This week I decided to look at what are my Top 5 Cult Classic Movies. Now what is a cult classics? A cult classic movie is a film with a cult following, obscure or unpopular with mainstream audiences, and often revolutionary or ironically enjoyed. Examples would be (not on the top 5) Heathers, Office Space, This is Spinal Tap even the Wizard of Oz.
Here is my Top 5 Cult Classic Movies:
5. They Live (1988)
To kick off the Top 5 is the cult classic from legendary horror director John Carpenter which stars legendary Canadian pro wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper in the starring role. The movei is most known for it’s “Obey” posters that would inspire the iconic Shepard Fairey posters and Piper’s ad libbed line in the bank “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass…and I’m all out of bubblegum.” It initially received negative reviews from critics, who lambasted its social commentary, writing, and acting; however, it later gained a cult following and experienced a significantly more favorable critical reception. It is a classic that took time to gain the respect it deserved.
4. Clerks (1994)
The movie that launched a shared universe ( Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse films) long before Iron-Man and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie centres around lives of store clerks Dante Hicks and Randal Graves as well as their acquaintances. It is hilarious and a little odd which is why it may have taken time to catch on, on top of the fact it was an independent film made by unknowns with no notable names. The classic black and white film has become a landmark in independent filmmaking. In 2019, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
3. The Boondock Saints (1999)
A vigilante action thriller film that was a coveted movie script in the industry that sank due to production issues and a small release with worries about association with the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. The movie suffered from poor reviews, but once it was released widely on home video $30,471 at the limited box office on the $6 budget was far surpassed with over $50 Million in sales. The movie centring around twin borthers who become vigilantes after killing two members of the Russian Mafia in self-defense. After both experience an epiphany, the twins, together with their friend “Funny Man” Rocco, set out to rid their home city of Boston of crime and evil, all the while being pursued by FBI special agent Paul Smecker. The movie stars a then unknown Norman Reedus alongside Sean Patrick Flanery, Willem Dafoe and Billy Connolly. This one is definitely not one for kids to watch.
2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
The runner up is the Halloween staple The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The film was independently made and was a musical, comedy, horror starring the likes of Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon. The story centres on a young engaged couple whose car breaks down in the rain near a castle, where they seek a telephone to call for help. The castle or country home is occupied by strangers in elaborate costumes celebrating an annual convention. They discover the head of the house is Dr. Frank N. Furter, an apparently mad scientist who actually is an alien transvestite from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania, who creates a living muscle man named Rocky in his laboratory. It was released to extremely negative reviews, but it soon became a hit as a midnight movie, when audiences began participating with the film at the Waverly Theater in New York City in 1976. In 2005, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” It is a truly odd movie but is good film nevertheless and is the definition of a cult classic.
1. The Big Lebowski (1998)
Taking the top spot is The Big Lebowski. To this day I feel I don’t understand half the movie but it is nonetheless and entertaining movie with Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Tara Reid and even Sam Elliot. Coming out to mixed reviews the film who take a cult following and change perspectives on reviewers. The movie is noted for its eccentric characters, comedic dream sequences. The film has gone on to have its own festivals known as Lebowski Fest, which over teh years stars of the film have been known to attend. It also spawned Dudeism, a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle inspired by “The Dude.” How do you not have this at number #1 when it inspires festivals and a religion. Like others on this list, in 2014, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
– Everett
