Movies are expensive. Really expensive. I mean, if you just look at last year, F9, No Time to Die, and Spider-Man: No Way Home all had budgets north of $200 million. All three of these movies did exceptionally well at the box office, (Spider-Man especially, coming in at a whopping $1.6 billion), but what about the ones that didn’t? What happens when the blood, sweat, and money poured into a film is to no avail? The result is called a box office flop.

These box office flops can sometimes have another chance through home video or streaming. Sometimes, this will result in an extremely loyal fanbase, who will then create complex online community that worships the film. This is what is called a ‘cult classic,’ or a movie with a cult following. Cult classics don’t need to be a box office bomb; all they need are fans who are willing to praise the movie to its every detail. The following 6 movies are great examples of cult films. This article will be spoiler free.

ERASERHEAD (1977)

 

Director: David Lynch

Starring: John Nance, Laurel Near, Charlotte Stewart

Synopsis: When Henry discovers that his girlfriend is pregnant, he decides to marry her and move in with her. When the baby is born, the couple is horrified to discover that the baby is born as a, quite frankly, disgusting lizard creature.

Eraserhead is an unsettling movie, to say the least. Audiences in 1977 were shocked by the dark tone, grisly characters, and confusing plot. On the first night, the film was screened to 25 people, making it an instant box office failure. Eraserhead gained popularity for its often-creepy imagery and unique sound design. My favorite aspect of the film is the nightmarish tone and feel that emanates from the cinematography and acting.

 

SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004)

Director: Edgar Wright

Starring: Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Nick Frost, Dylan Moran

Synopsis: Shaun, living with his slob of a best friend, becomes estranged from his girlfriend Liz. When zombies attack, he must save his girlfriend, mother, and the rest of his friends.

Shaun of the Dead manages to find a good balance of serious characters and plot points while still being a parody of the zombie genre. The humor injected into the film is witty and absurd, which is impressive considering a film like this would usually have so much slapstick humor that it becomes unbearable. Shaun’s character is a very relatable one, which makes the movie fun and satisfying every time you watch it. A perfect hit for an indie-cult classic film.

 

KUNG FU HUSTLE (2004)

Director: Stephen Chow

Starring: Stephen Chow, Danny Chan, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu

Synopsis: Sing and his friend Bone are troublemakers that attempt to scam the locals of Pig Sty Alley by tricking them into believing they are members of the notorious Axe Gang. When actual members of the Axe Gang visit Pig Sty Alley, they discover that multiple retired kung-fu masters secretly reside there.

Kung Fu Hustle is an underrated classic, despite not having a completely cohesive plot or the highest budget. I mean, would you even expect it to? This film has had intense praise from around the world for its complex choreography and humorous tone. Often overlooked by other prominent kung fu movies, Kung Fu Hustle remains to be a great cult classic fit for the whole family.

 

SPACEBALLS (1987)

Director: Mel Brooks

Starring: Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Daphne Zuniga

Synopsis: After Princess Vespa is captured by the evil Dark Helmet, Lone Starr and his companion Barf are hired to rescue her. Meanwhile, President Skroob, leader of Planet Spaceball, hatches a plan to steal all of the fresh air from planet Druidia.

While some jokes are groan-inducing, Spaceballs continues to be an endearing, hilarious comedy despite its age. Even if you’re not a Star Wars fan, it’s still enjoyable. Poking fun at Star Trek, Alien, Planet of the Apes, and even Indiana Jones, this zany parody is a must-watch for filmgoers.

 

DONNIE DARKO (2001)

Director: Richard Kelly

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze

Synopsis: Donnie Darko is a troubled, schizophrenic teenager with a tendency towards violence. After an encounter with a man in a demonic bunny suit named Frank, Donnie is told that the world will end in 28 days. With his newfound power to control time, Donnie learns his place in the universe.

There is no way to describe Donnie Darko in words. Despite having a paltry box office performance, the creativity of Richard Kelly is still able to shine through. Kelly’s emotional, sci-fi, 80s aesthetic is encapsulated perfectly through the screen. In a sense, it is a coming-of-age story – the story of a teenager dealing with destiny and his inevitable death. The depictions of parallel universes and time travel in Donnie Darko is extremely unique for its time. If you have seen the movie, you’d know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t seen it, please go watch. This review will start making so much more sense.

 

DRIVE (2011)

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks

Synopsis: Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stunt driver by day, and a getaway driver by night. When the husband of his new love interest Irene gets out of prison, the Driver becomes involved in a million-dollar heist that puts everyone’s lives at risk.

Drive is a simple yet entertaining movie that has had a huge effect on internet culture. Winding Refn manages to punctuate long moments of slow, peaceful scenes with short blips of intense violence that make for an effective way of engaging the audience. The performances in this film are a breath of fresh air. They are not dialogue-based, but rather show emotions through the pauses between their lines. The plot might not be the most original, but the overwhelming style of Drive makes it a movie worth watching again.