The Criterion Collection
Feb 25, 2020 — In these times of Trumpidation, thirty years after its auspicious release, Paris Is Burning seems even more relevant than it did in early 1991, when I wrote the following for Black Film Review about Jennie Livingston’s phenomenal documentary on New...
Jan 27, 2021 — A film that centers on a transgender person or storyline enters the culture like any other movie. The difference lies in the discourse around it. A pervasive disregard for the realities of trans experience beyond the screen is evident in...
The performer, comedian, and author praises Hedwig and the Angry Inch as a drag-queen staple, discovers a lacerating self-portrait by Richard Pryor, and talks about the immense cultural impact of Paris Is Burning.
The singer-songwriter and visual artist talks about the punk sensibility of Jubilee, shares why Paris Is Burning is a film she can watch endlessly, and shouts out the Eurythmics’ unique soundtrack for 1984.
The actor and star of Megalopolis shares her deep connection to Steve McQueen’s Small Axe, reminisces about growing up repeatedly watching Love & Basketball, and reflects on the cultural importance of Paris Is Burning.
The director of Blink Twice is joined by the film’s star in sharing their love for John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, praising Paris Is Burning as “the greatest documentary of all time,” and selecting favorites, from Harlan County USA and...
The actor, known for her roles in Transparent and Hustlers, pays tribute to the pioneering subjects of Paris Is Burning, muses about her dream of starring in a future remake of Thelma & Louise, and praises the sexy smoothness of...
In Theaters
Jun 14, 2019 — Starting this weekend, Janus Films is putting Jennie Livingston’s extraordinary snapshot of Harlem’s drag balls of the 1980s back on the big screen.
Jun 5, 2026 — Despite what is often assumed about the history of trans representation in cinema, it is not a simple story of marginalization and stigmatization. In their 2024 book Corpses, Fools, and Monsters: The History and Future of Transness in Cinema, critics...
On the Channel
May 14, 2026 — Channel Calendars This month on the Criterion Channel, set out on an epic journey with our Odysseys collection, or revisit the foundational Bond classics that introduced the silver screen’s most iconic superspy. A spotlight on Courtney Love’s acting career reveals...