Paris Is Burning
“Having a ball… Wish you were here”
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.
Where to watch
HBO Max
Stream
Shout! Factory TV
Free with ads
YouTube Free
Free with ads
Plex
Free with ads
Plex Channel
Free with ads
Tubi TV
Free with ads
Your rating
Your review
Cast
25 people
Pepper LaBeija
Self
Also in
How Do I Look
Octavia St. Laurent
Self
Known for
The Saint of Fort Washington
Venus Xtravaganza
Self
Dorian Corey
Self
Willi Ninja
Self
Also in
How Do I Look
Anthem
Paris Dupree
Self
Freddie Pendavis
Self
Sol Williams Pendavis
Self
Junior LaBeija
Self
Angie Xtravaganza
Self
Carmen Xtravaganza
Self
Also in
God Save the Queens
Brooke Xtravaganza
Self
Jennie Livingston Director · Paul Gibson Cinematographer Jonathan Oppenheim Editor
Worldwide gross $3.9M · Budget $500K · United States release March 13, 1991
Box office
Budget
$500,000
Worldwide gross
$3,906,006
Gross vs. budget
7.8×
Production
Off White Productions
Production
Miramax
Studio · Production
United States
Produced in
The Children Are · To Be Real
Working titles
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United Kingdom · April 6, 1990
TV · Broadcast on BBC 2 as part of Arena
United States · March 13, 1991
Theatrical · New York City, New York
United States
June 9, 1990 · Premiere · NewFest New York's LGBT Film Festival
June 16, 1990 · Premiere · San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival
December 4, 1990 · Premiere · Princeton Queer Articulations Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
January 1, 1991 · Premiere · Sundance Film Festival
April 20, 1991 · Premiere · USA Film Festival
Australia
April 10, 1992 · Theatrical
July 3, 2016 · Limited theatrical · Gallery of Modern Art Queensland
Canada
September 13, 1990 · Premiere · Toronto International Film Festival
April 30, 2015 · Premiere · Hot Docs International Documentary Festival
France
September 25, 2019 · TV · France 2
Netherlands
December 13, 1991 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
January 5, 2007 · Theatrical
More from Jennie Livingston
Other films they directed, best known first.
Some details come from TheTVDB.