<blockquote>
<p>A cult film, also commonly referred to as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cult_films" rel="nofollow noreferrer">cult classic</a>, is a film with a cult following, obscure or unpopular with mainstream audiences, and often revolutionary or ironically enjoyed</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Chinese translation of 'cult' is '邪教', The Chinese translation of 'classic' is '經典</p>
<p>邪典电影 is short for 邪教經典电影 (cult classic films)</p>
<p>'Cult' in 'cult classic' denotes 'cult-like passion toward films that are deemed obscure, unpopular by the mainstream audiences</p>
<p>Obscure and unpopular is the trademark of cults.</p>
<p>'邪' in Chinese denote 'evil; wicked; heretical'</p>
<p>We should interpret '邪' in '邪典电影' as 'heretical' (from the mainstream audiences viewpoint)</p>
<p>We can describe '邪典电影' as a kind of non-mainstream film, enjoyed by a small minority of movies goers with a cult-like passion</p>
<p><em>Note: the term 'cult movies' is short for 'cult classic movies', But most people just refer it as 'cult classic'</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-18T00:40:42.377Z
Thank you all so very much for your detailed explanations!
Maurice
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-16T07:24:15.630Z
2020-07-17T00:25:15.123Z
2020-07-17T00:25:15.123Z
Tang Ho
<p>Fully translated, 邪典電影 is <em>cult <strong>classic</strong> movie</em>:</p>
<ul>
<li>邪 = <em>cult-ish/heterodox</em>, c.f. 邪教 (<em>religious cult</em>)</li>
<li>典 = <em>classic</em>, c.f. 經典 (<em>classics, classical</em>)</li>
</ul>
<p>In English, <em>cult movie</em> is really just short for <em>cult classic movie</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-16T07:02:32.347Z
2020-07-16T07:02:32.347Z
dROOOze
<p>I don't believe it has any connections with 经典.  It must be a translation in a dialect, Cantonese, because areas like Hong Kong first met these type of films compared with other Chinese language areas.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-16T14:33:19.947Z
Other two answers agree on it is a direct translation of  'cult classic movie':
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-16T12:56:31.717Z
2020-07-17T00:19:25.530Z
2020-07-17T00:19:25.530Z
sfy
<p>In fact, the definition of 邪典 is something that can pollute a person's mind. But unfortunately you can't define 邪典电影 literally; its real meaning refers to some movies which some groups like, but is not universally popular.  Usually these movies involve a director's subjective mind or their style is strange.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-16T07:12:53.533Z
2020-07-17T00:21:05.107Z
2020-07-17T00:21:05.107Z
nether End
<p>Does anyone know why the word &quot;cult&quot; (cult film) is translated as &quot;邪典&quot; (邪典电影) ? Thank you for your help in advance !</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/RBRWE.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RBRWE.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

<meaning-in-context>
Why is "cult movies" translated as 邪典电(電)影?
# Why is "cult movies" translated as 邪典电(電)影?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-07-16)

Does anyone know why the word "cult" (cult film) is translated as "邪典" (邪典电影) ? Thank you for your help in advance !

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/RBRWE.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/RBRWE.jpg)

**Tags:** meaning-in-context


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-07-16. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

> A cult film, also commonly referred to as a [cult classic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cult_films), is a film with a cult following, obscure or unpopular with mainstream audiences, and often revolutionary or ironically enjoyed

The Chinese translation of 'cult' is '邪教', The Chinese translation of 'classic' is '經典

邪典电影 is short for 邪教經典电影 (cult classic films)

'Cult' in 'cult classic' denotes 'cult-like passion toward films that are deemed obscure, unpopular by the mainstream audiences

Obscure and unpopular is the trademark of cults.

'邪' in Chinese denote 'evil; wicked; heretical'

We should interpret '邪' in '邪典电影' as 'heretical' (from the mainstream audiences viewpoint)

We can describe '邪典电影' as a kind of non-mainstream film, enjoyed by a small minority of movies goers with a cult-like passion

*Note: the term 'cult movies' is short for 'cult classic movies', But most people just refer it as 'cult classic'*

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you all so very much for your detailed explanations!  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-07-16. Score: 3

Fully translated, 邪典電影 is *cult **classic** movie*:

* 邪 = *cult-ish/heterodox*, c.f. 邪教 (*religious cult*)
* 典 = *classic*, c.f. 經典 (*classics, classical*)

In English, *cult movie* is really just short for *cult classic movie*.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2020-07-16. Score: 0

I don't believe it has any connections with 经典. It must be a translation in a dialect, Cantonese, because areas like Hong Kong first met these type of films compared with other Chinese language areas.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Other two answers agree on it is a direct translation of  'cult classic movie':  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2020-07-16. Score: -1

In fact, the definition of 邪典 is something that can pollute a person's mind. But unfortunately you can't define 邪典电影 literally; its real meaning refers to some movies which some groups like, but is not universally popular. Usually these movies involve a director's subjective mind or their style is strange.


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