The Difference Between B Movies and Indie Films
By: Nik S
Since movies first began, people wanted to take their hand in creating some kind of cinematic art. Those with a name behind them could get a larger budget from a well-established production company; others were left to smaller named producers or straight out of their own pocket. These kinds of film didn't allow for better visuals or actors but did allow creators to be more imaginative in their design. This practice of creating intriguing films on a shoestring budget led to the rise of what we call B movies and independent (indie) films. Lately, there seems to be a blurred line between what a B movie and indie film are since they're both low budget and produced outside of a major studio system. It used to be one could just tell by a cover art or how cheesy the acting was, but that doesn't seem to be the case as much anymore.
So the biggest difference between a B movie and an indie film is that one is a low-budget commercial movie while the other is an art-house that is aimed at a niche market. B movies were technically the first to arrive. Back near the 1920s up until near the 1950s, during Hollywood's Golden Age, theaters would show double features with an A and B movie (think similar to records). The second movies weren't weren't as popular or commercialized as the first. Eventually the second features slowly died out towards the end of the 1950s and became a broader term for videos in the future. The current definition covers two different aspects: exploitation, and a high degree of aesthetic creativity.
Regardless of which definition one prefers to use, B movies now focus on particular genres--where it used to be Westerns back in the Golden Age, it's now more akin to horror, science-fiction, and action films (but can be any genre). The original B movies would have sequels with returning cast or a particular character, which bled into the more recent versions. With their basic character structure and minimal artistic integrity, they are able to be work with fewer restraints than their expensive counterparts. These lower budget films are able to work with more exploitation-style content and take larger risks with their storytelling. They also don't normally make it to theaters, at most just have limited screenings at a few select theaters. Most likely these types of film will go straight to video or streaming services for a much wider release.
Indie films, on the other hand, can either be a feature or a short film. These films will be produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies. Independent films are usually distinguished by their style and content matter and have a more artistic vision to them. They can be normally low budget, as compared to major productions, but they can rival the mainstream media. Most indie films are characterized by having a limited release, but can also have a wide release with major marketing campaigns. These films, unlike most B movies, are screened at local, national, or international film festivals before their distribution.
Independent films started as early as the 1900s and can be traced back to small studios going up against the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC) or "Edison Trust" as it was held by Thomas Edison. It held a monopoly on film production and distribution which comprised all of the major film companies at the time. So many small studios responded by creating their own cameras and moved to California to get as far away from New Jersey, Edison's home, as possible. Eventually a Supreme Court decision canceled all MPPC patents, which legalized independent film practices. The next big movement happened between the 80s and 90s when film festivals started to become the norm for new directors to show off their artistic visions through film. Large studios started to take notice that small independent studios could finance a movie for a couple million and make over ten times the amount back in box office sales. Some smaller studios were bought out by larger ones in hopes of making smaller budget titles with a large returning profit. Not all small studios sold out, and continue to make independent features which are highly regarded in the film industry.
So while both are low budget, it's more the vision of the writers and directors that set these two types of film apart. They are both forms of media that still have a strong presence today and adapt to the newest form of distributions. While physical media, like DVD and Blu-ray, is going to the wayside of streaming (Netflix and Hulu), both B movies and Indie films can seek out new audiences. Also with social media, word of mouth is even more popular now than it has been before. Take Sharknado for example, it was going to be just another forgotten science-fiction movie on the Syfy channel until people started talking about it on Twitter. Before you know it, everyone knows about it and it's even parodied by mainstream media from time to time. So these two types of film will always find a way to live on and create enjoyment for years to come.
Check out these other great articles:
DVDumpster: The Dependables
The Venture Bros: An Exercise in Failure
Disenchantment Review
Follow us on social media:
So the biggest difference between a B movie and an indie film is that one is a low-budget commercial movie while the other is an art-house that is aimed at a niche market. B movies were technically the first to arrive. Back near the 1920s up until near the 1950s, during Hollywood's Golden Age, theaters would show double features with an A and B movie (think similar to records). The second movies weren't weren't as popular or commercialized as the first. Eventually the second features slowly died out towards the end of the 1950s and became a broader term for videos in the future. The current definition covers two different aspects: exploitation, and a high degree of aesthetic creativity.
Regardless of which definition one prefers to use, B movies now focus on particular genres--where it used to be Westerns back in the Golden Age, it's now more akin to horror, science-fiction, and action films (but can be any genre). The original B movies would have sequels with returning cast or a particular character, which bled into the more recent versions. With their basic character structure and minimal artistic integrity, they are able to be work with fewer restraints than their expensive counterparts. These lower budget films are able to work with more exploitation-style content and take larger risks with their storytelling. They also don't normally make it to theaters, at most just have limited screenings at a few select theaters. Most likely these types of film will go straight to video or streaming services for a much wider release.
Indie films, on the other hand, can either be a feature or a short film. These films will be produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies. Independent films are usually distinguished by their style and content matter and have a more artistic vision to them. They can be normally low budget, as compared to major productions, but they can rival the mainstream media. Most indie films are characterized by having a limited release, but can also have a wide release with major marketing campaigns. These films, unlike most B movies, are screened at local, national, or international film festivals before their distribution.
Independent films started as early as the 1900s and can be traced back to small studios going up against the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC) or "Edison Trust" as it was held by Thomas Edison. It held a monopoly on film production and distribution which comprised all of the major film companies at the time. So many small studios responded by creating their own cameras and moved to California to get as far away from New Jersey, Edison's home, as possible. Eventually a Supreme Court decision canceled all MPPC patents, which legalized independent film practices. The next big movement happened between the 80s and 90s when film festivals started to become the norm for new directors to show off their artistic visions through film. Large studios started to take notice that small independent studios could finance a movie for a couple million and make over ten times the amount back in box office sales. Some smaller studios were bought out by larger ones in hopes of making smaller budget titles with a large returning profit. Not all small studios sold out, and continue to make independent features which are highly regarded in the film industry.
So while both are low budget, it's more the vision of the writers and directors that set these two types of film apart. They are both forms of media that still have a strong presence today and adapt to the newest form of distributions. While physical media, like DVD and Blu-ray, is going to the wayside of streaming (Netflix and Hulu), both B movies and Indie films can seek out new audiences. Also with social media, word of mouth is even more popular now than it has been before. Take Sharknado for example, it was going to be just another forgotten science-fiction movie on the Syfy channel until people started talking about it on Twitter. Before you know it, everyone knows about it and it's even parodied by mainstream media from time to time. So these two types of film will always find a way to live on and create enjoyment for years to come.
Check out these other great articles:
DVDumpster: The Dependables
The Venture Bros: An Exercise in Failure
Disenchantment Review
Follow us on social media:
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