Cult Fandom and Experiential Cinema

The persistence of domestic media formats and the exponential growth of on-demand consumption have coincided with a notable rise in the presence and popularity of live and immersive film-based events—a trend known as experiential cinema (Atkinson and Kennedy, 2016). Despite the apparent novelty of such events, this chapter explores how these immersive experiences can be situated within a deeper history of cult fandom. In particular, an emphasis is placed on the active and subversive reception fostered by the cult community and how the advent and rise of domestic media technology served to domesticate cult fandom, turning a very public practice into a private one. Whilst there are clear differences between the current trend of experiential cinema and the historical practice of cult fandom, this chapter argues that the two share a form of active and communal reception rooted in a conscious display of public performance. This is explored through a focus on the events company, Secret Cinema, which has developed a strong reputation for staging immersive and elaborate film experiences.