 Since its initial release , The Wanderers has gained a significant cult following . In 1988 , Danny Peary said the film 's " sensitive depiction " of teenagers coming @-@ of @-@ age was partly responsible for its cult status . Placing The Wanderers seventh in his list of " lesser @-@ known " cult films , Neil Evans describing the film as a " lost masterpiece " . Another writer described the film as a " near masterpiece " and called it " one of the best coming @-@ of @-@ age [ films ] ever made " . On the film 's popularity and cult status , Kaufman said : 
