[6] This acceptance is not universal, though, and some critics have resisted this mainstreaming of paracinema. Fans who like the films for the wrong reasons, such as perceived elements that represent mainstream appeal and marketing, will often be ostracized or ridiculed. He dreams of a life where he can fly away from technology and overpowering bureaucracy, and spend eternity with the woman of his dreams. Trailer November 2015 Mathijs also identifies specific cult film viewing habits, such as viewing horror films on Halloween, sentimental melodrama on Christmas, and romantic films on Valentine's Day. Their rise as "instant cult classics" bypasses the years of obscurity that most cult films labor under. David Church and Chuck Kleinhans describe an uncritical celebration of transgressive themes in cult films, including misogyny and racism. Pusher [12] According to feminist scholar Joanne Hollows, this subjectivity causes films with large female cult followings to be perceived as too mainstream and not transgressive enough to qualify as a cult film. Their fame grows every year and more and more people go crazy about such films. [15] By virtue of the time travel plot, Back to the Future permits nostalgia for both the 1950s and 1980s. [78], Academics have written of how transgressive themes in cult films can be regressive. [152], Mark Shiel explains the rising popularity of cult films as an attempt by cinephiles and scholars to escape the oppressive conformity and mainstream appeal of even independent film, as well as a lack of condescension in both critics and the films;[12] Academic Donna de Ville says it is a chance to subvert the dominance of academics and cinephiles. Director However, Mathijs says the film must invoke metacommentary for it to be more than simply culturally important. [108] Alamo Drafthouse programmer Zack Carlson has further said that any film which succeeds in entertaining an audience is good, regardless of irony. April 2019 Mathijs suggests that cult films help to understand ambiguity and incompleteness in life given the difficulty in even defining the term. The constant use of profanity and drugs in otherwise mainstream, Hollywood films, such as The Big Lebowski, can alienate critics and audiences yet lead to a large cult following among more open-minded demographics not often associated with cult films, such as Wall Street bankers and professional soldiers. [15] As these cult films become more popular, they can bring varied responses from fans that depend on different interpretations, such as camp, irony, genuine affection, or combinations thereof. Many members of its nostalgic cult following are too young to have been alive during those periods, which Emma Pett interprets as fondness for retro aesthetics, nostalgia for when they saw the film rather than when it was released, and looking to the past to find a better time period. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. November 2017 Fickle fans on the Internet have latched on to unreleased films only to abandon them later on release. These films include financially fruitless and critically scorned films that have become inadvertent comedies to film buffs, such as Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959),[1] The Room (2003),[105] and the Ugandan action-comedy film Who Killed Captain Alex? Popular among fans of European horror for their subversiveness and obscurity, these later Spanish films allowed political dissidents to criticize the fascist regime within the cloak of exploitation and horror. [134] Genre films, B films that strictly adhere to genre limitations, can appeal to cult film fans: given their transgressive excesses, horror films are likely to become to cult films;[125]:33 films like Galaxy Quest (1999) highlight the importance of cult followings and fandom to science fiction;[135] and authentic martial arts skills in Hong Kong action films can drive them to become cult favorites. Of all the genres that are commonly observed in film, there is perhaps none as subjective and intangible as the “cult classic.” Whereas most film genres contain predictable traits and conventions that are revealed through specific iconographic cues, the cult film typically has no such indictors. [144] Bakshi recalls that older animators had tired of "kid stuff" and desired edgier work, whereas younger animators hated his work for "destroying the Disney images". Michel Gondry Omar Sy ... it was this same absurdity that caused the movie to become a cult classic. By requiring repeated viewings and extensive knowledge of details, auteur theory naturally appealed to cult film fans. #86 Cult Classic Movie King of Hearts (1966) During the latter part of World War I, Private Charles Plumpick is chosen to go into the French town of Marville and disconnect a bomb that the German army has planted. Lena Dunham [125]:27–30 Hawkins states that these films took a rather bleak point of view due to the living conditions of the artists and the economic prospects of the 1970s. Warren Ellis [76] Home video has allowed cult film fans to import rare or banned films, finally giving them a chance to complete