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A Dirty Shame

Play trailer Poster for A Dirty Shame NC-17 2004 1h 29m Comedy LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
55% Tomatometer 113 Reviews 51% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) runs a convenience store with her husband (Chris Isaak) and mother-in-law (Suzanne Shepherd). One day, Sylvia is hit on the head and transforms from an uptight prude to a sex-crazed lunatic. As she goes on a rampage through town, Sylvia attracts the attention of Ray Ray (Johnny Knoxville), a sexual healer and tow truck driver in search of the world's greatest orgasm. Their sexual revolution, however, causes a class war in their tiny Baltimore community.
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A Dirty Shame

A Dirty Shame

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Critics Consensus

John Waters casts his provocative eye toward libido in a sex satire that won't leave audiences feeling too Dirty, but this sophomoric farce doesn't strike a nerve like his best work -- a real Shame.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek 03/13/2018
This exercise in bad taste is the Dawn of the Dead of nymphomania. Never mean-spirited, A Dirty Shame has some big laughs, but it's a one-joke movie that shows its strain well before the finish line. Go to Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle 10/19/2004
3.5/5
A genuine cri de couer in the director's long-running battle against the forces of censorship and a banal societal (and cinematic) status quo. Go to Full Review Glenn Kenny Premiere Magazine 10/06/2004
3/4
A welcome reminder that sex is sometimes too ridiculous to take so seriously. Go to Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review 08/07/2008
1/5
Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault 07/30/2007
B+
Waters has made a resolutely unsexy sex comedy, but he hasn't left out the comedy. Go to Full Review Christopher Smith Bangor Daily News (Maine) 11/18/2005
B
No shame here. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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adam T @Henry_Bickle Mar 23 If you hate this film it is probably about you. I can't imagine knowing so little about John Waters I would intentionally view one of his films as a neuter. The very fact Tracy Ullman and Chis Isaak were cast as a married couple is radical right off the bat. I found it absolutely refreshing throughout. John Waters eats life! Suicide for celluloid! See more Michael C @RT87248026 02/06/2024 I'm a lifelong John Waters fan and so I knew what to expect. This movie is trashy in the best possible way. Lots of bawdy humor and a star studded cast. See it just for the "Bears" 😂 See more kirby p @RT22297428 09/11/2022 Reminder to self: Never see another Waters movie. See more andrew k @RT40967692 08/14/2022 If you don't like John Water movies, don't go anywhere near this one. And Hairspray alone doesn't count. If you legitimately love John waters movies, this one will be a lot of fun. See more Ted W @RT84494621 05/05/2022 What a perverted movie. I thought this would be a satirical comedy about you know, perverted stuff but instead we got a kinda low budget spoof movie with pure cringe. Like when the main girl hits her head she turns into a crazy you know fiend. It's funny at first but it got old quick. Selma Blair is in this and she's funny but what's the reason for you know. Anyway in the end this movie is dumb and personally I'm not a fan. See more 01/02/2021 Possibly one of the worst films ever made. See more Read all reviews
A Dirty Shame

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Cast & Crew

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John Waters

Director

Tracey Ullman

Sylvia Stickles

Johnny Knoxville

Ray-Ray

Selma Blair

Caprice Stickles

Chris Isaak

Vaughn Stickles

Suzanne Shepherd

Big Ethel

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A Dirty Shame

Tracey Ullman (L), Chris Isaak (R) in "A Dirty Shame". Johnny Knoxville in "A Dirty Shame". Selma Blair in "A Dirty Shame". Chris Isaak in "A Dirty Shame". Tracey Ullman in "A Dirty Shame". ohn Waters, Director of "A Dirty Shame". View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) runs a convenience store with her husband (Chris Isaak) and mother-in-law (Suzanne Shepherd). One day, Sylvia is hit on the head and transforms from an uptight prude to a sex-crazed lunatic. As she goes on a rampage through town, Sylvia attracts the attention of Ray Ray (Johnny Knoxville), a sexual healer and tow truck driver in search of the world's greatest orgasm. Their sexual revolution, however, causes a class war in their tiny Baltimore community.
Director
John Waters
Producer
Ted Hope
Screenwriter
John Waters
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Production Co
Killer Films, This Is That Productions, City Lights Pictures
Rating
NC-17 (Perverse Sexual Content)
Genre
Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 12, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.3M
Runtime
1h 29m
Sound Mix
Surround, DTS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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