Hairspray

Hairspray (1988)

  • 97% of critics liked it
    (36 reviews)

  • 77% of users liked it
    (63,208 ratings)

Forever interested in the kitsch built into past eras, director John Waters chooses the TV dance show craze of the early '60s for his playful focus in Hairspray. Ricki Lake plays Tracy Turnblad, just one of several alliteratively named characters coming of age in 1962 Baltimore, where "The… More

Play Trailer

PG,
Directed By
Written By
John Waters
Genres
Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy
In Theaters
Feb 26, 1988 Wide
New Line Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Pauline Kael, New Yorker

    When Divine's Edna Turnblad is on-screen in the sleeveless dresses she's partial to, the movie has something like the lunacy of a W. C. Fields in drag.

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    Not only Waters's best movie, but a crossover gesture that expands his appeal without compromising his vision one iota; Ricki Lake as the hefty young heroine is especially delightful.

  • Derek Adams, Time Out

    Waters' most hygienically commercial film is a Retro schlock-fancier's delight.

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    The actors are best when they avoid exaggeration and remain weirdly sincere. That way, they do nothing to break the vibrant, even hallucinogenic spell of Mr. Waters's nostalgia.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    The movie is a bubble-headed series of teenage crises and crushes, alternating with historically accurate choreography of such forgotten dances as the Madison and the Roach.

Read all 17 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

  • AJ V


    The most interesting part of this movie for me was the cast. Like wow, Debbie Harry and Ric Ocasek were in this. It is definitely a weird Waters film, although it's PG. This is one of the strangest portrayals of the early 60s I have ever seen. I was expecting more singing,… More

  • Chris W


    The 1960s is one of my favorite decades. While I do prefer the latter half of the decade more (it just suits my sensibilities better), I can find much enjoyment in the first half, which, in many ways was not all that different from the 1950s. John Waters is an interesting filmmaker… More

  • Spencer S


    The original is always best. Ricki Lake is the perfect Traci, and the drag is quiant.

  • Jennifer D


    I still haven't gotten used to John Waters style, but I am getting there. Definitely has a Grease vibe, but sillier. Much sillier. What social class was in Cry Baby was segregation was in this. Still, it was well acted on Miss Lake's part and Divine was fantastic. I'm… More

  • Anthony L


    Classic John Waters. It?s very funny and probably did do a good job educating people about integration. Ricki Lake is really good and Divine is still, very sadly missed (the dirty bugger that he was)!

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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