Markaes4 t1_j2apb9o wrote on December 30, 2022 at 9:33 PM

Reply to comment by Markaes4 in How does a movie achieve to become a Cult Classic? Example, Flash Gordon (1980) by irkybirky

But in all seriousness, I do think that did have a lot to do with it. Kind of like how TBS created the Christmas Story cult. It was a bomb and in the 80s almost no one had ever heard of it until the mid to late 90s when it was on TV constantly. Then everyone was suddenly like "oh that was my favorite christmas movie always".

nosmelc t1_j2bgcfv wrote on December 31, 2022 at 12:39 AM

I seem to remember a Christmas Story getting big before the mid-90's.

Markaes4 t1_j2ctode wrote on December 31, 2022 at 7:57 AM

I know it was on HBO, showtime, VHS in the 80s but I don't think it had any kind of mass following until TBS/TNT got exclusive TV rights in the early 90s, starting showing it every christmas day and the annual all-day marathon in late 90s. That's when I remember it just blowing up with ralphie shirts, christmas ornaments and leg lamps everywhere.

edit: https://theretronetwork.com/a-brief-history-of-the-24-hours-of-a-christmas-story-marathon/