What exactly defines a cult classic has been a topic of contention for decades. But looking at all the vastly different films that have proved themselves worthy of this status, one can get a pretty solid idea of what a cult following looks like in the world of movies. Quasi-religious rewatches, midnight screenings, people learning every quote and every bit of lore, dressing up like characters from the film, and coming up with theories about its narrative and themes are the order of the day in the world of cult film.
Genre movies are infinitely more likely to become cult, as proved by the hundreds of sci-fi cult classics that have surged throughout the years. As with any group of movies, however, it’s always fun to pick out the best of the best. There areten sci-fi cult classics that have stood the test of timeand are aboutas close to flawless as a sci-fi film can get. Of course, flaws and goofs are often essential to cult cinema, but these movies make those little mistakes feel like features, not bugs.
10’Starship Troopers' (1997)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
When it came out,Starship Troopersalienated critics and flopped hard at the box office. Many looked at this film about space soldiers fighting an alien invasion and felt that it was romanticizing fascism and militarism, going directly against Western values. Oh, how wrong they were. Today, people know thatStarship Troopersis one ofthe best satires ever made.
It was precisely this trajectory of re-evaluation, where audiences began realizing thatPaul Verhoeven’s brilliant camp comedy had beena critique of fascist powers and military propagandaall along, and not at all a vindication of them, that ensured the film’s cult status. It’s not perfect — in fact,Starship Troopersmay very well be the most perfectly imperfect movie ever — but it’s a hell of a good time that also manages to be thought-provoking.
Starship Troopers
9’They Live' (1988)
Directed by John Carpenter
John Carpenteris one of the great masters of horror cinema. Movies likeHalloweenandThe Thingtend to be counted among the genre’s greatest outings, and for good reason. There’s a certain other Carpenter film, however, that was vastly misunderstood when it came out, but is today remembered by his die-hard fans as one of his most underrated outings:They Live.
The film’s delightfully fun critiques of greed, American consumerism, and theRonald Reaganadministration have aged like fine wine, ensuring thatThey Liveis remembered as one ofthe best sci-fi cult classics. The once-underappreciated yet now decidedlygame-changing sci-fi action horror film is smart and subversive; its old-school B-flick visuals are a blast, even if the action can get a little repetitive from time to time.
8’Tetsuo: The Iron Man' (1989)
Directed by Shinya Tsukamoto
The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki didn’t just completely change world history, but they also redefined the course and history of Japanese filmmaking. Horror films about mutations, technology’s effects on the body, and the dark side of industrialization take on a whole new meaning when they come from Japan. Such is the case withTetsuo: The Iron Man, a cyberpunk body horror masterpiece about a businessman who accidentally kills a man in a hit-and-run, who gets his revenge by slowly turning the businessman into a grotesque flesh-metal hybrid.
Tetsuois incredibly gory and grotesque, full of campy creativity, and transgressive to a fault, meaning that it’s definitely not suited for every cinephile’s palate. It is, however, one ofthe best body horror movies ever made, and that alone makes it a must-see for fans of the genre. It’sendlessly analyzable and perfectly suited for midnight screenings, as well as refreshingly short (clocking in at just a little over an hour in length), making it unsurprising that it has become a cult classic.
Tetsuo: The Iron Man
7’Ghost in the Shell' (1995)
Directed by Mamoru Oshii
For people familiar with anime cinema,Ghost in the Shellneeds no introduction. One ofthe most thrilling animated movies of all time, it received positive reviews upon release but was nevertheless a box office failure. It wasn’t until it came out on home video that it started cultivating the cult following that can’t sing its praises enough today.
Today,Ghost in the Shellis remembered asone of the best animated movies of not just the ’90s, but all time. Its cult impact has had a remarkable influence on the sci-fi genre as a whole since its release, with directors likeJames CameronandThe Wachowskisdirectly citing it as one of their influences. Visually stunning and full of narrative nuance,Ghost in the Shellis the genre at its peak.
Ghost in the Shell
6’Videodrome' (1983)
Directed by David Cronenberg
The Canadian auteurDavid Cronenbergis another director who’s had a remarkable impact on the horror genre, having practically fathered the body horror genre. Plenty ofCronenberg’s most essential filmsare body horror, and there’s one in particular that may just be the best one of all:Videodrome, where the director’s concern with how media and technology transform the human body is most visible.
