Defined as films with a cult following, the cult classics are movies almost everyone knows by name. These films may not be critically acclaimed, but it’s the audience that establishes its spot in pop culture. We can quote from films such as Mean Girls (2004) or recreate scenes from Heathers (1988) because those films are integral to the connection between audiences and media. The fanbase is the heart of the cult classic.
The audience has always had a connection to cinema. Films are love letters from directors to the audience. Rooted and originated in escapism, cinema is all about the people. The people write reviews and give their friends movie recommendations. Cult classics originate from controversial or suppressed films that are kept alive by the fans. These cult classics are valued for their campiness and peculiarity. The films often break cultural barriers with excessive displays of violence, gore, or sexuality. While these elements can lead to controversy, it doesn’t stop the fan bases from coming to their defense. These films become rooted in the interaction between audiences and cinema. For example, an iconic film from 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has been a classic interactive experience in theaters across the United States. Fans go to the theater singing along with the film and dressing up as the characters every year. But cult classics aren’t strictly defined by physical interaction. Cult classics are referenced in everyday activities. People quote “As if!” from Clueless (1995) or imitate Matthew McConaughey’s “All right, all right, all right” from Dazed and Confused (1993) in everyday moments with those around them. The people power the status of the cult classic. The audience is what makes cinema successful. The cult classic, whether it be too raunchy or too violent, is necessary to keep the heart of the film alive.
At the end of reading this article, go watch a cult classic. Feel nostalgic for high school with The Breakfast Club or feel pumped up with Fight Club (1999). When you watch one of these films, think about how it made you feel. It’s not whether cinematography is superior or its narrative follows continuity rules; just think about how you felt. Your feelings, your favoritism, and your opinions might just solidify another movie as a cult classic.