15 Movies So Horribly Good They Gained Massive Cult Followings

1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975，IMDB Rating: 7.4, IMDB Votes: 168484, ID: 0073629
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‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ is a unique blend of horror, comedy and musical theatre. The film’s story revolves around a young couple, Brad and Janet, who are forced to seek refuge after a car breaks down and end up in a distant, seemingly ridiculous castle. Here they meet a bizarre Frankenstein, Dr Frankenstein (Dr. Frank-N-Furter), a transgender alien who is throwing a bizarre party. The film’s quest for sexual liberation and non-conformity resonated with fans.
2. The Wolfman 2010，IMDB Rating: 5.8, IMDB Votes: 112218, ID: 0780653
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‘The Wolfman’ is a gothic horror film that attempts to revive the classic monster movie genre. It follows Lawrence Talbot, who returns to his hometown to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his father. While there, he is attacked by a werewolf, turns into a werewolf, and begins to undergo an uncontrollable transformation process. The film’s dark, brooding atmosphere makes it unique among modern horror films.
3. Annihilation 2018，IMDB Rating: 6.8, IMDB Votes: 366289, ID: 2798920
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Alex Garland’s ‘Annihilation’ is a thought-provoking sci-fi thriller that explores themes of self-destruction and transformation. It follows a group of scientists as they investigate The Shimmer, a mysterious area shrouded by an unexplained force that mutates anyone or anything that enters it.
4. Razorback 1984，IMDB Rating: 6.0, IMDB Votes: 8008, ID: 0087981
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‘Razorback’ is an Australian horror film about a giant killer boar rampaging through the desolate outback. Its stunning cinematography and intense atmosphere make it a standout in the creature feature genre. Successfully combining its monster story with the natural desolation of the landscape, it becomes a film that is both fear provoking and entertaining.
5. The Hunger 1983，IMDB Rating: 6.6, IMDB Votes: 29352, ID: 0085701
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The Hunger is a visually stunning vampire film that is more style than substance. With a gothic aesthetic, the film revolves around an immortal vampire, Mariana, who, along with her mate named John, live a life filled with the search for immortality and desire. This is a film that focuses more on visual art and emotional expression for those who love art-house cinema and the gothic genre.
6. Idiocracy 2006，IMDB Rating: 6.5, IMDB Votes: 186952, ID: 0387808
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Idiocracy is set in a future world where society is in decline due to excessive consumerism and ignorance. The film follows Joe, an ordinary soldier who accidentally enters the future as a result of a military experiment and discovers a society completely dominated by stupid, lazy people. Although initially received with a lukewarm reception, its strong social criticism and absurdist style of humour gradually won over fans.
7. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension 1984，IMDB Rating: 6.2, IMDB Votes: 29877, ID: 0086856
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The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension is about the protagonist, Buckaroo Banzai, who doubles as a scientist, a surgeon, a rock musician, and a superhero, and discovers a conspiracy that spans multiple dimensions during an adventure through the eighth dimension. Its creative and unconventional plot structure. By blending elements from multiple genres, the story is both humorous and deeply fantastical.
8. Heathers (1989) 2023，IMDB Rating: 0.0, IMDB Votes: 0, ID: 29031786
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Heathers is a darkly comedic take on high school cliques and teenage angst that has resonated with audiences for its biting satire and memorable performances. Winona Ryder and Christian Slater deliver iconic roles that elevate the film beyond its controversial subject matter. The film’s sharp dialogue and subversive themes have cemented its status as a cult classic, proving that even the darkest comedies can find a devoted following.
9. Dazed and Confused 1993，IMDB Rating: 7.6, IMDB Votes: 202133, ID: 0106677
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Richard Linklater’s ‘Dazed and Confused’ is a series of short vignettes depicting slices of a typical American high school student’s life, capturing the interactions, friendships, relationships, and independent thinking of teenagers of the era. The film’s laid-back atmosphere and memorable soundtrack have made it a much-loved classic that celebrates the aimless, free-spirited nature of youthful life.
10. Donnie Darko 2001，IMDB Rating: 8.0, IMDB Votes: 857483, ID: 0246578
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Donnie Darko about Donnie Dark, a teenager struggling between dreams, insanity, and a rift in time. The film’s plot is full of uncertainty, revolving around propositions of time travel, parallel universes and destiny, with Donnie’s interactions with Frank, a bizarre rabbit, becoming key to the film’s narrative. The film’s puzzle-like plot keeps the viewer intrigued by the multiple interpretations of the film, discovering new clues and metaphors with each viewing.
11. Plan 9 from Outer Space 1957，IMDB Rating: 3.9, IMDB Votes: 40741, ID: 0052077
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Ed Wood’s ‘Plan 9 from Outer Space’ is a film that attempts to tell a serious sci-fi horror story, but its many production flaws add to its unique charm. A group of aliens plan to conquer the Earth with the reanimated dead, but the reanimated corpses exhibit very unrealistic movements and behaviours that make the whole story seem absurd. Although the film’s plot and performances seem extremely crude, its sincerity and dedication make it an unexpected favourite among viewers.
12. Birdemic: Shock and Terror 2010，IMDB Rating: 1.7, IMDB Votes: 25640, ID: 1316037
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Birdemic: Shock and Terror is a classic ‘bad’ film that has become a spoof for fans thanks to its utter failure of production. The film tells the story of a group of mutant birds that attack a small town. The film has an established ‘bad’ fan base. If you like to see films that are ‘special’ because of their failures, this is a perfect choice.
13. The Disaster Artist 2017，IMDB Rating: 7.3, IMDB Votes: 165443, ID: 3521126
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The Disaster Artist follows Wiseau’s eccentric behaviour on set, his unique understanding of filmmaking, and his tense relationship with the cast and crew. The Disaster Artist has become a classic that is considered a ‘bad’ film, but its nonsensical plot and Wiseau’s passionate attitude have made the film a favourite with many fans. It is a humorous look back at the making of The Room, and a tribute to the filmmakers who risked everything in the pursuit of their creativity.
14. Miami Connection 1987，IMDB Rating: 5.6, IMDB Votes: 6700, ID: 0092549
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Miami Connection is a glorious mess of a movie that has earned its place in the pantheon of cult classics. The story of a rock band that takes on a gang of drug-dealing ninjas is as ridiculous as it sounds, but it’s the film’s earnestness that makes it so endearing. The acting is terrible, the dialogue is laughable, and the fight scenes are hilariously over-the-top. Yet, there’s a sincerity to Miami Connection that makes it impossible not to love.
15. El Topo 1970，IMDB Rating: 7.2, IMDB Votes: 31665, ID: 0067866
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A surreal journey through the desert, El Topo follows a mysterious gunslinger on a strange journey through the inhospitable desert. Blending Western cinema and philosophical exploration, the film features violent and disturbing scenes, but its originality and depth have nonetheless garnered a large following.