Several elements of the film are still reused as memes to this day - remember the one about working on Saturday? Curiously enough, a red Swingline stapler became a staple of the movie, and the manufacturers started offering the previously nonexistent stapler for purchase.
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34points
#8 Dazed And Confused
1993 | 1 hour 43 minutes | Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey
Dazed And Confused is yet another cult classic comedy/coming-of-age story on our list; it seems that the '90s spawned plenty of iconic movies! So, here, we get to follow the adventures of high school and junior high students on their last day of school in 1976, and, boy, do they get wild! From sketchy characters to off-the-wall happenings, Dazed And Confused will take you to the whirlwind that is teenage life. By the way, it's one of Tarantino's favorite movies, and that's a great recommendation.
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33points
#9 Wet Hot American Summer
2001 | 1 hour 37 minutes | Directed by David Wain
Starring Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Showalter
Wet Hot American Summer is a satirical comedy film that follows events taking place during the last day of a fictional summer camp in 1981 and gloriously spoofs sex comedies of the era. At first, the film was largely misunderstood and went to be a total commercial and critical failure; however, with some time passing, the audiences finally started to get it, and since then, Wet Hot American Summer has been a real cult classic. So, if you're looking for some quality satire and a chance to gawk at guys wearing too short shorts, this comedy might be exactly the thing.
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30points
#10 Eraserhead
1977 | 1 hour 29 minutes | Directed by David Lynch
Starring Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph
Eraserhead is a surrealist horror film and the first feature-length movie by David Lynch. Now, as with everything Lynch, it isn't a simple task to explain what Eraserhead is truly about, but the premise goes like this - Henry Spencer is trying very hard to survive in an unbearably industrial environment while dealing with his angry girlfriend and the incessant screams of his newborn mutant child. And if Eraserhead started off as an obscure movie for small audiences, it is now kept for preservation in the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Well, we wouldn't expect anything else when it comes to the works of David Lynch, to be honest!
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30points
