Hollywood is defined by its commercial hits, but years later, it is the cult classics that are remembered more fondly. From Fight Club to The Princess Bride, these movies gained huge followings which are active to date, and will likely remain for a long, long time. This pinnacle of success can be achieved by some modern movies too.
The past few years have seen some interesting releases that have become instant obsessions for large fanbases. From horror to comedy, and even documentary-style genres, these films may be only a couple of years old but have the potential to become a part of the subculture of odd but memorable movies.
10 Do Revenge (2022)
This subversive teen comedy took Netflix by storm, and Drea and Eleanor's dark conflict became iconic from the beginning. Despite its homage to noir teen movies that came before it, Do Revenge manages to stay utterly unique with the girls getting down and dirty for some cathartic revenge.
What makes it special is that it doesn't just deliver on the teenybopper fun, but does so with a feminist and LGBTQ+-friendly tone and message. This angry and chaotic movie will certainly go down in the cult hall of fame of the 21st century.
9 Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story (2019)
Martin Scorsese depicts Dylan's 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue with a unique style in this documentary. At first glance, it seems like a run-of-the-mill documentary about the legendary musician, but a healthy dose of untruths in it makes this an unpredictable and hilarious watch.
While the greatness of Dylan shines through, the head-scratching appearance of Sharon Stone as Dylan's fake girlfriend from when she was 19 is quite a treat. It would certainly make for a great and slightly bizarre cult film.
8 Cats (2019)
Tom Hooper's fever dream of a musical is nothing short of weird but in the best way possible. The movie was panned by critics and viewers alike for its disturbing human-cat hybrids, absurd storyline (which was adapted from T.S. Eliot's classic), and generally bizarre conceptualization.
It was touted as the next great musical, with a formidable cast comprising the likes of Judi Dench, Ian McKellan, Taylor Swift, James Corden, Jennifer Hudson, and Idris Elba. It was still delightfully campy and memorable, which makes it a modern cult classic.
7 The Suicide Squad (2021)
Gory and in-your-face, The Suicide Squad was a definite leg-up over its predecessor, but it certainly wasn't everyone's cup of tea. It took the action and comic book genre, and depicted all of its tropes in the extreme, making it an outlier of grungy, exciting characters with no humanity.
The stunts are next-level, the violence is untethered, and the gags are funny and horrifying at the same time. Harley Quinn and the gang deserved this shocking and devilish movie the first time around, and it has a dedicated fan base like no other.
6 Don't Worry Darling (2022)
People had high expectations for this Harry Styles and Florence Pugh-starrer, which it didn't live up to for most. While Don't Worry Darling failed to impress, it still left behind a seriously well-made retro suburbia that will be remembered for a long time.
It may not have become the perfect thriller that viewers hoped for, but it shone a keen eye on patriarchy and Alice's awakening in the sinister Victory project. Even with some awkward acting, this is a film that bombed but might become a cult classic.
5 Cinderella (2021)
Camila Cabello's rendition of Cinderella was one of the countless retellings of the story, but it may go down in history as being so bad, that it was good. This fairytale was a commentary on how social media (more specifically Tik Tok) influences cinema, as the song and dance in this musical certainly took inspiration from it.
With a Fab G as the Fairy God Person and James Corden dancing sensuously as a rat, this Cinderella was delicious, campy fun. It was high energy and hilarious, making it a great candidate for the subculture of cult cinema.
4 Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Halina Reijn’s Bodies Bodies Bodies was a carefully cultivated slasher flick, which delivered on the scares, kills, and laughs in equal measure. This horror parody was widely acclaimed, and the guilty pleasure feels of Bodies Bodies Bodies makes it cult-worthy.
Leaning towards a Gen Z sense of humor and aesthetics, it promises to become the movie that heralded the return of the whodunnit for a new generation. It even already has a loyal fanbase.
3 The Menu (2022)
While some viewers would want to see cult movies being remade, recent black comedies like The Menu are classics in the making. The film was a polarizing one, with a faction that adored the creepy courses it took viewers through, and some who thought it tried too hard.
Either way, The Menu delivered over-the-top and absurd horror, creating a tightly wound atmosphere of thrill and chaos. Its premise was truly authentic, which is why it has so much potential to be a memorable movie.
2 Bros (2022)
Even in today's day and age, a gay rom-com is hard to come by, and Bros is an effortlessly funny movie that will certainly be remembered as an iconic LGBTQ+ movie for a while. Despite being confident and full of laughs, it received a surprising amount of hate for no reason other than the fact that its central characters were queer.
It doesn't seek to make leads Bobby and Aaron likable, but real. There are no tropes that sadden or kill the queers, which makes it worthy of becoming a cult favorite. The "bury your gays" trope is still egregiously used in a lot of media.
1 The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)
Taking the age-old Groundhog Day premise and making it modern, The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things has enigmatic leads and the kind of sci-fi and romantic blend it offers will make it beloved many years down the line.
The switch from Mark to Margaret's story is pleasant, as it adds a gentle twist to why Mark goes through the same day over and over. This sweet movie promises to be a modern cult with its nostalgic element, too.