While cult movies may not always be the most well-known or critically successful films, they are still some of the most memorable movies we will ever see. Cult classics such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Evil Dead, and Eraserhead have grown in popularity since their original release and left huge marks on popular culture, not only creating intense and growing fan bases, but also influencing cinema on a global scale, changing how future and current directors will create and shape their own stories.
This article will list 10 cult movies from the 2000s that defined the decade.
Hedwig And The Angry Inch (1998)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch follows Hedwig, a transwoman who survived a botched sex-change operation, moved to the US and started singing in a rock band named the Angry Inch. The film is a rocking drama with emotional and poignant themes that are even more relevant today.
The film received warm reviews from critics, with many praising the film for its strong cast and its ability to balance humor with delicate and important emotional themes.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Napoleon Dynamite is one of the most original and offbeat comedies in recent years. John Heder plays the titular Napoleon Dynamite as he tries to help his friend win the class president election in his high school.
The film debuted at the Sundance Film festival and received warm reviews from critics, with many praising its weird and off-beat brand of humor. The film certainly had an influence on cinema and popular culture, even today we see people walking around wearing ‘vote for Pedro’ T-shirts.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2001)
Directed by Shane Black and starring pre-Avengers Robert Downey Jr and Val Kilmer, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a funny, thrilling, and intriguing homage to both buddy cop movies and classic noir crime thrillers. The story revolves around the unlikely meeting of a private investigator, an unsuccessful actress, and a common thief pretending to be an actor, trying to solve a mystery.
The film was praised by critics for its blend of intriguing plot and smart, irreverent humor. The film also successfully subverted many of the cliches around the mystery and crime genre, making it a fantastic watch.
Donnie Darko (2001)
Along with The Matrix, Donnie Darko is often cited as being one of those ‘confusing’ movies. The film follows a young man named Donnie Darko as he communicates with Frank, a mysterious man in a rabbit costume, and tries to unravel the mystery behind Frank’s statement that the world will end in a month’s time.
The film became an instant cult classic due to its perplexing and intriguing plot, horror elements with Frank the Rabbit, and its strong performances from Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, and Patrick Swayze.
The Room (2003)
While The Room took a while to reach cult status, it certainly deserved it. The film has risen in recent years to become the pinnacle of ‘so bad it’s good’ cinema. Directed and starring Tommy Wiseau, The Room follows Johnny (Wiseau) a man with a great job, friends, and girlfriend. However, all is not as it appears and Johnny’s life slowly starts to fall apart.
The film is known for breaking almost every rule of filmmaking and creating a plot that is strange and unforgettable. If you enjoy awful cinema, this is truly a must-watch.
Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
Directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Dylan Moran, Shaun of the Dead is a British horror-comedy that centers around a zombie outbreak. The film follows the titular Shaun as he tries to survive a zombie outbreak and fix his complicated love life at the same time.
The film was the first in the Cornetto Trilogy, being followed by Hot Fuzz and The World’s End. Many consider this to be, not only one of Edgar Wright’s best films but also one of the best zombie movies of all time.
Mean Girls (2004)
While some may consider Mean Girls to just be another teen comedy, you’d be incredibly wrong. Written by SNL’s Tina Fey, Mean Girls focusses on Cady Heron as she starts life in a new school in the USA after moving from Africa. The film follows Cady as she navigates school life, politics, and how she becomes a part of a clique called the Plastics.
The film is an intelligent comedy that is endlessly quotable. Underneath its comedic shell, Mean Girls also has an important tale to tell.
Battle Royale (2000)
Battle Royale is an incredible piece of Japanese cinema that works as a kind of proto-Hunger Games. Set in a borderline dystopian future where the economy has collapsed and crime is rife, the Japanese government passes a law that requires the 9th-grade class to be sent to a remote island and forced to kill each other until there is only one left.
While the film was a controversial release due to its subject matter, Battle Royale received high praise from critics, with many highlighting its thoughtful subject matter, high octane thrills, and strong performances from its cast.
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Written and directed by Stephen Chow, Kung Fu Hustle is a hilarious, exhilarating, and visually stunning martial arts movie set in 1940s China. The film follows Sing (Stephen Chow) as he sets out to become the strongest member of the Axe Gang, but as the film goes on Sing discovers that he has a more heroic character arc.
Stephen Chow always does an incredible job of blending martial arts with comedy, as shown by his work on Shaolin Soccer, yet Kung Fu Hustle took this a step further with its incredible cinematography, epic plot, and strong cast performances.
American Psycho (2000)
Directed by Mary Haron, starring Christian Bale and based on the novel of the same name, American Psycho is a satirical take on the yuppie culture of the 1980s. Bale stars as Patrick Bateman, a successful and murderous Wallstreet yuppie. The film successfully blends horror and humor into a very enjoyable plot.
The film received warm reviews from critics, with many praising the creepy and insane performance by Christian Bale and the film’s biting satire of consumeristic and materialistic culture.
