50 Greatest Cult Movie Moments

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

The Moment: The slow pull-away from Alex’s eye, to reveal he and his malevolent gang of droogs.

Coolest Element:
Malcolm McDowell’s smirking menace is an absolutely perfect fit for the character, the scene setting the tone for the rest of the movie.

Donnie Darko (2001)

The Moment: Frank the rabbit makes his bow, appearing to Donnie during one of his night terrors. And very unsettling he is too…

Coolest Element: His appearance is both bizarre and terrifying in equal measure. Not that Donnie seems too phased…

Fight Club (1999)

The Moment: The Fight Club inductees carry out their latest mission: to start a fight with a total stranger.

Coolest Element:
The priest who gets several soakings from a hose before eventually losing his rag and throwing a punch…and then instantly apologising!

The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Moment: John Turturro’s purple-clad douchebag Jesus Quintana drops the eternal one-liner, “nobody fucks with the Jesus”.

Coolest Element: Walter’s deadpan response… “eight-year-olds, Dude.”

Freaks (1932)

The Moment: The initiation dinner, complete with its terrifying “gooble gobble” chant.

Coolest Element: If you thought the Texas Chainsaw dinner scene was demented, this one knocks it into a cocked hat!

Clerks (1994)

The Moment: Dante and Randall discuss The Empire Strikes Back , homing in specifically on the issue of working conditions aboard the Death Star.

Coolest Element:
Randall’s determination to ignore Dante’s real-life problems in order to make his point about the Empire.

Evil Dead 2 (1987)

The Moment: Ash heads to the tool shed to replace his missing hand with something a little more badass…

Coolest Element: The close-up on Bruce Campbell’s face before he drops the line, “groovy”.

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

The Moment: Nigel Tufnel talks Marty DiBergi through his favourite amplifier, explaining why this make in particular is the best.

Coolest Element: The way Tufnel explains, as if to an idiot, that “eleven is one louder”. Gold.

The Wicker Man (1973)

The Moment: The big reveal at the climax, in which Sgt. Howie realises that he is the sacrificial virgin the islanders have been waiting for.

Coolest Element: It’s an utter gut-punch of an ending, bleak and surprising in equal measure.

Withnail & I (1987)

The Moment: Withnail finds himself at a low ebb indeed, exclaiming “I demand to have some booze”, before necking a tin of lighter fluid.

Coolest Element: The unhinged giggle he emits before voiding his stomach all over Marwood’s shoes.

George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.