art house: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal / Informal
Quick answer
What does “art house” mean?
A cinema that specialises in showing independent, foreign, classic, or experimental films, often with artistic rather than purely commercial aims.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cinema that specialises in showing independent, foreign, classic, or experimental films, often with artistic rather than purely commercial aims.
The term can describe the category or genre of such films themselves, their specific aesthetic, or the cultural niche of filmmaking and exhibition that operates outside the mainstream commercial film industry.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is highly similar. 'Art-house cinema' is the typical collocation in both, though 'art-house theatre' is sometimes used in AmE. In BrE, 'art-house cinema' is almost universal.
Connotations
Equally carries connotations of intellectualism, niche appeal, and highbrow culture in both dialects. May occasionally be used slightly pejoratively to imply pretentiousness or inaccessibility.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in written cultural criticism and journalism than in everyday conversation. Frequency is comparable in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “art house” in a Sentence
[The/An/Our local] art house [is showing/vandalised][adj] art-house filmto [verb: run/frequent/support] an art houseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “art house” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- It has a very art-house feel.
- The festival's art-house programme is superb.
- That's a bit too art-house for my taste.
American English
- It's a real art-house film.
- She has an art-house sensibility.
- The director's style is decidedly art-house.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the film distribution and exhibition industry to describe a market segment (e.g., 'The art-house circuit has been resilient.').
Academic
Common in film studies, media studies, and cultural criticism to categorise films and movements (e.g., 'Post-war Italian art-house cinema').
Everyday
Used by people discussing film preferences or local entertainment options (e.g., 'Let's check what's on at the art house.').
Technical
A specific classification in film festival programming, distribution rights, and cinema licensing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “art house”
- Using 'art house' to refer to a gallery. Incorrect: *'We visited an art house with paintings.'
- Misspelling as one word 'arthouse' in formal writing (though this is increasingly accepted).
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'art houses' is correct for multiple cinemas; 'arts house' is incorrect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while foreign and independent films are staples, art-house cinemas also show classic films, documentaries, and experimental work from any country, including the filmmaker's own.
Typically not. 'Art-house' defines a niche, non-mainstream category based on budget, distribution, and aesthetic ambition. However, some mainstream directors have art-house sensibilities.
All art-house films are independent in spirit, but not all independent films are art-house. 'Independent' refers primarily to production outside major studios, while 'art-house' describes a specific aesthetic, narrative style, and intended audience.
It is hyphenated ('art-house') when used as an adjective before a noun (e.g., art-house cinema) to clarify it's a single concept modifying the noun. As a standalone noun, 'art house' (two words) is common.
A cinema that specialises in showing independent, foreign, classic, or experimental films, often with artistic rather than purely commercial aims.
Art house is usually formal / informal in register.
Art house: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɑːt haʊs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːrt haʊs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A house (building) for art (films as art), not just for entertainment. Separates ART from the HOUSE of mainstream movies.
Conceptual Metaphor
CINEMA IS A HOUSE (with different rooms/types). HIGHBROW/ELITIST CULTURE IS A SEPARATE BUILDING.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as 'art-house'?