Movie Month!

October 04, 2010

Cult Classics: That's your favorite? Uh, never heard of it.... So, what is a Cult Classic?

One of the most common misconceptions of cult movies is that there is no middle ground; one will either love or hate the film. Another misconception: if it’s a Cult Classic, it is low budget. Yet, another misconception is that if it has a rabid fan base, then it’s a Cult Classic. So, what exactly is a Cult Classic? According to Wikipedia, "a Cult Classic is a colloquial term for a film that has acquired a highly devoted but relatively small group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside of this small group (however, there are a few exceptions)".

The term cult film implies a certain level of obscurity, and widely popular, mainstream movies are not considered to be cult films. According to one of Oak Grove Branch’s movie buffs, Bob Keyserling, "A cult classic is a movie that has a universal message that has not received a wide audience." Here is a list of films he deems a cult status:

Sling Blade                          Run Lola Run
My First Mister                     Repo the Genetic Opera
Little Shop of Horrors        One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest
Asphalt Jungle                    Citizen Kane
Double Indemnity
 
The Oak Grove Branch also took a poll at the library to find out what your favorite cult classics are! Drum roll, please:

With one vote
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off      Space Balls
Frankenstein                        Maverick
New Moon                            Forrest Gump
Pulp Fiction                          St. Elmo’s Fire

With two votes:
Breakfast Club
Goonies

With three votes:
Star Wars

With six votes
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Zombieland

And Oak Grove Branch's Favorite, with Eight votes:
Princess Bride

So, what do you think? Did Oak Grove get it right?

~Kelly Douglas
Oak Grove Branch