As fall continues, many opt for a cozy day in, wrapped up in blankets and watching a good cult classic. These movies are not only perfect for a rewatch but are integral parts of pop culture in film.
To be considered a cult classic, there are three main components. A big part of these “love it or hate it” type of movies is that they are generally not mainstream or well-received when they first come out. This could be caused by the second component: their transgressive themes. Cult classics generally contain taboo subjects or themes that make them unconventional and even controversial. The third component is simply dependent on the fans and the fanbase that grows over time. This is often an active community that consistently rewatches the film, even down to reciting exact quotes. One or all, these are what make a movie a cult classic.
Some obvious examples would be “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Carrie” or “Beetlejuice,” but there are many more to add to your movie night rotation.
‘Jennifer’s Body’ (2009)
Things don’t go as planned when “Low Shoulder,” an indie band, searches for the soul of a virgin to make a career-progressive pact with the devil. After being mistaken for a virgin, Anita “Needy” Lesnicki’s best friend, Jennifer Check, is kidnapped and killed, causing a chain of events due to an improper sacrifice.
“Jennifer’s Body” was a wild commercial failure, likely due to its heavy marketing focusing on Megan Fox’s sex appeal. The advertisements didn’t match the content of the movie, leaving viewers unsatisfied and causing heavy disconnect with critics.
By the late 2010s, people started to become interested in interpreting its feminist themes and open expression of sexuality: all things that were more taboo for the time. The fan base for this movie quickly grew, and it became a classic.
Donnie Darko (2001)
When Donnie Darko, a teen struggling with his mental health, sleepwalks in the middle of the night, he meets a giant, scary-looking rabbit named Frank. Frank informs Donnie that the world will end in 28 days. Using Donnie as an unreliable narrator, “Donnie Darko” explores complex themes of religion, death, fear and the concept of time.
The film was released Oct. 26, 2001, coming out a little over month after the Sept. 11 attacks. Because of this, it was extremely hard to market and get people interested in a movie that included talk of a plane crash. This sensitive time period and low budget to create the visuals that director Richard Kelly wanted likely played a part in its initial failure, grossing only about $500,000 in the domestic box office.
Its unconventional storytelling leaves viewers with many unanswered questions. It caused a lot of growth from word-of-mouth, along with discussions about the meaning of the movie, cementing its place as a cult-classic with a lot of rewatch potential.
Sharknado (2013)
With a budget of $2 million, “Sharknado” tells the ridiculous story of a shark-infested tornado that terrorizes Los Angeles. Sharks fly into random buildings and attack civilians — all with gory visuals — as a group forms and fights for their life in this action-packed film.
The unconventional plot made it something unlike what other people may have seen before. Shark movies are common, but sharks in tornadoes — that’s something new. It is so bad that it is almost satirical, down to the acting and poor CGI.
Leaning into the absurdity, this series got a lot of attention and gained loyal fans, allowing it to become an entire franchise. It has built its own world and has a strong fan base on social media.
Terrifier (2016)
The premise of “Terrifier” is quite simple. Art the Clown stalks and kills. His silent character adds an extra layer of discomfort to the film, having to take in the horror solely from Art’s actions, no dialogue attached.
The slasher film’s crowdfunding campaign originally failed to meet its goal. So producer Phil Falcone had to pitch in the rest of the funds. Filled with gore and unsettling scenarios, it may be a very squeamish movie to watch for many.
The film ended up becoming a horror fan favorite and changed the usual recipe for slashers. It unapologetically reminds watchers that no one is safe from Art, evidenced by the various gruesome and inhumane deaths. It doesn’t build up with slow pacing; it consistently keeps you on your toes with action almost every second.
Fight Club (1999)
A man suffering from severe insomnia has a massive redirection in life when he meets a soap salesman named Tyler Durden. The two form a partnership, eventually creating their very own underground fight club.
This psychological thriller did not do well at first, only finding commercial success in its home video release. It was extremely controversial due to its violent themes and the way some perceived it as a glamorization of toxic masculinity. However, by 2009, The New York Times was referring to it as “the defining cult movie of our time.”
Reach Janaya Stafford at entertainment@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.
