Classic Cult Films

As I discussed previously in my list of the greatest Modern Cult Films, in order to be a cult film a movie must have a league of very devoted fans despite having a limited appeal.

Here are some of the greatest Classic Cult Films from 1984 and earlier:

Freaks

One of the first true cult films, Tod Browning's "Freaks" is truly an odd movie. It takes place amongst sideshow performers in 1932 and displays, for the time, some very disturbing scenes. This is a movie that shocked and appalled most audiences when it was first released, but modern fans see it more for the story of loyalty and belonging that it really is.

Grey Gardens

Recently somewhat remade into an HBO film, the original "Grey Gardens" is a documentary about two distant relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Their fall into a codependency and reclusion in a decrepit mansion is fascinating to watch. This remains one of the few cult documentaries.

Stranger than Paradise

This film was surely destined to be a cult classic. It seems to openly rebel against the film-making of the time (1984) and instead moves along at a deliberately slow pace (black fade-outs are present between each of the films scenes). The dialogue is sparse and the plot is meandering, but fans appreciate the film for its stripped down aesthetic.

This is Spinal Tap

"Spinal Tap" fans are in a league of their own when it comes to cult obsession. The film has spawned numerous albums and a few tours, which really is impressive for a fake and terrible band. The faux documentary style of this film has inspired countless other films, and "Spinal Tap" has influenced many other aspects of our culture, proving that it really is such a fine line between stupid and clever.

"Manos" Hands of Fate

This film (which literally translates to "Hands" Hands of Fate) found its cult following via an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. It's considered by many bad movie aficionados to the the single worst film ever, and I can't really argue with that. The pacing is atrocious, the acting appallingly bad, the dialogue seemingly all dubbed by the same voice-over actor, and the characters downright confusing. In other words, it's cult film perfection.

Aguirre, the Wrath of God

Werner Herzog definitely has a devoted cult following, and this ode to power and madness is a prime example. "Aguirre" is just as well known for the madness behind the scenes as the greatness on the screen (Herzog famously threatened to shoot star Klaus Klinski in order to keep him from leaving the set). This is a cult film that just happens to be a truly great film as well.

Mommie Dearest

This over-the-top portrayal of Joan Crawford is widely regarded as a camp classic as well as a cult classic. The histrionic cheesiness has won "Mommie Dearest" an enviable cult following, despite (or more likely because of) its reputation as being one of the worst dramas of all time.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

The German Expressionist movement created a lot of odd films, but few are more unconventional and astounding than this 1920 silent film. Devotees of "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" appreciate its abstract mood and disjointed storytelling style. Definitely a cult classic.

Plan 9 from Outer Space

Ed Wood enjoys the distinction of Worst Director Ever is many circles and it's easy to see why. His films are all hilariously misguided. What makes his movies so much fun, though, is the obvious joy he took in making them. There is something childlike and amazing in the cardboard flying saucers and indecipherable alien logic, and cult movie fans love every minute of it.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

This is the granddaddy of all the cult classics; the one the others are all compared against. What else but a cult film of this magnitude could convince everyday people to congregate en masse wearing nothing but lingerie? This movie is campy and fun and, well, traditional. This is the one that made the midnight movie a national phenomenon, God bless its sweet transvestite heart.