69
votes
What's your favorite cult classic movie?
I love hearing about obscure or forgotten films that people are passionate about. I was in a thread on Reddit, IIRC, and someone mentioned The Man From Earth. I just watched it for the first time and I can see its appeal.
I'm sure you have more than one. For me, a couple of favorites off the top of my head are Wristcutters: A Love Story and Wings of Desire. And some old timey classics that I rarely hear mentioned anymore are I Know Where I'm Going and The Lady Eve.
Hmmmm. So many to choose from so I’ll just pick some that may or may not be known to the younger generations at this point.
The Holy Mountain
Hell Comes to Frogtown
UHF
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Eraserhead
Any movie by Neil Breen
Yes to any Neil Breen movie! His work is amazing.
Folks who love all this weird shit are my people.
I gotta recommend the 2019 Ethiopian film Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway
Thanks for a new movie!
Haha please tell me what you think of it!
Whelp.
That was many things wasn’t it? lol
Honestly I appreciated a bunch of stuff about it. It had a solid inspirational base of genres and themes, loved the Philip K Dick stuff, the whole Afrofuturist yet retro vibe was a cool aesthetic, lead actor had some decent chops though a bunch of the supporting cast was struggling but that just added to the B movie charm imo.
The surrealist explorations were worthwhile and I’d say they ended the movie in the correct timeframe which can be difficult to figure out the timing on for those sorts of existentialist pieces.
The music and the graphical stylings were in several instances very bold and yet worked.
Overall I’m super glad you recommended it and I’m glad I watched it (with a bunch of people too so I’m spreading it around already).
Thanks again!
Hell yeah!! You just made my day.
President Batman thanks you!
#eyesonbreen
Killer Klowns is a classic, definitely give Troll 2 a shot if you liked that!
Hell Comes to Frogtown is as insane as it sounds, I knew nothing about it going in and had a blast!
Hell Comes to Frogtown is strangely identical to Mad Max Fury Road.
Eraserhead! Every blue moon i sing "In heaven everything is fine..." to myself.
I watched The Holy Mountain for the first time around the time I was nine years old as it was my grandfathers favorite film, likely fundamentally scarred me. Highly suggest it.
Me and my sister snuck out of bed one night and watched Killer Klowns. It definitely scared us pretty bad and we both still hate clowns. Still haven’t brought myself to watch it as an adult, but it might be time.
As an adult, it's not that scary, it's campy and goofy but if you still have a thing about clowns...no guarantees lol
Nocturnal Aminals
Eyes on Breen
Does The Big Lebowski count? It’s the movie I’ve seen the most times. My dad took me to see it in the theater and I had no idea what I’d just seen when I came out. I think I get a little something different out of it each time I see it.
Eight year-olds, Dude
Idk if this movie is old enough to be a cult classic but I have to mention Ben Stiller's The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. This film was not well reviewed on release and you can tell why; it's weirdly paced and structured and the themes are a bit muddled. But it's just such a charming film. Stiller gives a great performance, the film has a ton of heart, it's visually gorgeous with lots of exciting set pieces and a lovely soundtrack, and, if you've read the short story that shares the film's title, you'll quickly discover that the movie isn't so much an adaptation of the original text as it is an attempt at a thematic challenge or refutation, which is really interesting. Every time I watch this movie I find new little things about it that I don't like, and yet find myself wanting to watch it again.
I should check it out. Have you seen the original?
If you mean the 1947 film, no; I had no idea of existed until just now! Looks pretty interesting, though; I'll have to try to find time to watch it.
Excellent movie! Probably watched it 6 or 8 times. I consider this one a grossly underappreciated great film rather than a cult favorite.
For me:
Big Trouble in Little China
Raising Arizona
Repo Man (and the companion, Brother from Another Planet)
Tremors (only the 1st one)
Buckaroo Banzai (pure 80s, you had to be there...)
I ADORE Walter Mitty. There are not enough truly earnest movies out there, and that's one of them. The whole sequence of him running to the helicopter, the longboarding scene, and of course the conversation with Sean Penn. "Beautiful things don't ask for attention."
Man. What a beautiful movie.
Koyaanisqatsi and Waking Life are two films that a had a significant impact on me.
