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Hairspray (1988)

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Videos & Photos

  • Official Trailer

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

John Waters

Producer:

Rachel Talalay

Release Date:

Feb 26, 1988

Runtime:

1hr 32m

Synopsis

A 'pleasantly plump' teenager teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.

Cast

  • Sonny Bono
  • Ruth Brown
  • Divine
  • Debbie Harry
  • Ricki Lake
  • Jerry Stiller
  • Vitamin C
  • Michael St. Gerard
  • Leslie Ann Powers
  • Clayton Prince

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.7
134.8K
32.2K
34.3K
RATINGS 684 FANS
3.7
  • Sep 20, 2018

    john waters as a therapist trying to make penny like white boys...... he has the range

    2.1K Likes
    Madison 🎭
    Madison 🎭
    Mar 18, 2021

    what if straight people were gay

    1.9K Likes
    maggie
    maggie
    Apr 27, 2018

    a lady hits link larkin in the knees with her purse and he’s HOSPITALIZED and ends up in a WHEELCHAIR this movie is the most

    1.5K Likes
    nora
    nora
  •
    Oct 20, 2023

    took me an hour to realise that no one was gonna sing in this movie

    974 Likes
    imogen 🤍
    imogen 🤍
    Apr 30, 2026

    FAT GIRLS ARE HOT AND WHITE PEOPLE ARE CRINGE!!!

    599 Likes
    Blue Ghosts
    Blue Ghosts
    Jul 9, 2020

    Certainly gets points for being weirder (and therefore, purposefully funnier) than the musical remake, but it's still got some of the racial misfires (not nearly as many though) and the characters don't feel as fulfilled to me. I don't care about Link Larkin or Corny…

    892 Likes
    demi adejuyigbe
    demi adejuyigbe
  •
    Mar 18, 2021

    queering heterosexuality

    875 Likes
    Kyle
    Kyle
    Oct 10, 2015

    "I wish I was at a hootenanny in Harlem!" One of the most incisive depictions of a community in flux and the power of popular art to create change ever, full of reactionary politics, opportunistic media, institutional racism, and class privilege all fighting a losing…

    762 Likes
    matt lynch
    matt lynch
    Apr 3, 2023

    Bro knees healed expeditiously soon as Tracy got out of jail.

    712 Likes
    Jerry
    Jerry
See All Reviews on Letterboxd.com

Queue Community Reviews

84%
Community 1,059
❤️ LOVE
21%
👍 LIKE
63%
😐 MEH
10%
👎 DISLIKE
6%
Top Reviews
  • Lilah Roldan
    Lilah Roldan liked
    Hairspray

    This movie was good but I love the 2007 version way better. 7/10

    1 3Y
    sophie bramley
    sophie bramley loved
    Hairspray

    this movie always leaves me with energy

    🔥 1 3Y
    Nina Floch
    Nina Floch loved
    Hairspray

    this film is so yassified

    🔥 1 3Y
  • katiana
    katiana loved
    Hairspray

    amazing movie

    🔥 1 3Y
    Trevoe
    Trevoe liked
    Hairspray

    Over all I like this movie. I liked how the 2007 version differs from this one almost making them different stories and movies all together. I am biased because I saw the 2007 version first I do like it better but this is a great original piece. 6.5/10

    3Y
    Mcfly1202
    Mcfly1202 loved
    Hairspray

    This is just a great time. Love the era and the music. Can’t help but tap your feet to Feel the Beat, get into the drama of the race riots and beatniks. Or phrases like checkboard chick.

    1Y
  • Easton Speese
    Easton Speese liked
    Hairspray

    I love this way more than the 2007 remake. Has a great soundtrack, the writing is campy with a good bit of comedy, and the main cast is amazing.

    1Y
    Emma
    Emma liked
    Hairspray

    So so great, Divine was fabulous, John Waters is always fab, and that bug dress that Tracy wore at the end was iconic

    1Y
    Yoshi
    Yoshi liked
    Hairspray

    I think it did a good job, touching on discrimination. And I’ve heard the movie maker is a gay icon so 😝

    1Y
View More Popular Hairspray Reviews on Queue

Atom Users Reviews

4.0
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1
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Reviews

  • JP
    Jaclyn Palmer
    #inspiring
    #girlsnight
    #lovestory

Metacritic

77
metacritic
Based on 14 Critics
6.5

USER SCORE (26)

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Reviews
80

While it’s corny by design, Hairspray also aims to get at something truthful, about the various kinds of prejudice weighing down the city circa 1963, and how youthful optimism and music made a difference, if only in the lives of those kids craving some kind of diverse, progressive community.

View full review
Metacritic review by Noel Murray
Noel Murray
The Dissolve
75

Basically 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.

View full review
Metacritic review by Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
See All Critic Reviews on Metacritic.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hairspray (1988) (1988) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG (Parental Guidance Suggested). It's generally considered a family-friendly movie.
How long is Hairspray (1988) (1988)?
The movie is 1hr 32min long.
What's Hairspray (1988) (1988) about?
A 'pleasantly plump' teenager teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.
Who's the cast of Hairspray (1988) (1988)?
  • Sonny Bono as Franklin von Tussle
  • Ruth Brown as Motormouth Maybelle
  • Divine as Edna Turnblad, Arvin Hodgepile
  • Debbie Harry as Velma Von Tussle
  • Ricki Lake as Tracy Turnblad
  • Jerry Stiller as Wilbur Turnblad
  • Vitamin C as Amber von Tussle
  • Michael St. Gerard as Link Larkin
  • Leslie Ann Powers as Penny Pingleton
  • Clayton Prince as Seaweed
Who's the director behind Hairspray (1988) (1988)?
John Waters directed Hairspray (1988) (1988).
Who produced Hairspray (1988) (1988)?
Rachel Talalay produced Hairspray (1988) (1988).