Sometimes, the definition is expanded to exclude films that have been released by major studios or have big budgets, try specifically to become cult films, or become accepted by mainstream audiences and critics. A film that has a passionate fan base despite lacking critical acclaim, box office success, and/or mainstream interest. Cult movie are generally famous for their dialogues, moments, and the production, it can be a … Cult movie definition: a film that a certain group of people admire very much | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Interestingly, international film is often considered a cult genre, even if a film was wildly successful in its home country. Simply put, cult media requires a cult-like following. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. What Is Yom Kippur? For example, prior to digital distribution, horror films from filmmakers working in countries like Japan, Spain, and Italy were traded on VHS and DVDs by American fans of the genre, including movies that never saw an official theatrical release in the United States. While many cult movies inspire fan support by being underappreciated by general audiences, others become cult hits for the opposite reason: because they are awful movies. International films also aren’t beholden to what Americans consider “good movies”. A movie that has a significant following. Even after home video many theaters make annual events of certain films. But there are other movies that manage to win crowds over a longer period of time, slowly gaining fans and admiration via word-of-mouth spread by those who feel passionate about the movie. That in itself seems counter to the definition of a cult following, which is why some argue that the term is just meaningless now. While many mainstream films fade from the public eye after the completion of their initial theatrical runs, the popularity of cult films continue to grow. For example, "The Big Lebowski" (1998) had disappointing box office grosses in its initial release, but its enduring popularity has since inspired an annual “Lebowski Fest” that celebrates every aspect of the film and even a religion called “Dudeism” after the nickname of the main character. What Is the Story Behind London Bridge is Falling Down? So why were the two films we just listed considered cult films? Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences. So a film might subvert what you traditionally think is a “good” movie, intentionally or unintentionally (ala The Room). Movies. How Were They Made? Quotes for MLK Day, 50 Assorted Trivia Facts to Win Trivia Night With. New Badges: Ben There, Done That, Written in Stone, and Motion Clicktures, 18 Jane Austen Quotes with Pride (and maybe prejudice? Cult films are also often critically panned, or are financial failures. With limited availability and demand, these films tend to fly under the radar of critics, and gradually develop their own cult followings. This is why a movie can be mainstream in its home country, but still classified as a cult film in the US. With limited availability and demand, these films tend to fly under the radar of critics, and gradually develop their own cult followings. Other cult movies are popular in spite of their low budgets and otherwise poor production quality. it’s pretty simple – the film didn’t do well in America, and gradually developed a cult following in the US. In both cases, the audiences that do have the opportunity to see these movies spread the word about what they’ve seen. Quizzes You Might Have Missed (December 2012). The Big Lebowski was originally a commercial failure, but re-releases allowed it to penetrate mainstream culture over time, leading to an odd “mainstream cult” following. Asking what makes a movie (or any media for that matter) a “cult film” can open up a fairly long rabbit hole of discussion; one so deep even academics have debated about it. Here is the list: 1. WITHNAIL AND I (1987): A common denominator in many cult films are memorable characters and memorable quotes, two things this classic British comedy has by the gallon.Two alcohol- and drug-dependent actors find themselves “on holiday by mistake”, trapped in the country wrestling with their own demons and a predatory uncle. (Last Updated On: September 13, 2018) Religions have many holidays or holy days, with one typically being of the utmost importance and holiness. 101 More Interesting Trivia Facts That Will Blow Your Mind. Christopher McKittrick is a film writer whose work has been featured in anthologies such as 100 Entertainers Who Changed America. Few films can have that type of effect on audiences and inspire such dedication from their fans, which makes cult movies perhaps the best type of movies — endless fun for their most devoted fans! are both considered cult films now, but under the definitions we’ve laid out, this would seem wrong. 