What Is A Midnight Movie?

Midnight movies are non-mainstream films that are exhibited late at night. In the 1950s, television stations in the U.S. began to air low-budget genre films as late-night programs, and the practice was picked up by theatres in the 1970s, creating a midnight-movie phenomenon that attracted cult film enthusiasts looking for offbeat movies that could be enjoyed in counter-cultural settings.

Ukranian-born American film exhibitor, distributor and producer Ben Barenholtz, who recently passed away on June 27th at the age of 83, is known for sparking the midnight-movie craze. Barenholtz ran the Elgin Theater in Manhattan for two years before deciding to show the 1970 Mexican acid Western El Topo at 1 am on Fridays and midnight during the week. Permitting audience members to smoke marijuana, Barenholtz offered a uniquely social movie-watching experience, and it was less than two months after the film’s premiere on December 18, 1970 that limos started lining up every night.

Every midnight movie offers a unique experience, with each one attracting specific types of like-minded fans. It is not uncommon for the movies to be secondary to the opportunities for socializing. As Barenholtz once said, “You can’t make a midnight movie; the audiences make a midnight movie.”

For a list of classic midnight movies, check out: 15 Essential Midnight Movies Every Film Fan Needs to See

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