art house

American  

[ahrt hous] / ˈɑrt ˌhaʊs /

noun

1. a movie theater specializing in the exhibition of art films.

---

art house British  

noun

1. a cinema which specializes in showing films which are not part of the commercial mainstream

---

adjective

1. 1. of or relating to such films or a cinema which specializes in showing them

   2. ( as modifier )

      the surprise art-house hit of the season

Etymology

Origin of art house

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

art house

“Boyhood” is also getting a theatrical release in select art house theaters around the country, including the Alamo Drafthouse chain on Sept. 7.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

But that’s when Les Bleus tapped into the same French patience that gave the world art house cinema, endless summer lunches, and the collected works of Marcel Proust.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

Pierce Brosnan starred in 1999 art house caper The Thomas Crown Affair, which itself was a remake of a 1968 film of the same title.

From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2026

Hanlon agreed that niche players such as Curiosity Stream, which specializes in documentary programming, and art house film specialists Criterion Collection, can continue to chug along as the bigger players battle it out.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2025

"It's been limited to coastal New York viewers through art house films," he says.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2025