Photo Credit (Pixabay)

As a movie buff, you probably have your favorite “cult classic.” A “cult film” can be defined in several ways, but generally speaking, it’s a film that has a devoted fanbase or cult following. The films in this list span the years 1942–2018, but the phrase “cult film” was first used in the 1970s to characterize the growing popularity of underground films and popular “midnight movies” (pictures shown late at night on TV or in theaters). Many years, if not decades, after their initial release, cult masterpieces often begin to attract new fans. Some of the finest documentaries and action flicks are among the many genres represented among cult classics. Comedy, horror, and science fiction films, on the other hand, tend to be overrepresented due to the stigma associated with these genres throughout their respective eras. But which cult classics from this wide-ranging genre are the best? So, grab a slushy, head on over to the lab, and follow this checklist.

Cult Classics: What Are They?
A lot of people just “know it when you see it” when it comes to cult films. Although that’s not a bad strategy, it does make this genre difficult to classify. In order to be considered a “cult classic” for the purposes of this list, films often need to meet a few criteria. Firstly, they must have a devoted fan base that adores them. Everything on this list has been redone: reviews, releases, discoveries, and most importantly, viewings.

In addition, the movies that made the cut must have been critically acclaimed and commercially successful upon initial release. Some may find this contentious because it gives preference to films that were not at first critically acclaimed but have since become cult classics, such as Friday, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, Valley of the Dolls, The Addams Family, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Controversially, this would leave out critically acclaimed films like Spinal Tap, which topped “best movies of the year lists” upon its release. Although this is a more difficult criteria to implement, in general, this list gives preference to films that received more critical praise after the fact. Unless it’s a Razzie, this list also aims to stay away from big winners. Films like What Happened to Baby Jane, which received numerous nominations, have been nominated for several Oscars, including “down ballet” categories like Best Visual Effects and smaller shows like the Saturn Awards. not included, neither are Citizen Kane. There is a small deviation or violation of nearly every rule on this list, but “you know it when you see it.”

Keep in mind that we didn’t compile this list of every cult classic. The cult films are the BEST. If you’re looking for a cult classic, chances are you’ll like seeing The Room at the theater, but it’s tough to say it’s a masterpiece. The same holds true for any work by Ed Wood or Manos: the Hands of Fate.

You don’t need any background knowledge of the films on this list or any interaction with their passionate fans to enjoy them. Note that only English-language films are included in this list. Not because there aren’t any fantastic cult films available in other languages. Longevity and clarity of meaning are more important here. As an example, a lot of films made in Japan or Hong Kong are considered cult classics in the United States. Apologies to Akira, El Topo, The Raid: Redemption, Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, House, Godzilla, and pretty much everything else Pedro Almodovar has ever created, but these films are regarded cult hits outside of their native countries despite their strong critical reception and box office receipts.

40. Mystery (1985)
    Clue, which is based on the eponymous board game, is ridiculously fantastic. Neither critics nor audiences were impressed with the picture. The surprisingly good performances by Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Eileen Brennan, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren, along with lines like “Flames, on the side of my face,” have primarily contributed to the film’s cult status, though.

When it first came out in theaters, audiences could choose between three alternate endings: “How It Could Have Happened,” “How About This?” or “Here’s What Really Happened.” The live-streamed version of the movie plays all three endings consecutively, but the Blu-ray and DVD editions offer the option to watch with a randomly selected ending. While not everyone will enjoy it, the film is entertaining and serves as a camp exercise. Viewers can enjoy it at no cost on PlutoTV right now.

39. The film Showgirls took place in 1995.
    This list is, I’ll face it, making an effort to highlight quality cult films. Was Showgirls enjoyable? You should watch Showgirls if you have even a passing fondness for camp, extravagance, or satire—that’s a tough question to answer. Either people really don’t get Showgirls or it’s a poor film. Paul Verhoeven helms the picture, which features Elizabeth Berkley, Gina Gershon, and Kyle MacLachlan.