their collection with imports and bootlegs. Short Films [92][93] The Wizard of Oz (1939) and its star, Judy Garland, hold special significance to American and British gay culture, although it is a widely viewed and historically important film in greater American culture. This can be done for authenticity, such as horror fans who seek out now-obscure titles from the 1950s instead of the modern, well-known remakes. [60] Audiences can also ironically latch on to offensive themes, such as misogyny,[62] using these films as catharsis for the things that they hate most in life. [114] Cult film stars known for their camp can inject subtle parody or signal when films should not be taken seriously. [153] Addressing concerns that DVDs have revoked the cult status of films like Rocky Horror, academic Mikel J. Koven states that small scale screenings with friends and family can replace midnight showings. The term cult film itself was first used in the 1970s to describe the culture that surrounded underground films and midnight movies, though cult was in common use in film analysis for decades prior to that. His persistent vision saw him received as an auteur worthy of academic study; director John Waters attributes this to Meyer's ability to create complicated, sexually charged films without resorting to explicit sex. The Night of the Hunter (1955) was a cult film for years, quoted often and championed by fans, before it was reassessed as an important and influential classic. Influenced by American films and early French fantasists, he drifted between art, exploitation, and pornography. September 2012 Uniquely, its cult following preceded the film's release and included speculative parodies of what fans imagined the film might be. March 2020 They may also engage in behaviors more traditional for fans of cult television and other serial media, as cult blockbusters are often franchised, preconceived as a film series, or both. Mathijs states that Halloween horror conventions can provide the missing community aspect. [129] Teodor Reljic of Malta Today states that cult B films are a realistic goal for Malta's burgeoning film industry. She was expected to recreate the transgressive elements of her cult films within the confines of mainstream cinema. Joseph Gordon-Levitt October 2019 [53]:224–226 In the late 1980s and 1990s, midnight movies transitioned from underground showings to home video viewings; eventually, a desire for community brought a resurgence, and The Big Lebowski kick-started a new generation. Despite this, these films remain well-known and prized among collectors. [124], Author Tomas Crowder-Taraborrelli describes midnight movies as a reaction against the political and cultural conservatism in America,[125]:27 and Joan Hawkins identifies the movement as running the gamut from anarchist to libertarian, united in their anti-establishment attitude and punk aesthetic. Fans will occasionally express frustration with dismissive critics and conventional analysis, which they believe marginalizes and misinterprets paracinema. [5] For example, Norman Wisdom's films, friendly to Marxist interpretation, amassed a cult following in Albania, as they were among the few Western films allowed by the country's Communist rulers. Like cult films themselves, authenticity is an important aspect of their popularity. Called "video nasties" within the UK, they ignited calls for censorship and stricter laws on home video releases, which were largely unregulated. [158] Cult films can also drive tourism,[159] even when it is unwanted. Commercial aspects of fandom (such as magazines or books) can also be defined in terms of "otherness" and thus valid to consume: consumers purchasing independent or niche publications are discerning consumers, but the mainstream is denigrated. [41] Cult films can also establish an early viability for more mainstream films both for filmmakers and national cinema. Joanne Hollows states that they were seen as turning cult films mainstream – in effect, feminizing them by opening them to distracted, passive audiences. April 2020 [182] Although it was proclaimed a cult film and major game-changer before it was released,[183] it failed to win either mainstream audiences or maintain its cult following. Their playful and ironic acceptance of regressive lad culture invites, and even dares, condemnation from academics and the uncool. If they are the majority, they may alter or ignore long-standing traditions, such as audience participation rituals; rituals which lack perceived authenticity may be criticized, but accepted rituals bring subcultural capital to veteran fans who introduce them to the newer members. [97] Films which appeal to stereotypical male activities, such as sports, can easily gain strong male cult followings. [51] Qualities that bring cult films to prominence – such as an uncompromising, unorthodox vision – caused Alejandro Jodorowsky to languish in obscurity for years. Film critic Harry Allan Potamkin traces them back to 1910s France and the reception of Pearl White, William S. Hart, and Charlie Chaplin, which he described as "a dissent from the popular