cult cinema
Devoted audience movies
Cult cinema refers to films that inspire passionate, devoted followings despite—or because of—their unconventional qualities.
These movies often flopped commercially or were dismissed by mainstream critics but found dedicated audiences through midnight screenings, home video, or word of mouth.
The category spans genuinely strange artistic visions, so-bad-they're-good failures, and transgressive works too weird for wide release: Rocky Horror is the quintessential cult film.
What unites cult cinema is the fervent relationship between film and fan, not any particular genre or quality level.
- grindhouseLow-budget film theater
- midnightTwelve o'clock at night
- midnight movie12 AM theatrical screening
- double featureTwo movies, one admission
- B-movieLow-budget, low-quality film
exploitation · underground · schlock · trash · campy · sleaze · drive-in · horror · arthouse horror · splatter · kitsch · obscure · transgressive · VHS · repertory · film noir · fan · devotion
cult cinemacrowd-pleasers
Reliably popular entertainment choices
blockbusters · tentpole films · summer blockbusters · tent-pole movies · studio films
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