A sui generis icon of counterculture cinema and style, John Waters upends traditional notions of “good taste” and heteronormative social conventions with a gleefully transgressive mix of camp humor, outrageous provocation, and daring empathy.

May 9, 2022 — Waters has written his first novel, and a collection of Mueller’s writing has just been reissued.

Dec 11, 2016 — Earlier this week, we shared our interview with John Pierson, creator and host of the TV series Split Screen, which chronicled the emergence of a vibrant American independent film movement at the turn of the century. Almost two decades after...

Jun 3, 2019 — Wisdom from the Pope of Trash, the making of Raging Bull and The Wild Bunch, and studies of Tarkovsky and the Berlin School all figure in this month’s round.

Mar 24, 2017 — If you’re hankering for a heavy dose of sleaze, you need look no further than John Waters’ 1970 sophomore feature, Multiple Maniacs, which joined our collection this week and is now streaming on the Criterion Channel. Made in Waters’ beloved...

Sep 28, 2016 — The “Pope of Trash” himself discusses his love for Russ Meyer’s signature style and the original music and retro visuals of his 1970 cult sensation.

Aug 5, 2016 — The director returns to the big screen with our new restoration of his long-unavailable sophomore feature, shot in 1970 on a shoestring budget, which kicks off its national theatrical rollout with a run at New York’s IFC Center.

Nov 25, 2015 — Last week, when John Waters stopped by Criterion for a visit, we asked the cult filmmaker (and connoisseur of holiday entertainment) for his recommendations of the films we should be watching this holiday season. Naturally, he responded with one of...

While we were working on our new edition of Polyester, the Pope of Trash paid us a visit and shared stories about meeting Shirley Stoler and watching 8½ under the influence.

Nov 22, 2024 — Powell and Pressburger, Cassavetes and Rowlands, Robert Frank, Catherine Breillat, John Waters, Babette Mangolte, Sergei Loznitsa . . .