If you happen to watch, and enjoy, Waking Life, there is also A Scanner Darkly. It's quite different, but uses a similar visual style (though more consistent/polished). It has an impressive cast too.
I highly recommend that people read A Scanner Darkly before watching the movie if that is something they think they might do.
Reading it without any foreknowledge is an unique and fascinating experience for certain structural reasons that no movie could ever replicate.
I saw the movie before reading the novel shortly afterward and it never occurred to me until reading your post that I'd kind of spoiled myself.
Nonetheless, both the novel and movie are great.
Same here with the Qatsi trilogy, and Baraka too.
Also Chronos and Samsara
A Scanner Darkly is fantastic and darkly (heh) depressing. PKD is a celebrated author for very good reason, but after reading a bunch of his work (plus the epilogue of Scanner Darkly)...boy howdy that guy was angry and messed up by his past.
The drugs (ab)use and mental health problems sure didn't help Philip. BTW. If you haven't, I highly recommend reading "I Am Alive and You Are Dead: A Journey into the Mind of Philip K. Dick". It gives really interesting look into the life of PKD.
Brazil
UHF
Rocky Horror Picture Show (Does this count? I think of it as a "cult classic", even though it is pretty widely known.)
Back before we all used to leave our phones permanently on silent, I used to have the theme song as my ringtone. I think I am long overdue for a re-watch!
I am so sad I googled that. :(
Damn, I searched it up, too. That was disappointing.
It's mindboggling to me that the guy who directed the Fear and Loathing adaptation turned out how he did.
I agree its frustrating that he's a pretty nasty dude now but I would like to say he's not a boomer, he's part of the Silent Generation. He was born in 1940, boomers were born post-WW2 up to about the mid-60's.
Since it is currently on a 50th anniversary release, I say The Wicker Man (1973), which is peak folk-horror.
Any cult list has to include Repo Man (1984) and it is another favourite for me and I will also go with The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash from (1978). I have the soundtrack among my regular plays for road trips.
Dark City is very good and still holds up well. Roger Ebert was a huge fan of it and I believe did some commentary on the DVD.
Six String Samurai is a good satire with a lot of great one-liners.
“If I were you, I’d run!”
“If you were me, you’d be good looking.”
Edit: couple more I thought of, probably more popular but still kind of cult classics.
John Carpenter’s They Live.
Taika Waititi’s What We Do in the Shadows.
Dark City deserves more praise!
Unrelated, but I still can't get over how much Rufus Sewell and Joaquin Phoenix look alike.
Him being called John in both Dark City and The Man in the High Castle, means anytime he is addressed by name in the series I immediately suspect he will start Tuning and creating a new reality around him.
Dark City is great! Make sure to watch the directors cut though. Just go into it totally blind and it’s a great ride.
I was lucky enough that the first time I saw Dark City, it was on VHS and the beginning of the tape was mangled to a bit past that studio-mandated opening monologue that gives away too much too soon. I was shocked when I watched it later on DVD and heard that travesty for the first time.
When somebody dies my Da still likes to say "No more Mr. Quick". Whenever some corrupt company is going insolvent he will say "SHUT IT DOWN! SHUT IT DOWN FOREVER!"
Six String Samurai is a movie I judged by the cover, so I bought it immediately, and thankfully adored. Haven't seen it in a while, but I remember expecting it to be some cheesy low-budget schlock, which it kind of is, but it was also good in a bizarre way that was a pleasant surprise.
I haven’t seen Six String Samurai in a while, I need to rewatch it too. It is definitely low budget, but also doesn’t take itself too seriously, which I think made it better.
I love Dark Star, but it's very unappreciated. When you compare it to Alien (which Dan O'Bannon also wrote), it's easy to see the parallels.
I just watched eraser head for the first time a few days ago and I sorta wish I liked it, but idk it just felt kinda dull. Like I feel like it was trying to be artsy and out there but it ended up feeling more like nothing much was happening that made sense. Even the industrial backdrop which was what appealed to me the most felt underdone. I was hoping for more like.. Unreal Tournament 2000 style industrial but instead it was more crappy edge of town industrial.