ritual". ... Cult-classic meaning. spoiler free cult movie news from the movie sleuth. [53]:223 These films are resistant to simple categorization and are defined by the fanaticism and ritualistic behaviors of their audiences. [60], The critic Michael Medved characterized examples of the "so bad it's good" class of low-budget cult film through books such as The Golden Turkey Awards. [137] The freedom and excitement associated with cars can be an important part of drawing cult film fans to genre films, and they can signify action and danger with more ambiguity than a gun. The Ghost in the Shell films, for example, provided Japanese fans with enough bonus material and spinoffs that it encouraged cult tendencies. Zooey Deschanel, December 2020 Videos: The Hidden Meaning In Terry Gilliam's Cult Classic Brazil. [18] Academic Xavier Mendik also defines cult films as opposing the mainstream and further proposes that films can become cult by virtue of their genre or content, especially if it is transgressive. These films acquired a legendary reputation as they were discussed and debated in alternative weeklies, such as The Village Voice. [15] Cult film fans consider themselves collectors, rather than consumers, as they associate consumers with mainstream, Hollywood audiences. While referencing previous arguments, critics may attack its choice of genre or its very right to exist. Mood Indigo Both subject matter and its depiction are portrayed in extreme ways that break taboos of good taste and aesthetic norms. September 2015 [15] David Lynch himself has not ruled out another television series, as studios have become reluctant to take chances on non-mainstream ideas. Catching on, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer capitalized on the film's ironic appeal and marketed it as a cult film. Popular in midnight showings, they were mainly limited to large urban areas, which led academic Joan Hawkins to label them as "downtown culture". By Rose Moore May 25, 2016. Like the surrealists and dadaists, they not only satirically attacked society but also the very structure of film – a counter-cinema that deconstructs narrative and traditional processes. November 2016 Theatrical Posters In retrospect, critic Spencer Kornhaber would call it a serendipitous novelty and a footnote to a "more naive era of the Internet". Stoker's widow sued the production company and drove it to bankruptcy. Although the film topped the charts when it was released, it has developed a nostalgic cult following over the years. ", "Subcultural Studies and the Film Audience", "Fandom and Subculture: Fan Studies: Early Approaches", "Rewind: Major-Studio Flicks That Belong In The Grind House", "Good Bad Taste: 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' and the So Bad It's Good Fallacy", "Miami Connection Destroys the Myth of 'So Bad They're Good' Movies", "Cult film Is Good Business at Coolidge Corner Theatre", "How 'The Room' Turned Me Into a Cult Movie 'Star, "Vincent Price and Cult Performance: the Case of Witchfinder General", "FILM: 'Pink Flamingos': Cult of Bad Taste", "It's the Site of the Living Dead, as Cult Films Hit Web", "John Hughes Versus the Vampires: The Dilemma of the Midnight Movie", "The History and Meaning of The Dude's Abiding", "Midnight Movies and the Phenomenon of the Cult Film", "Doris Wishman; Exploitation Film Director, Cult Favorite", "Are 'cult' films a possibility for Malta? Ernest Mathijs focused on the accidental nature of cult followings, arguing that cult film fans consider themselves too savvy to be marketed to, while Jonathan Rosenbaum rejected the continued existence of cult films and called the term a marketing buzzword. February 2020 Other cult films, such as Streets of Fire (1984), create a new fictional world based on nostalgic views of the past. A movie that has a significant following. Takashi Miike has been marketed in the West as a shocking and avant-garde filmmaker despite his many family-friendly comedies, which have not been imported. Meaning of cult classic. Halloween is fast approaching. [181] Influenced by the successful online hype of The Blair Witch Project (1999), other films have attempted to draw online cult fandom with the use of prefabricated cult appeal. June 2013 Who Can Tell? Mainstream cinemas, eager to disassociate themselves from negative associations and increase profits, have begun abandoning midnight screenings. [107] Sometimes, fans will impose their own interpretation of films which have attracted derision, such as reinterpreting an earnest melodrama as a comedy. Corey Haim plays Griffin, a well-meaning teenager who works as a pizza delivery driver to help earn money for him and his little brother Miltie and live in a tent on their friend Speedbaggers land. [173] Despite this, the Alamo Drafthouse has capitalized on cult films and the surrounding culture through inspiration drawn from Rocky Horror and retro promotional gimmickry. Mathijs criticizes the over-cultified, commercialized nature of Halloween and horror films, which feed into each other so much that Halloween has turned into an image or product with no real community. Jackie Robinson For example, in the Star Wars film series, mainstream criticism of Jar Jar Binks focused on racial stereotyping; although cult film fans will use that to bolster their arguments, he is rejected because he represents mainstream appeal and marketing. [39], Matt Hills' concept of the "cult blockbuster" involves cult followings inside larger, mainstream films. [39] Foreign influence can affect fan response, especially on genres tied to a national identity; when they become more global in scope, questions of authenticity may arise. Nicolas Winding Refn 0. 