The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) is a popular-culture phenomenon. Originally a stage musical titled The Rocky Horror Show (1973) and conceived by English actor Richard O'Brien (1942–), the project employed an understanding and appreciation of tacky, low-budget horror and science-fiction films to produce an outlandish satire.

Four of the eccentric characters of the motion picture The Rocky Horror Picture Show: (left to right) Nell Campbell, Patricia Quinn, Tim Curry, and Richard O'Brien. The Kobal Collection. Reproduced by permission.

In the film, the setting is the fictional town of Denton, Ohio. Straight-laced sweethearts Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick, 1946–) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon, 1946–), who have set out to get married, are halted by bad weather. They seek refuge in the roadside manor of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry, 1946–), a mad scientist who wears makeup and dresses in women's clothes. Dr. Frank-N-Furter has created Rocky Horror...