Cult classics

The cult classics are never going out of style, whether they hit the box office well or flopped. Some of them were experiments, graphic novels and books, or just the result of a British or American TV show spinoff. What cult classics have you seen? 

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What qualifies as a cult classic? Good question. The standard is that a film must have a devoted cult following, which means a devoted fan group in different wording. It can't be a short-lived infatuation. These films don't go away and fade out of memory in a few years. They are remembered years later and have sequels in some cases.

Some films are remembered for being bad, so much so that we are laughing at the film in theatres when it isn't a comedy (like The Room). Others are classics for being good and timeless. Princess Bride, just one example, is known as a fantastic film everywhere and is unlikely to be remade or enjoyed as a remake. There are a few of these movies that are known for their unique features. Rocky Horror Picture Show is a blaring example of this, to the point that it is one of the only theatre shows that people might yell at the stage. Without further adieu, we go forward into the land of cult classics.

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

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This one bombed at the box office, but yet, I have a copy at home in my collection. It became a cult classic later and is actually quite close to the graphic novel when it comes to accuracy, to the point of verbatim images and movie lines, give or take a few shots and scenes. It is a gamer classic, especially if you know what games they are referencing. It has Nintendo game music within the soundtrack and a game connected with it. You can play this movie in the form of a game.

The plot, in case you know nothing about this geeky classic, is that Scott Pilgrim meets a girl and has to defeat her seven evil exes in video-game-related battles that most nerdy and geeky fans will fangirl over. It is based tightly on a six-book graphic novel set (of which I have all of them). It didn't hit the box office well because it is for a special audience. When it comes to video game imitation only Wreck-It Ralph 1 and 2 can compete. The specialized audience that it was made for flocked to it and continues to watch it long past its release to theatres.

Sharknado

This one is rather brainless in nature, but that is kind of why some people watched it and funded it

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enough to make sequels. I do not understand how it made money. Somehow this plot, which people ate up with a spoon, of sharks and tornadoes has six sequels. The first one was not a comedy. The rest of them were given a facade of seriousness so that the nature of comedy could still be there. It was clear to the people filming this weird stuff that their serious film was taken as comedic and did well in the genre. 

The plot, if there even is one, is that Los Angeles is flooded with shark-infested waters and mayhem ensues. Reading the plot alone is comedy. It is like a badly written film of Jaws, only they made it so ridiculous that "a boating accident" can't even be blamed. I have no words for this series. I'm pretty dang sure that people watch it to make fun of it and because they don't want to think. 18 reviews were made on rotten tomatoes - and they said it was fun, brainless, and should probably be watched while drunk (paraphrasing several reviews, not exact wording). I'm sure it would make sense if you stopped using your brain and consumed a few bottles of wine and a keg of beer. All the same, I don't understand why they made it.

Here is the plot. Have fun laughing! : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharknado

Jaws

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Speaking of sharks, here is a film that is supposed to be horror, but is suspense instead. Compared to what horror films about sharks we have now I'd say it is good. It always will be. It just isn't as scary as it used to be considered. I love this film. Classics don't die. 

The plot is simple and makes sense (unlike the other shark movie I just referenced). Police Chief Martin Brody recognizes a shark attack, but is denied authority to close the beaches. Some more shark attacks come up on the fourth of July. This leads to an agreement to hire someone to hunt the shark. The sequels focus on the Brody family and how shark attacks seem to follow them. There are only three sequels. This one is worth the time to see.

The Room

This film showed in the theatre, but I can tell you that it was not because it was quality. The world made

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fun of this movie, from dialogue to acting to plot. I've seen it. It was not intended to be a comedy, and yet, it gets laughs when it is shown. The director wrote it, starred in it, and produced it. It has around nine sex scenes (all of which are not good). 

