Guest Author - Kirsten Olsen-Keyser

What is the difference between cult and classic films? Some may think there is a fine line between cult and classic. There is, however a significant difference between the two within the entertainment industry and the general public’s view.

A cult film is one that was scorned at the box office but has gone on to reach a following, not unlike a cult, beyond the movie theater. There are different levels of cult film status. For example, “Plane 9 From Outer Space” by director Ed Wood is considered a cult classic because of its shear incompetence. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” , released in 1975, gained a cult following when it was shown at small theaters across the country during midnight screenings, going on to become the longest running film in US history. Another genre of film that fits the cult moniker is propaganda films of the 30’s. One such film, “Reefer Madness”, is a laughable and inaccurate description of marijuana use. Sometimes, a cult film will reach the status of classic over the coarse of many years. Such films include “Bladerunner” or “Dune” that were later praised for their vision or special effects mastery but received a cold reception at the box office.

A classic film, however, is a notable or exceptional piece of cinema that is universally accepted as such from its initial release. It stands the test of time and has been engrained into the American culture due to its acting, cinematography, script or message. A great many of these movies were produced during the Golden Age of Hollywood roughly the late 1920’s to the late 1960’s. Such films include “Frankenstein”, “King Kong”, “Psycho” and “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Most of these films were also backed by large studios and had a hefty budget to work with. Today, however, we know all too well that big budgets and studios make no difference when it comes to producing a great film. This is why we should hold classic films dear to our hearts – they don’t happen very often!

On this site, all movies falling into either the cult status or the classic (up to 1979), will be reviewed here. An attempt will be made to include a brief synopsis of the film and its significance within pop culture.