Paris Is Burning
Seen it?1991 | 78 min | Documentary, History
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences rate it highly (8.0 out of 10), it made about 8 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious and history buffs. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 18 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect sex.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion "houses," from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
8.0 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$4 million worldwide on a $500K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 251K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jennie Livingston
- Pepper LaBeijaSelf
- Octavia St. LaurentSelf
- Venus XtravaganzaSelf
- Dorian CoreySelf
- Willi NinjaSelf
- Paris DupreeSelf
- Freddie PendavisSelf
- Sol Williams PendavisSelf
- Junior LaBeijaSelf
- Angie XtravaganzaSelf