Showgirls has the record with thirteen Golden Raspberry Award nominations. Because of the film’s notoriously low reputation, numerous people held sarcastic viewing parties. The LGBTQ community also saw the film’s success. Nevertheless, the film’s admirers have reconsidered it. “At its core, Showgirls is a brilliant lampoon of the American Dream,” Alexander Cavaluzzo wrote in a review of Adam Nayman’s It Doesn’t Suck. The video is currently available for free streaming on PlutoTV and Tubi. It is sardonic, yes, but it also holds up a mirror to the audience, revealing our own shortcomings in our ideas of ambition, success, art, and sexuality.

38. Jaws (2007)
    Teeth is a movie about a girl whose teeth are in the wrong position. The film’s success is surprising given that it is a horror comedy centered around sexual assault. Although some parts don’t hold up over time, and there are spots when Mitchell Lichtenstein’s male direction and writing come through, limiting the film from reaching its full feminist potential, there is still an indisputable quality to it.

John Hensley and Jess Weixler are the film’s stars. It Follows, Raw, and Ready or Not are a few of the 2010s feminist horror films with greater concepts than Teeth. You can watch Teeth on Tubi, Amazon Prime, and The Roku Channel without paying a dime.

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37. “Mistress of the Dark” Elvira (1988)
    To me, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is like Pee-wee’s Big Adventure with a spiritual sequel. Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) even made a brief appearance in Pee-wee’s. While Pee-wee’s performed well in the theaters and got mostly positive reviews, Elvira was met with a range of opinions, some positive and some unfavorable.

After inheriting a home, the titular Elvira goes to a tiny village in Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. During the early 1980s, Peterson’s character Elvira became a cult favorite for her role as host and interruptor of the Los Angeles local access show Elvira’s Movie Macabre, which screened B-movie horror and science fiction films. If you get it, Elvira gets it. Peterson was nominated for both the Razzie and the Saturn awards for Best Actress for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. To fully appreciate Mistress of the Dark, one must be well-versed in the history of B-movies, camp, and comedies. The film is available for free streaming on Tubi, PlutoTV, and The Roku Channel right now.

36. The Cobbler and the Thief (1993)
    The production value of The Thief and the Cobbler is largely responsible for its cult status. Production on the picture began in the 1960s, but it has never been completed. Director Richard Williams’ method and attention to detail were the primary causes of the production’s problems. But he had disagreements with the studio, so the picture went through multiple producers and even had a Saudi prince chip in for part of the budget.

With the tagline, “the untold story of the greatest animated film never made,” the 2012 documentary Persistence of Vision drew inspiration from the tumultuous production of The Thief and The Cobbler. The film, which starred Matthew Broadrick and featured Vincent Price in his final role, had problems, such as the exoticization and appropriation of Middle Eastern cultures. Regardless, the film’s production values and artistic merit have earned it a devoted fan base. You can rent The Thief and the Cobbler on many streaming services, including YouTube, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Google Play, which may list it under a different title, Arabian Night.

35. “Mall Rats” from 1995
    Including a Kevin Smith picture in a list of cult classics is, in reality, impossible. Even though many would think of Clerks (1994), it was a critical and commercial hit when it came out. Perhaps even more of a cult classic is his sequel, Mall Rats. Despite its dismal box office performance and mostly negative reviews, Mall Rats manages to capture the spirit of the ’90s in a unique way.

A bunch of teenagers spend a summer day at the mall in this film, which is a forerunner to Clerks. “They aren’t going shopping. Their purpose is not to labor. The film features Ben Affleck, Michael Rooker, Shannen Doherty, Jason Lee, Jeremy London, and Claire Forlani. Stan Lee makes a brief appearance in the film as well. The film has been trimmed more than once. Having said that, the longer edit isn’t often preferred by moviegoers over the theatrical cut. Many streaming services, including Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube, offer the movie for rent.

34. Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: An Adventure Novel (1994)
    As for the American “remake” of “Thank You, Wong Foo!” The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, an earlier Australian film, is superior; Julie Newmar is also beloved by fans. Considering the film’s success in Australia and its Oscar for Best Costume Design, it may not belong here, but there’s no denying that this picture has a cult following.

A trio of drag queens embark on a cross-country journey in this film. There are several parts of this film that don’t hold up. One character is stereotypically Asian, and another is a cis-male actor portraying a trans-femme. The picture, however, has maintained its cult reputation. Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp, and Hugo Weaving are the stars of the picture. The film was slated for a sequel in 2024, and it was later adapted into a Broadway musical in 2006. You can watch the original on Roku, PlutoTV, and Tubi for free.

33. Death Becomes Her (1992)
    In March 2024, Rolling Stone included Death Becomes Her on its list of “50 Bad Movies by Great Directors.” This led many to take to social media to defend the satirical film and criticize its inclusion. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Death Becomes Her stars Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis and Isabella Rossellini.

The film follows two women who drink an internal youth potion in hopes of winning a man’s affection. However, the potion does more than keep them youthful. The film was met with poor reviews but was praised for its groundbreaking use of CGI technology. It even received an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. The film became especially popular with the LBGTQ and drag communities, and inspired a Broadway in Chicago Musical adaptation, which premiered in 2024. Death Becomes Her is available to rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Apple TV and Google Play.

32. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)
    Lisa Kudrow And Mira Sorvino In ‘Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion’
    “I hope your babies look like monkeys!” Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion wasn’t a total box office flop and was generally liked upon its release. However, the film really gained a following once it hit VHS and cable. The film also has a specific visual approach and uniquely wacky script that helped cement its cult classic status.

Romy and Michele stars Mira Sorvino, Lisa Kudrow, Janeane Garofalo and Alan Cumming. The movie follows two late 20s besties who decide to go to their ten-year high school reunion in Tuscon. The film has become a feminist cult classic, and many feel it is much more than just a screwball comedy. It inspired a prequel TV movie, musical and a sequel was announced in 2024. The film’s influence on zany girl comedies is undeniable and it is often referenced in reviews for later cult or soon-to-be-cult comedies such as Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Romy and Michele is currently streaming on Hulu and Paramount+.

31. The Last Unicorn (1982)
    From Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, The Last Unicorn follows a unicorn forced to take human form to save her from a bull controlled by an evil king. While the film received mixed reviews, it has garnered a cult following. It is sometimes called a proto-anime and “secret studio Ghilbil film.” After the studio that animated the film, Top Craft, went bankrupt, former Top Craft employee Hayao Miyazaki began his own studio.

The Last Unicorn features voice performances by Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury and Christopher Lee. The film’s animation style was influenced by medieval art and has a very dark tone. Somewhat dissonantly, the film also features music from the band America. The film is currently available to stream on for free on Peacock, Tubi, Amazon and The Roku Channel.

30. Cat People (1942)
    Many low-budget horror films have become cult classics. While Cat People may not be the most famous of this genre, it may be the most worth watching. The film was made by RKO after they charged producer Val Lewton with developing B horror films for the studio. Cat People was directed by Jacques Tourneur and edited by Mark Robson. During editing, Robson pioneered a cut now known as the “Jump Scare.”

The film follows a Serbian newlywed who becomes obsessed with the idea that she comes from a line of women who turn into black panthers when aroused, and her new husband who starts to show interest in a girl from work. The film explores female sexuality and possession in surprisingly nuanced ways. In 1993, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation. The film is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

29. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
    Most films need time to become cult classics. They need the space to be revisited. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is one of the more recent films to be given that treatment. The film is a mockumentary of a Justin Bieber-esque pop-rapper named Conner4Real as he deals with his second album flopping.

