One of the most important films in independent film history was, surprisingly, rather unsuccessful when it came out in America in 1992. Sure, it made back the cost of its budget, but that's about it. It was a different story in the United Kingdom, where Reservoir Dogs became an instant hit even though it was banned on home video due to its violence for several years. The film was a hit with critics, on the other hand, and announced Quentin Tarantino as a name to watch. Tarantino's heist-gone-wrong film was undeniably cool and cutting-edge. Nobody was making films like this in America, independent or otherwise. Hard-nosed gangsters sat around in coffee shops and discussed tipping etiquette, an unhinged psychopath removed a person's ear to the sounds of Stuck In The Middle With You. It didn't even show the heist, something that would never happen in a Hollywood film. Reservoir Dogs is regularly ranked as one of the best independent films of all time. It is also the most influential. What other influential independent films were missed? Let us know in the comments.
