Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Paris Is Burning

R Released Mar 13, 1990 1h 18m Documentary LGBTQ+ List
98% Tomatometer 63 Reviews 88% Audience Score 2,500+ Ratings This documentary focuses on drag queens living in New York City and their "house" culture, which provides a sense of community and support for the flamboyant and often socially shunned performers. Groups from each house compete in elaborate balls that take cues from the world of fashion. Also touching on issues of racism and poverty, the film features interviews with a number of renowned drag queens, including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey. Read More Read Less Watch on Max Stream Now

Where to Watch

Paris Is Burning

Max Apple TV

Watch Paris Is Burning with a subscription on Max, rent on Apple TV, or buy on Apple TV.

Paris Is Burning

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Paris Is Burning dives into '80s transgender subculture, with the understated camera allowing this world to flourish and the people to speak (and dance) for themselves.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (63) Critics Reviews
Geoff Brown Times (UK) Half sad, half exuberant. May 19, 2020 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune The earnestness of the competition is what holds this film together. Rated: 3/4 May 19, 2020 Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times There is a lot of common sense and natural wit behind the role-playing. Yet there is also a terrible sadness in the testimony. May 19, 2020 Full Review Vivian McCall The Stranger (Seattle, WA) This beautiful film is about surviving on the fringe—and looking amazing while doing it. Jun 16, 2023 Full Review Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) Makes smashing use of the documentary form: it shares with the audience its knowledge of a glittering American subculture... that is little known to most of us. Rated: 4/4 May 9, 2023 Full Review Brian Susbielles InSession Film It’s a documentary that demands to be seen. Mar 3, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (216) audience reviews
Melissa Juliette M A film you simply must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/12/24 Full Review John H Enlightening and revolutionary. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/20/23 Full Review PridePosterStudios Essential viewing. You’re not a certified queer until you’ve seen this. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/24/24 Full Review david f A great collection of eccentric New Yorkers. This is a snapshot of a subculture which is heart-warming and heart-breaking. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member In a short runtime, Paris Is Burning gets across a lot without ever feeling wasteful and becomes a very interesting documentary on the 80's NYC ballroom scene and touches on moving themes of sexuality, race, class, and life itself. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Mandatory viewing for everyone. This demonstrates why the gay rights movement happened, and why no gay or trans person is a victim. The amount of harassment gay and trans people go through makes them the strongest people on the planet, especially at the time this documentary was shot. For this generation to victimize fearless fighters, as that is the underlying current of what most of these socio-political movements have transformed into, is counterproductive to what the women and men and them fought so hard to be: FREE. Not victims of an oppressive new computerized social culture which forces them to properly act and speak like their chosen identity. QUEER happened because people wanted to free their authentic selves, not specify their pronoun or sexual preference. This age is dominated by what the computer and phone did to Queer culture; trying to categorize and pigeonhole identity. No Queer person would try to control the perception Other had of them back in the day! Bold fashion and being themselves in the face of a conservative society made them stars in their own communities. Listen, we want progress, but not at the sake of our collective freedom. Trying to control narratives and perceptions of Other is not gonna happen. Give it up. Enjoy your own category and being different and Other taking any notice of you at all. And for Goddesses' sake, enjoy this film! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Paris Is Burning

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
The Celluloid Closet 97% 89% The Celluloid Closet Outrage 79% 76% Outrage Sex Positive 82% 60% Sex Positive Eleven Minutes 59% 48% Eleven Minutes Fahrenheit 9/11 82% 70% Fahrenheit 9/11 Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All Related Movie News
The Indie Fresh List: An Epic Sea Adventure and Landmark LGBTQ Docs Hit Theaters This Week

Photos

View All Paris Is Burning photos

Paris Is Burning

Paris Is Burning (1990) Paris Is Burning (1990) Paris Is Burning (1990) Paris Is Burning (1990) Paris Is Burning (1990) Paris Is Burning (1990) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary focuses on drag queens living in New York City and their "house" culture, which provides a sense of community and support for the flamboyant and often socially shunned performers. Groups from each house compete in elaborate balls that take cues from the world of fashion. Also touching on issues of racism and poverty, the film features interviews with a number of renowned drag queens, including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey.
Director
Jennie Livingston
Producer
Jennie Livingston, Barry Swimar
Production Co
Miramax Films, Prestige Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 13, 1990, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jun 14, 2019
Release Date (Streaming)
May 5, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$122.8K
Runtime
1h 18m
Most Popular at Home Now