Cult Movies You Love

[AHunter3]

Stardust
The Lost Room (miniseries, does that count?)
Miracle Mile
Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death

[Spoons]

@Maserschmidt

I’m still stuck on the definition. If a cult film is simply one that people watch over and over and over after it’s out of theaters, and quote endlessly, and watch repeatedly on DVD, then Star Wars is probably the biggest cult film ever, despite the fact that it kicked ass at the box office.

I once heard the definition put something like this: “A cult film is one that you could show in a little, independent theatre at midnight, using an old print, and the place would be packed.” That was something I heard in pre-VHS/DVD days, but I think it still works. Under those circumstances, a lot of the films mentioned would qualify.

But still under those circumstances, I don’t think Star Wars qualifies. For one, I’d imagine Star Wars fans are pickier–they’re more likely to want the high-def, widescreen, pumped-through-a-home-theatre-system experience; or at least the big theatre with a fresh print and Dolby surround sound experience. They won’t be happy with scratchy old prints and sound put through a mono system that has seen better days, especially at midnight.

Maybe we’re not quite at a definition yet, but I think we may be on our way towards one: A cult movie is one whose fans are willing to see it under any circumstances, in any condition, and with other fellow fans, without reservation.

[Martini_Enfield]

I have to say the SDMB is the only place I’ve seen people so completely unsure as to what constitutes a “Cult” movie.

Sure, the exact definition is a little hard to narrow down, but it generally requires an element of “Not mainstream”, “Low Budget (or simply made) but still quality”, “Dedicated and enthusiastic following, largely by people who might be considered ‘Nerds’ or ‘Geeks’ or ‘University Students’”, “Not a blockbuster”, and (generally) “Quotable”.

Star Wars is not a “Cult” film. Army of Darkness is. Pulp Fiction is not a “Cult” film. This Is Spinal Tap is a “Cult” film. You get the idea.

[Electric_Sky]

Donnie Darko
Heavenly Creatures
The Prophecy
A Knight’s Tale (if it counts)

Two iffier ones are Treasure Planet and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. They were both a little too big/mainstream to truly qualify as cult films, I think, but AFAIK neither had much popular or critical success, and at least one (Treasure Planet) now has a small but thriving fan community. I’ll happily watch both of them over and over. Treasure Planet, I think, deserves a spot alongside other excellent Disney films despite some of its flaws. Bram Stoker’s Dracula might well be a bit crap, but to me it’s golden crap–maybe just because it’s retained that gorgeous/scary/slightly taboo vibe it had when I first saw it as a preteen.

[LiveOnAPlane]

I don’t think “Vanishing Point” has been nominated yet.

[Maserschmidt]

@Martini_Enfield

I have to say the SDMB is the only place I’ve seen people so completely unsure as to what constitutes a “Cult” movie.

Sure, the exact definition is a little hard to narrow down, but it generally requires an element of “Not mainstream”, “Low Budget (or simply made) but still quality”, “Dedicated and enthusiastic following, largely by people who might be considered ‘Nerds’ or ‘Geeks’ or ‘University Students’”, “Not a blockbuster”, and (generally) “Quotable”.

Star Wars is not a “Cult” film. Army of Darkness is. Pulp Fiction is not a “Cult” film. This Is Spinal Tap is a “Cult” film. You get the idea.

This is the definition I was familiar with, which is why I asked and used Star Wars as an extreme example…a fair number of films in the posts above don’t match up with that.