20 Best Cult Movies That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Best Cult Movies

Some of their favorite movies from the 1990s were rewatched by the Vogue crew without any encouragement. There is nothing like a campy, independent, or otherwise eccentric classic to take you back in time. Listed here are 20 of the most popular ’90s cult films.

1. Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

Drop Dead Gorgeous is one of those movies that I could watch over and over again even though I have no affection for the savagery of adolescent girls. During a small-town beauty pageant, people will go to any lengths to win. From Allison Janney to Kirsten Dunst to Brittany Murphy to Denise Richards to Allison Janney, this is a film that will have you both laughing and gasping at the same time. • Fashion News Editor —Sarah Spellings

2. Cruel Intentions (1999)

These two nasty stepbrothers (Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe) bet that Sebastian will deflower their prep-school headmaster’s daughter (Reese Witherspoon) before the start of the new school year in this wonderful film about two terrible stepbrothers. Betrayed love, heartbreak and vengeance are all part of the mix, as is the presence of evil. Kathryn and her ’90s-inspired, pared-back style? To the point of death. — This is the style blog of Christian Allaire.

3. Jawbreaker (1999)

Jawbreaker, in my opinion, is the original Mean Girls. Those who haven’t seen this campy, dark-humor classic are losing out. This is a story about a group of popular high school girls who inadvertently kill their best friend and then try to cover it up. Some amazing ’90s attire is worn along the way. Just for the walk-in-the-hallway moment, it’s worth watching. —C.A.

4. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

At the very least, I’ve seen 10 Things I Hate About You at least a dozen times—maybe even more than that. Despite the fact that it debuted in 1999, I didn’t watch it till I was in junior high. As shy and quiet preteens in an Indianapolis Catholic school, my twin sister and I fell head over heels in love with Kat’s no-holds-barred attitude and, of course, with Heath Ledger. Even when he died several years later, we wore black to school in his memory. “Senior Fashion News Writer” Emily Farra is the author of this piece.”

5. Cinderella (1997)

This film has it all: stunning set and costume design, an unforgettable soundtrack, and a stellar ensemble. First time in my life I saw someone who looked like me in a leading position on TV and I was fascinated.. A replay of “Impossible” by Whitney Houston and Brandy as performed by Whitney and Brandy once persuaded my parents to let me skip a wedding ceremony so that they could watch it. So I’ve been able to relive that fantasy once more, thanks to Disney+. Then again, I’m pleading with you, Disney, to make the music available on streaming sites like Spotify! • David Vo, senior digital designer & creative director

6. Billboard Dad (1998)

It’s the best Mary-Kate and Ashley film ever made.

The fact that two 11-year-olds were able to paint a beautiful likeness of their father on a billboard overnight makes me happy. In addition, they have a contemporary home on Sunset Boulevard. — Managing Director, Social Media, Puja Prakash.

7. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

Throughout my childhood, I watched this film as many times as I could. It stars Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukherjee in a storyline that romantic comedies of today could only dream of putting together. In addition, the blend of ’90s Western and Indian fashion and the accompanying music videos is timeless. —P.P.

8. Fargo (1996)

Fargo’s apotheosis of sheer, joyous oddness amidst a typical crime-caper-goes-wrong plot remains untouchable, original, sublime, and, dare I say, important. This is not enough: Frances McDormand is in this movie. FX’s series is great but this will always be the king. However, the accent in this picture does not come from Fargo; it is in fact a native of Minnesota. • Senior editor, Corey Seymour

9. Pump Up the Volume (1990)

Eat your cereal with a fork and do your homework in the dark,” says the instructor. Slacker koans said by Christian Slater (a.k.a. Slater) are numerous. Happy During the opening sequences of this groundbreaking film of 1990. It’s a love letter to the Gen X generation, and an insightful look at the rise of the internet, all wrapped up in a story about a high school kid who uses a pirate radio show to express his anguish and stick it to the man. Pump Up the Volume. Iconic bands such as Pixies, Soundgarden, Sonic Youth and Cowboy Junkies provided the soundtrack for this film. Please don’t bring Samantha Mathis up. In addition, Pump up the Volume is now unavailable on streaming providers. ‘ What kind of punk rock is this, exactly? —Taylor Antrim, deputy editor of the New York Times

10. She’s All That (1999)

She’s All That (1999)

