The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

R

Released Aug 10, 1994

1h 42m

Comedy

LGBTQ+

List

94%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

88%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

When drag queen Anthony (Hugo Weaving) agrees to take his act on the road, he invites fellow cross-dresser Adam (Guy Pearce) and transsexual Bernadette (Terence Stamp) to come along. In their colorful bus, named Priscilla, the three performers travel across the Australian desert performing for enthusiastic crowds and homophobic locals. But when the other two performers learn the truth about why Anthony took the job, it threatens their act and their friendship.

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Critics Consensus

While its premise is ripe for comedy -- and it certainly delivers its fair share of laughs -- Priscilla is also a surprisingly tender and thoughtful road movie with some outstanding performances.

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Victoria Luxford

BBC.com

A very human drama, well acted, and very good fun!

Rated: 4/5

Sep 21, 2023

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

The core of Stephen Elliott’s movie about three drag queens on a no-hope road trip from Sydney to Alice Springs is a warm-hearted tale about yearning for family.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 12, 2023

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

It's a tremendous film that was ahead of its time on LGBT issues and, in some ways, is ahead of ours.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 7, 2019

Full Review

Steve Warren

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Priscilla is more gay-positive than the 90-some percent of movies that ignore gays completely or put us down. It returns glamour to the screen as only drag queens can do -- outrageously and preposterously.

May 8, 2023

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The ending is cozy and unrealistic, but one can appreciate Elliot’s wanting to make a jolly piece of gay pop.

Rated: B

Aug 31, 2022

Full Review

Lawrence Frascella

The Advocate

While this concept has definite fun appeal, the movie lacks follow-through.

Apr 4, 2022

Full Review

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Alex L

Wonderful feel good movie with a talented cast and characters we feel and care for

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/14/24

Full Review

Audience Member

There's not exactly a plot here but that's perfectly fine since it feels incredibly candid. I believed that these were three regular people on the road to do a show. There were a few parts that confused me like the hospital wearing the chandelier, but overall it was just cozy vibes (besides the few confrontations so uhh be aware of that). I also agree with another reviewer that the depiction of Bob's wife was out of place and uncalled for. I also think you can't beat drag performances in real life, but what was included was cool.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/10/24

Full Review

Chelsea L

What a gorgeous story of three stars shooting across the dessert, taking us on the journey with them!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Cowni F

This movie would be perfect, if it weren't for the over-the-top and kind of offensive portrayal of Bob's wife. It really felt out of place in this otherwise lovely, amazingly acted and visually beautiful movie about tolerance and being true to yourself.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

The costumes are sensational. The plot is ok but I just don't find drag queens funny. If you find camp funny then you'll love it, if like me you find it a bit irritating, then probably not the film for you. I got this one on DVD.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/24/23

Full Review

PridePosterStudios

Three drag queens walk into a corroboree Ouch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/20/24

Full Review

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Stephan Elliott

Director

Terence Stamp

Ralph

Hugo Weaving

Anthony "Tick" Belrose

Guy Pearce

Adam Whitely

Bill Hunter

Bob

Sarah Chadwick

Marion

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The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Official Clip - Opera Atop a Bus

2:31

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Official Clip - Ping-Pong

2:45

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Official Clip - Now You're F***ed

3:10

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Official Clip - Finally

4:17

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Official Clip - The Mountain Top

2:25

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Official Clip - The Christening of Priscilla

2:22

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Official Clip - People Like You

3:14

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Official Clip - I Will Survive

2:26

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Synopsis

When drag queen Anthony (Hugo Weaving) agrees to take his act on the road, he invites fellow cross-dresser Adam (Guy Pearce) and transsexual Bernadette (Terence Stamp) to come along. In their colorful bus, named Priscilla, the three performers travel across the Australian desert performing for enthusiastic crowds and homophobic locals. But when the other two performers learn the truth about why Anthony took the job, it threatens their act and their friendship.

Director: Stephan Elliott
Producer: Al Clark, Michael Hamlyn, Rebel Penford-Russell
Screenwriter: Stephan Elliott
Distributor: Roadshow Home Video [au], Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Australian Film Finance Corporation, Specific Films
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 10, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 3, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.1M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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