- 11 hours ago
From glitter-soaked musicals to campy melodrama and glamorous divas, these films found a second life as beloved LGBTQIA cult favorites. Whether they flopped with critics or simply flew under the radar, each one earned a devoted following thanks to its style, wit, and unforgettable moments. Which iconic title is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:00Who wants to go swimming?
00:01I do!
00:04I'll race ya!
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for films that have been largely adopted by members
00:11of the LGBTQIA plus community.
00:14For this list, the movies don't need to be primarily about the queer experience.
00:18They could instead be campy and iconic enough to become queer cult classics.
00:22I get a feeling when I'm with you, none of the rules are right.
00:32Number 10, The Devil Wears Prada.
00:35And I need to see a new draft on that piece about shopping for a plastic surgeon. It's dull.
00:40And this layout is a winter wonderland spread.
00:44On the surface, it may seem that the impeccable outfits are the main reason this film is so widely adored
00:48by the queer community.
00:49However, the connection goes far beyond the flawless fashion.
00:53Each character and their arc correlate to a specific queer experience.
00:57From an underdog protagonist attempting to dismantle toxic ideals.
01:01To a gay man who was forced to hide his love for style in his youth.
01:04Let's say a young boy growing up in Rhode Island with six brothers pretending to go to soccer practice when
01:09he was really going to sewing class.
01:11And reading Runway under the covers at night with a flashlight.
01:13Beyond that, the dialogue also holds a special place in the hearts of some members.
01:17Especially Miranda's scathing yet shockingly accurate reads.
01:22You have no style or sense of fashion.
01:27Well, um...
01:28I think that depends on what you're...
01:31No, no.
01:32That wasn't a question.
01:33Those elements combined with these stunning designer looks create the formula for an iconic cult classic.
01:39Number 9, Grey Gardens.
01:40Flaming desire setting my being completely on fire.
01:52This documentary is proof that the community can turn anybody into an icon.
01:56Grey Gardens follows the lives of two former socialites, Big Edie and Little Edie Beal, living in squalor.
02:02Between the sensationalized portrayal of their lives are moments of pure camp greatness, which have come to be revered by
02:09some who identify as queer.
02:10I danced eight hours last night practicing the, uh, the marching song.
02:15Great.
02:16My god, my muscles!
02:17I can't do it!
02:19I'm telling you, what am I gonna do?
02:20The younger Beal in particular has resonated with viewers, with her over-the-top looks and even more outrageous personality.
02:27However, the two women are seen as anything but a joke.
02:30To many, their story is one of constant resilience in the face of ridicule from society at large.
02:35With that in mind, it isn't hard to see why their story resonates with those who've experienced similar strife.
02:40He had a job as a gardener's assistant at this house, and they're going to sell the house, so they
02:46gave him the washing machine.
02:49But he's moving in.
02:51Number eight, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
02:53But listen closely.
02:55Not for very much longer.
03:00I've got to keep control.
03:03Thanks to continued support, this film went from a certified failure to a contemporary classic.
03:09When the Rocky Horror Picture Show first premiered, it was practically ignored by everyone but those who identified as LGBTQIA+.
03:16It's clear to see why they showed it so much love, and still do to this day.
03:21The movie is oozing with campy elements, from the dialogue to the musical numbers.
03:25Now all I want to know is how to go.
03:31I've tasted blood and I want more.
03:35More, more.
03:36While some elements of Frank and Furter's character haven't aged well, at the time it was a genuinely groundbreaking portrayal
03:43of unapologetic androgyny and sexuality.
03:46Its impact goes far beyond its content.
03:48The intercommunity relationships that have been formed and strengthened by it have ensured its legacy for decades to come.
03:54And I realize, I'm going home.
04:01Number 7, Pink Flamingos.
04:03Isn't it wonderful?
04:05Now you just sit tight and I'll fry you up some big grade A treat.
04:09To many, art is at its best when it's unapologetically subversive.