The film stars the sketch group The Lonely Island, a.k.a. Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. Popstar was a box office bomb, grossing less than half of its budget. While many people didn’t see Popstar in 2016, Steven Hyden wrote for Uproxx, “Popstar Deserves To Become A ‘Spinal Tap’-Like Cult Classic.” Many have compared the two mockumentaries. Taccone even told Vanity Fair, “We could all just be like, Spinal Tap also didn’t do well in theaters.” Popstar should have been, like Spinal Tap, heralded by critics immediately, but instead it earned a cult status slowly. The film is currently streaming for free on Pluto TV.

28. House of Wax (1953)
    Many Vincent Price films could easily appear on this list, including House on Haunted Hill, Theater of Blood and The Pit and the Pendulum. However, there is something special about House of Wax. The film follows Price as a mysterious wax figure sculptor in the early 1900s who is pushed to deadly means after his wax museum is burnt down.

House of Wax did well at the box office upon release but was met with mixed reviews. The film was partially notable because of its use of 3-D. It was the first 3-D film with stereophonic sound with a wide release and the first 3-D studio feature film. The film was also the first credited role for Carolyn Jones, who would go on to play Morticia on the 1960s sitcom The Addams Family. In 2014, it was selected for preservation at the Library of Congress. The film is available to rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play and Apple TV.

27. Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
    Brian De Palma’s rock horror comedy musical Phantom of the Paradise is kaleidoscopic in its strangeness. The film takes inspiration from Phantom of the Opera, Faust and The Picture of Dorian Gray, but is radically unique.

While the film’s music was praised and even nominated for an Oscar, it received fairly negative reviews and was a box office failure. It has garnered a cult following and musical legacy. Daft Punk also cited the film as inspiration. The film is available to rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube Apple TV and Google Play.

26. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
    Most people don’t think of Sleeping Beauty as a cult classic. However, it was initially a box office bomb (partially due to its high budget of $6 million and decade-long production timeline). While the film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, it received mixed reviews from critics, with many calling out that it was too similar to previous Disney films.

The film’s re-releases and cultural imprint have more than made up for its initial release. It is one of the most beautifully animated films of all time, taking inspiration from pre-renaissance tapestry art. The film also introduced Maleficent, who received her own live-action film series with 2014’s Malificent and 2019’s Mailifenct: Mistress of Darkness. Sleeping Beauty is currently available to stream on Disney+.

25. Heathers (1988)
    The 1980s produced many great cult black comedies, including Better Off Dead, After Hours, and Little Shop of Horrors. However, Heathers may be the most deranged and prescient. The film stars Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty and follows a group of teenage mean girls as they get their come-up-ens.

The film had a slow start in theaters, making under $200,000 in its first weekend, but became more popular once on VHS. Many reviewers found the film too dark and cynical, but many young audiences connected to Heathers’ darker themes, which has left its mark on teen media. The film has spawned remakes, including a Broadway Musical. Heathers is available to stream for free on Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel.

24. Jennifer’s Body (2009)
    “Hell is a teenage girl.” Most people didn’t really get Jennifer’s Body upon its first release. Written by Diablo Cody, the film stars Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, J. K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris and Adam Brody. Jennifer’s Body follows two best friends after a satanic band turns one of them into a demon.

Many have blamed the film’s marketing for its original mixed reviews, as audiences didn’t understand that the film is more of a feminist manifesto than a hot Megan Fox-led cheerleader flick. Unfortunately, Cody’s most recent film, 2024’s Lisa Frankenstien, received a similar fate. While it, too, was met with mixed reviews, its feminist cult status is likely only a few years away. It is currently available to stream on Peacock.

23. Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
    Some films on this list no longer feel like cult classics. Enough critics have championed and re-reviewed them so that they feel like just classics. Many films on this now enjoy 90% positive reviews on sites like Rotten Tomatoes and have t-shirts available for purchase at Target. Drop Dead Gorgeous is not one of those movies. This cult film is still largely misunderstood by the general public.

