Best Drag Queen Cult Movies You Need to Watch

Hello, lovelies! It’s Tina again, and today I’ve selected some of the best movies featuring drag queens of all times! If you are looking for a film to sit back and chill after a hard day’s work, then you’ve come to the right place. A list of classics and hidden gems that you may have overlooked.

For the cinephiles and drag queen lovers out there that need good quality content to kill the anxiety in between RuPaul’s episodes. I’ve tried to include different cinema genres so you got an interesting selection to choose from. It is nonetheless a personal selection of my favorite movies, so it can be a bit subjective. Without further delay, here’s the list!

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Directed by Jim Sharman is a musical comedy horror film, quite a nice combination. This movie has become a cult icon among but not only the LGBT community. If you haven’t watched it yet, crawl out from under the rock and enjoy this amazing movie! The story of a newly engaged couple lost and with a flat tire on a stormy road. Looking for help, they end up in a nearby castle where a convention is taking place. There, the couple finds all kinds of extravagant characters including an Igor-like butler and his French maid sister. The wanderers also meet their master, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, an alien drag queen and mad scientist. This eccentric character claims to have found the secret to life itself. Terrifying, hilarious, and entertaining like very few movies nowadays. One of my favorite movies not only on this list but of all times!

The Quiet Room (2018)

Let’s continue a bit with my favorite genre. This little horror gem can’t go under your radar if you enjoy a good scare jump every once in a while. “The Quiet Room” is a short thriller featuring none other than Alaska Thuderfcuk 5000! The film narrates the story of a young man who inadvertently awakens a bloodthirsty demon with a failed suicide attempt. Now he must stop it before it kills all of his loved ones. A very thrilling short piece of art for those days when you need to disconnect but don’t have much time to spare. I’m always happy when I come across such heartfelt movies. Be sure to check it out!

Victor/Victoria (1933)

An aspiring actress named Suzanne helps out a friend and covers his shift for him at work. The job was at a little cabaret in Berlin as a female impersonator. After the show, an agent approaches Suzanne with an interesting deal thinking she is a man. She becomes famous in the process and tours around the country. She is then harassed by a fan, and Viktor has to help her as the drag queen Victoria. You may be familiar with the plot as it has been revisited several times. One with the same name in 1982. Another version of this groundbreaking German film is “First a Girl” (1935). A must-watch for everyone in the drag queen culture as it is one of the earliest representations in the media. And an excellent one too!

Vegas in Space (1991)

This is the “wild card” item on the list, so be aware. “Vegas in Space” is what you would call an “all drag queen space musical comedy opera”. This is the story of three soldiers that must take a pill to become women and infiltrate the planet of Clitoris. This world is inhabited by women only and impersonating showgirls, the soldiers must disrupt the plans of the most important pleasure planet in the galaxy. This space adventure is hilarious and has an amazing sense of satire. If you are a fan of drag queens and B class movies you can’t let this one unwatched! Two of the main protagonists are actual drag queens, something that’s very nice to see for a change. This one can be tough to find on important streaming services. You can get them nonetheless if you know your way around the internet. Use some free streaming platform like Stremio and you are set! Remember to check the legal status of online streaming where you live!

Female Trouble (1974)

In the role of Dawn Davenport, drag artist Divine (a.k.a. Earl Peterson) impersonates this bratty schoolgirl that becomes a mass murderer. Directed by John Waters and starring his favorite muse, this crime comedy film touches on profound themes that will leave you thinking for quite a while after the credits are done. An intense movie that doesn’t feel like a drag, pun intended. Its humor helps soothe the harsh situations the main character goes through. This movie would be hard to make nowadays but sure is worth watching. A great example of the incredible power the seventh art has to tell a story.

Connie and Carla (2004)

Enough with the classics. The last pick for this list is something from this century. “Connie and Carla” tells the story of two women who witness a mafia hit and must flee Chicago. They find work in Los Angeles as drag queens to hide from the mob. But that isn’t enough when they see themselves overwhelmed by fame. This is an exciting and funny movie directed by Michael Lembeck. This film made the list because I think there are some heavy issues with the narrative it proposes. There is value even in disagreement and I think it could serve to trigger further thoughts. I believe it is crystal clear this film is a great example of the mentality of those years and the political discourse of that time. Watch at your discretion.

These are some of my favorite movies featuring and revolving around drag queens. I made this list because I know pretty well that good assorted films about the topic are hard to come by. I hope you have enjoyed my selection! Have you watched any of them? Do you know of any others that should be included in the list? Please feel free to add it to the commentary section! I hope to add some to my watchlist! Take care of yourselves lovelies!

Written by Tina Munova.