The 25 best cult classic films of all time

Described as "A Rock & Roll Fable," director Walter Hill intended this to be the first in a film trilogy — part-musical, part-action drama. However, the movie tanked at the box office, and the concept died after one film. That said, the movie, starring a young Diane Lane and Michael Pare as the mercenary with a soft spot for her rather unlikable rock-star character, earned a loyal following thanks to home rental sales. Not to mention the stellar soundtrack, which includes the Jim Steinman-penned gems “Nowhere Fast” and “ Tonight is What it Means to Be Young." Plus, Dan Hartman’s FM-radio hit “I Can Dream About You.”

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this campy, satirical story intended to parody the popular Valley of the Dolls (1967) was that legendary film critic Roger Ebert wrote the screenplay. It's the strange and twisted journey of a female rock band dealing with creepy managers, jealous significant others, greed, and fame. Plus, it's directed by Russ Meyer, so there is plenty of sexploitation. But the camp is king, and the soundtrack has a solid late-1960s-early-‘70s psychedelic vibe that has made it popular, despite critics panning the project.

This was not one of the legendary band's finest moments, but over the years, this made-for-television movie has gone from something to laugh at to a serious guilty pleasure. The guys in Kiss probably still hate the movie, where the four original members have superpowers and try to save an amusement park from being destroyed by an unhinged, mad engineer. After all these years, it's time well spent to revisit the cheesiness and the ridiculous plot and hear some of the group's biggest hits like "Beth and "Shout it Loud."

When looking at the textbook definition of a cult classic, one might not look too far past this Hal Ashby dark, romantic comedy. Far from a box office and critical success, Harold and Maude was revitalized through showings in repertory theaters and the popularity of the VCR. The May-September relationship between the young, death-obsessed Harold (Bud Cort) and 79-year-old free spirit Maude (Ruth Gordon) just seems to work. At least in the cinematic world, it proves that life is worth living, even to those who do not believe that’s the case.

One does not need to be a fan of ballet to enjoy this underrated hit from the turn of the century. While Peter Gallagher lends a veteran name to the cast, Zoë Saldana, who trained as a dancer, stole many a scene in her big-screen debut. Meanwhile, professional ballet dancer Amanda Schull is solid in the lead role about students at the famed American Ballet Academy trying to fulfill their dreams. While the movie received average reviews at best, it gained a more consistent following as a basic and premium cable staple. A dance class featuring the music of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is undoubtedly a highlight.

A host of professional critics, including the legendary pair of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, were not fond of the 1980s dark comedy. Meanwhile, John Cusack, the film's star, initially thought it could be better. Well, to plenty of fans from the 1980s and a new generation of viewers today, Better Off Dead is one of Cusack's (and the decade's) most underrated movies. Cusack's Lane Meyer wonders if life's worth living after he's been dumped by his girlfriend for the popular school ski team captain. Of course, plenty of hilarious mishaps take place for Lane to actually go through with ending it all, and the local paper still wants his "two dollars."

Amid the Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark euphoria for Harrison Ford was Blade Runner . It took some time, but this story on a retro-fitted future about the "replicants" and a jaded cop (Ford) tasked with taking them down has now long been considered a cult-fan must-see. This was also Ridley Scott's directorial follow-up to Alien. The film’s “neo-noir” look and use of music to dictate the story's pace have had a major influence on the science-fiction genre. For better or worse, the sequel, Blade Runner 2049, was released in 2017.

Directed by Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko  was not initially a big hit upon its release. However, it thrived in the home video market, as fans became captivated by star Jake Gyllenhaal’s Darko and his journey to learn the reasons for his end-of-the-world visions. But this is not a one-man show. The sci-fi psychological thriller features quite a collection of Hollywood stalwarts, including Patrick Swayze, Drew Barrymore, and Seth Rogen. Music from the 1980s, specifically Tears for Fears and Joy Division, enhances the entertainment value.