The plot, though incoherent and awful, is that Johnny is living the American dream and his wife is cheating on him. It is supposed to have a sad ending. I, personally, was too busy laughing at the bad acting. If that is any clue to the overall film you can just guess how much camera film they wasted. There is a film about the making of The Room called The Disaster Artist.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

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There are two versions (and I hear both are good). The basic plotline is that a newly engaged couple, on their way to announce this to a friend, get a flat tire and end up at a mansion of sexually active aliens (an understatement, if you've seen this movie). At this point, the plot gets weirder and odder until you have a suspicion that someone drugged your Cheetos, popcorn, or soda. It all boils down to a psychopath who plays with people like they are toys and acts like an adult child when they don't comply. 

If you notice that gay pride signs are all through this one, you may also notice a lot of inuendoes. There is no cussing in this movie,  but they don't need it after you count all the endless sex jokes. This is a broadway show, then a movie later. It was never a failure in the broadway sense, but did flop originally in the movie theatre. Actually, audiences watched this movie to yell at the screen, dress up in costumes, bring props, and trash the theatre viewing room. Some people watch this movie daily in theatres late at night. 

Be aware that if you are seeing it for the first time, broadway or movie theatre, you might have a lipstick V (for virgin) put on your forehead and be seated at the front of the theatre. You might be embarrassed in front of others. If you wish to save someone sitting with you from this embarrassment because they are not of the temperament to stand it don't tell anyone it is their first time. Don't let them say it, either. It may even be a better idea to rent the movie and watch it at home (where no one can do anything to you). It depends on your friend that you brought. Or you.

The Princess Bride

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I think we all know that this movie can never be redone because it is perfect as is. In case you don't know the plot, I'll give you the gist of it. Buttercup and Wesley have a romance until Wesley is thought to be killed by the dread pirate Roberts. Buttercup then marries a prince (but never professes to love him) and Wesley turns out to be alive. From there chaos ensues. I'm not going to give you every little detail. I want you to watch this one and enjoy the fairytale that it is. 

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

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This one is not everyone's cup of tea. It is British humor. If you like that you will love this movie. It doesn't take a brain and can be a great rest from writing a paper for your college classes. It is the search for the Holy Grail by King Arther and his knights of the round table. Monty Python is known for being rather silly. That is what makes this gem what it is. I encourage you to watch this one, too, and laugh for a while as the English make fun of themselves. It is absurd humor that doesn't have to make sense. An overly serious mind will stare at this                                                                                   and go "What?". 

Blues Brothers

I liked this one. You see, it is a musical in movie form and sucks you into the plot (and forgetting

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everything on your to-do list). Pull this out when you don't have a long list of things that need doing because you will find you have nothing done after you begin watching. That is precisely why it is good. It keeps your attention. 

The plot is that The Blues Brothers reunite the band to save an orphanage in their city that raised them. It is all jazz music and gospel music that pops up at nearly every scene. It is rated well, according to google (nearly all ratings are five stars), so I'd say it is doing well. 

Pulp Fiction

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The film has its own genre, practically, due to the nature of the film. It involves gangs, money, drugs, a gangster's wife overdosing and being revived, a boxer, armed bandits, and a fixer. It gets complicated and has an updated Noir feel to it (Neo-Noir). It is directed by Quentin Tarantino. If you know that director you know his quirks. He is rather violent in nature with his plots. It was received well by audiences and critics. 

        Star Trek

Fun fact, the actors thought they were making dumpster trash. Now people dress like Klingons to go cosplaying. It seems it was not garbage after all. The budget for the original was not high, unsurprisingly, so you can tell when they did get more money for the production of it and the budget rose. It has not died and probably won't die out in our entertainment because of the large fandom that is supporting it - young and old alike. 

If you don't know the basic plot, it is set in the future when humans and aliens are existing together and explore galaxies together through starships. It is often compared with Star Wars, which is not the same plot. We have the original series starting 1966-69, The Next Generation from 1987-94, Deep Space Nine from 1993-99, Voyager from 1995 -2001, Enterprise from 2001-2005, Discovery starting in 2017, and Picard starting in 2020. I would not be surprised if I missed a series, so let me know if I did. 

Sources:

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/level-up-why-scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-endures-as-a-cult-favorite-beyond-its-geek-appeal/

https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/12/2/16720012/the-room-tommy-wiseau-backstory-explained

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073629/plotsummary