A
cult film, also commonly referred to as a
cult classic, is a
film that has acquired a
cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate
fanbase, an elaborate subculture that engage in repeated viewings, quoting dialogue, and
audience participation. Inclusive definitions allow for major studio productions, especially
box office bombs, while exclusive definitions focus more on obscure,
transgressive films shunned by the
mainstream. The difficulty in defining the term and subjectivity of what qualifies as a cult film mirror
classificatory disputes about art. The term
cult film itself was first used in the 1970s to describe the culture that surrounded
underground films and
midnight movies, though
cult was in common use in film analysis for decades prior to that.