Editing The Rocky Horror Picture Show (section)

==Release==
[[File:London opening poster for Rialto.jpeg|thumb|right|London release poster for 14 August 1975 premiere]]
The film opened in the United Kingdom at the Rialto Theatre in London on 14 August 1975 and in the United States on 26 September at the UA Westwood in Los Angeles.<ref name="Champion"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://inmagazine.ca/2019/09/flashback-the-rocky-horror-picture-show-premieres-in-north-america-september-26-1975/ |title=FLASHBACK: The Rocky Horror Picture Show Premieres In North America (September 26, 1975) |date=26 September 2019 |access-date=14 August 2020 |magazine=In Magazine}}</ref> It did well at that location, but not elsewhere.<ref name="Henkin1979">{{harvnb|Henkin|1979|p=27}}</ref>  Before the midnight screenings' success, the film was withdrawn from its eight opening cities due to very small audiences, and its planned New York City opening on Halloween night was cancelled.<ref name="Samuels_MidMov">[[#Samuels|Samuels (1983)]], p. 11</ref> Fox re-released the film around college campuses on a double-bill with another rock music film parody, [[Brian De Palma]]'s ''[[Phantom of the Paradise]]'' (1974), but again it drew small audiences.<ref name="Samuels_MidMov"/>

[[File:The Rocky Horror Picture Show.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The iconic "Lips" poster, a parody of the poster for the 1975 film ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'']]
A second film poster was created using a set of red lipstick-painted lips with the tagline "A Different Set of Jaws", a spoof of the poster for the film ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'' (which was also released in 1975).<ref name=Riley2008 /> The lips of former ''[[Playboy]]'' model Lorelei Shark are featured on the poster.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 June 2016 |title=Lorelei Shark Interview – She IS The Rocky Horror LIPS – Scott Michaels Dearly Departed online |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcM0920SS20  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/TcM0920SS20| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=15 August 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

With ''[[Pink Flamingos]]'' (1972) and ''[[Reefer Madness]]'' (1936) making money in midnight showings nationwide, a [[20th Century Fox|Fox]] executive, Tim Deegan, was able to talk distributors into midnight screenings,<ref name="LancasterMikotowicz2001"/> starting in New York City on April Fools' Day of 1976.<ref name=Samuels_MidMov/> It was the "Secret" film, on 20 May, in the first [[Seattle International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://historylink.org/File/10097 |title=First Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) opens at Moore Egyptian Theatre on May 14, 1976. |website=[[HistoryLink]] |last=Caldbick |first=John |date=5 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019075804/https://historylink.org/File/10097 |archive-date=19 October 2016 |access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> The [[The Rocky Horror Picture Show cult following|cult following]] started shortly after the film began its midnight run at the Waverly Theater in New York City,<ref name="Henkin1979" /> then spread to other counties in [[New York (state)|New York]], and to [[Uniondale, Long Island]]. ''Rocky Horror'' was not only found in the larger cities but throughout the United States, where many attendees would get in free if they arrived in costume. The western division of the film's release included the U.A. Cinemas in [[Fresno]] and [[Merced]], the Cinema J. in [[Sacramento]], the [[UC Theatre]] in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]] and the Covell in [[Modesto]]. In [[New Orleans]], an early organised performance group was active with the release there, as well as in such cities as [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], and [[Chicago]] (at the [[Biograph Theater]]). Before long, nearly every screening of the film was accompanied by a live fan cast.{{sfn|Henkin|1979|p=118}}
[[File:UA Cinema Rocky Horror 1978.jpg|thumb|19 January 1978, opening at the UA Cinema, Merced, California]]
''The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' is considered to be the longest-running release in film history.<ref name="BBC 2020">{{cite web| last=Ivan-Zadeh| first=Larushka| date=19 June 2020| title=The Rocky Horror Picture Show: The film that's saved lives| url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20200618-the-rocky-horror-picture-show-the-film-thats-saved-lives| access-date=5 February 2024| website=BBC |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Fox">{{cite press release |title=Fox Celebrates 25 Years of Absolute Pleasure, Pop Culture Phenomenon and Midnight Classic |date=24 August 2000 |publisher=RHPS Official Fan Site |url=http://www.rockyhorror.com/news/pr_25thannivdvd.php |access-date=13 June 2007}}</ref> It benefited from a 20th Century Fox policy that made archival films available to theatres at any time.<ref name="disneyvault">{{cite journal |last=Zoller-Seitz |first=Matt |date=24 October 2019 |title=Disney Is Quietly Placing Classic Fox Movies Into Its Vault, and That's Worrying |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/disney-is-quietly-placing-classic-fox-movies-into-its-vault.html |access-date=24 October 2019 |journal=[[New York (magazine)#Digital expansion and destination sites|Vulture]]}}</ref> Having never been pulled by 20th Century Fox from its original 1975 release, it continues to play in cinemas.<ref name="showtimes">{{Cite web |title=RHPS regular showtimes |url=http://www.rockyhorror.com/participation/showtimes_listings.php?type=r |access-date=13 April 2013}}</ref><ref name="Indy">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Zach |date=27 October 2010 |title=What keeps The Rocky Horror Picture Show flame burning for more than two decades in Raleigh? |newspaper=[[Indy Week]] |url=http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/what-keeps-the-rocky-horror-picture-show-flame-burning-for-more-than-two-decades-in-raleigh/Content?oid=1753817 |access-date=13 April 2013 |archive-date=19 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519111239/http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/what-keeps-the-rocky-horror-picture-show-flame-burning-for-more-than-two-decades-in-raleigh/Content?oid=1753817 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After [[The Walt Disney Company]] [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019]] and began withdrawing archival Fox movies from theatres to be placed into the [[Disney Vault]], the company made an exception in the case of ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' to allow the traditional midnight screenings to continue.<ref name=disneyvault/><ref name="vaultexception">{{cite news |last=Henriksen |first=Erik |date=29 August 2019 |title=As Disney Cracks Down on Repertory Screenings, Portland's Independent Theaters Adapt |url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2019/08/29/27051960/as-disney-cracks-down-on-repertory-screenings-portlands-indie-theaters-adapt |access-date=31 October 2019 |newspaper=[[Portland Mercury]]}}</ref>