9 Cult Classic Halloween Movies You Need To Watch. Donald Liebenson of the Los Angeles Times cites the violence and sexual imagery as alienating critics, who did not know what to make of the film. This film holds some of the most quoted lines in movie history. Hollywood films, due to their nature, are more likely to attract this kind of attention, which leads to a mainstreaming effect of cult culture. Even when discussing unrelated projects, interviewers frequently bring up the role, which causes him to tire of discussing it. Other media that reference cult films can easily identify which demographics they desire to attract and offer savvy fans an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge. Cult films trace their origin back to controversial and suppressed films kept alive by dedicated fans. [19] I. Q. Romance films, like any genre, have their own following. It also transcends its era, not looking or feeling like a movie from the late 80s. The Ed Wood collection: a salute to incompetence. Director Jean Rollin worked within cinéma fantastique, an unpopular genre in modern France. Even within subcultures, fans who break subcultural scripts, such as denying the affectivity of a disturbing film, will be ridiculed for their lack of authenticity. [163] Founded in 1974, Troma Entertainment, an independent studio, would become known for both its cult following and cult films. [9] To reduce mainstream accessibility, a film series can be self-reflexive and full of in-jokes that only longtime fans can understand. It would go on to become a popular midnight movie and frequently bootlegged by fans, as licensing issues kept it from being released on video for many years. Tim Curry, despite his acknowledged range as an actor, found casting difficult after he achieved fame in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Life Of Pi During the 1970s and early 1980s, a wave of explicit, graphic exploitation films caused controversy. Wiktionary (0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: cult classic (Noun) A work of fiction that is extremely popular with a select audience but may or may not be successful at the … [18], Modern cult films grew from 1960s counterculture and underground films, popular among those who rejected mainstream Hollywood films. March 2016 [90] For their avoidance of mainstream culture and audiences, enjoyment of irony, and celebration of obscure subcultures, academic Martin Roberts compares cult film fans to hipsters. Fans will often watch films obsessively, an activity that is viewed by the mainstream as wasting time yet can be seen as resisting the commodification of leisure time. Eventually, his work would be reassessed and cult followings, which include Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, developed around several of his films. [153] Cult films have influenced such diverse industries as cosmetics,[154] music videos,[85] and fashion. The rise of the Internet and on-demand films has led critics to question whether "so bad it's good" films have a future now that people have such diverse options in both availability and catalog,[110] though fans eager to experience the worst films ever made can lead to lucrative showings for local theaters[111] and merchandisers. Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock instead called them mainstream films with transgressive elements. All known copies of the film were destroyed, and Nosferatu become an early cult film, kept alive by a cult following that circulated illegal bootlegs. December 2019 Part Two", "BFI to Screen Uncut Versions of Cult Films as British Censor Turns 100", "How 'Battle Royale' Became a Cult Hit and Capitalized on 'The Hunger Games, "Russell's Skills Prove a Hit with Cinema Fans", "The Other Side of Indonesia: New Order's Indonesian Exploitation Cinema as Cult Films", "Sexploitation Cinema and the Rise and Fall of Russ Meyer", "Fandom and Subculture: Cultural Capital and Subcultures", "The Question of Genre in Cult Film and Fandom", "The Amateur Historian and the Electronic Archive: Identity, Power and the Function of Lists, Facts and Memories on "Video Nasty"-Themed Websites", "Still Abiding After 15 Years: The Laid-Back World of 'Big Lebowski' Worship", "Norman Wisdom Mobbed by Albanian Fans on 1995 Trip", "Demogogues in Death and Notes from Way Underground", "Hemp: Could the US Rekindle Its Love Affair? Examples include Harold and Maude, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Queen of Hearts and many others. 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