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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films

While much of the cinema landscape these days is consumed by bloated blockbusters, occasionally a film comes along that breaks from the pack and earns a devoted following thanks to its nuanced brilliance. Here is our list of the 25 greatest cult movies.

By Victoria Luxford

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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PULP FICTION (1994): Odd as it may seem to call an Oscar and Palme D’Or winning movie ‘cult’, Quentin Tarantino’s film straddled critical acclaim with commercial success. Defying storytelling and genre norms, the former video store employee creates a seedy Los Angeles populated by charismatic villains. Launching the career of Samuel L Jackson, and reviving the fortunes of John Travolta, Pulp Fiction has become a cornerstone of cool, almost single-handedly triggering an independent cinema boom in the ‘90s and inspiring everyone from Banksy to The Black Eyed Peas.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998): This Coen Brothers classic was largely dismissed upon release. A departure from their previous effort, the award-winning Fargo, audiences were lukewarm to the journey of The Dude, a slacker unwittingly caught in a web of kidnapping and deceit linked to a rich namesake. Devoted fans stuck with it, however, and now the comedy is recognised as one the Coens’ finest works. Just ask the hundreds who attend Lebowskifest – or Bridges himself, who astonishingly confesses that it’s the only film of his that he can watch!

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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WITHNAIL AND I  (1987): A common denominator in many cult films are memorable characters and memorable quotes, two things this classic British comedy has by the gallon. Two alcohol- and drug-dependent actors find themselves “on holiday by mistake”, trapped in the country wrestling with their own demons and a predatory uncle. The film is full of delightfully shambolic humour and a whirlwind performance from Richard E Grant (who, despite playing accomplished drinker Withnail, is allergic to alcohol) – truly one of the great British comedies.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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CLERKS (1994): Capturing the essence of a listless generation, Clerks follows two resentful shop workers and the customers they hate. Full of half-baked wisdom surrounding relationships and pop culture, the credit card debt that director Kevin Smith amassed making the film proved a gamble worth taking. His first and finest film birthed a fictional universe and an army of fans who hang on his every word to this day. You may, however, never look at the number 37 in the same way again.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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EL MARIACHI (1992): If you thought Kevin Smith’s unorthodox film funding strategy was risky – Robert Rodriguez sold his body to science for the paltry $7,000 needed to shoot his Mexican action-thriller. Both the film and his accompanying memoir, Rebel Without A Crew, stand as landmarks in low-budget filmmaking, mixing the grit of independent film with production values that any studio would be proud of. The wild aesthetics and frenetic energy of El Mariachi also pays homage to the ‘Grindhouse’ B-movie style of film-making Rodriguez would become known for.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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ERASERHEAD (1977): No list of cult movies could be complete without David Lynch, the master of the unusual and hauntingly beautiful. His feature debut, Eraserhead, has become a byword for cult film, with the towering hair and vacant stare of star Jack Nance representing everything the director’s bizarre world encompasses. Set in an industrial wasteland, this story of a father’s attempts to care for his mutated child offers no easy answers, while packing the short runtime with peculiar imagery and hallucinations.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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PINK FLAMINGOS (1972): A cult movie starring a cult icon, this is the jewel in the crown of Jon Waters’ ‘Trash Trilogy’. Larger-than-life drag queen Divine played Babs Johnson, a woman determined to maintain her reputation as the ‘Filthiest Person Alive’. The film’s coup de gras, where Divine eats dog excrement, grabbed headlines but beneath the scandal is a witty, grotesque gem. Finding success through word of mouth, screenings continue to this day with audiences given sick bags for that scene.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975): Had it been received like any other film, the movie adaptation of Richard O’Brien’s musical would probably still earn a place on this list for its macabre musical numbers and humorous skewing of sexuality. It was the film’s fans, however, that redefined cult as we know it. Since its release, audience participation is a must, inspiring fancy dress and even performing the film as it’s being played. For 40 years millions of people have kept this legacy alive by giving themselves over to absolute pleasure!

