I went to my first showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” Friday, presented by Pink Box Burlesque at the Bama Theatre. It is safe to say that experience revived my faith in the power of film. While I could go on for days about men in tights and my friend Noah dressing like Miley Cyrus to win a free piercing, I will just stick to the performance and film itself.

As is Rocky tradition, Pink Box Burlesque acted out the scenes of Jim Sharman’s 1975 film as the film itself played on a big screen in the background. The audience was also required to participate, and by the closing credits, chests were exposed, toilet paper was everywhere and a dance party had ensued.

Now, I know I can’t expect this much of a party every time I watch a movie, but what I can’t help but wonder, what exactly is it that drives a film’s fan base to a campy communalism of Rocky-esque proportions?

Part of the film’s success came from its re-release as a midnight movie in 1976, drawing a recurring and eventually cult crowd. It also presents progressive views on sex, gender roles, sci-fi and the structure of musical movies themselves.

Tim Curry is brilliant as Dr. Frank N. Furter, encompassing sexuality in a way that is neither masculine nor feminine. This is continually captured by Frank N. Furter in shadow casts, like that of Pink Box Burlesque. Passion and desire are broken down to their purest forms, with only lust and no complications of propriety or convention. Women and men alike are free to dress, love and brutally murder in whatever way they choose. Something that is still new-age in current society.

The film’s genre-crossing plot also allows the campiest fans to combine in a deadly unit. The loose alien sci-fi plot mixed with musical numbers brings fans in from “Star Wars” to “Hairspray.” Surprisingly, Friday’s turnout also included prepsters in khaki, athletes in workout gear and one “Rocky” veteran who has been dressing up for these showings since the 1970s. There really is something for most people in the performance.

The film’s structure is not only different in terms of genre, but also in audience participation. The best thing a movie can do is engage us, which is my favorite thing about Rocky Horror.