Dark Star ruined modern CGI for me. When you can create such a convincing alien purely from practical effects, I can't understand how they can spend tens of millions creating tacky villains.
I'm not sure if it counts because it ended up getting relatively popular (and spawning several spinoffs), but Clerks (1994) is not only my favorite cult classic but one of my favorite movies of all time.
I don't mind Clerks 2 and Clerks 3, but the original Clerks truly stands as a great film. Not only is it incredibly quotable, funny, and well-made, it's also super relatable. It was filmed at the same convenience store where Kevin Smith worked at the time, and it's easy to imagine how much of the script was based on his own experiences (if exaggerated).
I really enjoy every single one of the Askewniverse movies, especially since they all fit in a different niche. Clerks (1) is the most unique of the whole lot (at least, it was until every student film wanted to be Clerks) and still probably has the best overall performance out of all the films in Jeff Anderson's Randal.
My friend group and I watched this as it came out in theatres and we were hooked. We adopted the language and of course we were huge Jay and Silent Bob fans. Over the years we have followed Kevin Smith through all the ups and downs of movie making. We've been to the podcasts and were at the one right before Kevin had heart troubles. It's been a wild ride all these years and we still love them. Smoothie bootchies, my nootchies!
37!?
In a row?
What kind of convenience store do you run here?
I wasn’t supposed to be here today!
Fight Club has that very nihilistic and dark view of the world, showing a lost generation of men (that I argue still persists to this day in various ways) angry at society in ways that aren't really explored the same ways anymore. I loved how the movie explored Tyler and Jack's relationship and eventual downfall. I just think we don't get anti-consumerism movies like it anymore.
The problem with Fight Club was that Tyler was so cool (due to being an embodiment of toxic masculinity) that people didn’t realize that he was the antagonist. Edward Norton’s more balanced view of the world was healthier when he decided that Project Mayhem needed to be stopped.
Yes, the system sucks.
Yes, people’s friction between reality and their view of masculinity is a problem.
The solution is not to blow up the system and embrace hyper-masculinity. The solution is to grow as a person and break down systems of oppression.
The Kingsmen did a better job of showing cool fights, while also acknowledging that finding peaceful solutions was much more noble. Consider that they didn’t go to the final location to kill Samuel L Jackson, they tried to blow up his satellite, stop his plan in other ways, and killing him was only done when it became clear he wouldn’t be stopped any other way. Even the people in charge that died only did so after selling out to Valentine and signing on to his plan.
It's hard to pick just one but probably Tremors. I watched this movie so much as a kid. Every time we'd go over to my aunt and uncles house for easter, thanksgiving, christmas, whatever, "let's watch Tremors".
I was literally typing my tribute to this 1990 masterpiece and here you go beating me by a few minutes.
Networks like TNT ran the hell out of it. There’s nothing like Reba McEntire shooting guns at monsters!
"Broke into the wrong goddamned rec room, didn't ya!"
Hollywood Boulevard
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
The Honeymoon Killers
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
Aloha, Bobby and Rose
BtVotD is such a strange movie. I caught bits and pieces of it back in college and liked it...until I finally got it on Netflix disc several years later and...that ending, holy hell
Roger Ebert was a wild man.
I love that movie though. I love the editing of it.
Harold & Maude
Tremors - not sure if this counts, hesitant to post a trailer and spoil things. Lil off-beat horror/comedy that still hits (not including the sequels).
I can't believe i haven't seen this yet. It's definitely on my list.
Would Idiocracy be considered a cult classic?
Didn’t really do well at first but I run across people that love it.
I'd say so. Same with Office Space.
Love office space. I pretty much have the whole movie memorized 😂
Feels like a documentary now, doesn’t it…
How can I pick just one?
Lost in Translation
Rocky Horror
Run Lola Run
Lost in translation is one of my favorite movies (:
Anecdote time. I used to live in the street of the supermarket from Run Lola Run. Nice neighborhood.
I'm surprised that I got through this whole thread without seeing "Big Trouble in Little China".
My mom introduced me to this. Just saw it again for the first time since I was a kid. Still good!
