15 Future Cult Favorites of 2012

You pretty much already have to be a cult horror movie fan to catch all the scary cinema references flying fast and furious in this flick, especially in its SPOILER-ific third act. But this is no winking spoof movie. Writer-producer Joss Whedon — already an ace at cultivating a passionate following — and writer-director Drew Goddard have crafted a genuinely frightening and very funny meditation on the meaning of horror movies. Mix in its trapped-in-MGM-bankruptcy-hell backstory and the standout stoner performance by Fran Kranz (from Whedon's Dollhouse), and this is a horror flick destined to spawn a loyal following of fans eager to return to its crafty, chilling Cabin. —Adam B. Vary

Between its circuitous storyline, vivid sci-fi landscape, and killer third act twist, writer-director Rian Johnson has crafted a film seemingly designed to inspire late-night arguments about everything from the metaphysics of time travel to the nuances of the Bruce Willis squint. Count us in. —Adam B. Vary

Sure, you could say Glee was the minute the musical went mainstream, but Pitch Perfect takes the a capella trend to a whole new level. The fun soundtrack and Rebel Wilson's over-the-top performance alone makes this a candidate for sleepovers and girls nights for years to come. The sing-off slam battle is reason enough for repeat viewings. No diggity, no doubt. —Laura Hertzfeld

Wes Anderson is the king of quirky cult and his newest addition is no exception. Anderson's acute attention to style and detail have inspired no end of Halloween costumes (knit hat and orange jumpsuits from The Life Aquatic) and soundtracks that are inseparable from his scenes (''Oh Yoko'' in Rushmore). Moonrise Kingdom can even make khakis cool (ahem, Ed Norton) and obsessed fans have already drawn similarities between the Anderson's fictional New Penzance and the real Penzance on the southwest coast of England. Fancy a trip? —Laura Hertzfeld

Already, geek cognoscenti are using this movie as a way of testing your superhero cred: ''Yeah, of course you saw Avengers and Dark Knight Rises, but what did you think of Chronicle, man?'' Director Josh Trank's low-budget, found-footage style re-imagined what a superhero movie could look and feel like and launched actor Dane DeHaan's career as an up-and-coming potential star. Now let's just hope Hollywood doesn't eff up any potential sequels. —Adam B. Vary

The book is a venerable tome, so it's no surprise the movie clocks in at 2 hours and 43 minutes. The story is really six stories, intertwining across time and space — and in the film, the same actors play different characters spanning centuries. The transformations of Halle Berry and Tom Hanks, coupled with several plot lines that leave you thinking about them days later, leave potential for the movie to inspire a similar following to David Mitchell's best-selling novel. —Laura Hertzfeld

It's not as bad as you've heard. Really, we promise! Based on a series of 100-year-old novels, the film was meant to be the first in a trilogy and a huge star vehicle for Taylor Kitsch. Unfortunately, detrimental marketing made it a colossal box-office flop, likely preventing any sequels and effectively crushing Kitsch's star cred (in 2012 at least), but all that adversity make for a great breeding ground for fan fiction and ardent defenses from true fans. —Laura Hertzfeld

Yes, we appreciate the irony of placing a movie about a cult on a list of cult movies. But all you need to do is listen for five minutes to a fan talk about Paul Thomas Anderson's sorta-kinda-not-really-but-yes-really exploration of the beginnings of Scientology to realize that this film inspires a fervor rarely expressed by any filmgoer. —Adam B. Vary

You can't find a more passionate group of fans than NPR listeners and in particular This American Life listeners. Host Ira Glass has become an icon of hipster cool — his glasses even had their own meme for a while — and author Mike Birbiglia's autobiographical story Sleepwalk with Me was part of the storytelling show in an episode back in 2008. The movie, which follows Birbiglia's struggles in life and love due to his sleepwalking disorder, also earned its indie cred with critical acclaim at Sundance and SXSW. —Laura Hertzfeld

Hear us out on this one. You may think this film a flop, but it grossed pretty much the same amount as Moonrise Kingdom and Cabin in the Woods — not a fortune, but not a pittance either. The Stooges' cartoonishly violent slapstick has delighted fans for decades, and this modern day retelling could very well hook a new generation. To quote from EW critic and avowed Stooge superfan Owen Gleiberman's ''A-'' review: ''There's that other level of Three Stooges fandom: the major-league mania, the kind that powers the Farrelly Brothers' startlingly fun and ingenious act of nuthouse homage/re-creation.'' —Adam B. Vary

See Pitch Perfect entry, add a dose of terrible scarves, Broadway street cred, and an ex-American Idol finalist. Theater geeks are always rooting for the underdog, and Smash is no exception. The love triangle may be trite, the acting is at times atrocious, but, damn, is there singing and dancing! —Laura Hertzfeld

One of the most divisive new series of the year when it premiered, Lena Dunham's literate, surprising, and often quite naked chronicle of the tribulations of twentysomething New Yorkers already engenders a scary level of loyalty in its fanbase. Seriously, just try to speak ill of, say, the wedding episode, and see how far you get. —Adam B. Vary

We're not so foolish as to call this show the ''next Lost,'' but between the sword fights, global blackout mythology, solid ratings, and presence of Elizabeth Mitchell, it's awfully close. —Adam B. Vary

Stephen Amell's abs. Any questions? —Adam B. Vary

Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) is a ball-busting, take no prisoners fixer. She's Michael Clayton with just a tiny hint of Ally McBeal when it comes to a certain Republican president (Tony Goldwyn). There's enough ongoing secrets to feel like you're deciphering Alias-style intricacies, but procedural enough to catch up easily. Cult hit? Let's just hope it gets a season 3. —Laura Hertzfeld