Can we really consider a movie that turned into a franchise of nine installments (as of 2023) to have cult status? Sure can. A controversial film at the time, which some theaters even banned because of its violent nature, has long been one of the most popular "slasher" movies of all time — even after critics panned it and theaters stopped showing the film. A slumber-party staple, the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface remains one of the most recognizable killers of this genre. In addition to the seemingly never-ending run of sequels and reboots, the movie opened the door to related video games and graphic novels.

Dazed and Confused should be considered the quintessential stoner film of our time. Not bad for director Richard Linklater's breakthrough picture, which needed some time to gain traction. The film  is quite relatable to those who attended high school parties or drove around with friends, regardless of the decade or generation. This coming-of-age-flick also features plenty of before-they-were-stars like Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey. There's also a stellar ‘70s-laden soundtrack. A cable-television staple, the movie’s themes of friendship and fitting in still resonate with today's audiences.

John Carpenter has directed some true big-screen classics: Halloween, The Thing, and Christine, just to name a few. Most have various levels of cult appreciation, but it can be argued that They Live tops that list. Roddy Piper, the late legendary pro wrestler in his finest lead role, plays a drifter who happens upon some dark sunglasses that are a window to a world run by aliens. Meanwhile, Carpenter delivers shots at Reagan-era greed, government control, and consumerism. Piper doesn’t say much, but his five-and-a-half-minute fight scene with Keith David, complete with an assortment of WWE-style wrestling moves, is one of the best in film history. 

It must be noted that Repo Man enjoyed critical success when it came out. That's despite Universal Pictures' hesitance to release the picture. In hindsight, we're still not sure how the studio could have doubted the potential for this dark comedy with a sci-fi vibe. Emilio Estevez and the late Harry Dean Stanton shine in a movie with the perfect blend of reality flirting, punk rock, and comedy. Trying to hunt down a repossessed car that could lead to extraterrestrials, it's a movie that doesn't take itself too seriously and keeps the audience engaged. 

The film adaptation of the 1962 novel is undeniably disturbing and violent. Yet, certainly campy. Of course, this is a Stanley Kubrick movie, so nothing should be shocking. Set in a futuristic English time period, the movie follows the demented and deranged young Alex (Malcolm McDowell) and his gang of "droogs." It was a box office success that earned four Academy Award nominations. However, it seemed to become even more popular as time passed, and a new generation of fans watched. One might never listen to "Singin’ in the Rain" the same way again.

David Fincher movies are not for everyone, and it's important to keep up and pay attention throughout. So, perhaps it wasn't a surprise that  Fight Club , even with Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in tow, wasn’t a commercial success upon release. However, due to its unique and highly controversial story about an underground fight club and the main character’s dissatisfaction with his personal and professional life, the movie drew a larger following as the years added up. Supporting roles by Jared Leto and late singer Meat Loaf only enhance the film’s legacy, which now is considered one of Pitt's, Norton's, and Fincher's best.

The eccentric Paul Reubens took his quirky and successful stage character from The Pee-wee Herman Show to the big screen. And yes, Reubens and this particular persona are not for everyone. However, the result was an undisputed success for this Tim Burton-directed story of Herman trying to track down his stolen bicycle. The late Phil Hartman served as a co-writer, while Danny Elfman scored the film that brought audiences such memorable characters as "Large Marge" and the annoying but hysterical exchange, "I know you are, but what am I?" 

The best way to describe the brilliance of Heathers is ... a teenage love story with a body count. This black comedy has become a cult favorite for its twisted attack on high school popularity. Now, this was a plot that was acceptable during the late 1980s but probably could not be told in the same fashion today. That said, Christian Slater’s renegade J.D. and Winona Ryder’s Veronica Sawyer work brilliantly together while teaming against the original "mean girl" — three of them, each named Heather. Corn nuts and slushies for everyone.

Here's what is undeniable when talking about Sam Raimi: He created a monster — pun completely intended — with the Evil Dead franchise. While there can be a serious debate about which film stands out the most (there's plenty of love for Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness), this is the one that got it all started. It made Bruce Campbell a star and his Ash Williams one of the most popular fictional figures within the horror genre. It features some of the goriest yet most entertaining death scenes and is also brilliantly funny.

