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

See Examples For:

art house

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

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

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2025

However, some art house cinemas are doing strong business amid the doom and gloom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2025

Nothing in “The Universal Theory” is going to blow your mind, but as it plays its fastidiously crafted notes of conspiracy and chaos, you’ll know the idiosyncrasies of the art house are alive and well.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2024