Ermergerd, after you brought up this argument on discord, I was going through it every now and then in my head and I do believe I see your point! I suppose it all boils down to personal definition and the boxes you think a film has to check off.
I think it takes more than a dedicated communal following to define a film as a 'cult classic.' As you said, by that definition, Marvel's entire catalogue would count as cult films... and other works like the Harry Potter series would count then, too, eh?
What separates successful 'cult classics' such as
Pulp Fiction and
Fight Club from other majorly successful films (that are
just considered 'mainstream') is the content of these films. What folks consider cult films tend to gravitate towards the strange, surreal, and metaphysical, eh? Methinks that's why hipsters pride themselves in loving these films because they're so much more obscure and strange than more formulaic mainstream films. Like, these hugely successful 'cult' films might've been a gamble at the box office because they veered so far from safer movie formulas. And that's why they continue to be celebrated as cult films.
I also think you can spot a cult classic by gauging whether or not it's stood the test of time. Like, even after all these years after it's release, is a dedicated audience still ready watch it with their friends? Are new folks being introduced to these classics
because it's actively being celebrated and watched after all this time? This is why shite like
Rocky's Horror Picture Show counts as a cult classic methinks. It's pretty mainstream and everyone knows about it, but there are theatres everywhere that replay the film religiously with an audience that go through a whole little ritual whilst watching the film. Sometimes they might bring a friend and mayhaps the friend will walk away 'indoctrinated'
I feel like I'm rambling.
tl;dr: it was the
doinking hipsters.
Is that that Firefly movie??? Cuz I still haven't seen the series (don't hurt me pls.. pls)
Nah fam, go nuts!!!!!!!!!! It's nice to have variety and more doink to weed out.
Never heard of this doink. I'm excited!!