Every movie lover has seen it happen: a film comes out to lukewarm reviews, empty theaters, or outright confusion, fades into obscurity… and then years later reemerges as a certified cult favorite. Sometimes audiences need time, sometimes tastes change, and sometimes a new generation stumbles on a forgotten gem. Here are ten films that went from overlooked misfires to beloved cult legends.
10. Black Bag (2025): A Critical Darling That Audiences Missed
You’d think a spy thriller from Steven Soderbergh, starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, would be a guaranteed hit. But Black Bag practically evaporated from theaters. Despite earning an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, it only brought in $39 million on a $60 million budget. Some films just need time to find their crowd.
9. Death of a Unicorn (2025): Too Odd for Its Own Good At First
With names like Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, and Richard E. Grant, this should’ve been a quirky success story. Instead, its strange blend of comedy and horror baffled critics, who found it only sporadically funny and not very scary. While it barely broke even, its weirdness practically guarantees it’ll attract a midnight-movie following.
8. Joker: Folie à Deux (2024): The Bold, Baffling Sequel
Todd Phillips swung big with this stylistic, musical-tinged sequel, and audiences weren’t sure what to make of it. Critics were harsh, leaving it with a 32% Rotten Tomatoes score and lackluster box office numbers. Still, its ambition and theatrical flair may one day be seen as ahead of their time.
7. Starship Troopers (1997): From Misunderstood Mayhem to Sharp Satire
Upon its release, critics had written Starship Troopers off as mindless carnage. It wasn’t until later that viewers began to connect the dots and realize Paul Verhoeven was crafting a razor-edged satire about fascism and propaganda. Now, it’s widely recognized as one of the smartest sci-fi satires ever made.
6. Attack the Block (2011): Alien Invasion Meets Urban Grit
Joe Cornish’s low-budget sci-fi adventure, featuring early roles from John Boyega and Jodie Whittaker, didn’t catch on in theaters despite its glowing reviews. However, its authentic cast, clever writing, and unique tone have since earned it a passionate fanbase among sci-fi lovers.
5. Office Space (1999): A Comedy That Found Its People at Home
Mike Judge’s deadpan workplace comedy didn’t exactly set the world on fire when it reached theaters. But once it landed on home video, the film took on a life of its own. From red staplers to TPS reports, it became the anthem of cubicle survivors everywhere-and a defining cult comedy of the ’90s.
4. Under the Skin (2013): Strange, Hypnotic, a Future Classic
Jonathan Glazer’s unsettling sci-fi film Spartan character study featuring Scarlett Johansson-tanked commercially, bringing in a paltry half of its budget. Over time, though, its unnerving atmosphere and haunted visuals earned it a devoted following and a spot on countless “best of the decade” lists.
3. The Princess Bride (1987): A Quiet Release, A Massive Legacy
Although it did respectably in theaters, The Princess Bride wasn’t a blockbuster. But its mix of sincerity, humor, and adventure slowly captured the hearts of viewers everywhere. Today, it’s hard to imagine a world where its quotes aren’t part of everyday conversation.
2. Mad Max (1979): A Scrappy Beginning to a Legendary Franchise
Made on a minimal budget and received with mixed early reviews, Mad Max got off to a rocky start-stateside, in particular, where the film was dubbed to lessen the thick Aussie accents. Regardless, it would go on to explode overseas, laying the groundwork for one of cinema’s most iconic action worlds.
1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975): From Low-Budget Oddity to Comedy Royalty
Funded by rock bands and shot on a shoestring, Holy Grail didn’t immediately earn universal praise, but its absurd humor and endlessly quotable moments steadily built a dedicated following. Today, it’s practically synonymous with the idea of a cult classic.
Flops fade fast-but some films just need time. As history shows, today’s box office disaster might be tomorrow’s fan favorite.