The Best "Cult" Films

We have all seen at least on film that is considered a “cult” film. Wikipedia defines a cult film as a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans.^[1] Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences. I have decided to make a top ten list of my favorite “cult” films. Some of my favorite movies of all time are on this list. Although Rocky Horror Picture Show is considered to be an all time “cult” classic, I did not put it on my list because I really am not a fan of the movie. 

Bloody and extremely violent, Natural Born Killers is the type of Bonnie and Clyde themed movie that many critics either praised, or tore apart. This movie is intense. The visionary style that Olive Stone brings to this movie makes it a great film. Woody Harrelson’s performance was epic. He proved to be a man that had no remorse for the living. This is probably one of the most twisted love stories ever told.

Four boys who take a journey to see a dead boy’s body through the woods of Oregon is the plot of the next film that became a “cult” film. Stand By Me was a great story about four friends who bond over a trip to find a dead boy’s body. River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, a pudgy Jerry O’Connell and Wil Wheaton give a great young performance has the boys found out more about each other and become closer over the events that unfold throughout the movie.  And who could forget the bully performance of Kiefer Sutherland. Great story and a great back drop make Stand By Me a great film.

Drugs, Sex, and Rock n’ Roll is the setting for the next film on this list. Set in the seventies, on the last day of school, rebel teens, geeks, and freshmen lives all intertwine with one another for and unforgettable story, Dazed and Confused is one of those movies you enjoy watching over and over and always seem to find something new to like about the film. A great cast and an even better soundtrack, Dazed and Confused is a movie that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

Mistaken identity turns a man’s life completely upside down in this next film. The “Dude” Lebowski and his bowling friends are trying to fix his ruined rug is the basis for this movie. Jeff Bridges and John Goodman are terrific in this film. This movie is like no other. It is a dark comedy that just keeps on making you laugh throughout the film. The Coen brother’s film The Big Lebowski offers a great and fun cast and simple but hilarious plot which definitely makes this film a “cult” movie.

Set in a dark environment and adding a different realm to science fiction, Donnie Darko is a film you will have to see more than once to truly understand its meaning. This film is one of my favorite movies because it is an original idea. Nothing like being visited by a demonic bunny that makes you commit crimes, makes the plot to this movie like no other. Jake Gyllenhaal was perfect for this role of a troubled teen that escapes death and somehow is able to see into the future. Donnie Darko is a perfect example of a “cult” film.

This next film is an eighties classic that seems to be on everyone’s favorite movie list. I grew up watching this movie over and over and I still watch it every time it is on television. The Goonies is another friend bonding adventure movie. When a group of friends stumble across an old treasure map in the attic, they decide to find to treasure so that their families will not have to move. With a lot of fun adventures, and a few intense criminals on a manhunt for the friends, The Goonies is a great film that can be enjoyed by anyone.

Intense, edgy and powerful, American History X is the next film on this list. Edward Norton delivers an all time excellent performance that seems so real, some scenes are hard to watch for some people. A Neo-Nazi skinhead is sent to prison for killing a man who tried to rob his truck. After meeting an inmate that changed his views on life and what he believed, Norton is released from prison and tries to convince his brother not to walk to the same path he did. A great story with a tragic topic, American History X delivers a powerful message and makes this film a wonderful movie.

“First rule of Fight Club is you never talk about Fight Club.” A secret underground club for adults to take out aggression and stress becomes more powerful than ever. Split personality is the theme for this great film, Fight Club. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton deliver an unforgettable performance. Action packed and loaded with so many great one-liners and quotes, Fight Club is a great movie with a nice twist for the audience at the end of the film.

Twin Irish brothers living in Boston feel that they have been sent from the Lord to rid the streets of Boston from crime bosses and the mafia. With a veteran F.B.I. agent on their tail, the brothers are becoming known more as Saints, and less as criminals. The Boondock Saints is my all time favorite movie. I consider it Hollywood’s best kept secret. It was not originally released in theaters, but after becoming famous among a young audience, it was finally released in theaters. And after ten years of this movie’s fame building up, they released a sequel to the film called All Saints Day: Boondock Saints Two. This movie offers great action, comedy and a terrific story which makes this movie a “cult” film.

The final “cult” movie on my list is a classic. “We are on a mission from God,” the Blues Brothers is a great film. Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi give a performance like no other, which makes this film a classic comedy. Getting the old band back together to save their home they were raised in, this movie has a series of great laughs, awesome adventure scenes and an all around great performance from the whole cast. This film isn’t just a “cult” movie; it is a “cult” classic.

These are my favorite “cult” films. These are all great movies and some are on my top movie list. All these movie’s are very entertaining, yet a lot of people still may have never seen some of these films.  

Re-visiting this list makes me realize that cult films may be my favorite types of films. Such a great collection, yet so many more out there that could make the list even longer. I love these types of films and are always excited about seeing them.