5 Classic Movies That Were Box Office Flops, Film Aspect Ratio: The History of Widescreen Movies. In fact, it’s arguable that both of these films have since outgrown their cult status as the recognition of their quality is now widespread. If so, check out these related posts from the Sporcle Blog: Or, test your trivia knowledge with some fun Movie quizzes on Sporcle. So why were the two films we just listed considered cult films? As time has gone on, the definition of a cult film has grown ever more vague and inclusive. While the popularity of midnight movies diminished with the introduction of home media, that did not change the enthusiasm audiences had for cult movies. In honor of the ten year anniversary of Mean Girls (an extremely unlikely candidate for a cult movie, but one nonetheless) we asked our readers to select their favorite cult movies. Which Continent – Is Russia Part of Europe or Asia? [ C ] a particular system of religious belief: the Hindu cult … New Badges: Jubilant June, Mullet Over, and Age of the Ancients. Before VHS and DVD art film houses would frequently show these films year after year. Films like The Big Lebowski and Mad Max are both considered cult films now, but under the definitions we’ve laid out, this would seem wrong. They’ve decided that they want to move against the cultural normal when it comes to a specific film or films. was very successful internationally (pretty much everywhere except America). Fans of these films worldwide can share their enthusiasm. Translations. Example sentences with "cult movie", translation memory. Most academics would tell you that cult media has to go against the mainstream and establish its own counter-culture. These three movies are just a few examples of hilariously bad movies that are popular midnight movies. A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film with a cult following, obscure or unpopular with mainstream audiences, and often revolutionary or ironically enjoyed. Soon, the movie’s popularity grows in unexpected and unintended ways, even sometimes among audiences who overlooked the movie in the first place. They often go against critical or moral norms (and sometimes both), rejecting what people at the time thought was good or right. "Reefer Madness" (1936), "Plan 9 from Outer Space" (1959) and "The Room" (2003) are generally considered to be three of the worst movies ever made, but that is precisely why some fans find them so entertaining. Cult films have been alive and well in the 2010s, a decade that saw a wealth of memorable midnight movies, eccentric oddities, sleeper stoner comedies, and other “out there” genre films. The 100 Greatest Cult Films. In it, Peary picks out 100 films from Andy Warhol’s Bad to … 3 Capital Cities? David Lynch’s Eraserhead is an unforgettable surrealist body horror film that has left its … Regular attendees recite dialogue along with the movie, dress as their favorite characters, and throw objects at the screen (much to the irritation of theater owners and cleaning staffs). cult movie. A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following with a specific group of fans. English [] Noun []. Cult films are usually strange, quirky, offbeat, eccentric, oddball, or surreal, with outrageous, weird, unique and cartoony characters or plots, and garish sets. "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "The Big Lebowski," and "Plan 9 from Outer Space" are often cited as examples of cult films. Menu. The Big Lebowski was distributed by Universal, a big name in film production. They are often considered controversial because they step outside standard narrative and technical conventions. What this says about the control America exerts over the global film market, we’ll leave to you. Cult film synonyms, Cult film pronunciation, Cult film translation, English dictionary definition of Cult film. to be a cult film often immediately disqualifies itself, as does anything quickly accepted by critics or mainstream culture. Years later, television would follow the lead. In others, they are big-budget studio releases that fail to sell tickets during their theatrical run. Added to that is the fact that cult films tend to be unique. Films like. Menu. International films also aren’t beholden to what Americans consider “good movies”. Kyler is a content writer at Sporcle. What Is the Highest-Grossing Sports Comedy? Definition of cult movie fanatic fanatic = someone who gets very excited about a particular topic cult movie = (typically odd) movies that have a fanbase of people who are weirdly obsessed with them English (US) French (France) German Italian Japanese Korean Polish Portuguese (Brazil) Portuguese (Portugal) Russian Simplified Chinese (China) Spanish (Mexico) Traditional Chinese … Troma Entertainment has released dozens of films that are widely regarded as cult classics even though many of the films had extremely low budgets. Eraserhead. In the era of classic Hollywood, few films had the opportunity to develop cult followings due to regular turnover at theaters and the lack of subsequent distribution on media like television or home video that would allow audiences to see movies outside of their initial theatrical runs. TV Shows. The “cults” devoted to these particular films grow as those passionate fans spread the word about this little-known, but (in their opinion) must-see film. A Complete List of Official Disney Princesses. Please refer to the next segment of this article for the ten most popular cult movies. Well, the simplest definition is that a cult classic film is one that has a devout and active communal following. Whatever Happened to 'The Art of Racing in the Rain' Movie Adaptation? What Happens if the 25th Amendment Is Invoked? On the other hand, cult movies like "Night of the Living Dead" (1968) and "The Evil Dead" (1981) became fan favorites for being great movies that didn’t receive the recognition they deserved when they were originally released. While there are movies that bomb or underperform at the box office nearly every weekend that still manage to win over a few fans, few movies inspire such deep devotion that they develop a dedicated following. By the early 1970s, theaters in several big cities