Here is our introduction to the often warped but completely genius mind of Kevin Smith. Made for less than $30,000 and shot in black and white, Clerks is the first installment of Smith’s New Jersey trilogy (Mallrats and Chasing Amy complete the series). The dialogue is often raunchy but drives this movie about a day in the life of a convenience store clerk, his slacker video-store working buddy, and their overall disdain of employment at the moment. There are also Jay and Silent Bob, who have earned icon status over the years. While Smith has made two Clerks sequels, which can hold their won, the first remains the undisputed best of anything he's put out.

As we noted earlier on this list, Walter Hill knows a thing or two about cult classics. Violence reigns supreme when it comes to The Warriors, though tame compared to today's standards. However, The Warriors was controversial at the time, with fights and vandalism breaking out at showings of the movie, especially in New York City, where the film is based. In the years that followed, the film became iconic within pop culture. It made the Baseball Furies a popular Halloween costume option. "Can you dig it?" from the late Roger Hill’s Cyrus and "Warriors, come out to play," courtesy of David Patrick Kelly’s Luther, are pure gold.

One of the few Rob Reiner pictures that were not a box office hit. Still, it remains one of his most beloved comedies. Like many other movies on this list, The Princess Bride, where the handsome swashbuckler  Westley (Cary Elwes) attempts to rescue true love Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright), took on a life of its own through the home video scene. In the case of this particular gem, it remains one of the great quotable movies of all time. Let us not forget Andre the Giant as the wonderful "Fezzik."

It's probably safe to say that anybody who has worked in some sort of an office environment can relate to this Mike Judge favorite. An unknown Ron Livingston stars as a whiny, burnt-out computer programmer who hates his job and decides to do something about it: Do nothing at all for a living. Office Space was considered a failure at the box office, but home video and its consistent presence on cable television ignited the film's popularity, which has not waned. 

King Arthur’s quest to find the coveted Holy Grail has never been funnier. In fact, with more and more audiences enjoying the movie nearly 50 years after its release, it's likely surpassed cult classic status to a piece of movie iconography. Though reviews of the film were rather mixed at the time of its release, Monty Python’s overall legend grew and remains the famed British comedy troop’s most successful venture. And, who can forget those memorable moments — "Run away, run away" — from that killer bunny? The film also spawned the hugely popular Broadway smash adaptation, Spamalot.

Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (exceptionally played by Jeff Bridges) might be the greatest fictional film slacker of all time. Don't believe us? Check out this hilarious comedy where "The Dude" is mistakenly beaten, then hassled in a case of mistaken identity. The Coen Brothers have made some critically acclaimed gems ( Fargo, No Country for Old Men), but The Big Lebowski might be their one film that can be enjoyed by any moviegoer. However, it's not just a one-man show. As Lebowski's friend (or so he thinks) and bowling partner, John Goodman steals many a scene.

There is not a more legendary fictional band than Spinal Tap. So This Is Spinal Tap must be the godfather of all mockumentaries. The legacy of Rob Reiner’s film is so lasting that it’s preserved by the National Film Registry. It’s a satirical look at the life of a hard rock band and also pokes fun at rock documentaries of the time. Veteran actors Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer brilliantly depict the band through a series of monumentally hilarious moments. Meanwhile, we still don’t understand why more amps don’t go to 11.

There's a good chance that somewhere in the United States — or around the world, for that matter — The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be available for a midnight showing. Audience members will be dressed as their favorite characters, perhaps the handyman Riff Raff, nerdy Brad, or Dr. Frank N. Furter. They’ll recite the lines, yell at the screen, and do "The Time Warp" — again. Through the years, watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show, whether in a theater setting or at home, has become an experience. Not many movies have such a devoted following. It’s a parody and tribute simultaneously, with catchy songs, crazy characters, and just the right amount of comedy.