Paris Is Burning

R

Now Playing

1h 18m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

List

98%

63 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

This documentary focuses on drag queens living in New York City and their "house" culture, which provides a sense of community and support for the flamboyant and often socially shunned performers. Groups from each house compete in elaborate balls that take cues from the world of fashion. Also touching on issues of racism and poverty, the film features interviews with a number of renowned drag queens, including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey.

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Critics Consensus

Paris Is Burning dives into '80s transgender subculture, with the understated camera allowing this world to flourish and the people to speak (and dance) for themselves.

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Melissa Juliette M

A film you simply must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/24

Full Review

John H

Enlightening and revolutionary.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/20/23

Full Review

PridePosterStudios

Essential viewing. You’re not a certified queer until you’ve seen this.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

Full Review

david f

A great collection of eccentric New Yorkers. This is a snapshot of a subculture which is heart-warming and heart-breaking.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

In a short runtime, Paris Is Burning gets across a lot without ever feeling wasteful and becomes a very interesting documentary on the 80's NYC ballroom scene and touches on moving themes of sexuality, race, class, and life itself.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Mandatory viewing for everyone. This demonstrates why the gay rights movement happened, and why no gay or trans person is a victim. The amount of harassment gay and trans people go through makes them the strongest people on the planet, especially at the time this documentary was shot. For this generation to victimize fearless fighters, as that is the underlying current of what most of these socio-political movements have transformed into, is counterproductive to what the women and men and them fought so hard to be: FREE. Not victims of an oppressive new computerized social culture which forces them to properly act and speak like their chosen identity. QUEER happened because people wanted to free their authentic selves, not specify their pronoun or sexual preference. This age is dominated by what the computer and phone did to Queer culture; trying to categorize and pigeonhole identity. No Queer person would try to control the perception Other had of them back in the day! Bold fashion and being themselves in the face of a conservative society made them stars in their own communities. Listen, we want progress, but not at the sake of our collective freedom. Trying to control narratives and perceptions of Other is not gonna happen. Give it up. Enjoy your own category and being different and Other taking any notice of you at all. And for Goddesses' sake, enjoy this film!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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Jennie Livingston

Director

André Christian

Actor

Freddie Pendavis

Actor

Willi Ninja

Actor

Pepper LaBeija

Actor

Junior Labeija

Actor

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Christine Dolen

Miami Herald

It is strong, sardonically funny, sometimes shattering stuff.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 17, 2021

Full Review

Geoff Brown

Times (UK)

Half sad, half exuberant.

May 19, 2020

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

The earnestness of the competition is what holds this film together.

Rated: 3/4

May 19, 2020

Full Review

Vivian McCall

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

This beautiful film is about surviving on the fringe—and looking amazing while doing it.

Jun 16, 2023

Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Makes smashing use of the documentary form: it shares with the audience its knowledge of a glittering American subculture... that is little known to most of us.

Rated: 4/4

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

It’s a documentary that demands to be seen.

Mar 3, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

This documentary focuses on drag queens living in New York City and their "house" culture, which provides a sense of community and support for the flamboyant and often socially shunned performers. Groups from each house compete in elaborate balls that take cues from the world of fashion. Also touching on issues of racism and poverty, the film features interviews with a number of renowned drag queens, including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey.

Director: Jennie Livingston
Production Co: Miramax Films, Prestige Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 13, 1990, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jun 14, 2019
Release Date (Streaming): May 5, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $122.8K
Runtime: 1h 18m

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