exploitation film

[eks-ploi-tey-shuhn film]

noun

1. a low-budget movie characterized by extreme violence, excessive gore, gratuitous sex, or other content meant to shock, disgust, or titillate.

Word History and Origins

Origin of exploitation film¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

The script is rich with allusions to cultural tropes around sex and predation, from the opening cries of an exploitation film playing at Margot’s workplace to a sinister Lee Hazlewood song over the closing titles.

From Los Angeles Times

Rudy Ray Moore, later a raunchy comedian who starred in the 1975 exploitation film “Dolemite,” was Mr. Smith’s driver.

From Washington Post

This one’s a don’t-miss movie only for folks with a strong constitution and a morbid curiosity about a game-changing but troubling exploitation film.

From New York Times

The grindhouse exploitation film could ruin her weekend.

From New York Times

Rabbitt also tried his hand at singing a similar kind of garage rock ’n’ roll, releasing the stomping singles “Wishy-Washy Woman” and “Pushover” in 1965; he performed the latter in the Larry Buchanan-directed exploitation film “High Yellow.”

From Los Angeles Times