art-house cinema
/ˈɑːrt haʊs ˈsɪnəmə/
Meaning
'Art-house cinema' refers to films that are artistic, experimental, or highly intellectual rather than designed for mass commercial appeal. It can also refer to the physical theaters that specialize in showing these independent, foreign, and non-mainstream movies.
Examples
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If you are tired of Hollywood blockbusters, you should check out the local art-house cinema.
If you are tired of Hollywood blockbusters, you should check out the local art-house cinema.
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She prefers complex art-house cinema over predictable action movies.
She prefers complex art-house cinema over predictable action movies.
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The film festival showcases the best of contemporary international art-house cinema.
The film festival showcases the best of contemporary international art-house cinema.
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That director is famous for making slow, atmospheric art-house cinema.
That director is famous for making slow, atmospheric art-house cinema.
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We spent Saturday afternoon at a cozy art-house cinema watching an old French film.
We spent Saturday afternoon at a cozy art-house cinema watching an old French film.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I went to see an art-house cinema movie last night.
✓ I went to see an art-house movie last night.
'Art-house cinema' refers to the genre or the theater itself. To describe a specific film, use 'art-house film' or 'art-house movie'.
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✗ This movie is too much art-house.
✓ This movie is too art-house.
When using 'art-house' as a descriptive adjective, do not precede it with 'much'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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The downtown theater specializes in ___ rather than Hollywood blockbusters.
💡 A term for independent, artistic, non-mainstream films or the theaters that show them.
Show answer
art-house cinema
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He writes reviews focusing on foreign films and avant-garde ___.
💡 Highly artistic and non-commercial filmmaking.
Show answer
art-house cinema