04:13That may be why John Waters' Pink Flamingos is still so widely adored.
04:17The very basis of the film is a scathing critique of heteronormative society and homophobia,
04:22which makes some of Divine's outrageous antics seem tame in comparison.
04:26How could anyone seriously believe that?
04:29How could anyone be filthier than Divine?
04:31I'm afraid our little vacation must come to an end.
04:33This must be nipped in the bud.
04:35It's already out of hand.
04:36It's a perfect intersection between insanely offensive jokes and progressivism,
04:40which caused it to have an immediate impact amongst viewers,
04:43and encouraged them to live their lives without shame, even if society deemed it unacceptable.
04:48Beyond that, it also served as the ultimate proof that queer art didn't need to be inspiring or sanitized
04:54in order to make a positive impact on the community at large.
04:57Yes, Devon, do you think that there are other filthy people in the world?
05:00I mean, is it now a cult?
05:01It is a very minor cult right now, Mr. Vader, but one that is growing and growing.
05:06Number 6, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
05:09When did our business manager tell you all this?
05:14Early last week, I think.
05:17He didn't call here last week, I know that too.
05:20It should come as no surprise that a film starring icons like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford
05:24became a mainstay amongst the community.
05:26Whatever Happened to Baby Jane shows the two powerhouse actresses at their very best,
05:31playing two sisters embroiled in a long-standing feud.
05:34Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you?
05:35Then you could tell him a whole lot of lies about me, scare him off, or maybe have him for
05:41yourself.
05:42Their talent is the perfect juxtaposition to the campy nature of the plot.
05:46It created an intriguing combination that has helped the movie remain beloved decades after its initial release.
05:51Beyond the actresses themselves, the characters they portray exude a sense of glamour and drama
05:56that resonates with countless fans.
05:58Over 60 years later, the picture is still a cultural touchstone,
06:01and has been lovingly referenced by everyone from Ryan Murphy to RuPaul.
06:05I'm gonna do this one, Acapulca!
06:09Camp town ladies, sing this song!
06:16Number 5, Death Becomes Her.
06:18I don't believe it!
06:20Well, how are you?
06:22It's been so long.
06:23I know.
06:23Don't you dare say how long.
06:25When paired together in the right way, camp and glamour can make the perfect creative combination.
06:29That is definitely the case with Death Becomes Her,
06:32which tells the story of two complex women going to extreme lengths to obtain eternal youth.
06:36You took the potion too!
06:38Well, I hardly needed it.
06:39So that's why you look the way you do.
06:41Then you are dead.
06:43The synopsis alone is enough to resonate with members of the queer community
06:46who experience similar feelings in their own lives, particularly gay men and trans women.
06:50The inclusion of talented divas like Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Isabella Rossellini
06:55is the cherry on top that makes it a permanent fixture within the culture.
06:59Ten years of perfect, unchanged beauty.
07:02But at the end of that time, before people become suspicious,
07:07you have to disappear from public view forever.
07:10Since it's released, it has remained prominent in the drag scene in particular,
07:13with Queen citing it as an inspiration and playing homage to the characters in their own shows.
07:18Number 4, Barbarella.
07:28As evidenced by some of the other entries on this list,
07:30if a movie has an iconic female lead,
07:33then there's a good chance it's been reclaimed as a queer cinema hidden gem.
07:36This applies to Barbarella, which has remained a classic amongst the community
07:40despite a lack of enthusiasm from critics.
07:42The Jane Fonda-led flick is the very definition of kitsch,
07:45being centered around an outer space heroine who saves the world while constantly running into strife.
07:50I'm here on the orders of the President of the Republic of Earth.
07:53I'm here to find Duran Duran.
07:56I'm not talking about him, I'm speaking of the angel.
07:59Pygar?
08:00Yes, Pygar.
08:02The unfettered campiness of the film was enough to hook non-heterosexual audiences.
