Little Shop of Horrors began as a 1960 B-movie directed by Roger Corman, written by Charles B. Griffith. The low-budget film became a cult classic due to its quirky characters, over-the-top performances, and campy charm, setting the stage for future adaptations.
The 1960s were a pivotal decade for science fiction and B-movies, marking a “golden age” for the genre with both literary and cinematic advancements.
In literature, science fiction (sci-fi) flourished as authors explored new themes of technology, space exploration, and social change. Notable writers like Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Arthur C. Clarke shaped the genre with works that tackled complex ideas about humanity’s future, space exploration, and the psychological effects of technological advancements (read more).
See: Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation” series and I, Robot; A Wizard of Earthsea and The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin; Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Parallel to this literary boom, the 1960s also saw significant changes in the realm of science fiction cinema, particularly in the realm of B-movies. B-movies, low-budget films with sensational plots and effects, influenced the era’s growing fascination with outer space, aliens, and dystopian futures. B-movies in this period often utilized practical effects, like miniature models and practical costumes, in order to bring extraterrestrial life and futuristic technologies to life. Despite their low budgets, these films engaged audiences by creating compelling narratives of survival, alien invasion, and dystopian futures that mirrored the era’s anxieties with the Cold War and the rise of space exploration. These works pushed the boundaries of popular fiction and set the stage for the genre’s mainstream acceptance (read more).
Still from the 1961 Little Shop of Horrors film, directed by Roger Corman
See: The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), The Man from the First Century (1965), The Omega Man (1968)
Little Shop of Horrors
Roger Corman, known as the “King of B Movies” produced 1961’s Little Shop of Horrors under the title The Passionate People Eater. The film blended black comedy, farce, Jewish humor, and spoof elements. It was filmed in just two days on a $28,000 budget, using leftover sets from his previous movie.
Initially a B-movie double feature, Little Shop of Horrors slowly gained a cult following through word of mouth and local TV broadcasts. Its popularity grew further due to the presence of a young Jack Nicholson, whose small role has been widely promoted in home video releases.
“Little Shop of Horrors is kind of one big sick joke, but it’s essentially harmless and good-natured.” -Variety, 1961 review
In 1982, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken adapted the story into a musical, premiering Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in New York. Directed by Ashman, the production retained the film’s core plot while adding vibrant musical elements and a satirical commentary on consumerism, capitalism, and human desire. After receiving rave reviews, the show transferred to the Orpheum Theatre and ran for over 2,000 performances, earning several prestigious awards, including Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Lyrics, a New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, a London Evening Standard Award, and a Grammy nomination for Best Cast Album.
“Little Shop of Horrors, at the WPA Theater…is a Faustian musical about a timid clerk who sells his soul to a man-eating Cactus. Admittedly this is a rather rarefied idea for a musical comedy, but the evening is as entertaining as it is exotic. It is a show for horticulturists, horror-cultists, sci-fi fans and anyone with a taste for the outrageous” (New York Times, 1982)
Playbill for the Broadway musical version of Little Shop of Horrors
Poster for the 1986 film, Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Frank Oz
In 1986, the story returned to the Screen when the musical was adapted into a film directed by Frank Oz, starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene (reprising her stage role), and Steve Martin. The movie initially had the same dark ending as the musical, but after poor audience reactions, Ashman rewrote a “happier ending”, introducing the song “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space,” which earned an Academy Award nomination.
Don’t miss this cult classic brought to life on stage—get your tickets now!
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, March 12 - April 6, 2025