#39. The Breakfast Club
If you haven't heard of The Breakfast Club, is the most typical teen movie there is, probably because it set a standard for all the teen movies that came after it. Yet. it was enjoyed not only by teenagers, but also by adults.
The movie tells the story of a group of teenagers from different high school cliques who find themselves in detention together and learn that they have more in common than they originally thought.
#38. Pink Floyd: The Wall
Pink Floyd: The Wall is based on the Pink Floyd album of the same name and tells the story of a rock star who, after going through a series of traumatic events, goes insane and builds a wall to shelter himself from the pain.
The movie achieved cult status over the years, but general audiences didn't enjoy it that much. In fact, its creators weren't very happy with the final product either.
#37. 2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey is set in a very unrealistic 2001 but hey, the movie was made in 1968. Sadly, we don't have time travel technology, laser eyes, or the power of teleportation yet, but wouldn't that be awesome?
The movie deals with a series of complex themes such as humanity, existentialism, and whether artificial intelligence is a good idea or not. One of the best things about rewatching these old futuristic movies is how they thought the 2000s would be.
#36. The Terminator
At this point, who hasn't seen The Terminator? This legendary action movie tells the story of a cyborg assassin from the year 2029 who travels back in time to kill the mother of the man who destroys the machines and saves human kind so that he is never born.
This movie made Arnold Schwarzeneggerthe star that he is now and inspired several sequels, merchandise, and video games. This franchise is so powerful that they are still milking it today.
#35. Alien
Alien tells the story of a spaceship crew that, in the middle of a mission, discovers that an alien has nested in their ship. These alien eggs hatch and slowly but surely start killing the crew members.
Even though it was released in 1979, its special effects are still very relevant today and the movie can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone with a stomach. The sequels, unfortunately, aren't so great.
#34. The Wicker Man
The Wicker Man is a cult movie about cults, and it does not disappoint. It is a remake of the famous British movie of the same name, but the difference is that it cannot be taken seriously.
The film is intended to be a horror film but it is basically a comedy. The plot doesn't make any sense, the acting is deplorable, and the dialogue is just plain funny. It is one of those movies that you just have to see at least once and just enjoy it for what it is.
#33. 12 Monkeys
12 Monkeys has nothing to do with monkeys, but before you write it off in disappointment, we want to tell you it is still an amazing movie.
The film is about a deadly virus that is threatening to eliminate humans, who are forced to live underground. A group known as the 12 Monkeys are believed to have released the virus into the population, so Bruce Willis then has to travel back in time to try and stop the virus from spreading.
#32. Blade Runner
*Blade Runner was the first movie that Harrison Ford starred and while it wasn't so big when it was first released, it slowly became legendary. The movie tells the story of a man tasked with hunting down a group of synthetic humans that are going to destroy the Earth.
The film is said to have inspired countless sci-fi films, but the studio was never fully happy with it despite its success. In fact, it was edited over seven times, so there are many versions of it out there.
#31. Kill Bill Vol. 1
Kill Bill Vol. 1 starts out with a very common premise, which is a main character that is seeking revenge against those who wronged her. But the film has so many more layers than that.
Aside from the usual bloodbath and cool fight sequences, this movie is structured in very original way, the cinematography is incredible, and the soundtrack is addictive.
#30. Napoleon Dynamite
Nobody expected Napoleon Dynamite to be as big as it was. It started as a small project and its main star, Jon Heder, was actually paid only $1,000 for his work as the title character.
This hilarious indie movie went on to gross almost $50 million, which prompted Heder to re-negotiate with the studio for more money. Part of the movie's success, aside from the fact that is hilarious, has to do with the fact that Napoleon is so relatable.
#29. The Godfather
The Godfather is, without a doubt, one of the greatest films ever made. It has inspired multiple other films and is one of the most quoted films of all time.
What many people don't know is that it is based on a book of the same name, which the studio bought the rights to for a mere $80,000. The movie went on to become one of the highest-grossing films if all time, so the author of the book definitely was at the wrong end of the bargain.
#28. Mad Max
Not many people believed in Mad Max when it was released. It was made with a small budget of $400,000 and its reviews weren't the best. It slowly gained a cult following, and now it is regarded as one of the greatest action movies of all time.
Mel Gibson plays Max, a police officer that seeks revenge against a ruthless motorcycle gang in a dystopian future where society has collapsed and it is every man for himself.
#27. Monty Python And The Holy Grail
Monty Python And The Holy Grail is, quite literally, the Holy Grail of British films. Unlike the typical cult film, this Monty Python movie was a huge success upon its release and was the highest-grossing movie of that year in the UK.