I really love Wings of Desire, one of my favourites. There's so many great cult classics, Primer, Pi, Delicatessen, Videodrome, Ghost World, Come and See, M, Memento, La Haine, Oldeuboi, Festen...
You should check this lists:
https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/jennifer+eisss+500+essential+cult+movies/
https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/scott+tobiass+the+new+cult+canon/
Ok, of your list I haven't seen Come and See, La Haine, Oldeuboi (haven'theard of this one), or Festen. Thank you for the recs. Your list reminds me a bit of the offerings at Kim's Video (ecclectic video rental place in the East Village of Manhattan - the collection now is split IIRC between the Alamo Draft house theaters and someplace in Venice, Italy). ETA: Thank you also for the links!
Oldeuboi or Oldboy is the 2003 south korean movie directed by Chan-wook Park. Go see it!
Ah, I've been trying to track Oldboy down! I can't find a free streaming source, and I don't really sail the high seas. But it is definitely on my list.
make sure you get the korean one from 2003 and not the horrible remake.
Do you know stremio?
I hadn't heard about it until you mentioned it. It's an app I could add to my Roku (the website said all devices)? And then browse to see if i find Oldboy, or other movies and shows - am I understanding correctly?
Yes, install the app first on your pc and make an account. Then install torrentio addon https://torrentio.strem.fun/configure and press install. Then on the tv app you enter with your account and you have the addon configured.
As an option, If you want you can pay for a service that does the torrent download for you, like real-debrid.com. This service makes a seamless experience and is only 9€ for 3 months. You can then set your API key on torrentio configuration.
Thank you! It was very kind to lay out the step by step instructions.
Are you me??? These aren't classic trash cult films, though, they're just great cinema.
A few others you might enjoy:
The City of Lost Children
Crash
Solaris
Stalker
Amelie
Tampopo
Wim Wonders films, almost all of them, since you enjoy "Wings of Desire"
The Lives of Others
Woman in the Dunes
What? He doesn't mentioned trash cult films
I'm not you because I haven't seen most of your list ;) but I hope I share your taste! I'm going to check out the movies on your list. ETA: I did not know Wim Wenders directed so many films. I've seen Buena Vista Social Club but I think that's it. If we share the same taste I hope I come up with some more obscure recs for you!
I feel obliged to bring on the offal platter of very guilty-pleasure trash cult films which haven't been mentioned yet. Large quantities of weed may be required for maximum appreciation.
Lake Placid
C.H.U.D.
Barbarella
In the Mouth of Madness
Rare Exports
Dead Snow
Space Truckers
Bad Santa
Lair of the White Worm
Highlander II: The Quickening
Super Mario Brothers
The Stuff
Dagon
I have watched way too many movies, I think. The garbage list could go on, but I'll have to do a different post for the good stuff.
Hell yeah In the Mouth of Madness! One of my favorite Lovecraft...adjacent adaptations. Boy it's tough to film Lovecraft!
I just watched Lake Placid yesterday! Betty White is an absolute gem in that film.
Some others that I personally enjoy that mesh well with your list are:
In general, I have a soft spot for everything Frank Henenlotter, Brian Yuzna, Stuart Gordon, and John Carpenter.
I hesitated to add "Bad Taste" to my list because I'm actually not that much of a cruelty, gore, and sick humor fan. Otherwise, I would also have thrown in Meet the Feebles. There were certainly funny bits in both, but I wouldn't recommend the whole experience.
That's fair! Early Peter Jackson definitely requires some tolerance of the gross and absurd. I tend to watch a lot of movies where as I a watcher I think, "how did this even get made?," so I'll be the first to admit that my taste is a bit bad.
I would not label Lair of the White Worm trash - IIRC it was more of an art film. A slightly campy and seedy art film maybe?
I see a few I would name already mentioned, but for me, the first movie that came to mind was:
Donnie Darko
Huh. Apparently the full movie is available on YouTube.
I'm noticing more and more full films on YouTube. Not sure how they get away with that. That's how I saw The Man From Earth.
Wow I never considered Donnie Darko a cult classic but yeah, it really did bomb in box offices.
The Black Hole.
It's not perfect, but has a charm to it I enjoy. I'm probably one of only a handful of people who was happy to see it on the Disney channel.
