B movie

A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture, often made quickly and cheaply, and historically intended for distribution as the second feature in a double bill.

The term "B movie" arose during the Golden Age of Hollywood, roughly from the 1930s to the 1950s. During this period, many movie theaters, especially smaller or neighborhood theaters, operated on a double-feature program. The "A movie" was the main attraction, the high-budget film starring well-known actors and actresses and benefiting from significant marketing. The "B movie," by contrast, was intended to fill out the program and provide additional entertainment for the price of a single ticket.

Characteristics of B movies often include:

• Low budget: B movies are produced with limited financial resources, impacting all aspects of production from casting and special effects to set design and post-production.
• Genre films: B movies frequently explore genres such as science fiction, horror, westerns, and exploitation films. These genres often allow for creative storytelling despite budgetary constraints.
• Shorter running time: Typically, B movies are shorter than A movies, allowing for more screenings per day.
• Less well-known actors: B movies often feature actors who are either starting their careers, past their prime, or primarily work in lower-budget productions.
• Exploitation elements: Some B movies deliberately incorporate sensational or controversial content, such as violence, sex, or taboo subjects, to attract audiences.

The double-feature system declined in popularity during the late 1950s and early 1960s, but the concept of the B movie persisted. The term is now generally used to describe any low-budget, often genre-specific, film, regardless of whether it was intended as part of a double bill. Some B movies have gained cult followings and are appreciated for their campy humor, creative special effects (despite their low budget), or unique storytelling. Contemporary examples can be found in direct-to-video releases and independent filmmaking.