So many films are considered "cult classics," but it is rarely discussed what makes a film eligible for this accreditation. After extensive reading, three clear characteristics emerge when a cult film is debated.
The first of which is that a film that captivates an audience that is obscure or separate from the mainstream is referred to as having a "cult" following. The second suggests it is a film that is revolutionary in some way, defying the cultural conventions in the area in which it was conceived. And thirdly, some simply think it is a film that is enjoyed only ironically at first but then snowballs into the mainstream because of large scale appeal. But to explore these ideas further, we will examine them through the prism of the very famous cult classic: Napoleon Dynamite.
Released in 2004, Napoleon Dynamite is an American comedy written by Jared and Jerusha Hess, the former of which also directed the film. The film stars Jon Heder in the role of the title character, Napoleon Dynamite, a socially awkward high school student from Preston, Idaho who lives with his older brother Kip, their grandmother, and their pet llama, Tina. Kip, 32, is unemployed and boasts of spending hours in Internet chat rooms with "babes" and aspiring to be a cage fighter ; their grandmother leads a secret life involving mysterious boyfriends and quad-biking in the desert. Napoleon daydreams his way through school, doodling fantasy creatures, and reluctantly deals with the various bullies who torment him, particularly the obnoxious sports jock Don and the selfish torturer, Randy. Napoleon likes to make up stories about himself whilst assuming a sullen and aloof attitude. I won't spoil what happens just in case you haven't watched it.
However, the film was a great success, epitomised by lead actor Jon Heder renegotiating the original $1000 he got paid for making the film, to a reasonable chunk of the massive profits made when the film exploded in popularity. He instead got an estimate closer to $200,000 for his role as the buck toothed hero.
Released in 2004, Napoleon Dynamite is an American comedy written by Jared and Jerusha Hess, the former of which also directed the film. The film stars Jon Heder in the role of the title character, Napoleon Dynamite, a socially awkward high school student from Preston, Idaho who lives with his older brother Kip, their grandmother, and their pet llama, Tina. Kip, 32, is unemployed and boasts of spending hours in Internet chat rooms with "babes" and aspiring to be a cage fighter ; their grandmother leads a secret life involving mysterious boyfriends and quad-biking in the desert. Napoleon daydreams his way through school, doodling fantasy creatures, and reluctantly deals with the various bullies who torment him, particularly the obnoxious sports jock Don and the selfish torturer, Randy. Napoleon likes to make up stories about himself whilst assuming a sullen and aloof attitude. I won't spoil what happens just in case you haven't watched it.
However, the film was a great success, epitomised by lead actor Jon Heder renegotiating the original $1000 he got paid for making the film, to a reasonable chunk of the massive profits made when the film exploded in popularity. He instead got an estimate closer to $200,000 for his role as the buck toothed hero.
The first theory the film has to fulfil in order to be considered a cult classic is its appeal to a non-mainstream audience. Considering the protagonist is a skinny, ginger, social outcast it could be argued that the film's appeal would be to those of a similar social standing who can empathise with what Napoleon is going through. Yet this is not the case, as the film's allure was found to be almost ubiquitous. As even from a preliminary glance at the demographic for the film shows. In fact Napoleon Dynamite was adored by people from all walks of life and internationally acclaimed (the only similarities were that audiences were quite young). Producer Chris Wyatt even said in an interview that: "The film's appeal was a lot wider than we anticipated, even A list celebrities seemed to enjoy it."
So perhaps Napoleon Dynamite defied cultural boundaries and can, through that perspective, therefore be considered "cultish." Although, when you analyse the film, there are some themes that are quite irregular. For example, the theme of extreme opposite attraction, shown in the unconventional relationship between the incredibly shy, white and small Kip, finding love with tall voluptuous and black "LaFawnduh." There really is little ground breaking ideas being proposed. In many ways the film is a text book, social outcast does good by just being himself kind of movie. Indeed nothing that hadn't been covered before.
The final theory behind the obtaining of cult status does seem likely though. Napoleon Dynamite started with a small following of people who would recite quotes from the movie to each other in an ironic way, as the movie was so uncool that it was ironically popular. But slowly in the words of director Jared Hess: "It became cool because it was uncool and soon the quotes and plot were mainstream knowledge." In fact due to this phenomenon it became one of the most famous movies of a generation. The film grossed an impressive $46,140,956 world wide as well as winning four teen choice awards.
Of course this is not true of all cult films but in the case of Napoleon Dynamite, irony seemed to play a big part in its popularity. Having a cult following is an interesting concept and in this case it seems to mean something that has it, is just incredibly popular with a great deal of intense fans. Indeed Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fan-base, elaborate subculture and quoting dialogue, and audience participation. Maybe that is all a cult film is.
So perhaps Napoleon Dynamite defied cultural boundaries and can, through that perspective, therefore be considered "cultish." Although, when you analyse the film, there are some themes that are quite irregular. For example, the theme of extreme opposite attraction, shown in the unconventional relationship between the incredibly shy, white and small Kip, finding love with tall voluptuous and black "LaFawnduh." There really is little ground breaking ideas being proposed. In many ways the film is a text book, social outcast does good by just being himself kind of movie. Indeed nothing that hadn't been covered before.
The final theory behind the obtaining of cult status does seem likely though. Napoleon Dynamite started with a small following of people who would recite quotes from the movie to each other in an ironic way, as the movie was so uncool that it was ironically popular. But slowly in the words of director Jared Hess: "It became cool because it was uncool and soon the quotes and plot were mainstream knowledge." In fact due to this phenomenon it became one of the most famous movies of a generation. The film grossed an impressive $46,140,956 world wide as well as winning four teen choice awards.
Of course this is not true of all cult films but in the case of Napoleon Dynamite, irony seemed to play a big part in its popularity. Having a cult following is an interesting concept and in this case it seems to mean something that has it, is just incredibly popular with a great deal of intense fans. Indeed Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fan-base, elaborate subculture and quoting dialogue, and audience participation. Maybe that is all a cult film is.
If you are interested in more cult films check out the following titles also considered in popular culture to have cult followings:
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - 1998
Death Race 2000- 1975
The God's must be crazy-1980
Shaun of the Dead-2004
Night of the Living Dead-1968
Harold and Maude-1971
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - 1998
Death Race 2000- 1975
The God's must be crazy-1980
Shaun of the Dead-2004
Night of the Living Dead-1968
Harold and Maude-1971
By Tim Price
Sources:
Buzzfeed
Napoleon Dynamite
Cultographies
YouTube
Buzzfeed
Napoleon Dynamite
Cultographies
YouTube