cult film
Midnight movie phenomenon
A cult film is a movie that has acquired a devoted following, often despite—or because of—its unconventional qualities.
These films may have flopped initially but gained passionate audiences through midnight screenings, home video, or word of mouth.
The appeal often lies in campy excess, transgressive content, or quotable eccentricity: Rocky Horror Picture Show is the definitive cult film.
Not every film with fans qualifies—cult suggests obsessive devotion from a relatively small audience rather than mainstream popularity.
Entertainingly artificial and overblown
- surrealDreamlike and strange
- bizarreStrikingly unconventional
- grotesqueDistorted, bizarre figure
- absurdistBeliever in cosmic meaninglessness
kitsch · psychedelic · stylized · transgressive · taboo · lo-fi · grainy · exploitation
Glam rock musical phenomenon
- Eraserhead1977 surrealist horror film
- ClerksShop or office workers
- The RoomNotoriously incompetent 2003 film
- Blade RunnerOne who retires replicants
Donnie Darko · Brazil · Akira · Office Space · Fight Club
Films shown after dark
- Rocky HorrorGlam rock musical phenomenon
- cosplayDressing as media characters
- fan theoriesAudience speculation about fiction
- conventionsAccepted social practices
collectibles · fan art · fanfic · zines · devotees · aficionados · audience participation · call-and-response
Unknown to most
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- under-the-radarUndetected, deliberately inconspicuous
- raritiesUncommon or scarce items
outsider · rebel · unrated · censored · rediscovered · shelved · limited release · word-of-mouth
Found what was lost
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- seminalFoundational and influential
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- sleeper hitUnexpectedly popular work
ahead of its time · enduring · timeless · beloved · iconic · reevaluated · vindicated · prescient
- WatersAnglo surname, often inherited
- CormanProlific B-movie director
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- idiosyncraticDistinctively individual in nature
distinctive voice · signature style · personal vision · ahead of its time · polarizing · divisive · uncompromising
campy
Entertainingly artificial and overblown
absurdist · kitsch · psychedelic · stylized · transgressive · taboo · lo-fi · grainy · exploitation · grindhouse
Rocky Horror
Glam rock musical phenomenon
- Eraserhead1977 surrealist horror film
- ClerksShop or office workers
- The RoomNotoriously incompetent 2003 film
Donnie Darko · Blade Runner · Brazil · Akira · Office Space · Fight Club
midnight screenings
Films shown after dark
- Rocky HorrorGlam rock musical phenomenon
- cosplayDressing as media characters
- fan theoriesAudience speculation about fiction
conventions · collectibles · fan art · fanfic · zines · devotees · aficionados · audience participation · call-and-response · props
obscure
Unknown to most
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- under-the-radarUndetected, deliberately inconspicuous
rarities · outsider · rebel · unrated · censored · rediscovered · shelved · limited release · word-of-mouth · repertory
rediscovered
Found what was lost
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- seminalFoundational and influential
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
ahead of its time · sleeper hit · enduring · timeless · beloved · iconic · reevaluated · vindicated · prescient · genre-defining
Tarantino
- WatersAnglo surname, often inherited
- CormanProlific B-movie director
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
idiosyncratic · distinctive voice · signature style · personal vision · ahead of its time · polarizing · divisive · uncompromising
- cinemamovies, movie, cinema, directors, cinemas
- filmmovies, filmmaking, cinematography, editing, directing
- film genreshorror, comedy, drama, action, romance
- movie termsscreenplay, blockbuster, thriller, drama, comedy
- B-moviesB-movie, grindhouse, schlock, direct-to-video, low-rent
- cult followingfandom, superfan, devotee, Trekkie, midnight movie
cult filmblockbuster
Enormously successful entertainment property
box office hit · mainstream hit · commercial success · summer blockbuster · tentpole film
film, culture, cult, films, cultural, filmed, filming, culturally, subculture