Renowned Filmmakers Who Jump Between Cult Movies, Blockbuster Hits

The fame earned by successful cult movie directors can lead to them getting mainstream projects from big studios. With cult films being the starting point of these filmmakers' careers, some of them would typically jump between shooting blockbuster hits and cult movies. Others even tend to blur the line, separating films with a distinct cult following and films that dominate the box office. It may be a given that they earn more with commercial projects, but the fulfillment they get when going back to their filmmaking roots still clearly inspire them in working with such cult movie offerings.

Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino's cult movies led to the coining of the term "Tarantino-esque," which refers to a particular style consistently seen in his works. Even his mainstream projects showcase his cult filmmaking style, which is interestingly embraced not only by cult fans but also the general public. His potential as a box office director is seen on big studio productions like "Kill Bill," "Inglourious Basterds," and "Sin City."

A number of lists of "Best Cult Movies" frequently mention his works, including "Reservoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction." He is also known for paying homage to old school filmmaking. For instance, his cult flick "Death Proof" pays homage to many vintage cult movies. He also has a penchant for using certain Asian elements, weird soundtracks, and action-oriented and oddball main characters in his films.

Robert Rodriguez

Robert Rodriguez's "Desperado" became a huge cult hit way back in the early 1990s. Even his earlier cult classic "El Mariachi" readily gave his name a "buzz" as a young, promising cult filmmaker. Known for more recent films like "Sin City," "Planet Terror," and "Machete," it is quite interesting how he ended up helming kid's movies amidst being a renowned cult icon.

These two don't necessarily mix, especially when it comes to Hollywood's preference for generally relying on a niche market for movie directors. Yet Rodriguez is able to pull off this unlikely feat, directing the "Spy Kids" movies and "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D."

Aside from his mainstream and cult movie projects, Rodriguez is also known for his brand of documentary shorts meant for film enthusiasts. These include the films "Ten Minute Film School: Big Movies Made Cheap," "How to Make Cool Home Movies," and "Ten Minute Flick School: Fast, Cheap and in Control." Other earlier renditions of these shorts from the late 1990s include "The Robert Rodriguez Ten Minute Fim School" and "Ten More Minutes: Anatomy of a Shootout." These works are often featured on DVD and Blu-ray releases of his feature films.

Sam Raimi

For the general public, Sam Raimi may be best known for his "Spider-Man" movies. But to cult fans, his successful filmography further extends to his horror pieces. More than a decade before his "Spider-Man" stint, Raimi became widely known for his "Evil Dead" series. He actually returned to the horror genre after "Spider-Man 3" with "Drag Me to Hell." He also became known for the cult flicks "Darkman," which was a box office hit, and "Army of Darkness," which was a box office flop that became a cult classic upon its video release.

Raimi's visual treatment for his films often showcases distinctive montage sequences with overlapping close-up shots. He also often utilizes the camera for a point-of-view shot and as part of the actual action happening on screen. Another trademark he frequently uses involves a shot that follows a moving object at a very fast speed. This style usually comes in handy for both his cult movies and blockbuster flicks.

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