08:06However, the support for it was cemented with the inclusion of Alfie,
08:09a queer-coded, disembodied voice whose implied sexuality was incredibly radical at the time.
08:15What are our chances?
08:17Our present possibilities of non-destruction are 0.00002 to 10,000.
08:26Number 3, The Wizard of Oz.
08:28Why don't you come along with us?
08:30We're on our way to see the wizard now, to get him a heart.
08:33And him a brain.
08:34I'm sure he could give you some courage.
08:36It may have been beloved by all since the moment it premiered, but its connection to the queer community is
08:40unparalleled.
08:41In the decades that followed its release, gay men would use it as a litmus test to identify one another.
08:46The story itself resonated with queer viewers, many of whom found similarities between Dorothy's adventure
08:51and their own experiences in leaving home and finding their chosen families.
09:07Beyond the symbolism, its visual effects and music have helped it remain a staple nearly a century after its release.
09:13Over the Rainbow in particular is revered as an anthem for the community and is even considered by some to
09:18be inspiration behind the original rainbow flag.
09:31Number 2, Xanadu.
09:44Critics may have panned it, but that didn't prevent it from being accepted by the community with open arms.
09:49The roller skating, disco-infused flick is a masterclass in intentional kitsch,
09:54which made it a prime candidate to become a queer underground classic.
09:58Xanadu follows an illustrator who accidentally brings his art to life, leading to love and misadventure.
10:04Campy elements aside, several other aspects also helped it to be embraced.
10:08Its star-studded cast, vibrant visuals, and infectiously catchy soundtrack have remained beloved for generations.
10:14But how can our love succeed? A miracle is what we need.
10:24No one, including the director, anticipated that it would see a resurgence in popularity, especially after its initial reception.
10:31Yet it somehow managed to find a fanbase that still celebrates it with various adaptations and sing-along events.
10:36Now that I'm here, now that you're near, it's ever due.
10:43Before we unveil our topic, here are a few honorable mentions.
10:47The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
10:50The queer road trip film has remained a staple since the mid-1990s.
11:02Showgirls. Midnight movie screenings held by the community help change its negative perception.
11:06Try it! Yes, go!
11:08Come on, big step! Hit it!
11:11Go!
11:12Go!
11:13Come on!
11:14Kick it!
11:16You're good!
11:16All About Eve.
11:18Betty Davis' performance is the driving force behind its continued cult status.
11:22She made her first stage appearance at the age of four in Midsummer Night's Dream.
11:28She played a fairy and entered quite unexpectedly stark naked.
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11:59Number 1.
12:00Mommy Dearest.
12:01You know what's missing in my life?
12:04A hit movie.
12:07Come on.
12:08You've got everything you want.
12:10No, I don't.
12:10I want a baby.
12:11If there's one thing the community will do, it's embrace a negatively received film and turn it into a classic.
12:17Mommy Dearest is the ultimate example.
12:20The movie, which follows the unfortunate childhood of Joan Crawford's adopted daughter, was panned for its melodrama and overacting.
12:28Both of these elements were embraced by queer audiences.
12:31You, all of you here and everywhere, gave me this award tonight, and I accept it from you and only
12:42you.
12:43Faye Dunaway's over-the-top performance was celebrated, rather than denigrated, and was the catalyst to its current cult status.
12:50Fans would bring wire hangers to showings, and drag queens began doing their best impressions of Crawford's fictionalized persona in
12:56their shows.
12:57Its legacy has been carried on by shows like RuPaul's Drag Race, which has ensured that it will be known
13:02and loved by multiple generations.
13:05Wire hangers, Joan?
13:07No wire hangers ever!
13:12Why?!
13:13Which film do you consider to be an LGBTQIA plus cult classic? Let us know in the comments.
13:18We'll be able to see our audience.
13:19So, without being watched and watched, we've been able to leave our broadcasts.
13:22It's a great question.
13:23Lar us look for a summer season.
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