It’s precisely these thoughtful themes, as well as the jaw-dropping visual effects and the creepy atmosphere, that have turnedVideodromeinto a cult classic.Its weirdness feels fresh and timely to this day, as does its political messaging. It’s a film that perfectly balances intelligence with entertainment, and its innovation and groundbreaking visuals make it perfect for cult crowds.
Videodrome
5’Akira' (1988)
Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
Based on directorKatsuhiro Otomo’s 1982 manga of the same name,Akirais one ofthe most influential and historically significant animefilms ever, having arguably beenthefilm thatpopularized the medium in the West. It’s a cyberpunk action epic about a secret military project that turns a teenage biker gang member into a rampaging psychic. Only his best friend can stop him from ravaging Neo-Tokyo.
Akira’s sociopolitical themes, unforgettable visuals, and rich world-building made it ripe for a cult following.
With some of the most vibrant visuals, best music, most roaring sound design, and most compelling characterization of any animated film in history,Akirais an icon of anime filmmaking. Its sociopolitical themes, unforgettable visuals, and rich world-building made it ripe for a cult following, which makes itunsurprising that it quickly started growing such an audienceas soon as it hit theaters, and even more so as soon as it came out on home media and fans started to rewatch it again and again.
4’Blade Runner' (1982)
Directed by Ridley Scott
Although it’s nowadays considered one of the greatest andmost important sci-fi films of the last 50 years, or perhaps particularly because of that, it’s easy to forget thatBlade Runnerwas a box office bomb with polarizing reviews back in 1982. It took several years, several versions, and several behind-the-scenes stories for it to become the gargantuan cult gem that it is seen as today.
It’s not a strictly flawless film,but its small quirks feel like part of a much bigger vision, and that kind of auteur project is exactly what fans of cult cinema tend to be drawn to.Blade Runner’s visuals, courtesy of directorRidley Scottand cinematographerJordan Cronenweth, have aged like fine wine, as have its score, performances, and the script, based onPhilip K. Dick’s short storyDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?Fans love endlessly theorizing about the world and characters, making rewatches essential.
Blade Runner
3’A Clockwork Orange' (1971)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrickis often hailed as one of the greatest filmmakers in history, and it isn’t hard to see why. However, he made more than a couple of movies that were—and remain—divisive and somewhat controversial, perhaps most notablyA Clockwork Orange. This study of masculinity and violence was muchto the distaste of critics likeRoger Ebert, though it performed extraordinarily well at the box office.
Clockwork Orangeis proof, however, that it isn’t only box office bombs that go on to become cult classics,because there’s no denying that this exceptional sci-fi drama has a cult following. Fans are drawn to its intellectual thematic work, fascinating story, and layered world-building, not to mentionMalcolm McDowell’s magnetic performance. While its disturbing qualities make it a tough film to rewatch,A Clockwork Orangeis nevertheless a masterpiece loved by all those who enjoy controversial cinema.
A Clockwork Orange
2’La Jetée' (1962)
Directed by Chris Marker
It isn’t just feature films that go on to become cult classics. Sometimes, short films are able to achieve such a feat as well, divine justice for such an underappreciated genre. For proof, one needn’t look any further than the experimental French shortLa Jetée, a half-hour-long sci-fi drama that served as the basis forTerry Gilliam’s12 Monkeys, and the inspiration for many other directors in the genre.
One ofthe greatest short films ever made,La Jetéeoffers an incrediblydense exploration of themes of memories, time, and identitythat’s impossible to look away from. Composed entirely of still images,La Jetéemarked a true before-and-after in filmmaking, engaging with new ideas and techniques. These experimental qualities made itripe for scholarly and cinephile analysis, and that’s exactly what allowed it to accrue a cult following that continues to grow to this day.
1’Solaris' (1972)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
The great Soviet auteurAndrei Tarkovskyis one of the greatest arthouse filmmakers of all time. Though there are fewer than a dozen movies in his filmography, they all have something of terrific value to offer, including what’s perhaps his most popular:Solaris. One ofthe best sci-fi films of all time, it’s packed with theslow-burning, poetic, highly philosophical stylethat makes Tarkovsky’s work so special.
Solarisis not well-suited for the impatient cinephile. It hijacks the viewer’s attention and demands that they stick with its prolonged moments of silence and heady existential dissertations,but the result can be a life-changing experience. Proof that a film can be a cult classic and also be considered one of the best in its genre,Solarisis a must-see for fans of cult sci-fi films.
NEXT:These Movies Were Desperate to Be Cult Classics But Fell Flat on Their Face