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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HEATHERS (1989): For many, the scariest horror show of all is high school, a fact this gleefully dark comedy revels in. Winona Ryder is perfectly cast as a young woman entering a tyrannical clique known as the ‘Heathers’, who secretly plot their murders with her new boyfriend (Christian Slater). Brad Pitt was supposedly turned down for being ‘too nice’ for Slater’s role, which tells you everything you need to know about a hilariously acidic response to sentimental ‘80s teen dramas.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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CLUELESS (1995): A lighter but no less intelligent satire, the complicated social life of airhead Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) is a loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s literary classic Emma. Poking fun at conspicuous wealth, ‘affluenza’, and the traditional high school movie, revival screenings and quote-along events have been happening all over the world. Rapper Iggy Azalea paid homage to the film for the hit song Fancy, even shooting in the same school as the film.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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AMÉLIE (2001): French cinema has struggled under the weight of its past, but occasionally still produces a gem that captures the heart of all who see it. The Fabulous Life of Amélie Poulain (to give it its full title) is a dreamlike celebration of happiness and companionship; its charming poster has adorned the walls of art house cinemas ever since, and even turned the unassuming Café des 2 Moulins (where Audrey Tautou’s lead works in the film) into a popular tourist destination.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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THE BLUES BROTHERS (1980): Less a cult, more a mythology. The brainchild of Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, Jake and Elwood Blues’ musical revue started life as a Saturday Night Live sketch before becoming an actual band, reaching number one with a live album in 1978. A cinematic ‘Mission From God’ followed, filled with action and a startling array of rhythm and blues legends. An official band still tours almost 35 years on from Belushi’s death, while tribute acts, fancy dress screenings and even a radio show (with Aykroyd in character as Elwood) have all proved consistently popular.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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THIS IS SPINAL TAP (1984): While not the first ‘mockumentary’, Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner’s spoof of Heavy Metal excess became the standard by which all others would be judged. The English rockers’ encounters with offensive reviews, underwhelming stage decoration and amps that go all the way up to 11 are as hilarious now as ever. Like the Blues Brothers, they would eventually tour in character, reuniting three times and releasing three albums. Love for the film is still strong – their last reunion concert sold out London’s Wembley Arena, while This Is Spinal Tap! is the only film on imdb.com to be granted a rating of (you guessed it) 11.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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RESERVOIR DOGS (1992): As important to the ‘90s independent boom as its successor, Tarantino’s stylish heist film (which actually never shows the heist on screen) met an indifferent reception on its release in America, but was saved from oblivion by its most ardent fans and a breakout international success – particularly in the UK, despite moral panic causing it to be banned from home video for 3 years. Even today, fans of the movie regularly turn up to screenings dressed in the classic black-and-white suits, a testament to the fan-power that propelled it to infamy.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971): In a horrific vision of the near future, the great Stanley Kubrick’s classic took Anthony Burgess’ already dark novel and pushed the envelope further, ignoring the source material’s ‘happy’ ending and creating a God of Chaos in protagonist Alex (Malcolm McDowell). What makes it a cult film is its elusiveness in the years after; the movie’s violence prompted such outrage that Kubrick withdrew it from British cinemas, a ban that stood until after his death in 1999. The mystery and legend surrounding it made it fascinatingly ‘dangerous’ the world over.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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BRAZIL (1985): Arguably the best work of a true movie rebel, Brazil saw Terry Gilliam (best-known at the time as the cartoonist behind Monty Python) turn his singular imagination once again towards film directing. His third film outside of the comedy troupe was this diatribe against bureaucracy, a nightmarish tribute to George Orwell with an ending that kept many viewers awake at night. The director’s unsettling visual style is what makes this work so enduring, as well as the incredible casting of Michael Palin as villain Jack Lint (a role Robert De Niro had asked for instead of the smaller supporting role he ended up with).

