Paris Is Burning

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Paris Is Burning

R

1990

1h 18m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

120 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

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.

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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.

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Catherine Dunphy

Toronto Star

3d

It is that we understand we are voyeurs, ultimately of ourselves, as reflected by the mirror the voguers are holding up to us.

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Lynden Barber

Sydney Morning Herald

3d

For pure entertainment value, the film is hard to beat; for the time when most of the footage was shot, this was a genuine underground scene, bursting with creative energy.

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Joe Pollack

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

3d

The applause is something, and the trophy is something, and for a little while they are what they want to be and not what the outside world considers them to be.

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Michael Walsh

The Province (Vancouver)

3d

A keenly observant and sympathetic filmmaker chooses to present her findings with straightforward honesty and a minimum of social analysis.

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Randall King

Winnipeg Sun

3d

The film transcends the issue of sexual orientation because it reflects any part of society with dreams of wealth and glamour and fame—just about all of us, in fact.

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Bob Ross

Tampa Tribune

3d

3.5/5

Reveals the the complex cultural mix of fantasy and family that surrounds the gala events.

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Joshua P.

@Lemon 07/07/2025

“Touch this skin, darling, touch this skin honey, touch all of this skin! Okay? You just can't take it! You're just an overgrown orangutan!” - Venus Xtravaganza

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Massoud H

@Massoud 07/02/2025

Especially moving, difficult, and fulfilling to watch this film in June 2025.

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Daniele W.

@Daniele 06/29/2025

It requires a lot of courage to want to make a movie or a documentary about a ball.

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Petros T

@PetrosTserpelis 11/02/2024

Quite an interesting depiction of the world of New York balls circa 1987, "Paris Is Burning" features an array of talking heads that bring up significant points. Nevertheless, this ensemble logic keeps it from having a protagonist, a main subject to focus on, follow and delve into. Arguably, the protagonist is actually the scene itself, and by extension, the community as a whole, but even then, its arc regarding its evolution over time is rather hastily done, and therefore lacks effectiveness.

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Melissa Juliette M

@JulietteDanger 04/12/2024

A film you simply must see.

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John H

@jhritz 10/20/2023

Enlightening and revolutionary.

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Jennie Livingston

Director

André Christian

Actor

Freddie Pendavis

Actor

Willi Ninja

Actor

Pepper LaBeija

Actor

Junior Labeija

Actor

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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