[iansales]

The reason Blade Runner is a cult film is because it is very popular among a small group of people. It flopped at the cinema on its release, but did a great deal better on sell-through. Lots of cinema critics and commentators have also praised it, and this has only enhanced its reputation. But a lot of people - the vast majority, in fact - still don't see its appeal.

So there you have it: critical appreciation, near-obsessive liking by a small group of people, and everyone else can't understand it. Hence, a cult film.