But I'm a Cheerleader

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1:41

But I'm a Cheerleader

R

1999

1h 21m

Comedy

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

92 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Megan (Natasha Lyonne) considers herself a typical American girl. She excels in school and cheerleading, and she has a handsome football-playing boyfriend, even though she isn't that crazy about him. So she's stunned when her parents decide she's gay and send her to True Directions, a boot camp meant to alter her sexual orientation. While there, Megan meets a rebellious and unashamed teen lesbian, Graham (Clea DuVall). Though Megan still feels confused, she starts to have feelings for Graham.

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Critics Consensus

Too broad to make any real statements, But I'm a Cheerleader isn't as sharp as it should be, but a charming cast and surprisingly emotional center may bring enough pep for viewers looking for a light social satire.

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Riese Bernard

Autostraddle

The film manages to take these dark feelings of shame and confusion, of family rejection and religious persecution and betrayal, and make it funny and cool and even a little romantic.

Apr 30, 2024

Full Review

Paul Tatara

CNN.com

But I'm a Cheerleader is a smug little comedy that tries to mock other people's self-righteousness while ignoring its own.

Mar 31, 2019

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

I would have preferred to know more in documentary terms about the actual reality of these terrible camps, rather than sit through this heavy-handed and oddly lenient comedy.

Mar 31, 2019

Full Review

Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

But I'm a Cheerleader is an admirable attempt to tell the touching story of a young woman discovering her true sexual identity & potentially her true mate at the same time, but sadly it ends up being greatly hindered by rather poor execution.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 30, 2025

Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

Everything is Horrible (Substack)

But I’m a Cheerleader insists on being big and weird and fake and sexual and joyfully itself.

Jun 25, 2025

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Wayne Broadway

Black Girl Nerds

1999’s 'But I’m a Cheerleader' had all the potential to be a devastating drama. With just a little tweaking here and there, the film’s campy, satirical edge could have been blunted into something more dire and harder to watch.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 16, 2023

Full Review

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Zach L

It's fun and silly and cute and heartwarming!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/27/25

Full Review

MaryAnn M.

Campy and fun. Food for thought wrapped in a comedy

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/19/25

Full Review

jolin t

Incredibly sweet and funny!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/22/25

Full Review

Dave S

Much to her surprise, high school senior, suspected lesbian, and cheerleader Megan (Natasha Lyonne) is shipped off by her parents to a conversion therapy camp where she is taught the ways of heterosexuality by Mary (Cathy Moriarty), the program director, and Mike (RuPaul, in one of the greatest casting decisions of all time), the camp counsellor. But I’m a Cheerleader is a light-hearted satire that takes direct aim at Christian conservatives and the practice of conversion therapy, hitting its mark more often than not. It’s filled with appropriately garish sets and wardrobes, a campy music score that does its job, plenty of witty dialogue, and a cast that seems to be having a blast throughout. Yes, it is pretty predictable and could have been more stinging with its satire, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a whole lot of fun to watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Greg D

It was very funny and sweet to me. It seems like a lot of the negativity comes from misplaced expectations. The movie is more about finding the courage to be yourself and finding support than an expose on conversion therapy and social injustice, and that's why so many of the characters are flamboyant and "arch."

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

Full Review

Rami A

Seeing this 26 years later shows that nothing has changed. People still don't want to accept what others want to do; instead, they try to control them.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

Full Review

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Jamie Babbit

Director

Natasha Lyonne

Megan

Cathy Moriarty

Mary

Bud Cort

Peter

Mink Stole

Megan's Mom

RuPaul

Mike

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Family Therapy

1:31

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Kissing and Dreaming

1:30

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Rediscovering Your Gender Identity

1:56

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - I Love You

2:05

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Foreplay is For Sissies

2:44

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - The Intervention

1:47

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - The Final Test

3:01

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Never Felt That Way Before

2:47

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - True Directions

2:54

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Reporting Roots

1:19

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But I'm a Cheerleader: Trailer 1

1:41

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Synopsis

Megan (Natasha Lyonne) considers herself a typical American girl. She excels in school and cheerleading, and she has a handsome football-playing boyfriend, even though she isn't that crazy about him. So she's stunned when her parents decide she's gay and send her to True Directions, a boot camp meant to alter her sexual orientation. While there, Megan meets a rebellious and unashamed teen lesbian, Graham (Clea DuVall). Though Megan still feels confused, she starts to have feelings for Graham.

Director: Jamie Babbit
Producer: Leanna Creel, Andrea Sperling
Screenwriter: Jamie Babbit, Brian Wayne Peterson
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Kushner-Locke International, HKM Films, Ignite Entertainment, Cheerleader LLC
Rating: R (Strong Language|Sexual Content Involving Teens)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.2M
Runtime: 1h 21m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround

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