Laney Boggs and her makeover debut in * She’s All That* is without a doubt one of the most memorable scenes in ’90s cinema. I’m still looking for that ruby red baby-doll ensemble even after all these years (minus the stumble). “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer was the first dress I ever fell in love with! It begins, “Kiss me in the moonlight, as you lead me out onto the moonlit floor.” —Lauren Sanchez, the company’s manager —

11. Metropolitan (1990)

Their journey to the Hamptons was captured on camera, and I’ll never forget it. A non-driver in the city back when Uber didn’t exist and I could absolutely relate to that. It struck me as a slap in the face, like a glamor girl stocking her refrigerator with nothing but Champagne and maraschino cherries. —Archive editor Laird Borrelli-Persson;

12. The Virgin Suicides (1999)

This eerie film by Sofia Coppola, starring Josh Hartnett, was only a little reason why I fell in love with it, despite my initial attraction to the handsome actor’s role. The ’70s-set film’s somber Air music, the beauty of the five tragic sisters, and the gossamer gowns. At the same time, it’s a film that’s both difficult to see and beautiful to look at. The commerce editor, Liliah Ramzi

13. Singles (1992)

Singles (1992)

Singles!

Why hasn’t this made the cut? Since it was released over 30 years ago (thank God), I’ve watched the film countless times and still have the soundtrack (on cassette! ), whose tracklist I can recite word for word. “Dyslexic Heart” by Paul Westerberg plays in my head every time I think about Bridget Fonda’s outfits or the film’s depiction of Seattle’s era-specific coffee-shop culture. There’s no need to say anything. “Beauty Director” Celia Ellenberg

14. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)

Despite my best efforts, I can’t help but be swayed by Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion’s eccentric fashions. What’s not to love about the flashy plastic earrings, the teetering platforms, the hot businesswoman outfits, and those iconic metallic and marabou-trimmed dancing dresses? In addition, Justin Theroux as a black-clad, cigarette-smoking bad boy is not to be overlooked. — Stephan Yotka, the fashion and emerging platforms editor of the New York Times

15. Trainspotting (1996)

I can’t watch Trainspotting more than once every few years since it’s such a pain in the neck. It makes me crave a shower right now. If there’s one performance in Ewan McGregor’s career that stands above the rest, it’s this one. — Editor-in-Chief Sache Taylor’s executive assistant

16. Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)

Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)

When I was in seventh grade, I was utterly miserable. —Lynn Yaeger, contributing editor to the New Yorker

17. The Pillow Book (1996)

The Pillow Book (1996), a film by Peter Greenaway, was one of my favorite ’90s films that I rented and watched in my parents’ living room with my school mates. Until my parents arrived home and grounded me for a month, I felt extremely intelligent and very grown up. A senior fashion reporter, Janelle Okwodu, explains.

18. The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (1991)

Lily Tomlin is a household name, but she was also a fantastic performer onstage, as evidenced by her Tony-winning solo play, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, which she starred in. Trudy, Agnes, Tina, and Brandy are just some of Tomlin’s funny characters in the 1991 film version of The Search for Signs. Fortunately for those of us who missed its Broadway run, the film version of The Search for Signs was released in 1991. Assoc. Features Editor Marley Marius

19. Before Sunrise (1995)

Before Sunrise (1995)

Even though Ethan Hawke once jokingly referred to Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise trilogy as “the lowest-grossing trilogy in the history of motion pictures,” it’s also one of the most swoon-inducing romantic tales ever made. First, a lad (Hawke) sees Julie Delpy (Delpy) on a train, persuades her to join him on a walk around Vienna, and they converse about life, death, and love and magic until they part ways. In the end, they do, but not in the way they expected. —M.M.

20. A Tale of Autumn (1998)

Éric Rohmer’s late-career films, if I had to sum them up in a few words, would be described as “very talky and very sexy,” with a focus on beautiful young people having philosophical discussions on the beach, over dinner, or in an overgrown provincial garden. Béatrice Romand stars in A Tale of Autumn, a 1998 film about a windowed vintner whose closest friend (Marie Rivière) and her son’s girlfriend (Juliette Binoche) encourage her to go back into the dating game (Alexia Portal). It’s a gentle comedy of manners, a meditation on (re-)opening oneself to love, and a very effective—if accidental—advertisement for abandoning your life in the city to live on a vineyard in France. As a result, it’s a flawless piece of filmmaking. —M.M.