Cult classics provide a diverse assortment of great movies, and some are so good that you’ll wish you watched them sooner. Typically, a cult classic is a movie that failed when it was first released, only to become popular and well-regarded years later. Though some genres produce more, cult classics come in all shapes and sizes.

Most cult classics were financial bombs that got good reviews, but some were also reviled by critics. Thanks to the rise of home video formats, tons of movies that would have been forgotten got a second chance at life. Finding the right audience is always tricky, and it can sometimes take decades for a cult classic to earn its moniker.

Some cult classics have become too popular to be considered cult anymore, but there are still a myriad of obscure gems left to be discovered. With cinephiles obsessed with digging up lost flicks, more and more movies are being labeled as cult classics. While the title might be thrown around loosely nowadays, some movies have earned it.

Repo Man (1984)

Director Alex Cox was one of the most exciting new cinematic voices in the 1980s, and Repo Man is arguably his most definitive film. The film features a punk rocker-turned repo man on the hunt for a mysterious car with something weird in its trunk. Hilarious and strange, Repo Man has a slightly dystopian tone as well.

Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez play off one another brilliantly and the movie is absurdly devoid of any clear morals. Like all great cult movies, Repo Man has an outsider style that makes it anathema to the mainstream. Though it wasn’t clear at the time, the Alex Cox gem has come to summarize the counterculture of the ’80s.

Phantom Of The Paradise (1974)

Adaptations of The Phantom of the Opera are common, but none are quite like Phantom of the Paradise. Brian De Palma’s weirdo musical features stunning songs from Paul Williams, and incorporates disco and glam rock into the classic Phantom mythos. Every detail is outlandish and wild, and the story bounds from one beat to the next with reckless abandon.

Unsurprisingly, the movie was something of a commercial and critical failure, and contemporary reviewers clearly didn’t get De Palma’s madcap vision. It’s still a polarizing movie, but can now be appreciated for its wealth of clever ideas and commitment to its strange themes. In a sea of bland and uninspired musicals, Phantom of the Paradise is without peer.

In The Mouth Of Madness (1994)

Many of John Carpenter’s films were financial disappointments, but almost all of them have gone on to become cult classics. In the Mouth of Madness is one of the director’s later movies, and involves a horror writer who unleashes eldritch horrors. Carpenter interpreted the works of H.P. Lovecraft, without having to borrow directly from the author.

A highlight of Carpenter’s so-called “Apocalypse Trilogy”, In the Mouth of Madness has a hopeless tone that makes the dream-like horror even creepier. Though it suffers a bit from mid-1990s cheese, the story is so gripping that its shortcomings fall away. It bombed in the ’90s, but is finally starting to get the praise it deserves over 30 years later.

Carnival Of Souls (1962)

Herk Harvey’s Carnival of Souls has been in the public domain for decades, making it one of the most accessible cult classics ever. The moody indie horror film is all atmosphere, and concerns a young woman who is haunted by visions of the dead. Its stark black-and-white photography is endlessly captivating, and the methodical pace adds to the dread.

Carnival of Souls influenced a myriad of filmmakers, and it broke new ground as one of the first psychological horror films ever. While its academic importance is quite high, it is still a captivating movie that never fails to entertain. Carnival of Souls is a film everyone should see, regardless if they like horror or not.

Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

The 1990s produced a ton of cult classic comedies, and Drop Dead Gorgeous is one of the best of the bunch. The movie is a satirical mockumentary about a small town’s beauty pageant, and chronicles the lives of the various characters leading up to the event. The movie’s cynical sense of humor elevates it above more sincere comedies.

Drop Dead Gorgeous‘ greatest strength is its ability to surprise, and it brilliantly sets the stage before dropping shocking twists. It’s hilarious without trying, and the overtly dark jokes end up being doubly funny just because of how pitch-black they can be. It was a bomb back in the day, but is now beloved by all who see it.

Duel (1971)

The words Steven Spielberg and cult classic don’t usually go together, but Duel deserves that moniker. Spielberg’s first professional feature film, the TV movie is a tense battle between a mild-mannered salesman and a murderous trucker. Below its exciting action and deft acting, Duel is an examination of masculinity, and the senselessness of violence.

The movie helped launch Spielberg into superstardom, but is generally forgotten in his amazing filmography. Duel transcends its TV movie status and should be considered bona fide cinema. It remains a must-see, not just as a curiosity piece, but as one of the most streamlined movies that Spielberg has ever made.

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Christopher Guest and his ensemble of actors have produced legendary mockumentaries, but none have topped This Is Spinal Tap. Directed by Rob Reiner, the movie follows the fictional band around and spoofs the excesses of rock music. With endlessly quotable lines and pop culture appeal, This Is Spinal Tap has almost transcended its cult status.

However, its subversive humor will always keep it on the cultish side, and it’s especially rewarding for die-hard rock fans who understand what exactly is being spoofed. Though it has overt moments that live forever, This Is Spinal Tap remains funny on subsequent viewings as hilarious new details jump out at the audience.

Basket Case (1982)

A movie like Basket Case was never going to gel with mainstream culture, and it instantly became a cult classic. Frank Henenlotter’s twisted story concerns a loner and his monstrous twin brother who hides in a wicker basket. The movie captures the gritty streets of New York City, and its horror elements are effective for a movie so cheap.

Perhaps the most surprising part of Basket Case is its emotion, and the story of Duane and Belial is weirdly touching. The independent spirit of filmmaking touches every aspect of the production, and it’s the sort of down-and-dirty movie that never gets made anymore. With its ability to churn stomachs, Basket Case puts the cult in cult classic.

Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)

Most cult classics come from genres like comedy, horror, or sci-fi, but Two-Lane Blacktop is a pure drama through and through. Starring musician James Taylor, the indie classic follows drifters who live by winning street races. It incorporates road movie tropes, but also follows the structure of some westerns. Hoping to ape Easy Rider, Two-Lane Blacktop was something else.

Not a commercial success, it has only grown in reputation and is now considered one of the great films of the New Hollywood era. It represents the disaffected mood of the late Vietnam War period, and has an apathetic attitude that would be reflected in later generations. Essentially, it’s a cult classic that speaks to everyone.

Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Starring pretty much every famous funny person from the 2000s, Wet Hot American Summer was like a preview of what the decade would hold. The irreverent spoof is set at a 1980s summer camp, and takes its parody to absurd levels. What the movie appears to be is only part of the fun, but it doesn’t just stop there.

From downright parody to surrealism and everything in between, the movie left audiences completely perplexed in 2001. However, the success of its cast caused many to revisit the film, and it grew a fanbase who appreciated its approach to humor. Another movie on the verge of no longer being cult, Wet Hot American Summer remains a cult classic for now.