A film’s future is usually dependent on its success at the box office, and it gets a sequel or franchise based on the numbers. Every now and then, a great movie comes along but it tanks. So what decides the success of a film? Is it the actors in the film or the review of the critics or the box-office numbers or the impact on the audiences? There are many elements that determine if the movie is a timeless classic or if it barely caused a ripple at the box office. Sometimes a gem of a movie slips through the cracks, ultimately losing all chances of hope (and in some cases, millions of dollars). However, there is hope for these movies as they cement their position as cult classics.
A cult classic is a movie that has an extremely passionate and dedicated fanbase, usually developed years after its release. Even if a film doesn’t sell many tickets at the box office, it can still go on to become a beloved cult classic. Here’s a list of seven such films:
Nayak
No matter how many times we watch Nayak, the interview scene where Anil Kapoor embarrasses Amrish Puri, and the latter challenges him to become the CM for a day never gets boring. If the film was released today, it would have made a mad collection at the box office.
Dil Chahta Hai
The film taught us several lessons about life but it wasn’t a massive hit. Dil Chahta Hai is a millennial’s guide to friendships, love, and growing up, which was handed to us way back when we were kids. Every ‘90s kid has grown up watching this film on the television and we can watch it again anytime now.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, directed by Kundan Shah was a box office failure. The film, which featured Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Baswani, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur, Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik, Bhakti Barve, and Neena Gupta, perhaps was too ahead of its time in its portrayal of Indian politics, bureaucracy, news media, and business but did not resonate with the audience. However, over the years, it has become a benchmark of what a satire should be like.
Andaz Apna Apna
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Andaz Apna Apna featured Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Karisma Kapoor, and Raveena Tandon in pivotal roles. Despite having a stellar cast and giving us plenty of laughs, it did not deliver at the box office. Andaz Apna Apna, according to several reports, made a profit of only Rs 5 crore. However, today, the film is one of the best comedy films that Bollywood has ever made.
Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein
When RHTDM was released in 2001, it failed to create a buzz at the box office and the Gautham Menon directorial was announced a disaster. However, over the years, the film has attained a cult following, especially for its song and the chemistry between R Madhavan and Dia Mirza.
Khosla Ka Ghosla
This is one of the most amazing con movies ever made and we cannot wrap our heads around why it wasn’t a commercial success. It was praised by the critics for its intelligent humour, brilliant star cast, and interesting plotline. Too bad, it wasn’t well received.
Rockstar
Imtiyaz Ali’s directorial Rockstar is one of his finest works. However, when the film was released, it wasn’t much loved by the audiences. Ranbir Kapoor’s performance was flawless, but not many people liked Nargis Fakhri’s acting. The music was, sure, extraordinary, but the plot, people thought could have been better.
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