A cult film is like a snowball slowly gaining size as it rolls down a hill. These movies often have dismal box-office results in their initial release; combine weak box office with bad reviews from critics and it appears the films would quickly be forgotten. But as the film makes its way down the cinematic "food chain," from theaters to video bargain bins and late-night television showings, it gains attention from a small audience. They appreciate the film for its trashy quality, now-famous stars or the time of its release and its relationship to their lives. Through fan clubs, word of mouth or the Internet, these cinematic "failures" build a following that keeps their memory alive long after their initial release and mainstream rejection.
Two films in the 1930s stand out as early examples of cult films. Tod Browning, fresh from his mainstream success with "Dracula" (1931), gathered a wide array of physically deformed circus performers for the film, "Freaks" (1932). Due in part to its graphic depiction of the cast's deformities, "Freaks" was banned in many states for years after its release. "Reefer Madness" (1936) was intended to educate the masses on the evils of marijuana use. Instead, its bizarre depiction of marijuana users enjoying their "demon weed" attracted growing attention through the years from cult film fans.
Both "Freaks" and "Reefer Madness" crossed the boundaries of what mainstream audiences considered acceptable viewing. By graphically portraying taboo subjects or acts, these films gained cult status based on their unique visual presentations. In the 1960s, films such as "Blood Feast" (1963) and "Night of the Living Dead" (1968) built cult followings at drive-in theaters through their on-screen depictions of gore and cannibalism. Sexual taboos were also exploited in such cult classics as "Peeping Tom" (1960) and "Barbarella" (1968). In the 1970s, "A Clockwork Orange" (1971) and "Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975) were attracting enthusiastic cult fans to midnight showings with their controversial presentations of violence and sexuality.
Some cult films have built an audience based on their artistic flaws. Fans of these movies display an underdog admiration for the apparent incompetence of the filmmakers. "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" (1964) is widely viewed as one of the worst holiday films made, yet it has a devoted cult following. In recent years, artistic failures such as "Showgirls" (1995) have earned a loyal audience in the home entertainment market, despite being panned by critics and avoided by mainstream audiences in their initial release.