The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Theatrical release poster
Directed byStephan Elliott
Written byStephan Elliott
Produced by
  • Al Clark
  • Michael Hamlyn
Starring
CinematographyBrian J. Breheny
Edited bySue Blainey
Music byGuy Gross
Production
companies
Distributed byRoadshow Film Distributors
Release dates
  • 15 May 1994 (1994-05-15) (Cannes)
  • 8 September 1994 (1994-09-08) (Australia)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
BudgetA$1,884,200 / (US$1,375,466)
Box office$29.7 million

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a 1994 Australian road comedy film written and directed by Stephan Elliott. The plot follows two drag queens (played by Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce) and a transgender woman (Terence Stamp), as they journey across the Australian Outback on a tour bus named Priscilla, along the way encountering various groups and individuals. The film was based upon the lives of three actual drag queens—Cindy Pastel, Strykermyer and Lady Bump—who were to play themselves but later replaced with what the studio considered "bankable" actors.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert premiered at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, in the Un Certain Regard section. Upon its wide release, it became a surprise worldwide hit and its positive portrayal of LGBT individuals helped to introduce queer themes to a mainstream audience. It received predominantly positive reviews and won Best Costume Design at the 67th Academy Awards. The film is one of only three films set in contemporary times to win the award for Best Costume Design. It became a cult classic both in Australia and abroad. The film provided the basis for a musical, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which opened in 2006 in Sydney.