Busting the Cult Classic Myth

Editorial

A digitally remastered edition of the 1984 film, Ghostbusters, is soon to be unleashed on cinemas around the world. Which is not a bad thing, but Cinema Nova in Melbourne is calling it a ‘cult classic’. Um, excuse me, but how exactly is it a cult classic?

There’s no doubt that the film is a modern classic. It was a box office hit back in the day, and it spawned a sequel, an animated TV series, plenty of merchandise, and two immediately recognisable pop culture items: the ‘No Ghosts’ symbol, and Ray Parker Jr’s theme song. As annoying as it was, just about everyone knows the lyrics, “Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters. I ain’t afraid of no ghost.” Here’s the frankly embarrassing music video to remind you:

But that doesn’t make it a cult classic. In fact, according to many, including Wikipedia, “cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences. Many cult movies have gone on to transcend their original cult status and have become recognized as classics; others are of the "so bad it's good" variety and are destined to remain in obscurity.”

Entertainment Weekly, back in 2003, compiled a Top 50 Cult Movies list, and guess what? Ghostbusters wasn’t in there. I remember being a teenager when it was released, and enjoying true cult classics like Plan 9 from Outer Space, The Blues Brothers (well, that was a cult film, not yet classic) and Barbarella. Ghostbusters, being the mainstream success that it was, for me, was the antithesis of cult movies. Even then, I was developing an aversion to Hollywood blockbusters.

And while the wonderfully bad Showgirls , and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (of course) make it on to EW’s list, a film that doesn’t, but is considered by many to be a cult classic, is 1987’s The Princess Bride. Full of quotable quotes (“Inconceivable!”) and great tongue-in-cheek performances, this film didn’t do so well at the box office, but gradually gained a cult following, and launched the careers of Robin Wright and Cary Elwes. EW recognised the affection this film has attracted with a specially commissioned photo reuniting the surviving cast members – Andre the Giant and Peter Falk appear in photo frames, but no sign of Fred Savage…

Anyway, back to the point. The films of John Waters are cult classics, Mommie Dearest is a cult classic, Heathers, even Evil Dead are cult classics. Ghostbusters is not. A slice of retro 80’s at its best perhaps, but please, let’s not rob cult classic of its true meaning. Next thing you’ll know, they’ll be calling Titanic a cult classic, and we don’t want that.

Tim Hunter, Citysearch