B-movie

[ bee-moo-vee ]

noun

1. a low-budget movie made especially to accompany a major feature film on a double bill.

B-movie

noun

1. a film originally made (esp in Hollywood in the 1940s and 50s) as a supporting film, now often considered as a genre in its own right

Word History and Origins

Origin of B-movie¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The desert setting and chomping alien monsters give “The Last Dance” a whiff of “Starship Troopers,” a soupçon of “Tremors,” nodding to those self-consciously campy B-movie creature features of yore.

From Los Angeles Times

“My character is sort of this B-movie hypnotist outsider person who’s a little bit off, in general. And yeah, there’s going to be conjuring of spirits; there’ll be some magic, some comedy, and maybe some hell’s gonna break loose during all of this. I’m not gonna say how, in advance; you have to come and see it for yourself.”

From Los Angeles Times

I was trying to make a mockumentary-type fake B-movie comedy, but the company didn’t see the humor in it and turned it into schlock.

From Salon

With the title “1992” and an image of Watts’ own Tyrese Gibson on the poster, one would be safe to assume that the 1992 Los Angeles riots that erupted in the wake of the Rodney King verdict would be central to this B-movie thriller by director Ariel Vromen.

From Los Angeles Times

Blatz’s film is a solid B-movie that showcases Apa well.

From Salon