began playing “underground” films as “midnight movies,” often for months-long or years-long runs if tickets kept selling. Synonym: cult movie Hyponym: cult classic 2016, I.Q. They often go against critical or moral norms (and sometimes both), rejecting what people at the time thought was good or right. Among film fans, being “in the know” about rare and little-known movies has become a badge of pride in itself. Films like "Gone with the Wind" and "The Godfather" are hailed as masterpieces from almost the moment the first audiences see them, and their critical and box office success reflect that. For example, films steeped in sexuality would be transgressive in America, where citizens tend to have more conservative views around sex. Some exclude big-budget films, and others exclude anything published by large production studios. A film that tries to be a cult film often immediately disqualifies itself, as does anything quickly accepted by critics or mainstream culture. They often go against critical or moral norms (and sometimes both), rejecting what people at the time thought was good or right. opensubtitles2. International films (like The Grudge or The Ring before they were remade) are often considered cult films because they simply weren’t available to widespread audiences in America. A quick definition for cult films A term denoting an eclectic group of films defined post hoc in terms of their consumption by dedicated and devoted groups of filmgoers who engage in repeat viewing, celebratory enthusiasm, and performative interaction (memorizing dialogue, … cult movie. The Sporcle Guide on How to Disable Your Ad Blocker, 24 of the Best Sites to Kill Time On the Internet. What Is the Real Meaning Behind ‘Ring Around the Rosie’? The term “cult film” (and later “cult classic” as the film ages) is used to describe a movie that has developed a small, but significant and thoroughly dedicated, fanbase that grows over time. cult film (plural cult films) . Examples include Harold and Maude, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Queen of Hearts and many others. The latter, Mad Max, was very successful internationally (pretty much everywhere except America). English: cult movie n Kultfilm m. After all, the very definition of “cult” means that these movies have small but devoted followings. What Are the Newest Elements? The following movies are the top ten cult movies of all time, ranked from the very best. So a film might subvert what you traditionally think is a “good” movie, intentionally or unintentionally (ala. Or it might go against what you think is right. 23 Martin Luther King Jr. cult noun (RELIGION) [ C ] a religious group, often living together, whose beliefs are considered extreme or strange by many people: Their son ran away from home and joined a religious cult. Frequently cult films are films depicting controversial or distasteful persons, activities, or philosophies. By using LiveAbout, you accept our, Exploitation Film: Grindhouse, Blaxploitation, and Other Genres, 5 Movie Sequels That Happened Because of DVD Sales, 10 Most Successful Summer Blockbusters of All Time, The 15 Most Important Movies of the 1960s. I know him because we made a little cult movie together called Willow. Well, for. He currently spends most of his time hitting the university grind while drinking black coffee like water. Some popular examples of cult movies include Napoleon Dynamite, Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction and so much more. Cult movies are defined by Peary as “special films which for one reason or another have been taken to heart by segments of the movie audience, cherished, protected, and most of … 400 Greatest Cult Movies. Which means yes, real-life professors have sat down and talked about The Room. Or it might go against what you think is right. Usually it's for an older film, or perhaps one that under-performed at the box office. But it’s because of their box-office failures that these films tend to develop cult followings with such strong emotional attachments. While hugely successful blockbuster franchises like "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter" have such enthusiastic fans that the movies seem to have cult-like influence, the term “cult film” specifically refers to movies that despite being much less successful financially nonetheless have passionate fans. For example, films steeped in sexuality would be transgressive in America, where citizens tend to have more conservative views around sex. Cult audiences tend to gravitate toward the strange and different. Whereas most film genres contain predictable traits and conventions that are revealed through specific iconographic cues, the cult film typically has no such indictors. At a somewhat record-breaking approval speed the IUPAC (the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry) approved the four […]. Films like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975) broke sexual taboos, while "The Boondock Saints" (1999) became a huge success on DVD after an unsuccessful release in just five theaters for its violent content. To talk about maybe the most famous cult movie … A film that. Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. In fact, the most famous midnight movie of all time, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," has been in continuous limited release since 1976. cult film Definitions. Many cult films become popular because of their controversial or “underground” nature. US film writer Danny Peary supposedly first gave the term currency with his 1980 book Cult Movies. Part 2: 10 Popular Cult Movies of All Time . translation and definition "cult movie", Dictionary English-English online. They resonate with small pockets of viewers who can often relate to the transgressive elements of the film. For example, "El Topo" (1970), "Pink Flamingos" (1972), and "The Harder They Come" (1972), which all had lengthy runs at theaters like New York City’s famed Elgin Theater. ), Asking what makes a movie (or any media for that matter) a “cult film” can open up a fairly long rabbit hole of discussion; one so deep even academics have debated about it. Nonetheless, a few non-mainstream films attained notoriety in late-night screenings, such as the controversial 1932 MGM horror movie "Freaks.". The term “cult film” (and later “cult classic” as the film ages) is used to describe a movie that has developed a small, but significant and thoroughly dedicated, fanbase that grows over time. Movies. ... " Cult films to see before you die: Alan Clarke's The Firm". When Did Movies Go From Black and White to Color? Interestingly, international film is often considered a cult genre, even if a film was wildly successful in its home country. Which means yes, real-life professors have sat down and talked about, Formal definitions of a cult film can vary in specificity. What this says about the control America exerts over the global film market, we’ll leave to you. That in itself seems counter to the definition of a cult following, which is why some argue that the term is just meaningless now. The latter. If there is not a lot of something for people to love, they’ll love what they do have a whole lot more. 2Holy Hell. Despite its increasing inclusiveness, there are still a handful of common threads that define a cult film. Despite its increasing inclusiveness, there are still a handful of common threads that define a cult film.Cult films, and cult media, are usually transgressive in nature. A film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films, and cult media, are usually transgressive in nature. Cult movie are the movies known for their dedicated and passionate fan base. Cult films are defined as much by audience reaction as they are by content. Why Are They Called the Cleveland Browns? Like a lot of cult stories, the one filmmaker Will Allen tells about his own experience in … Some exclude big-budget films, and others exclude anything published by large production studios. What Is Imperialism? LiveAbout uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. In fact, VHS helped spread the popularity of an uncountable number of cult movies, which gave many underappreciated movies new life. So a film might subvert what you traditionally think is a “good” movie, intentionally or unintentionally (ala The Room). Formal definitions of a cult film can vary in specificity. TV Shows. Movies designated with cult status attract special audiences because they’re so very different and much more provocative than mainstream populist fare. So inclusive, that some have made claims the term is now meaningless. Cult films, and cult media, are usually transgressive in nature. Seeking cheap programming, many television markets would play obscure horror, thriller, or just completely weird movies during late hours or as “midnight movies.” Some of this programming would incorporate a ghoulish host, such as Los Angeles’ Vampira and Philadelphia’s Zacherley, whose popular personas would help the programs develop regular viewership. Though the popularity of cult films used to spread through midnight screenings in cities and often-borrowed VHS or DVD copies, the internet and digital streaming has increased the admiration of certain cult films exponentially. was originally a commercial failure, but re-releases allowed it to penetrate mainstream culture over time, leading to an odd “mainstream cult” following. While cult films range from campy science fiction to highly graphic horror movies and just about everything in between, there are a few characteristics that most cult films share: The one criteria that all cult movies have in common is that they are not popular with general audiences or at the box office… at least not initially. Depending on whom you ask, all of these stipulations may apply at once. Depending on whom you ask, all of these stipulations may apply at once. While mainstream audiences and critics might find such content distasteful or even downright disturbing, others embrace these movies for offering audiences something different. Cult followings tend to have a heavy emotional attachment to the property as well. Well, for Mad Max it’s pretty simple – the film didn’t do well in America, and gradually developed a cult following in the US. | What is the Capital of South Africa. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. In many cases, cult movies begin as low-budget movies in limited release. What Goes into an Elemental Name? Joe Dante, who cohosts the podcast The Movies That Made Me and founded the essential and addictive website Trailers From Hell, said that it simply means the definition of a cult … Or it might go against what you think is right. Is It the Same as Colonialism? translation and definition "cult film", Dictionary English-English online. 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Pockets of viewers Who can often relate to the transgressive elements of films., intentionally or unintentionally ( ala the Room ) art film houses frequently!

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