Starring Kirstie Alley, Kirsten Dunst, Denise Richards, Brittany Murphy, Allison Janney and Ellen Barkin, this mockumentary follows a local beauty pageant plagued by murders. While the film was panned and did poorly at the box office, in 2011, Janney said that more fans approached her about Drop Dead Gorgeous than The West Wing. In a retrospective for Teen Vogue, Alex Zaragoza wrote, “At its core, Drop Dead Gorgeous gave us a wild, absurdly portrayed story that’s fundamentally about small-town struggles and overcoming the adversity of being born into a class that lacks opportunities to ultimately earn the life you’ve dreamed of for yourself.” Unfortunately, the film is currently not on streaming (but how cult is that?)

22. Carnival of Souls (1962)
    While many 1960s low-budget horror movies don’t hold up, Carnival of Souls is still unnerving and spooky. With only around a $30,000 budget, much of the film was shot guerilla-style. The film has been added to many best-of-horror lists and has become a favorite among horror fans.

The film follows a woman who survives a car crash and moves to a new town, where she becomes drawn to an abandoned carnival. The film stars Candace Hilligoss and director Herk Harvey appears in the film as well as her mysterious stalker. While the film was mostly ignored by critics upon its release, by the late 1980s, Halloween screenings and word of mouth led many to revisit it. Roger Ebert said of the film in 1989, “It depends on crisp black-and-white photography, atmosphere and surprisingly effective acting.” The film is currently streaming for free on Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel.

21. Mandy (2018)
    Mandy is a bit of an outlier on this list because it was universally praised at the time of its release. However, after premiering at Sundance, it received a very limited theatrical release, prompting many not to see it. While it is a recent release, it feels like a film destined for a cult status the longer it ages.

Starring Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough and Linus Roache, the film follows a veteran who hopes to save his girlfriend from becoming a cult sacrifice. It feels like a 1980s take on a 1960s revenge film and features hallucinogenic scenes, blood lust and vengeance in a way that feels nostalgic at times and always fresh. It is currently streaming for free on Tubi and The Roku Channel.

20. Harold and Maude (1971)
    Harold and Maude is an odd film that shouldn’t work, yet it does. The film is a black comedy about a young man obsessed with death and his relationship with a 79-year-old free spirit. The film stars Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort and Vivian Pickles.

Variety famously said the film had “all the fun and gaiety of a burning orphanage.” While the film was panned, Gordon and Cort were nominated for Golden Globe Awards for their work on it. The film was a box office flop that took years to recoup its modest budget. However, Harold and Maude also gained cult status. The film has found its way onto several “best of” lists and is now considered a classic comedy. It is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

19. Ganja & Hess (1973)
    Ganja & Hess has been critically overlooked. While it comes from the Blacula era of Blaxploitation films, it feels like a different kind of Black vampire film. The film follows an anthropologist who becomes a vampire after being stabbed by a dagger.

Ganja & Hess was the only U.S. film selected for the 1973 Cannes Film Festival’s Critics Week. While it received a good reception in France, it faired less well in America. Poor reviews led to the film being sold to Heritage Pictures, a grindhouse company in the U.S.. The company recut the film and released it as Blood Couple. Gunn removed his name from the version. Spike Lee remade the film in 2014 under the name Da Sweet Blood of Jesus. However, you can’t beat the original. The film is currently streaming for free on Tubi.

18. The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Directed by the Coen Brothers, The Big Lebowski stars Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi and John Turturro. The movie follows a dude who is mistaken for a wealthy man, thrusting him into a kidnapping scheme.

The film did just okay in theaters and was generally met with mixed reviews upon its release. However, it became a cult favorite. It has gone from midnight screenings to having its own festival, a religion—Dudeism—and two species of African spiders named after it. Even if it’s not for you—“That’s just, like, your opinion, man—” it’s a certified cult classic. The film is currently streaming on Hulu.

17. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
    Roger Ebert once called The Rocky Horror Picture Show less of a movie, and “more of a long-running social phenomenon.” The film was initially overlooked but rose to prominence as a midnight movie. Since the 1980s, screenings have been accompanied by audience participation and live components (so don’t forget your gold speedo and slices of toast.) While the movie is hard to divorce from the spectacle, the actual film is better than it sometimes receives credit for.

