20 Low-Budget Films That Became Cult Classics
20 low-budget cult films that are actually masterpieces.
Long before I dove headfirst into the world of professional writing and academia, I lived the life of a true cinephile. My early undergraduate studies revolved around film theory and history, with a fair touch of low-budget indie production on the side.
Eventually, I even ran the media department for a small non-profit, plying my skills professionally. My trajectory in the professional realm may have shifted somewhat since those days, but my love of films remains as bright as ever.
With plenty of time indoors during the 2020 shelter-in-place orders, I found myself exploring some of my favorite cult classic films and marveling at what these production teams did with budgets that — by Hollywood standards — were barely worth the shells, never mind the whole peanuts.
I wanted to dive a little deeper into what went into creating these films and how those low budgets may have contributed to making them some of the most classic and beloved items in any cinephile’s collection.
What is a cult film?
The criteria for a “cult film” are not clearly defined across all boards, but a few basic elements remain consistent. The term “cult film” became…