The music and cinematography make up for the...less good parts. I'd recommend listening to the theme tune alone.
The main theme is so haunting and memorable. I've heard it described as "Your car breaks down outside the big spooky castle, but in space" and that really nails the atmosphere. You take a group of generic heroes, throw them into a mysterious old environment run by an enigmatic master who gradually reveals his megalomania, and see how they react to it. Unfortunately they're just so dull that despite Reinhardt and Maximillian, the two villains, stealing the show, the focus on the crew of the Palomino kills it.
Yeah, overall the humans are quite bland compared to the machines. The USS Cygnus, Maximillion and Vincent keep the movie going. I like Vincent, even if he's just there to give exposition.
I loved this movie as a kid. I even had the book with the small vinyl that you would play to read along with.
Army of Darkness is probably the first Cult movie I'd ever seen and still one of my absolute favorites.
My other is more recent:
PG: Psycho Goreman an absolutely incredible film. One of my favorites in recent memory; if you like campy comedy-horror, this one is for you.
Looks like PG is on shudder https://www.shudder.com/movies/watch/pg-psycho-goreman/9c7bcc9a5a597afa
Since I wore my Evil Dead shirt yesterday, I guess I know what I'm doing tonight.
It's fantastic, I hope you like it! Especially if you're a fan of classic Evil Dead/AoD.
I’m not totally sure what counts as a cult classic if I’m honest. Does Kids (1995) count? If it does that’s mine. We discovered it in about 2000 or 2001 as 14-15 year olds and watched it obsessively. I haven’t watched it in years because it feels a little too uncomfortable now - I don’t want to watch teenagers doing all that in the way I did when I was also a teenager - but it’s a movie that’s really stuck with me
Yes, I think Kids definitely counts. It was a pretty disturbing film for what I remember. It felt more like a documentary than a fictional film. I recall seeing Harold (one of the actors in the film, I think that was his name) hanging out in the East Village in Manhattan fairly often and I got the sense that he was just playing himself. ETA: I just searched him up and apparently he died in 2006 of a "cocaine-induced hear attack." That's really sad. I guess the film really was close to real life. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Hunter)
I heard that a lot of the minor characters were just the friends of the director (or writer, or someone big involved in the film) and they were pretty much just being themselves.
Jesus! The boys/men in the cast really did not fare well. It's amazing that Chloe Sevigny and Rosaria Dawson have had such successful careers (and are apparently mentally healthy). Maybe the girls/women were cast differently (maybe they weren't initially friends of the filmmakers?).
Mines more obscure than classic but I fell in love all the same.
Only Lovers Left Alive
I love vampire flicks, and this one really feels like how modern vamps would be. Released 2013 and the cast is stacked (Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, the late Anton Yelchin) yet I never see it brought up when talking about vampire movies. It's not a thriller, or horror...it's more of a journey. Get some comfy clothes, pour a big glass of red wine and enjoy the somber adventure.
I haven't seen it but will check it out. I love a chic, moody vampire movie. Have you seen Trouble Every Day (the soundtrack by Tindersticks is gorgeous) or The Hunger?
The hunger, yes, but not trouble every day. Will definitely be checking that one out
Ooh, I just thought of another good vampire movie - Near Dark (directed by Kathy Bigelow). Not sultry and sexy, but definitely unusual and riveting.
Another one:
Lost Boys.
Different spin on the vampire genre
I don't love vampire flicks, but I agree that "Only Lovers Left Alive" is a classic. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston were amazing, the cinematography and settings were perfectly chosen, the languid pacing plus the dialogue captured the "we've lived too long, but we'll keep going for each other" vibe perfectly.
Not exactly a vampire flick, but Tilda Swinton is also swoon-worthy in Orlando.
I loved Orlando! I think that was her breakout role.
I love the original Super Mario Bros. film. It's like a coked-up fever dream interpretation of the source material. Very entertaining, and a great cast.
I think it would've been remembered much more fondly if it didn't use any IP from the Mario franchise. Standing on its own merits, it's a very unique adventure movie set in a dystopian (maybe even cyberpunk) alternative dimension.
In my mind, Mario will always have the voice of Bob Hoskins.
