We trace how films become cult classics, from midnight screenings and VHS trades to streaming silos and algorithm feeds. We pull apart cult vs underground vs underseen, weigh the death of monoculture, and map how community keeps the weird and beloved alive. Along the way, we separate “cult” from its lookalikes: underground (how a movie is made), underseen (how many people found it), and the elusive chemistry that turns a movie into a banner for a community. We trade examples across eras—Rock...