The plot is very simple: King Arthur goes on an adventure to get knights to join his Round Table and along the way, God appears before them. The king is then tasked with finding the Holy Grail, and then insanity ensues.
#26. Harold And Maude
Harold and Maude* was released in 1971, and audiences at that time were definitely not ready for it. Luckily, people learned to love it as the years went by.
Harold is a troubled teenager that is obsessed with dark stuff like death and torture, and falls in love with Maude, a 79-year-old lady who also happens to love those things. The two get into a relationship and do a bunch of weird things together, all while Harold's family tries to stop them from being in a relationship.
#25. Memento
Memento is one of those films that keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time you're watching it. This psychological thriller tells the story of a man who was attacked by a mysterious killer who murdered his family.
He wakes up one day and doesn't remember a single thing that happened, so he has to track the killer through a series of photos and tattoos - or mementos, to find him and get justice once and for all.
#24. Brazil
When people hear the word "Brazil", they probably think of the country and not this movie, unless they are cult-movie fans. This iconic film is about a dystopian future that involves strange machines and a man who tries to find a woman he met in his dreams.
The recurring song you can hear in the background is called Brazil, and that's why the movie is named that way. The movie was seen as a weird piece of cinema upon its release, but it later became a cult film loved by many.
#23. Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory
Younger generations may remember the adaptation of the beloved Roald Dahl novel as a Tim Burton movie starring Johnny Depp, but there was a much better adaptation of the book made in the 1970s. Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory.
While the newer version is okay, this one is worth your while, especially considering that it was made in the 1970s with limited resources and very little knowledge of special effects, yet it still looks amazing.
#22. The Shawshank Redemption
It is hard to imagine a huge movie like The Shawshank Redemption being a box-office failure, but it actually was! It only became a beloved classic years after its release.
When it was nominated for a whopping 7 Academy Awards, suddenly everyone wanted to watch this amazing film based on a book by Stephen King, and if you haven't already, you definitely should!
#21. Scarface
Released in 1983,Scarface remains a classic crime drama film to this day. It narrates the story of Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee arriving in Miami in the '80s with nothing in his pockets who then becomes a powerful drug lord.
Due to its excessive violence and explicit drug usage, the film’s initial reception was negative, but nowadays, it is remembered as an amazing piece of cinema.
#20. Easy Rider
Easy Rider is one of the most iconic independent road movies ever made. The film was written and starred by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson.
The story revolves around Fonda and Hopper, two bikers who decide to travel through the American desert hoping to attend the Mardi Gras carnival. However, things end up getting more complicated than they thought.
#19. Clerks
This black-and-white comedy film was released in 1994, and it became very popular among teenagers. The reason people love this film is that they feel identified with the main characters' problems.
The is about two convenience clerks named Dante and Randal It sheds light on their problems with customers, their discussions about movies, and their lives playing hockey on the store roof.
#18. Reservoir Dogs
If you are a fan of Quentin Tarantino's films, you must have seen Reservoir Dogs (1992). This iconic movie inaugurated the director's singular style, with his bizarre scenes of violence, excellent dialogue, and unique soundtrack.
The film tells the story of a group of men who work as diamond thieves. One day, they plan to rob a jewelry store but everything goes wrong that night. Tarantino's debut film is considered one of Hollywood's classics.
#17. Labyrinth
Labyrinth is a musical fantasy film directed by Jim Henson. Although it didn't have so much success when it was released, it earned a large cult following. The story revolves around a rebellious 16-year-old girl who wishes for her baby brother to be taken away from her.
But to her surprise, her wish is granted by the Goblin King, and she must travel to a fantastical world and solve a labyrinth in order to save her baby brother.
#16. Donnie Darko
Directed byRichard Kelly, Donnie Darko (2001) is a science fiction thriller and psychological film which, to be honest, is quite hard to understand. Surprisingly, it was only filmed in 28 days!
The film tells the story of a troubled teenager who constantly has visions of a man in a rabbit suit that tells him to commit a series of crimes. The film plays with time, and it's not until the ending in which you finally understand who the rabbit is.
#15. Trainspotting
Directed by Danny Boyle Trainspotting (1996) is one of the most iconic cult films ever made. The film has become part of the pop and cult culture, and even today it is one of the most-watched British films.
The film sheds light on the Edinburgh drug scene, and it depicts the lives of a group of friends who live in poverty and are addicted to heroin. Renton, the main character, attempts to quit drugs, much in spite of his friends' influence.
#14. Pink Flamingos
Pink Flamingos was released in 1972 and it was directed, written, filmed, and narrated by John Waters. The story is about a Baltimore criminal and underground figure called Divine,who is proud to be the filthiest person alive.