Not too obscure, but I love some Japanese Pink and Samurai movies. The most well known samurai movies are directed by Akira Kurosawa
Teruo Ishii is well known for his Ero-Guro movies
Some other ones that I like:
and since I mentioned samurai movies, it would be a sin not to mention Zatoichi series.
These are just some examples, and some of these are very well known, but hopefully you find some that you haven't watched. If you have never tried the genre before, I recommend starting with the works of Akira Kurosawa.
If you have dived into the genre, please share what you liked, I'd like to find some that I haven't watched before.
Ever seen Dreams? I've only ever seen one vignette but my god, what an incredible filmmaker Kurosawa was
I have, if you liked that one you watched, I think you'll like the whole movie. It's a bit different than his usual movies, but you can still feel that it is made by him.
Wolf Guy starring Sonny Chiba from 1975. He's a cop and a werewolf who uses his ancestral powers to fight crime. It's an absolutely hilarious romp and goes completely off the rails by the end. Not entirely forgotten because it has an Arrow release, but definitely far out of mainstream.
Now this sounds up my alley. Thanks for the rec!
Real Genius
C.H.O.M.P.S.
Better Off Dead
Secret of NIMH
Sneakers
Great list, I will probably always choose Sneakers as my favorite "hacking" movie.
Joe Dantes Matinee is a great film. A fantastic love letter to the 50's B-movie and schlock horror directors.
John Carpenters The Thing is one of my favourite movies of all time and for good reason, this movie still holds up today visually and as one of the most tense horror movies ever made. Carpenters magnum opus in my opinion and I love a lot of Carpenters stuff.
The Thing is outstanding. I was shocked to discover it was a commercial flop and was so reviled by critics that it actually damaged John Carpenter's career.
I'm glad to see The Thing getting the recognition it deserves today. It was ahead of its time, and the practical effects still look stunning.
Oh man, Evil Dead 2 is a cult horror classic. It's got everything you could ask for in a horror flick. First off, you got Sam Raimi in his early career making this masterpiece. He brings in crazy camera moves and mixes in practical effects that are both campy and creative. And let's not forget about Bruce Campbell as Ash(ley) Williams, the ultimate badass hero. A chainsaw for a hand and hilarious one-liners. Give me some sugar baby! The movie is a perfect mix of horror and comedy, with intense gory scenes that'll make you cringe and laugh at the same time. It's like a non-stop thrill ride from start to finish, filled with iconic moments and quotable lines. Total cult classic. Evil Dead 2 is a must-watch for any self-respecting horror lover. Groovy!
I saw Pontypool at the Sydney Film Festival and it left quite an impression. I'm not usually one for the horror genre, but I was zombie obsessed at the time and couldn't pass it up. I remember being quite unnerved afterwards.
Stephen McHattie's voice is fantastic.
Pontypool has a really cool premise for the source of zombie infection. It reminded me of Cell by Stephen King.
Wake in fright, it is an Australian classic.
I spent my college weekends at The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1992-1995)
Awful movie. Great sex afterwards.
Plan 9 From Outer Space. Read about it as a kid, got the DVD for Christmas, love it with a passion. I still say the scariest thing is Vampira's narrow waist. (Seriously, what is that thing doing to her ribs!?)
I've also had a weird on/off fascination with Freaks despite having never seen it myself. I actually have the DVD, just need to get around to actually watching it.
So many good ones already mentioned, but some of my favorites I haven't seen listed yet are:
Hands on A Hardbody - a documentary about a small town contest to win a truck.
The Peanut Butter Solution - any description of this sounds like a fever dream, for years I was convinced I had dreamed it because nobody else I mentioned it to knew about it.
The Apple - this is one of the worst movies I've ever seen and I love it for how bad it is. It is an example of how to make the wrong decision at every step of the filmmaking process.
Hands on a Hardbody was an excellent documentary. Even if not many people know about it, I think it has been influential (i just rewatched a Brooklyn 99 episode that references it).
That's a fair point. It's also been adapted as a Tony-nominated musical so there are definitely lesser-known films out there.