To commemorate the film's 50th anniversary, a new 4K remaster of the film, resulting from a 10-month restoration effort by the [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]] Restoration Team, is set to be released in theaters in 2025 by [[20th Century Studios]], with screenings taking place both at midnight and during the day. Disney's Restoration & Library Management director Kevin Schaeffer described the new version of the film as a way "to honor its bold, genre-defying spirit and ensure that audiences – both longtime fans and first-time viewers – can experience it as it was originally intended, with stunning picture and sound." Adler added "What began as a small, rebellious project has become a global celebration of individuality, community, and creative freedom. This anniversary is a tribute to the fans who kept it alive and kicking all these years."<ref name="50thAnniversary">{{cite web |last1=Malkin |first1=Marc |title=‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Gets 4K Remaster and New Logo for 50th Anniversary (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/rocky-horror-picture-show-4k-remaster-50th-anniversary-1236381904/ |website=Variety |access-date=1 May 2025 |date=30 April 2025}}</ref>

===Home media===
A [[Super 8 film|Super 8]] version of selected scenes of the film was made available.<ref>[[#Piro|Piro & Hess (1991)]], p. 77</ref> In 1983, Ode Records released ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Audience Par-Tic-I-Pation Album'', recorded at the [[8th Street Playhouse]]. The recording consisted of the film's audio and the standardised call-backs from the audience.<ref name="Peraino2005">{{cite book |last=Peraino |first=Judith A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=97PGJX3DMFAC&pg=PA234 |title=Listening to the Sirens: Musical Technologies of Queer Identity from Homer to Hedwig |date=30 October 2005 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-5209-2174-0 |location=Oakland, California |page=234}}</ref>

A home video release was made available in 1987 in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |title=British Board of Film Classification: RHPS |url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/rocky-horror-picture-show-1975 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702185247/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/rocky-horror-picture-show-1975 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2014 |access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref> In the US, the film (including documentary footage and extras) was released on [[VHS]] on 8 November 1990, retailing for $89.95.<ref name="Champion">{{cite news |last=Champion |first=Lindsay |date=14 August 2013 |title=Happy Birthday, Dear Rocky! 38 Freaky Facts About The Rocky Horror Picture Show |journal=[[John Gore Organization|Broadway.com]] |url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/171159/happy-birthday-dear-rocky-38-freaky-facts-about-the-rocky-horror-picture-show/ |access-date=27 March 2014}}</ref>

The film was released on [[DVD]] on 23 October 2000 for the film's 25th anniversary.<ref name="2000IGN">{{cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=June 21, 2000 |title=Rocky Horror Picture Show, The |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/21/rocky-horror-picture-show-the |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928171037/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/21/rocky-horror-picture-show-the |archive-date=September 28, 2024 |access-date=September 28, 2024 |website=IGN |df=mdy-all}}</ref> This one is a [[THX]] certified two-disc set that features the original theatrical version and an extended version.<ref name="TimeWarpAgain">{{cite news |last=Salas |first=Randy A. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-lets-do-the-time-warp-ag/154323379/ |title=Let's do the 'Time Warp' again with 'Rocky Horror'
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830224607/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-lets-do-the-time-warp-ag/154323379/ |date=October 3, 2000 |access-date=August 30, 2024 |archive-date=August 30, 2024 |page=40 |work=Star Tribune Staff Writer |publisher=[[Minnesota Star Tribune]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> A 35th anniversary edition [[Blu-ray]] was released by [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]] in the US on 19 October 2010. The disc includes a newly created [[7.1 surround sound]] mix, the original theatrical [[mono sound]] mix, and a [[4K2K|4K/2K]] [[Digital cinematography#Video formats|image]] transfer from the [[original camera negative]]. In addition, new content featuring karaoke and a fan performance were included.<ref>{{cite press release |title=An Absolute Pleasure...For 35 Years |publisher=RHPS Official Fan Site |url=http://www.rockyhorror.com/news/pr_bluray.php |date=4 August 2010 |access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref> A 45th anniversary edition Blu-ray was released in September 2020 by [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] under the [[20th Century Home Entertainment]] label.<ref>{{cite web| date=9 September 2020| title=THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW 45th Anniversary Limited-Edition SteelBook Arrives Sept. 15| url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/THE-ROCKY-HORROR-PICTURE-SHOW-45th-Anniversary-Limited-Edition-SteelBook-Arrives-Sept-15-20200909| access-date=27 September 2020| website=[[BroadwayWorld]]| language=en}}</ref>

In October 2021, the film was added to [[Disney+]] on the Star hub for users in locations such as the UK, Ireland and Canada.<ref>{{cite web| date=23 September 2021| title="Rocky Horror Picture Show" Coming Soon To Disney+ (UK/Ireland)| website=What's On Disney Plus| url=https://whatsondisneyplus.com/rocky-horror-picture-show-coming-soon-to-disney-uk-ireland/| access-date=3 October 2021| language=en-US| archive-date=10 February 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210113714/https://whatsondisneyplus.com/rocky-horror-picture-show-coming-soon-to-disney-uk-ireland/| url-status=dead}}</ref>

For the film's 50th anniversary, the film is set to be released on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray|4K Ultra HD Blu-ray]] in late 2025 by [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] under license from Disney.<ref name="50thAnniversary" />