grindhouses
Seedy movie theaters
Grindhouses were low-budget movie theaters, especially in urban areas from the 1960s through the 1980s, that showed exploitation films continuously throughout the day.
The name came from their practice of "grinding out" shows.
They specialized in horror, martial arts, sexploitation, and other sensational fare: We spent Saturday afternoons at the grindhouse watching kung fu double features.
The term now evokes a nostalgic aesthetic of lurid posters, scratchy prints, and transgressive content—captured in films like Tarantino's *Grindhouse*.
Selfish use of others
- B-moviesLow-budget films
- sleazeTawdry moral quality
- drive-inVenue serving seated motorists
- sexploitationFilms exploiting carnal content
blaxploitation · horror · slasher · low-budget · projector · marquee · schlock · splatter
Return after decline
- retroEvoking recent past
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- repertoryCollection of prepared works
- declineDecrease or refuse
VHS · fleapit · seedy · downtown · neon · vintage · memorabilia · restoration
Harmful physical force
- goreGraphic bloody violence
- nudityAbsence of clothing
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
censorship · X-rated · sensationalism · provocative · lurid · graphic · controversial · transgressive
exploitation
Selfish use of others
sexploitation · blaxploitation · horror · slasher · low-budget · projector · marquee · schlock · splatter · Tarantino
revival
Return after decline
- retroEvoking recent past
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- repertoryCollection of prepared works
decline · VHS · fleapit · seedy · downtown · neon · vintage · memorabilia · restoration · documentary
violence
Harmful physical force
taboo · censorship · X-rated · sensationalism · provocative · lurid · graphic · controversial · transgressive · explicit