Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

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Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

2024

1h 40m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

Comedy

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10 Reviews

71%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution is the first feature length documentary to explore the history of queer stand up comedy. The documentary considers the importance of LGBTQ+ stand up as a driver of social change over the past five decades, actively reflecting and challenging cultural norms and values. Ultimately, the film reveals that queer comedians -- whether they intended to or not -- helped change the world, one joke at a time.

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Don Aucoin

Boston Globe

If you doubt that representation matters all that much, watch “Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution.”

Sep 3, 2024

Full Review

David Rooney

The Hollywood Reporter

Outstanding makes a persuasive, highly entertaining case that the evolution of queer comedy is inextricably bound to broader developments in representation, and that emerging next-gen queer comics could learn a lot from their forebears.

Jun 19, 2024

Full Review

Chris Azzopardi

New York Times

Hurwitz examines comedy’s place in the L.G.B.T.Q. movement in... “Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution,” creating a rich, century-long timeline full of archival footage, behind-the-scenes glimpses and candid interviews with comedians.

Jun 18, 2024

Full Review

Vera Wylde

Council of Geeks

While it's not the deepest thing in the world, it's a good foundational start to go more into (queer comedians).

Jan 25, 2025

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Jen Shieff

New Zealand Herald

Plenty here to inspire a new generation of LGBTQIA+ comics, thought-provoking and highly entertaining for the mature general public.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 9, 2025

Full Review

Tim Miller

Cape Cod Wave Magazine

Highlights include a rare, controversial clip of Richard Pryor confronting a gay audience and a look at the career of Robin Tyler, the first lesbian or gay comic to come out on national TV.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 17, 2024

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Kyle B

I am not sure who gave this person her job in comedy, but every one of the things she has produced has been absolute trash.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

Full Review

Jens B

🌈 Good and important, entertaining and informative. I really enjoyed the special from two years ago, but here comes the big but: While it’s true that Netflix deserves credit for making all of this possible, why do I only see a fraction of these comedians on Netflix? Why does it have to remain a one-time thing? Why not create an ongoing queer variety show? You don’t need big names, just talent. Surely it can’t be that hard, can it?

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

Full Review

Zach W

Great documentary about amazing trailblazers who deserve to be spotlighted. Such powerful messages throughout.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/30/24

Full Review

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Page Hurwitz

Director

Tig Notaro

Self

Sandra Bernhard

Self

Suzy Eddie Izzard

Self

Page Hurwitz

Writer

Colin Devenish

Producer

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Synopsis

Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution is the first feature length documentary to explore the history of queer stand up comedy. The documentary considers the importance of LGBTQ+ stand up as a driver of social change over the past five decades, actively reflecting and challenging cultural norms and values. Ultimately, the film reveals that queer comedians -- whether they intended to or not -- helped change the world, one joke at a time.

Director: Page Hurwitz
Producer: Colin Devenish, Lisa Singer Haese, Sharon Houston
Screenwriter: Page Hurwitz
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Brian Graden Media, Push It Productions
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 18, 2024
Runtime: 1h 40m

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