The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 British-American musical comedy sci-fi horror film by 20th Century Fox directed by Lou Adler and Michael White and directed by Jim Sharman . The screenplay was written by Sharman and actor Richard O’Brien , who appears in the film, which is based on the 1973 musical stage production of the same title , with music, book, and lyrics by O’Brien. The production is a parody tribute to the science fiction and horror B moviesof the 1930s through the early 1970s. Along with O’Brien, the film stars Tim Curry , Susan Sarandon , and Barry Bostwick and is narrated by Charles Gray with cast members of the Royal Court Theater , Roxy Theater , and Belasco Theater productions.