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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THE WARRIORS (1979): “Warriors, Come Out To Play!” … New York is turned into a nightmarish, night-drenched maze of colourful gangs and violence in Walter Hill’s classic thriller. A cast made up of unknown actors underlines the authenticity and complements the powerful visual images, as we follow stranded gang members falsely accused of an assassination. Again, real-life controversy added to the film’s legend, as copycat violence plagued screenings. Despite indifferent reviews and lacklustre box office, a chord was struck with audiences, prompting numerous re-releases and a fan-organised reunion on Coney Island last year.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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DONNIE DARKO (2001): The 2001 release was of this horror/sci-fi hit disappointing, but it gained popularity at midnight screenings in the US – plus the relatively new DVD format meant a Director’s Cut was released. The perplexing narrative and star-making performance from Jake Gyllenhaal earned it a very devoted fan base, while internet sites debated just exactly what happens in the film and Frank The Rabbit became a creepy counter-culture icon. Like the title character, the movie was given a chance to change its own fate, with the success of the Director’s Cut washing away any initial notions that the film was a flop.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974): Aside from being terrifying in a way few films had been before, this ‘70s benchmark (which influenced Ridley Scott’s Alien) earned its cult status for more than blunt scares. Its banning in several countries gave it a particular aura to horror aficionados, while the underlying political message put meat on the bones of the experience. Director Tobe Hooper intended it as a subtle commentary on the American political landscape of the time, making this horrifying story an allegory of a nation divided.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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THE EVIL DEAD (1981): Often the quality that earns a film a cult following is its willingness to push the limits, and this is especially true with The Evil Dead. Containing low-budget carnage and a knack for creating an unnerving atmosphere, what kept its followers coming back was the clever use of comedy which didn’t take away from the horror – that and the archetypal cult hero in Bruce Campbell. A cartoonish interpretation of a matinee idol, the actor has become an icon over the years, being dubbed “The Gregory Peck of B-Movies”.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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PAN’S LABYRINTH (2006): Guillermo Del Toro’s finest two hours deserves to be remembered simply for being wonderful. However, modest success in cinemas meant it was up to the few who had seen the film to spread its appeal. The heartbreaking story of a young girl escaping a harsh reality by delving into a magical underworld has remained a ‘must-see’ for all those who truly love fantasy. Drawing comparisons to the work of Jim Henson and Neil Gaiman, characters such as the Faun and The Pale Man (both played by Doug Jones) have become favourites of convention cosplayers ever since.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987): There’s not much ‘edginess’ in The Princess Bride, but its intelligence has given it immortality. This light-hearted yet sincere fairy tale is packed with quotable lines that have kept the film alive in the minds of movie fans since its original release. Over time, the ageless quality of the storytelling has opened it up to younger viewers, able to attend quote-along events without the fear of seeing something rude (except for “gross kissy stuff”!). The affection for the film from the public is echoed by its cast – star Cary Elwes wrote a warm memoir of the production, while legend has it that actor Mandy Patinkin will recite his famous “Inigo Montoya” speech to anyone who asks.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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LABYRINTH (1986): The cult of Henson’s film is intertwined with the cult of Bowie – Jareth, the Goblin King, became another beguiling, intriguing character in David Bowie’s multi-faceted career, bewitching fans with both his look and presence on screen. Add that to the weird and wonderful animatronics and you have a vast universe that explores the dark but wonderful corners of its creator’s imagination, in a way rarely possible before the advent of CGI. It’s also a universe many fans revel in – Labyrinth Masquerade Balls have been held on a regular basis all over the world for nearly 20 years, while novels, sequels and endless fan fiction look to continue the legend.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997): Ask any Studio Ghibli fan where to start when watching the animation giant’s movies, and chances are they will point you here. While American cinema was still working to the family-friendly Disney format, Hayao Miyazaki’s epic tackled complex themes more adult than many Western audiences were used to seeing. The film became the most successful ever in Japan, gaining an American release that, for many, was an entry into the fantastical world of both Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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THE ROOM (2004): If there is anything to be learned from The Room, it’s that not every film earns infamy because of its quality. As a cult film, it has everything: fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, catchphrases and, in director/writer/producer/star Tommy Wiseau, a figure as peculiar as his work. The baffling, jealousy-driven drama became more infamous than most successful films, with audiences adoring the unintentional comedy, reciting lines and throwing spoons at the screen. It may not be “a film with the passion of Tennessee Williams” as Wiseau’s own ads describe, but in its own way it has etched itself into film history.

Culture

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The Top 25 Greatest Cult Films.

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