However, a married couple tries to humiliate her and to steal her title of the "filthiest person ever", triggering a rivalry between both of them. Despite its success, it was prohibited in some parts of the world as it contains several controversial scenes.
#13. This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) is a rock film directed by Rob Reiner and it is considered one of the first mockumentaries ever made. The story revolves around the members of the fictional British heavy metal band Spinal Tap.
The film describes the life of this band and the obstacles they overcome during one of their tours. As you may imagine, both the characters and the problems that they face are quite bizarre, so you'll be in for a laugh!
#12. Mulholland Drive
What can we expect from a movie if the director is the one and only David Lynch? The story starts with an aspiring actress called Betty Elms arriving at Los Angeles and meeting an amnesiac woman who is recovering from a car accident.
The film is divided between Betty's dream world and her reality, and it's hard to tell the difference between both. Is it all a drug-induced fantasy? Is the ending actually the beginning? This film triggers hundreds of questions that are nearly impossible to answer!
#11. The Warriors
The Warriors shows the lives of different New York City street gangsters. However, problems arise when one of the most charismatic gangsters is shot dead, and the gang named The Warriors is blamed for it.
From then onwards, The Warriors must struggle to survive while the rest of the gangs try to hunt them down. As you may imagine, the film is violent and tragic, and it's regarded as one of the most iconic cult films in history.
#10. Dazed And Confused
Dazed And Confused (1993) was the pioneer of coming-of-age films. Directed by Richard Linklater, the story follows the last days of school of a group of high school and junior high students in Texas.
The movie's plot is very simple, and because of this, most people feel identified with the hardships that the characters go through. The title of the movie comes from Led Zeppelin's song with the same name.
#9. Heathers
Directed by Michael Lehmann, Heathers was released in 1988, starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. The film won the Best First Feature Award in the 1990 Independent Spirit Awards.
The story goes around a group of high school friends in Ohio, of which three are called Heather. The character portrayed by Ryder decides to team up with a sociopath in order to kill the three Heathers.
#8. A Clockwork Orange
Stanley Kubricks A Clockwork Orange was released in 1971 and was censored in many parts of the world because of the strong violent scenes but now is considered one of the best and most iconic dystopian films in history.
The film tells the story of a group of gangs in future Britain, where the leader Alex (Malcolm McDowell) embarks on many violent and bizarre adventures with his thuggish droogs.
#7. Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino is on our list once more as the king of cult movies. This time, we are talking about his masterpiece Pulp Fiction (1994) starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Bruce Willis, and Tim Roth.
Like most of Tarantino's films, Pulp Fiction is full of graphic scenes of violence and punchy dialogues. Some of the scenes are so famous that even those who haven't seen the film are familiar with them.
#6. Fight Club
Even though the first rule of Fight Club is not to talk about Fight Club, we have to mention it. Like many films on this list, Fight Club wasn't a success upon its release in 1999 but became very popular after its release on DVD.
The story revolves around two men, an insomniac office worker who is unhappy with his life and a soap salesman. Together, they form an underground fight club, but things get more complicated than they thought. Believe it or not, the film was an inspiration for real fight clubs!
#5. The Room
The Room was released in 2003 and was directed, written, and starred by Tommy Wiseau, one of the most eccentric people to ever live. Wiseau had no experience in filmmaking but had the money to make a movie, so he just went for it.
Despite the terrible reviews the film received, it is regarded as one of the best cult movies of all time because of its bizarre plot and inconsistent arguments. Some critics say that when something is so bad, it can actually turn into something really good. Well, this movie is definitely the case.
#4. Eraserhead
David Lynch has directed many cult classics, not just Mulholland Dr. Another of his famous cult films is Eraserhead (1977). This black-and-white body horror film was also produced, written, edited, and sound-mixed by Lynch himself.
The films tell the story of Henry Spencer, a man who tries to deal with his angry girlfriend and his newly born mutant child. It's a typical horror movie but with Lynch's personal touch!
#3. The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers is an American blues and soul band created in 1978 by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live.
Two years later, these actors decided to take things to another level, and they released a musical comedy film with the same name. The film was so successful that the band released an album in real life and even performed some concerts!
#2. The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski was released in 1998. The film was not very successful when it was first released, but as the years went by, it slowly became one of the people's favorite cult movies.
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, is mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, while the millionaire Lebowski's wife is kidnapped. With the help of his bowling buddies, The Dude sets off to rescue her, despite not even knowing who she is.
#1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Our list would be incomplete without The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The story starts when a young engaged couple has a problem with their car on a rainy night, and they have no choice but enter a castle and ask for help.
The castle happened to be the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter and the rest of the plot is just fabulous and bizarre at the same time. We won't spoil it, you must see it for yourself!