art house

American  

[ahrt hous] / ˈɑrt ˌhaʊs /

noun

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

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art house British  

noun

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

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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

The San Fernando Valley native is a brilliant director who has made sprawling, messy epics about imperfect people synonymous with his name, like John Ford with Westerns or A24 with art house flicks.

From Los Angeles Times

But some insiders consider the move an important and necessary reset, as hotel prices in Park City have made the festival inaccessible for struggling filmmakers and many fans, and as Hollywood reckons with a challenging box office market for the kinds of art house films that are Sundance’s bread and butter.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is a fantastic movie theater that shows great art house films you can’t find anywhere else.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s a world where they live somewhere, whether it’s in small art house cinemas or whatever.

From Los Angeles Times

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