Tarsem Singh's The Fall
It’s hard to describe it, but this movie is one of the most vibrant and unique films I’ve ever seen. I doubt anything like it will be made again, so it’s worth watching at least for that.
Zardoz
It is an acid trip on film. Weirdest movie ever made on the scale it was made, hands down.
Worth it just for the Sean Connery in a unikini.
As typical from questions like these you see a lot of films that are generic answers, though there are loads of real gems here.
I'll raise Local Hero, which alone is a fantastic film but the fact decades later life imitated art. Which lead to the documentary You've Been Trumped
I don't know why Local Hero isn't more widely known, but it is pivotal for my extended family. My Da (~15 years ago ) while at a nearby conference used the red telephone box from the film to ring my uncle and asked him to guess which phone box he was calling from. Without missing a step he replied "I'll make a good Gordon, Gordon."
Probably Bad Taste by Peter Jackson. I liked his Lord of the Rings adaptation and think he deserves all the praise and success he gets but part of me wishes he still made over-the-top gory slasher comedies.
I don't think I ever fully recovered from "Meet the Feebles". I still can't believe the same guy who made that did the LOTR trilogy.
I showed it to my wife a couple of years ago, she hasn't fully recovered yet either. I love it, though, and she does think it was a unique experience, she just didn't expect Peter Jackson to have made something like that, and that kinda shook her. But she'll be fine once I show her Heavenly Creatures.
Edit: grammar.
I'm honestly not sure if either of these would be considered "cult classics" but I really love Twister and Signs and people never really talk about them.
Classic is relative but I really enjoy Mommy Dearest.
Spookies, Miami Connection, and Dr. Chopper are top tier for me.
Courier of Death (1984) -- it has everything!
A lot of the movies referenced here are not cult. Neil Breen is perfect for this.
Ok so my local amazing movie theater just played Voyage of the Rock Aliens from 1984, and my mind was blown. I'd never heard of it despite growing up in the 80s, spending lots of time in video stores, and being into basically, this kind of shit. It's like they put Rocky Horror and Flash Gordon and Grease into a blender, added a dash of Devo, and let'er rip.
"The Man With Two Brains" was an early absurd comedy for Steve Martin and Kathleen Turner, directed by Carl Reiner. It bears multiple watchings and has had a Shakespeare-like effect, in our family, of supplying way too many quotable phrases.
And if one person reading this thread discovers Luis Buñuel's "The Milky Way" I shall have done my good deed for this day.
Pulp Fiction! So many memorable quotes and characters in just one movie.
Two movies I love are on YouTube and I am pretty sure you have never heard of them:
The Torchbearer - an animated short with beautifully dark atmosphere.
The White Disease - this one is Czech, you can watch it with English subtitles. I know subtitles discourage many people and I get that. Hopefully, some movie buff may appreciate it- it is a brilliantly acted movie about a brutal dictator preparing his large country for the attack on a much smaller neighbor during the pandemic of a new disease. The subtitles are a drag and it always makes me sad because I love movies, I know some Czech movies that I think are great... but no one outside of the Czech Republic knows about them.
The third movie I love is from the "old timey classics" category - 12 Angry Men
True Stories (1986) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092117/
1978s Invasion of the Body Snatchers literally took my sleep away. Moody and engrossing allegory of paranoia, and my worst nightmare.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a masterpiece from beginning to end, a film that deserves not only to be seen but also studied as an example of how beauty and poetry can create a sense of dread and suffocation that is almost physical and demonic. Pure evil.
The Wizard. Whole thing is basically one long Nintendo ad, but I absolutely love it.
Lost Boys!
If you like martial arts movies, check out Fist of Legend
With Jet Li? I love that movie.
I'm a big fan of The Core, a hilariously awful disaster movie where the earth's molten core has stopped spinning. To save the world, a desperate expedition is launched to burrow all the way to the centre of the earth and nuke the core to get it spinning again.
The science makes no sense, but the cast all lean into it hard and make it really enjoyable. D. J. Qualls is especially great in his role as a computer hacker.
It's my favourite disaster movie.
Thank you! I don't know what the Tildes policy is, but I appreciate the link. I don't know what happened recently but I've been finding more and more full movies on YT (like The Man From Earth, which I mentioned in the OP).