There aren’t that many movies deserving of the cult classic title, and comedy is another genre without exception. Thoughcomedy is often more subjective than any other genre, some features get the instant cult classic title while others take time to be noticed and appreciated for their impact. Whilesome have aged poorly, others have aged like fine wine and made the ranks of the comedy hall of fame.
Some great cult comedies, fromRocky Horror Picture ShowandOffice SpacetoScary MovieandMean Girls, are often mentioned for their inevitable impact on wider audiences. But, if we dig deeper, we’ll noticea world of different comedies that deserve to be in the same ranksas the cult classics above. Can any of these underrated comedy movies pass that sort of test?
10’Bowfinger' (1999)
Directed by Frank Oz
Bowfingeris a rarely talked about satirical comedy that doesn’t pull any punches. Written bySteve Martin, who also stars as the lead, titular character,Bowfingeris aboutan ambitious director looking to make the next big sci-fi hit. He gets amateur actors into the movie his accountant wrote, pitching the idea to big-shot producer Jerry Renfro (Robert Downey Jr.). After Bowfinger “convinces” Renfro that the big action star Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) will star in his movie, Renfro offers to distribute the movie. Kit Ramsey is hard to get, though, but that doesn’t stop Bowfinger from going all in.
This isthe most underrated Eddie Murphy performanceand a highly overlooked comedy with exceptional writing by Steve Martin. Itssatirical and occasionally dark tonesdepict the struggle and ambition of Hollywoodfilmmakers, which are more or less the norm in the industry.Bowfingerreached its cult status much later, and though its following isn’t overstated, the movie has numerous devoted fans who recommend the movie, passing on the legacy of its brilliant satire.
Watch on Apple TV+
9’What We Do in the Shadows' (2014)
Directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi
Potentially a wildcard on the underrated list, butJemaine ClementandTaika Waititi’sWhat We Do in the Shadowsis arguably more known as a fantastic TV series than a feature film. Clement and Waititi are the show’s executive producers, and they guest starred inone of the show’s funniest episodes, butthe movie that the series was based on seems to be heavily underrated. The movie is shot through the lens of a camera crew making a documentary about Auckland’s Viago (Waititi), Vladislav (Jemaine Clement), and Deacon (Jonny Brugh), who are vampire roommates.
Fans of the two creators are aware of their offbeat humor and know just how amazingWhat We Do in the Shadowsreally is. Adecade after the movie’s release, wider fanbases appreciate it more than after it was initially released—most likely due to the show’s success. Clement raises the bar as the Romanian vampire Vladislav, while Jonny Brugh may be a not-so-familiar face but has become iconic as Deacon over time, especially forhis graceful dance movesin the movie.
What We Do in the Shadows
In What We Do in the Shadows, vampire housemates navigate the challenges of modern life while mentoring a newly turned hipster on the advantages of vampirism. The film explores their coexistence within the human world, balancing supernatural elements with humorous insights into the undead lifestyle.
Watch on Amazon Prime
8’Kinky Boots' (2005)
Directed by Julian Jarrold
Kinky Bootsis one of the best feel-good movies about celebrating and embracing differences, andit’s based on a true story. It’s set in Northampton, England, where young business owner Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) tries to save his father’s shoe factory from closing.The factory still has workers who are like family, so Charlie tries his best to come up with solutions to keep them. One day in London, he accidentally meets drag queen Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and realizes her boot heels are too weak to support her. He decides to get Lola on as a helper to design boots intended for drag queens and men.
The true, wide success ofKinky Bootscame only later whenit was adapted into a musicalon Broadway in 2013. Thissolidified the movie’s status as a cult classic with a large following, though it received its accolades with a nomination for Best Film at the Golden Globes. Chiwetel Ejiofor is stunning as drag queen Lola and even more captivating when playing Simon, his character out of drag. The rest of the cast, with Edgerton as the lead, is a charismatic ensemble, makingKinky Bootsa comedy deserving of its cult status.
