This year, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is 50 years old. It’s hard to believe that this great American story of invention and entrepreneurship has become a cultural phenomenon over the last five decades! Originally released in August 1975 to lackluster box office and hostile reviews on opening weekend, the movie was set up for a complete failure. In April of 1976, midnight screenings began at New York’s Waverly Theater. The hype from those events immediately flipped the narrative on the film and people were suddenly excited about the movie again. Audiences loved the weird new musical version and the show exploded! It grossed more than $115 million worldwide while winning the distinction of longest-running film release in cinema history.
Production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show began in October 1974. When paired with a small budget of $1.4 million, the seeds of the story truly started to develop. Filming occurred primarily at Bray Studios, with additional shot at Oakley Court, a country house in Berkshire. The hit stage musical The Rocky Horror Show served as the creative starting point for this film. It was conceived in large part by Richard O’Brien, who was then an out of work actor. O’Brien worked closely with the show’s original director, Jim Sharman, to transfer the bizarre story from stage to screen.
20th Century Fox had an interesting role in sculpting the work the film’s cast would eventually do. They demanded recasting of the lead couple, Brad and Janet, with Hollywood actors. Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon assumed the roles that Tim Curry and Meatloaf had played in the original theatrical production. Together, their performances injected astonishing vitality into these quintessential characters. For many, Tim Curry will always be associated with the amazing character of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. This outrageous, extraterrestrial, transvestite scientist dazzled audiences and energized record-setting attendance.
The set was brutal, as many actors endured sub-zero temperatures while shooting in little clothing. The production’s challenges were further complicated when Susan Sarandon came down with pneumonia, and others on set started to come down with colds too.
Although The Rocky Horror Picture Show had a hard time at the box office early on, it quickly developed an enthusiastic following during its regular midnight screenings. Audiences began to engage in interactive experiences during showings—dressing up as characters, dancing, singing along, and even shouting their own lines of dialogue. This degree of audience participation was unprecedented and played a huge role in the film’s eventual cult status.
Lou Adler, a key figure in promoting the film’s midnight screenings, worked diligently to convince Fox executives to continue showing it late at night. It worked, as his risky bet won big attendance tripled, and the festival returned to its former glory.
“It’s like a musical that was written in a 13-year-old boy’s bedroom … ” – Richard O’Brien
Audiences opened their arms wide for the film’s strange and wonderful sensibility. That was the moment we realized that The Rocky Horror Picture Show was not simply a movie, but an amazing experience. Barry Bostwick, one of the cast members in the original Broadway run, recently recalled this phenomenon. He continued, “Well that was your grandfather and they called him ‘asshole’ his entire life. He wasn’t. He was a wonderful parent. He was just linked to this classic tale.”
The Rocky Horror Picture Show originated as a commercial failure. Today it’s become a much loved midnight classic, an example of how elusive audience reception and cultural impact can be. Jim Sharman highlighted the absurdity of its rise by asking, “Are you horrified that your film is being used as wallpaper for a party?”
The urgency of the film’s narrative and themes delivered an immersive experience for viewers, forming a bond that went beyond any normal in-theater experience. Audiences were no longer passive witnesses. They were transformed into actors themselves in the festering pageant to come.
“The kids were allowed into the sweet shop.” – Richard O’Brien
It’s the 45th anniversary of this cult classic! It is a testament to the astounding imagination and determination that exists in the world of film. Its impact is a testament to just how art can shift and change over time, and become relevant in ways that are immeasurable to wider audiences.