Cult films have a devoted following, often despite poor quality, box office performance, or critical reviews. Factors that can give a film cult status include lack of redeeming qualities, frequent airplay, belonging to sci-fi or horror genres, appealing to certain audiences, and nostalgia. Examples include Zoolander, Beastmaster, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
A cult film refers to a film that has a devoted following, perhaps undeserved of the film’s quality, box office performance, or critical reviews. The cult film is often measured by its continued popularity in DVD sales or rentals, long after other popular films have lost their steam and been marked for quick sale or continue to gather dust on video store shelves. It’s not always possible to determine why a film becomes a cult film, but there are a few factors that appear to influence a film’s ability to become a classic.
One aspect that can give a film cult status is the lack of any redeeming qualities. In some cases, a movie is so unequivocally awful that it becomes downright hysterical, or loved for being bad. Some films actually aim for this status, such as the Ben Stiller/Owen Wilson film Zoolander. Zoolander quickly achieved this status because the premise of him is silly and ridiculous and completely unbelievable. In other words, he wins over audiences by being bad enough to really like him.
Other examples of “so bad they are good” cult films include Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mommie Dearest and Showgirls. They’re all considered cult classics simply because they’re terrible. It is a strange phenomenon that is not easily explained. Perhaps there is a certain admiration for a film that is utterly awful in every respect. These movies aren’t just stupid, but they fail with flair and flair, the equivalent of Viking funerals where someone deceased falls into a blaze of glory.
Other films earn their cult status by enjoying frequent airplay. For example, when premium television stations like HBO and Showtime got their start in the 1980s, some movies were shown too often. One of them is the sword and sandal film Beastmaster. Dennis Miller is credited with saying that HBO stood for “Hey, Beastmaster’s on!” Because some films have had so many broadcasts, they are attached to a certain amount of nostalgia and have achieved cult status. The frequent airplays of other films such as Kevin Smith’s Dogma and Office Space are also turning these films into cult cinema classics.
A film is more likely to achieve cult status if it belongs to the sci-fi or horror genre. In particular, B-movies from the 1950s onward, especially those directed by people like Ed Wood, become favorites for their low production value. These can also be called field films. Horror films that perpetuate sequels also often become cult classics. Movies like Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th and all their sequels are generally poorly reviewed but have a cult following.
Sometimes a cult film appeals to a certain audience. For example, The Wizard of Oz is popular among the male homosexual community. A movie like Newsies has become a cult classic mostly because young fans loved it so much. Other films like those with the Brat Pack (Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy and John Cryer) evoke nostalgia for those who grew up in the 1980s and are considered cult classics. These include Less Than Zero, St. Elmo’s Fire, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink. Some of these films were bona fide hits upon release and remain popular as “coming-of-age” films among teenagers and their parents.
It would be impossible to discuss the cult film without mentioning The Rocky Horror Picture Show which was made in 1975. Some argue that it is the longest running film because somewhere in America, on any given weekend, there are still midnight showings of this film. In common with many other cult classics, The Rocky Horror Picture Show blends horror and sci-fi with campy sets and low-budget style. It’s also a musical, which is often enjoyed by the many fans who show up and sing along to the film, often playing the part of their favorite characters.
The film targets teenagers and young adults with a dramatic twist. Many remember going through a Rocky Horror phase and the film continues to attract new audiences. It should be noted that the film deserves its R rating and is best not seen by younger audiences. In fact, the genres from which cult movies usually derive make them mostly unsuitable for children and young adolescents.
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