The movie is a camp musical that follows a young couple stuck at a mansion owned by a tranvestite mad scientist. The film is both a love letter to and a parody of 1960s B-movies. It stars Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is crass, disjoined and sexual, but that is the point. In 2005, the film was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Apple TV and Google Pla (and it still often plays in theaters.)

16. Female Trouble (1974)
    Arguably, almost any John Waters film could appear on this list. They are nearly all cult classics. While his 1972 notorious cult film Pink Flamingos maybe should take this spot, Female Trouble deserves love, too. The film stars much of the same cast from Pink Flamingos and features Divine, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce, Mink Stole and Edith Massey. The film is possibly Divine’s best performance.

Female Trouble follows Divine’s Dawn Davenport, a high school dropout with a pension for crime. The film is purposely filthy and disturbing, as many of Waters’ films are. Shot on a just $25,000 budget, Female Trouble is a true B-movie, but that is part of its magic. And, of course, while watching Female Trouble, “You’re looking at crime personified.” It is currently available to rent on Fandango Movies at Home.

15. Donnie Darko (2001)
    Donnie Darko premiered and was nominated for “Best Film” at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. However, the theatrical release in October of that year was complicated by the September 11 attacks. Most of the film’s advertising was canceled because it prominently featured a plane crash. The movie thus opened to a poor box office but gained an audience after reissues.

The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Duval, Drew Barrymore and Patrick Swayze. Donnie Darko follows a teenager who escapes death only to be plagued by visions of a nefarious man in a rabbit costume. While it opened to mixed reviews, Donnie Darko has become a critical darling. The director’s cut is streaming for free on Tubi, Peacock and The Roku Channel, while the theatrical cut is streaming for free on Pluto TV.

14. The Love Witch (2016)
    The Love Witch was met with almost universal acclaim after it premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. However, the film received such a small theatrical release (under 25 theaters) that many didn’t see it on the first run. The film is a tribute to 1960s horror films. It was shot on 35 mm film and printed from an original cut negative, giving it an almost Technicolor look.

The film follows a California-based witch who uses magic to make men fall in love with her to disastrous ends. It stars Samatha Robinson and was written, directed and edited by Anna Biller. The film takes a feminist look at love, female power and gender roles without being preachy or sacrificing style. The acting in the film is presentational, and The New Yorker called Robinson’s work on the film “one of the best performances of the century so far.” The film is streaming for free on Tubi, Pluto TV and Peacock.

13. The Wicker Man (1973)
    While the 2006 remake is a movie that is “so bad that it’s good,” the original 1973 The Wicker Man is just good. The Wicker Man follows a police officer who must travel to a remote Scottish Isle on the search for a missing girl. The film stars Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt and Christopher Lee.

The film has been recut several times. However, pre-2010s part of the film had been lost. Lee said of the movie in 2005, “I’m still asked a great deal about The Wicker Man because it’s become one of the great cult movies of all time. That’s the story of my career really, making cult movies. And I’ve always said it’s the best film I’ve ever made, even in its butchered form, which it is. Even the DVD is butchered. What happened to that film I still don’t know. The negative disappeared from that day to this.” StudioCanal launched a Facebook campaign in 2013 to find the missing original. Through the campaign, a 92-minute 35 mm print was found at the Harvard Film Archive, which was later released on DVD as The Wicker Man: The Final Cut. The film is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

12. Josie and The Pussy Cats (2001)
    Based on characters from Archie Comics, Josie and the Pussy Cats is a surprisingly funny and sharp Y2K satire. Starring Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid Rosario, Dawson, Alan Cumming and Parker Posey, the film is gloriously early 2000s. The film follows a band who’s music gets used for a nefarious mind-control plot.

