The Enduring Legacy of The Rocky Horror Picture Show

When The Rocky Horror Picture Show first premiered in 1975, no one could have predicted that this offbeat musical horror-comedy would go on to become one of the most beloved and enduring cult films of all time. Directed by Jim Sharman and based on Richard O’Brien’s stage musical The Rocky Horror Show, the movie didn’t receive overwhelming success during its initial release, but it quickly transformed into a cultural phenomenon. Nearly five decades later, it still draws legions of devoted fans to midnight screenings around the world.

Unlike most films, The Rocky Horror Picture Show wasn’t designed to fit neatly into one genre. It’s a wild mix of camp, science fiction, horror, and glam rock, with elements of 1950s B-movie nostalgia and countercultural rebellion. The film tells the story of a newly engaged couple, Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon), who stumble upon the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a mad scientist and self-proclaimed “sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania.” The bizarre adventure that follows includes aliens, cross-dressing, and the creation of a muscle-bound man named Rocky.

However, the real magic of Rocky Horror lies in its unique ability to bring together audiences in ways that most films never could. By the late 1970s, the film had found its place as a midnight movie, with screenings becoming an immersive experience. The audience participation aspect—where fans yell lines at the screen, dress up as the characters, and perform the iconic “Time Warp” dance—has kept the film alive and thriving in theaters for decades.

Midnight Screenings: A Tradition That Never Dies

The audience participation tradition, often referred to as “shadow casting,” is what truly set The Rocky Horror Picture Show apart. At many screenings, a live cast of actors performs the film in front of the screen, mimicking the characters’ movements and dialogue, while the audience shouts out pre-planned responses and jokes. This interactive component keeps the experience fresh and unpredictable, even for die-hard fans who have seen the movie dozens of times.

Props such as rice (to be thrown during the wedding scene), water pistols (for the rain), and toast (for when Frank-N-Furter proposes a toast) are commonly used, making the viewing experience a tactile one as well. It’s a rite of passage for many fans, who often attend their first Rocky Horror screening as “virgins” before being officially inducted into the fandom.

Frank-N-Furter: A Queer Icon

Central to Rocky Horror’s enduring appeal is the character of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played to perfection by Tim Curry in his breakout role. As the flamboyant, gender-bending mad scientist, Frank-N-Furter became a queer icon, embodying themes of sexual liberation and freedom of expression. In an era when LGBTQ+ representation in media was minimal and often stereotypical, Frank-N-Furter’s unapologetic flamboyance was groundbreaking. The film’s campy, over-the-top nature also gave it an inclusivity that resonated with audiences who didn’t fit into the mainstream.

For many, The Rocky Horror Picture Show provided a safe space to explore their own identities and express themselves freely. Its subversive message—that it’s okay to be different, to be outrageous, and to embrace one’s own desires—resonates with audiences just as much today as it did in 1975.

Though the film initially flopped at the box office, it didn’t take long for its second life to emerge. The Waverly Theater in New York City began screening it as a midnight movie in 1976, and soon after, other theaters across the country followed suit. The film found its audience in counterculture groups, including the LGBTQ+ community, punk rockers, and college students, all of whom were drawn to its campy humor, sexual politics, and celebration of nonconformity.

Today, The Rocky Horror Picture Show holds the record for the longest-running theatrical release in film history, with midnight screenings still happening regularly around the world. The film is also an annual Halloween tradition, where theaters host packed houses filled with costumed fans ready to shout lines, dance the “Time Warp,” and celebrate the film’s gloriously strange universe.

Though The Rocky Horror Picture Show is firmly rooted in 1970s aesthetics, its impact has transcended its original era. The movie helped pave the way for other cult films and established the blueprint for fan-driven midnight movie experiences. It also influenced a generation of filmmakers and artists who embraced its spirit of fearless originality and rebellion against societal norms.

In 2005, the Library of Congress selected The Rocky Horror Picture Show for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, recognizing it as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Perhaps what makes Rocky Horror so special is that it refuses to be relegated to the past. It’s a living, breathing work of art that continues to evolve with each screening, as new generations of fans discover its charms and put their own spin on the experience. As Dr. Frank-N-Furter famously says in the film, “Don’t dream it, be it”—a sentiment that has inspired countless fans to embrace who they are and let their freak flags fly.