My definition of a “cult classic” is a movie that makes you say “this dumpster fire of a trash movie is a blight upon my existence. I hate it with the burning passion of a thousand suns. Coincidentally this is the 7th time I have watched it this week”. These are the perfect movies for watching with friends, with required viewing including the ever popular “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “The Room”. If you’re graced with chance to watch the “Rocky Picture Show” in theatres, the first thing you will notice is the flood of people dressed up as characters from the film, who are passionate about throwing rice during the wedding scene.
Recent movies like the Netflix film, “Do Revenge”, received the contradictory title of “instant cult classic” from critics. The misuse of this term brings me nothing more than mental agony, as the point of what truly makes a “cult classic” is entirely missed. The term has traditionally been used to describe a movie that campy or odd. What’s important to remember about cult classics is the connection they find with outsiders, like the passionate rice- throwing fans of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”.
Streaming services heavily contribute to the recent acceleration of movies being declared “cult classics” before the end of their box office weekend. Streaming makes it easier to have access to films for those with genuine interest, which in turn also makes it easier for these movies to become mainstream.
So, is it the end of cult classics? As I pondered this question, an unexpected challenger appeared: “Minions: The Rise of Gru”. The “Gentle Minions” trend, where groups of people dressed up in their least wrinkled suits to attend screenings of the film, eerily paralleled those who dressed up to attend the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”. However, the media hype around this trend reeked of corporate interference and not a grassroots movement created out of genuine interest.
The unique thing about cult classics is regardless of however low- budget or peculiar they are, it’s evident there is passion behind them, giving those films a sort of charm that no “instantcult classic” could ever replicate. So, if you want to watch a movie, take my advice and try a cult classic. By the end you will be saying “Let’s do the time warp again”.