15 Cult Films You'll Love (If You Know What's Good for You)
These films are cult classics for a reason, ranging from nostalgic childhood favorites to grimy exploitation and outright bizarre trips through the surreal.
- Grindhouse (2007)
- This is Spinal Tap (1984)
- Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
- Mad Max (1979)
- Harold and Maude (1971)
- Speed Racer (2008)
- Legend (1985)
- Brazil (1985)
- House (1977)
- After Hours (1985)
- Watership Down (1978)
- The Princess Bride (1987)
- Black Christmas (1974)
- Suspiria (1977)
- Ghost in the Shell (1995)
- Escape From New York (1981)
These films are cult classics for a reason, ranging from nostalgic childhood favorites to grimy exploitation and outright bizarre trips through the surreal. Grindhouse (2007), for example, is a cult classic for its loving ode to exploitation cinema from two directors (Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino) who often drew on this genre. It consists of Rodriguez's over-the-top horror and Tarantino's genuinely insane vehicle stunt work. This is Spinal Tap (1984) is a satire of the 1980s rock scene and a mockumentary that follows the fictional band Spinal Tap on their North American tour. It features a quotable script and dedicated faux-documentary filmmaking.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) is a cult film with a committed fanbase. It embraces its video game inspirations with religious zeal, supported by an inspired cast. It was perhaps too off-the-wall to make a profit, but it has since lived on as a cult classic for its anime style. As for Mad Max (1979), it bore a split response from critics but proved vital in the emerging Australian New Wave of the 1970s and 1980s. It lacks the series' trademark post-apocalyptic design but features the same high-action car stunts that drew fans' attention.
For a dark comedy that heralded the arrival of a more macabre humor and further unconventional depictions of romance, Harold and Maude (1971) is a worthy watch. Harold and Maude follows the namesake character, a death-obsessed young man, as he strikes an unorthodox friendship with the bohemian Maude. It earned a better critical reception in the decades following its release. These films, and many others, have something for everyone and have become cult classics in their own right.