Paris Is Burning

1990
R
1h 18m

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

19K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:40

2 Videos

47 Photos

Documentary

A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.

Director
- Jennie Livingston
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

19K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Jennie Livingston
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 17 wins & 1 nomination total

Self
(as Carmen and Brooke)

André Christian

Self
(as Andre Christian)

Dorian Corey

Self

Paris Duprée

Self
(as Paris Dupree)

Pepper LaBeija

Self

Junior LaBeija

Self

Willi Ninja

Self

Sandy Ninja

Self

Kim Pendavis

Self

Freddie Pendavis

Self

Sol Pendavis

Self

Avis Pendavis

Self

Octavia St. Laurent

Self
(as Octavia Saint Laurent)

Stevie Saint Laurent

Self

Anji Xtravaganza

Self
(as Angie Xtravaganza)

Bianca Xtravaganza

Self

Danny Xtravaganza

Self

David Xtravaganza

Self

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Considered to be the first example of the now-common expression "throwing shade."

Quotes
Dorian Corey: I always had hopes of being a big star. But as you get older, you aim a little lower. Everybody wants to make an impression, some mark upon the world. Then you think, you've made a mark on the world if you just get through it, and a few people remember your name. Then you've left a mark. You don't have to bend the whole world. I think it's better to just enjoy it. Pay your dues, and just enjoy it. If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Doc Hollywood/Return to the Blue Lagoon/Hot Shots!/Paris Is Burning/Another You (1991)

Soundtracks
Is It All Over My Face!
Performed by Loose Joints

User reviews53

Review

Featured review

Really well made. Interesting. Sad, too.

I will confess that I had no idea what I was walking into when I saw it. At the time, I was between jobs and seeing every movie I could. It was either that-or look for a job!

Remember seeing the title and thinking it was about WW2, Hitler, etc. Of course, once the movie started, I was surprised.

It was a very cool movie. I don't think it matters if you're straight, gay, or somewhere in between. It opened my eyes to a whole new sub-culture I never knew existed. What I saw was a group of men very passionate about something in their lives. Fascinating to watch them transform their appearance.

Sad to see how their families didn't accept them or when there was a death of one of the principals. I remember they showed one of the actors truly depressed b/c his family (maybe his father) tossed all of the clothes he had collected. Outside of the monetary value, he really had pride in all that he had amassed over the years.

I left thinking I wouldn't want to try it, but I thought it would be very fun to attend one of these balls.