Cult movies! This is probably my favorite subject of film because it includes many genres and I tend to love comedy and horror cult flicks way more than anything else.
I agree with a previous poster about how it seems the internet has ruined the fun of discovering a movie via a busted VHS. This is how my fiance discovered Dolomite, and this is how I discovered Troll & Troll 2, UHF as well as my gateway drug to cheesy bad movie cult flicks - MST3K. I have a DVD of the Magic Sword because of MST3K. Not to mention, the way I discovered a lot of horror movies and other films was through the previews on a VHS. Great stuff.
I wonder if people will agree with me on something. I think it's possible that a movie can lose its cult status when it becomes super popular and mainstream. I believe that this has happened to Monty Python's the Holy Grail and the Evil Dead. When I was in high school (mid to late 90's), the Evil Dead and Army of Darkness were passed around a bunch, and I had friends who were big into Monty Python. Holy Grail has moved on to a ridiculously successful Broadway show (Spamalot), and Evil Dead is getting the remake treatment, not to mention that the Evil Dead series has lived on video game sequels (the only saving grace has been Bruce Campbell's voice - the gameplay was horrible on those games). I have a hard time referring to those movies as "cult" even though I labeled them "cult" in high school. Hell, I used to consider Battle Royale cult. Same with Clerks, too well-known and it has a sequel.
For me, a cult film still has to be kind of unknown to mainstream. There are films that were ignored at the box office but are loved by a lot of people (The Thing and Blade Runner immediately come to mind) so much so that I can't call them cult. I know I'm weird and picky. I can't pick up those BluRays and declare to friends, "Hey guys, check these movies out! Betcha haven't seen these!" But I've done it to some movies that I'll list that are my favorite cult films now.
House - available from Criterion. Quite possibly the most bizarre Japanese horror movie I've ever seen. I have a shirt with the cat face from this movie and I've only encountered one person who got the reference. +10 super nerd points.
The Happiness of the Katakuris - This has been referenced on CFN before, and this probably ties with House in the bizarre Japanese film category. I've pressured many friends to see this movie, with great results. I actually will show this as a double feature with friends or lend this and House together to other friends.
UHF - I quote this all the time.
BASEketball - Previously mentioned, and I agree completely. I saw this when it came out at the beginning of South Park fame, and I quote the hell out of this one too. I don't understand why this movie wasn't bigger than it was back in the 90's because of how popular Matt Stone and Trey Parker were at the time.
Cannibal! The Musical - Previously mentioned. I've introduced this film to many of my friends. I really love everything that Matt Stone and Trey Parker do.
Velvet Goldmine - I think this is cult. This is another one that I introduce to people, and it featured great actors before they became super famous. I have a great love for Eddie Izzard, and he was the reason I saw this movie when it came out.
Repo! The Genetic Opera - I know smart people probably take one look at the cast list and think, "Paris Hilton? No thanks!" I had never heard of this film until one of my friends begged me to go see this film with him the one night it played in Charlotte. I'm happy he told me about it. The soundtrack has always been on my iPod, and it helped that I have always loved Sarah Brightman's voice.
The Room, Manos: Hands of Fate, Troll 2, Pootie Tang, Fido, Waxwork and Waxwork 2, Night of the Comet, and a whole bunch more. I will say that probably one of the more popular cult movies that my friends love is Donnie Darko, and I just don't get it. That movie bored me.
