By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives
NOTE: This film is for mature audiences (and unconventional conventionists).
“Hey, Janet... I’ve got something to say…” Today marks the 50th anniversary of 20th Century Studios’ The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Read on to learn more about this bold, inventive, and absolutely one-of-a-kind film, which debuted on September 26, 1975.
A creative and colorful musical homage to horror and science-fiction films of days past, The Rocky Horror Picture Show follows the newly engaged Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) as they stumble upon the “Annual Transylvanian Convention” in a foreboding castle. Hosted by the glamorous and eccentric Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), the mysterious and strange convention includes the pallid Riff Raff (Richard O’Brien), his mysterious sister Magenta (Patricia Quinn), dancing companion Columbia (Nell “Little Nell” Campbell), and her reanimated sweetheart, Eddie (Meat Loaf) among its guests. In the fine tradition of movie mad scientists, Dr. Frank-N-Furter has built his own monstrous creation: “a man, with blonde hair and a tan,” he names Rocky (Peter Hinwood). Rocky’s awakening results in much chaos and conflict, affecting all the characters in many ways. The campy drama culminates with - SPOILER! - the climactic reveal of Riff Raff and Magenta as intergalactic interlopers from the galaxy of Transylvania, taking off in the castle-turned-spaceship.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show began its life in June 1973 as The Rocky Horror Show, a six-week workshop project at the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs in London. With its book, lyrics, and music written by O’Brien, the musical took inspiration from a gamut of sources—from 1950s rock-and-roll music to the low-budget science-fiction films of O’Brien’s youth. The show turned out to be a hit, running for six years straight at King’s Road Theatre. Upon seeing the production in London, American music industry executive Lou Adler quickly secured the rights to adapt it into a film.
Filming began in October 1974, with Curry, O’Brien, Quinn, and Campbell reprising the stage roles for the film. Jonathan Adams, having portrayed the Narrator on stage, took on the role of Dr. Everett Scott. Sarandon and Bostwick—as Janet and Brad, respectively—were, fittingly, the new additions to the cast. Notably, a portion of the production was filmed at Bray Studios, the filming location of the many bombastic “Hammer Horror” films that so inspired O’Brien in writing Rocky Horror. In the words of its director, Jim Sharman, Rocky Horror “treads a thin line between homage and parody... [the film] has its own story and can hold its own whether you are a horror fan or not.”
The character of Dr. Frank-N-Furter is perhaps the most compelling and iconic of them all—and in the production notes for the film, Curry is quoted as stating that “[Frank-N-Furter] has a very odd kind of appeal, particularly to women... He can go from doing something really outrageous and horrific to being deeply moving.” The outlandish and extravagant makeup, designed by Pierre La Roche, and the eclectic, creative costumes, by Sue Blane, worked in tandem to create Frank’s memorable looks. A contemporary reviewer from The Los Angeles Times noted that Curry’s rendition of Frank was “...half Auntie Mame, half Bela Lugosi.”
The Rocky Horror Picture Show initially had a limited release and was not particularly successful at the box office. However, motivated by the rising success of midnight screenings, 20th Century Fox began releasing the film for midnight showings. Due to this, Rocky Horror’s popularity exploded, gaining a large fan following that ensured its status as a beloved cult classic. Fan clubs and conventions for Rocky Horror also grew out of the film’s success, where fans could dress up as their favorite characters and connect with others who shared the same passion for this most camp “Science Fiction / Double Feature.” Midnight showings of Rocky Horror have remained ever-present over the past 50 years—with audiences calling back “counterpoint dialogue” to the characters’ script, energetic shadow casts performing alongside the action onscreen, and many more creative and outrageously fun ways of engaging with the film.
“Why don’t you stay for the night?… Or maybe a bite?” and celebrate 50 years by watching a newly restored and remastered version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which will be unleashed in breathtaking 4K Ultra HD on October 7, 2025. Overseen by The Walt Disney Studios Restoration team, the 10-month restoration project presents every frame with unprecedented clarity and vibrancy, plus a newly mixed Dolby Atmos audio track that brings enhanced depth and dimension to the soundtrack. For purists and longtime fans, the original mono audio has also been fully restored, allowing audiences to experience the film as it was heard when it first premiered five decades ago.
And don’t forget to do the Time Warp again… "It’s just a jump to the left, then a step to the right, with your hands on your hips, bring your knees in tight!"
