Wigstock: The Movie

Wigstock: The Movie
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBarry Shils
Produced byDean Silvers
Marlen Hecht
Edited byTod Scott Brody
Music byRobert Reale
Distributed byThe Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release date
  • June 9, 1995 (1995-06-09)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Wigstock: The Movie is a 1995 documentary film focusing on Wigstock, the annual drag music festival that had been held New York City's East Village through the 1980s and 1990s. The film presents a number of performances from the 1994 festival, including Crystal Waters, Deee-Lite, Jackie Beat, Debbie Harry, Leigh Bowery, Joey Arias, Freddie Pendavis, and the Dueling Bankheads. The film also captures a performance by RuPaul at the height of his mainstream fame during the 1990s.

The film also goes behind the scenes, examining the rehearsal process of a number of the performers including Lypsinka and the "Wigstock Dancers." Members of the crew assembling the stage and attendees are interviewed about their experiences at the festival and some of the performers give interviews about the importance of drag and transgressive gender expression in their lives. One memorable moment features Wigstock MC Lady Bunny on the telephone with a city representative inquiring about the possibility of placing a wig on the Statue of Liberty.