Kinky Boots
7’Dude, Where’s My Car?' (2000)
Directed by Danny Leiner
Dude, Where’s My Car?may not be underrated in the sense of box office success, but critics hated it, and many people don’t understand the movie’s humor.One Reddit user even wrote: “I love it, but a friend thought I was an idiot when I loaned him the DVD.“There are no special criteria for understandingDude, Where’s My Car?It’s a stoner comedy with some pretty obvious (and terrible) jokes, but it’s not without its charms; some of its most iconic moments were either parodied in other movies (likeScary Movie 2) or used as a greeting among teammates, when in 2012, MLB teamPittsburgh Pirates greeted each otherwith the Zoltan hand gesture.
InDude, Where’s My Car?Ashton KutcherandSeann William Scottplay Jesse and Chester, two best friends who partied so hard the night before they can’t remember where they left Jesse’s car. Their car-seeking adventure takes them to various, unusual places where they meet different people,including a UFO cult leader, Zoltan, five alien women, and two alien Norwegian men, all searching for something called the “Continuum Transfunctioner.” This cult comedy is great for all those times life feels heavy and all that’s necessary is a bit of silly fun; it’s laugh-out-loud funny, whether the jokes are terrible or great.
Watch on Hulu
6’Detroit Rock City' (1999)
Directed by Adam Rifkin
Detroit Rock Cityis a somewhat forgotten buddy comedy set in 1978, starringEdward Furlong,Sam Huntington,Giuseppe Andrews, andJames DeBello. They play four high schoolers trying to get to a KISS concert after one of them wins the tickets for it through a radio show. They all play in a band together, and KISS is their greatest inspiration. However,many things are preventing them from actually going to the concert, so they attempt to find their way there in other, “unofficial” ways.
Detroit Rock Cityhas a cult following among rock music fans, especially KISS fans. Regardless of musical affiliation (aka whether people care about KISS or not), the movie is just as entertaining and humorous to anyone who enjoyscoming-of-age comedies.The Rock Revival callsDetroit Rock City"a love letter to the wild, rebellious spirit of rock ‘n’ roll,” which many of its fans love to this day. Despite being a box office flop, the movie climbed its way into a symbolic rock’n’roll hall of fame.
Watch on Hoopla
5’Airheads' (1994)
Directed by Michael Lehmann
Another brilliant, brutal, and hilarious homage to rock music comes in the form ofAirheads, whereBrendan Fraser,Adam Sandler, andSteve Buscemiplay the quintessential rock stars. Or, well, rock star wannabes. The main characters,Chester, Rex, and Pip, are in a metal band called The Lone Rangers, but they’re having trouble pushing their demo onto the public—no publishers want to listen to it, and radio stations reject it. The trio forcefully enter the local LA station KPPX and, at gunpoint, demand the radio host known as The Shark (Joe Mantegna) play the tape.
WhileAirheadsis another excellent but somewhat ridiculous homage to rock music, itembraces the metal spirit so well that it has made metalheads across the world believe in it. Being released during a time when metal wasn’t at the height of popularity helped that community feel more seen and understood in a way, though it’s never been metal to be mainstream.Airheadshas received its cult following in recent years mainly due to Brendan Fraser’s spectacular return to the silver screens and award ceremonies; celebrating his career, together with those of Sandler and Buscemi, is always welcome.
Three members of the metal band The Lone Ranger take a radio show host hostage so he can play their demo tape.
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4’Cecil B. Demented' (2000)
Directed by John Waters
One of Hollywood’s most inventive directors who continuously pushes boundaries isJohn Waters. Though everyone’s heard ofHairsprayorPink Flamingos, his black comedyCecil B. Dementedoften flies under the radar. Though everything Waters makes becomes an instant cult classic,this comedy took some time to get the audience and fanbase it deserves. The movie follows unpredictable guerrilla filmmaker Cecil B. Demented (Stephen Dorff) and his film crew as they kidnap Hollywood’s sweetheart Honey Whitlock (Melanie Griffith) during her movie premiere.
