10 Reasons 'The Shawshank Redemption' Is the Ultimate Cult Classic

A cult classic can be defined in several different ways, but it's basically a movie that only gained a following after a disappointing release in theaters. Moreover, its fan base is particularly devoted — almost as if to make up for its lukewarm (or nonexistent) initial reception. Some of the major ones include A Clockwork Orange, Fight Club, The Room, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. From that list alone, one can see how cult movies can vary extremely widely in quality, tone, subject matter, and impact on our culture. Cult movies have different ways of eventually gathering their respective fan bases. For Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Room, it was late-night showings in movie theaters. Meanwhile, A Clockwork Orange stirred controversy by inspiring violent attacks in Great Britain, which led Kubrick to pull the film from theaters. So, yes, the occasional cult classic can also be regarded among the greatest films ever made.