Cry Baby

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Cry Baby

PG-13

Released Apr 6, 1990

1h 25m

Musical

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

A prim and proper schoolgirl goes against her mother's wishes when she dates a motorcycle-riding juvenile delinquent.

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Critics Consensus

John Waters' musical ode to the teen rebel genre is infectious and gleefully camp, providing star Johnny Depp with the perfect vehicle in which to lampoon his pin-up image.

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Neil Jillett

The Age (Australia)

It would be excessively generous to call Cry-Baby a satire, but its parody of what enchanted and excited teenagers more than 30 years ago is energetically delivered by Waters and the enthusiastic cast.

Dec 13, 2024

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Budd Wilkins

Slant Magazine

Packed with catchy musical numbers, John Waters’s Cry-Baby is a riotous satire of ’50s teen idol and JD films that still has something to say about class in America.

Jun 7, 2024

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Henry Sheehan

Chicago Reader

In fact, the movie is so good- humored that it stands in marked contrast to almost every other mainstream American film out now...

Rated: 3/4

May 12, 2022

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... Waters’ tribute to 1950s rock and roll movies and juvenile delinquent exploitation pictures.

Apr 29, 2025

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

The overall tone may be comedic, but Waters wants the romance to be real, which is ultimately what makes Cry-Baby work so well.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 3, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

As usual, Waters turns his nose (and middle finger) up at decent, square society, preferring instead to frolic with the freaks, geeks, and outcasts.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 9, 2024

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Julia Y

One of the weirdest and most absurd film I ever watched. I was recommended to watch it cause I dance Lindy hop but there were almost no dancing only some of rock'n'roll singing and some music of 50s 60s but the movie overall made in a very bad taste, the actors make a lot of faces, overact in awkward way and it's unpleasant to watch , wasted time for me.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/11/25

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Nick O

A perfect piece of John Waters juvenile delinquency. This wild hillbilly musical is an all out celebration of Rock N’ Roll and just being bad!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

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penut b

its a funny movie, funny to watch but in a bad way. the acting is really bad, the songs are alright. most of the acting is just too funny not to laugh at (again, in a bad way) im not sure if this is a satire but i pray that it is. iggy pop is in it though so for that it gets 2 stars.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/13/25

Full Review

Mason M

Though Cry-Baby may not be all too good of a film at the end of the day, it hard to deny that I really enjoyed this film. The wonderful musical numbers and often hilarious satire from Waters left me entertained and full of joy throughout this watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/26/24

Full Review

helder f

A lot of singing in a movie that’s not to be taken seriously. A sort of a parody of musicals from the 50s, it has a few entertaining scenes but it overall falls flat.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/03/24

Full Review

Judyann V

My favorite movie for many years but the drinking of the tears will always make me gag.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/15/24

Full Review

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John Waters

Director

Johnny Depp

Wade 'Cry-Baby' Walker

Amy Locane

Allison Vernon-Williams

Susan Tyrrell

Ramona Rickettes

Polly Bergen

Mrs. Vernon-Williams, Allison's Grandmother

Iggy Pop

Uncle Belvedere Rickettes

Cry-Baby: Official Clip - High School Hellcats

2:49

Cry-Baby: Official Clip - Orphans

2:09

Cry-Baby: Official Clip - How to French Kiss

1:37

Cry-Baby: Official Clip - Cry-Baby's New Motorcycle

1:13

Cry-Baby: Official Clip - Doin' Time for Bein' Young

2:23

Cry-Baby: Official Clip - King Cry-Baby

3:04

Cry-Baby: Official Clip - Turkey Point is Open for Business

2:46

Cry-Baby: Official Clip - Teardrops Are Falling

2:09

Cry-Baby: Official Clip - Squares, Drapes and Scrapes

2:55

Cry-Baby: Official Clip - Picking Up Allison

2:11

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Synopsis

A prim and proper schoolgirl goes against her mother's wishes when she dates a motorcycle-riding juvenile delinquent.

Director: John Waters
Producer: Rachel Talalay
Screenwriter: John Waters
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 1990, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.5M
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Surround

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