While Josie and the Pussy Cats wasn’t well received and was a commercial failure, its soundtrack achieved Gold status. The film had its finger deeply on the pulse that it almost felt ahead of its time while still being precisely in the moment. Roger Ebert said of the movie in his half-star review, “Josie and the Pussycats are not dumber than the Spice Girls, but they’re as dumb as the Spice Girls, which is dumb enough,” seemingly shaming another cult classic (with a fabulous Cumming performance as a manager), Spice World. While Spice World is just dumb fun, with emphasis on fun, Josie and the Pussy Cats is an inditement on the commodification of girl power, which not everyone got the first time. And, yet, it is really funny. The film is available on Google Play, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

11. Evil Dead II (1987)
    While, to many fans, there is no definitive ranking of “which Evil Dead movie is the best,” most will tell you, “the second one.” The original movie trilogy, remake and TV show all have a cult following. Evil Dead II is both a remake and sequel to the 1981’s Evil Dead. The film contains some of the plot points from the first film but also deviates in both story and tone.

The film follows a couple’s vacation to a cabin in the woods, which is interrupted when they play a tape of ancient recitations that lead to a demonic possession. The film was directed by Sam Raimi and stars Bruce Campbell, Dan Hicks, Sarah Berry and Kassie Wesley. Evil Dead II is funny, gory and beautifully low-budget. The film is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

10. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)
    This B-exploitation movie is a cult film even amongst cult directors. In his memoir Shock Value, John Waters called Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! “Beyond a doubt, the best movie ever made. It is possibly better than any film that will be made in the future.”

The film follows a group of Go-Go dancers on a murder spree in the California desert. Quentin Tarantino thanked the film’s director, Russ Meyer, in the credits of his similar movie, Death Proof. While many haven’t seen the original, Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! has been widely referenced in pop culture. The film was shot in black and white due to its budget of only $45,000. It stars Tura Satana, Haji, Lori Williams and Susan Bernard. It is available to stream for free on The Roku Channel.

9. But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
   A true camp film, But I’m a Cheerleader follows a teen girl sent to a conversion therapy camp. While most straight reviewers gave it mixed to poor reviews, the film became an instant classic among gay audiences. The directorial feature debut from Jamie Babbit, the film stars Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Melanie Lynskey and RuPaul, in a rare performance out of drag.

The film had to be edited to dodge an NC-17 rating due to gay themes. While many reviewers have revisited the movie after it found a cult status in the LBGTQ community, Roger Ebert somewhat presciently wrote in 2000 that it was “the kind of movie that might eventually become a regular on the midnight cult circuit.” The film is still often referenced. Most recently, in 2021, Muna and Phoebe Bridgers paid homage to the film in their music video “Silk Chiffon.” The film is currently streaming on Paramount+.

8. Labyrinth (1986)
   Labyrinth was the last film directed by master puppeteer Jim Henson. The film was met with mixed reviews and did poorly at the box office. However, it has since become a cult classic. Henson’s son, Brian Henson, said of the film’s legacy, “In his last days, [Labyrinth] was, in his mind, his one unsuccessful big venture that he had done in his life. And now, it is the most valuable and high-performing piece that he ever did.”

The film stars Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie and was produced by George Lucas. Monty Python’s Terry Jones wrote the first draft of the film based on the illustrations of The Dark Crystal’s Brian Froud. The film follows a young girl who must traverse a fantastical maze in order to steal her baby brother back from Jareth, the Goblin King. The film is streaming for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, Peacock and The Roku Channel.

7. The Watermelon Woman (1996)
   The first feature film directed by a black Lesbian, The Watermelon Woman, is more than just a cult classic; it is a part of film history. Written, directed, starring and edited by Cheryl Dunye, the film follows a lesbian video store worker as she researches a forgotten black Hollywood actress of the 1930s.

The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and garnered generally positive reviews. However, a sex scene in the movie made many question the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for giving the film a production grant. The film became an essential film for the LGBTQ community and a beloved intersectional romcom. In 2021, it was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress. It is currently streaming on Max.