After years of procrastination, I finally got around to seeing The Big Lebowski — a movie that I heard both friends and enemies rave about for as long as I can remember. Preceded by its reputation, it came as a bit of a shock when I did not feel revived or born anew as expected. I felt let down, as though I missed out on what many thought was one of the greatest movies of all time.
I just did not understand what all the fuss was about. I called up my friend to tell her of my disappointment. Before saying anything else, she said, “The movie is a lot better while drinking White Russians and lying around in a robe.”
Then it all made sense.
Like a few special others, The Big Lebowski is a cult film. With extremely loyal fans, a slightly obscure plot line and a special spot in American pop culture, it pretty much defines cult status. Cult films are rare. They must be different, original and inventive. In addition, they must represent a certain way of life and, consequently, develop an extremely dedicated fanbase. But they can’t be too popular for fear of being absorbed into the abyss of American pop culture.
Let’s take a look at Star Wars. Similar to a cult film, these films are definitive science fiction movies, have a plethora of loyal fans and resemble a creative and novel way of life. But Star Wars is most definitely not a cult film. Instead, the movies have become immersed in everyday pop culture, overexposed and entirely too mainstream. They even have their own satire, something that no cult film should have.
Most cult films do not have to worry about the Star Wars effect happening. They tend to be more poorly received by the general public. In contrast, cult films have the unique characteristic of pleasing a smaller group of fans. This explains why 2001: A Space Odyssey, one of the largest cult films of all time, has not attracted the same hype as Star Wars has. While both movies share the marvels of space, aliens and action, the slow pace of 2001: A Space Odyssey draws a less conventional group of positive critics.
Some cult films develop their status by attracting a specific demographic of fans. For example, The Rocky Horror Picture Show did just this with the sexually flamboyant crowd. Other films, such as Pulp Fiction and Office Space, tend to attract more diverse fans and are praised for their one of a kind storylines and senses of humor.
Of course, there are certain movies that attract followers for reasons no one can really explain. After all, though, that is part of their appeal. Movies such as The Goonies and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy are two classic examples.
Other timeless cult films include Reservoir Dogs, This Is Spinal Tap, Wayne’s World, A Clockwork Orange and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. These films, like The Big Lebowski, compose a special breed of American movies. Many of them will never win an Oscar, but within their cult, they will retain and build respect that conventional films continually fail to parallel. They have developed their own micro-cultures and have enhanced the American media while bonding together their fans in the process.
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