The kidnappers' idea was to interrupt a premiere and make a statement about the quality of high-budget movies, butafter also kidnapping Honey Whitlock, Cecil B. Demented and his crew force her to star in their latest feature film. The shock value and edge, Waters' trademark, are there but shown with taste and flair; the impact of film on the guerrilla crew is obvious, though they’re often militant about what they like. The criticism of both mainstream and underground parts of the film industry is present, shedding judgment and understanding both ways. Potentially Waters' most underrated movie, but one of the best black comedies of the 2000s.
Watch on Tubi
3’Idiocracy' (2006)
Directed by Mike Judge
Idiocracyis one of those comedies that one must see to believe it’s real.Mike Judge’ssatirical comedy about the deterioration of human intelligence in a distant futureholds some parallels with the current times, making the intended “distant” future inIdiocracycome faster than expected. A celebrity president, piles of garbage, a lack of trust in intelligent people, and increased indulgence in conspiracy theories are just some ofthe aspects that makeIdiocracyprophetic.
The movie follows the fairly regular Army member Joe (Luke Wilson), who gets picked to participate in a cryogenic freezing experiment in 2005. The military hires Rita (Maya Rudolph) to enter the experiment with Joe, and the two end up frozen for nearly 500 years. Afterthey’re prematurely awakened by the “Great garbage avalanche of 2505,” they’re woken up to a world where most individuals have extremely low intelligence. Mike Judge first made waves with his workplace comedyOffice Space, continuing the somewhat cynical but prophetic views of society. This relevance to the times earnedIdiocracyits following and cult classic status.
2'24 Hour Party People' (2002)
Directed by Michael Winterbottom
One of Britain’s greatest cult classics isheavily underrated around the globe but essential to understanding England’s music scene, specifically Manchester. The UK has some of the best movies that pay homage to the music of their times, likeHuman TrafficandTrainspotting, but24 Hour Party Peopleis the ultimate love letter to music. It follows Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan), a news reporter who, after seeingThe Sex Pistolslive on stage in 1976, becomes inspired to start punk rock nights in a club and subsequently a record label called Factory Records.
Tony Wilson later opened a nightclub called Hacienda, where all the big bands of that time performed, most significantly New Order and Happy Mondays. Hacienda was also the unofficial birthplace of Manchester’s rave culture, which Wilson later realized would bring him some trouble. This true story is intertwined with satirical accounts and urban legends that revolved around the music scene at the time. All the characters, especially Steve Coogan’s Wilson, break the fourth wall as if a documentary is being made on the spot. Fans of punk rock and the UK’s nightclub scene appreciate24 Hour Party Peopleas one of the greatest cult comedies of the 2000s.
24 Hour Party People
In 1976, Tony Wilson sets up Factory Records and brings Manchester’s music to the world.
1’The Emperor’s New Groove' (2000)
Directed by Mark Dindal
The best underrated comedy with a cult following wasn’t at first marketed or seen as a comedy.The Emperor’s New Grooveis aDisneyanimated movie, so many parents saw it as a children-only viewing. However, when kids couldn’t get into theniche humor of the feature film, its box office numbers dwindled, leavingEmperor’s New Grooveto simmer and marinate as a cult classic in waiting. All these years later, this movie is loved and revisited by grownups who were kids when it was released, and they’re not just loving it—some folks knowThe Emperor’s New Groove’s every line, quote, and gag.
The Emperor’s New Groovefollows Kuzco (David Spade), a spoiled Incan emperor who only cares about himself. When the devious royal advisor Yzma (Eartha Kitt) starts plotting Kuzco’s death, she orders her brawny (and not brainy) assistant Cronk (Patrick Warburton) to mix up a poison.Kuzco consumes the poison, which doesn’t kill him but turns him into a llama instead. Desperate, he asks for help from Pacha (John Goodman), a local farmer who he’d declined for a royal favor the day before. Kuzco’s journey to going back to human form is hilarious, emotional, and highly entertaining, makingThe Emperor’s New Grooveworthy of its cult classic status.
