Between acting jobs in London, the New Zealand–born O’Brien began writing a rock-flavored sci‑fi/horror pastiche musical containing campy melodrama, monsters, aliens, and cheesy thrills — all of which is neatly encapsulated in The Rocky Horror Show’s opening number, “Science Fiction/Double Feature.” O’Brien's show also embraces bawdy British comedy and the glam rock scene of the ’70s.

On June 19, 1973, the musical began performances at London’s Royal Court Theatre under the direction of Jim Sharman, with Tim Curry as Frank-N-Furter and O’Brien as his unctuous underling Riff Raff. The show caught on and eventually moved to other venues, all the while building its reputation as a cult London musical. Its run ended on September 13, 1980 after 2,960 performances.

On March 21, 1974, the show made its U.S. premiere at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. Curry reprised his role as Frank, while Meat Loaf played the supporting roles of Eddie and Dr. Scott. The show became a local sensation, attracting the likes of John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Cher, and Jack Nicholson before wrapping its nine-month run on January 5, 1975.

On October 21, 1974, principal photography began on the film adaptation with a script by O’Brien, direction by Sharman, and a cast including Curry and Meat Loaf reprising their onstage roles, Susan Sarandon as Janet, Barry Bostwick as Brad, and O’Brien as Riff Raff. The shoot at Bray Studios and Oakley Court, a country estate near Windsor, England, lasted two months.

Note the subtle change to the musical's title that helps differentiate the stage and screen versions. A stage production is just called a "show," but on screen, it becomes a "picture show," an old term for a movie.

On March 7, 1975, the musical debuted at the Belasco Theatre in New York City with direction by Sharman and featured most of the L.A. cast, with O’Brien returning as Riff Raff. Despite considerable buzz, the production ran just 45 performances and closed on April 5, 1975. The show earned a Tony Award nomination for lighting design and three Drama Desk nominations: two for acting and one for Unique Theatrical Experience.

On August 14, 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was released on a limited basis in the U.K., where it initially underperformed. On September 29, 1975, the film opened in the U.S. to similarly lukewarm responses and modest box office returns, seemingly destined for obscurity. Nope.

While initially largely met with shrugs by critics, the film faced a twist of fate — and fortune. In April 1976, the Waverly Theater in New York City launched midnight screenings, where audiences began participating in the onscreen antics and dressing the parts. (Let’s do the cosplay again!)

The film exploded into a cult phenomenon, spreading nationwide. Fans flocked to midnight screenings night after night, sustaining it for months, years, and even decades in some spots. The Rocky Horror Picture Show now holds the record for the longest-running theatrical release in movie history.

On July 16, 1990, a yearlong West End production of The Rocky Horror Show at London's Piccadilly Theatre was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. It set the stage for U.K. tours of the show that have run regularly ever since.

On October 19, 2000, a second Broadway production of the musical began performances at the Circle in the Square Theatre with a cast featuring Raúl Esparza, Tom Hewitt, Daphne Rubin‑Vega, and Lea DeLaria. The revival ran for about two years and earned four Tony nominations, including for Best Revival and its lead actor (Hewitt as Frank-N-Furter), costumes, and direction.

On December 27, 2005, the U.S. Library of Congress selected The Rocky Horror Picture Show for preservation by the U.S. National Film Registry. The honor recognized the movie’s “cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.”

On October 5, 2010, the second season of Glee dedicated an episode to The Rocky Horror Show, a themed homage that re‑introduced the characters and songs — “Over at the Frankenstein Place” and “Dammit, Janet,” among them — to a younger television audience. A show about theatre geeks celebrating a musical that’s become catnip for outsiders — it fits.

Since the 1980s, The Rocky Horror Show had enveloped audiences in London as well as on national and international tours. On February 24, 2011, The Rocky Horror Show was one of eight British shows honored with a commemorative stamp, underlining its enduring mainstream recognition.

On October 26, 2016, Fox aired the television film The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again, a revised version of the original movie directed by Kenny Ortega. The starry cast included Laverne Cox as Frank‑N‑Furter, Victoria Justice as Janet, Ryan McCartan as Brad, Annaleigh Ashford as Columbia, Adam Lambert as Eddie, and Tim Curry as the Criminologist.

To mark the movie’s 50th anniversary, L.A.'s Roxy Theatre hosted a major fan convention on September 27, 2025, with screenings, celebrity meet-and-greets, contests, and more. At AMC theatres, the film’s re-release played select dates through early 2026.

The movie continues to be screened regularly at independent cinemas and special events worldwide, often with live shadow casts and interactive props.

On March 26, 2026, the show returns to Broadway for its second revival. Luke Evans plays Frank-N-Furter alongside a glittery cast that includes Rachel Dratch as the Narrator, Andrew Durand as Brad, Stephanie Hsu as Janet, Amber Gray as Riff Raff, Josh Rivera as Rocky, Harvey Guillén as Eddie/Dr. Scott, Juliette Lewis as Magenta, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez as Columbia.

They’ll be doing the time warp again at Studio 54. Ditto, we expect, for the audience.

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