JustWatch

Hairspray

1988

The world was in a mess... but their hair was perfect!!

'Pleasantly Plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad achieves her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny Collins Dance Show. Now a teen hero, she starts using her fame to speak out for the causes she believes in, most of all integration. In doing so, she earns the wrath of the show's former star, Amber Von Tussle, as well as Amber's manipulative, pro-segregation parents. The rivalry comes to a head as Amber and Tracy vie for the title of Miss Auto Show 1963.

Ricki Lake Divine Leslie Ann Powers Debbie Harry Sonny Bono Ruth Brown Jerry Stiller Vitamin C Michael St. Gerard Clayton Prince Mink Stole Shawn Thompson Ric Ocasek Pia Zadora Jo Ann Havrilla Alan J. Wendl Josh Charles Jason Downs Holter Graham Dan Griffith Regina Hammond Bridget Kimsey Frankie Maldon Brooke Stacy Mills John Orofino Kim Webb Debra Wirth Dawn Hill Cyrkle Milbourne Show All…

Alternative Titles

Hairspray: E Éramos Todos Jovens, Hajlakk, Grasso è bello, ヘアースプレー, Muévanse todos, Hairspray: una chica a la moda, Lakier do włosów, Laca, Лак для волос, Hairspray, fiebre de los 60, White Lipstick, היירספריי, Лак за косу, Hairspray - E Éramos Todos Jovens, 헤어스프레이, น่ะ! จะแว่ก!, 发胶, ヘアスプレー

Genres

Comedy Romance Drama

Themes

Crude humor and satire Song and dance Catchy songs and hilarious musical comedy Teen school antics and laughter Funny jokes and crude humor Dazzling vocal performances and musicals Dance rhythms and catchy tunes Show All…

Premiere

16 Feb 1988

USAPG Baltimore, Maryland

Theatrical

26 Feb 1988

USAPG

08 Jun 1988

FranceU

04 Aug 1988

Germany6

15 Sep 1988

AustraliaPG

24 Sep 1988

Thailand

Physical

01 Mar 1994

Czechia15+

Australia

15 Sep 1988

TheatricalPG

Czechia

01 Mar 1994

Physical15+

France

08 Jun 1988

TheatricalU

Germany

04 Aug 1988

Theatrical6

Thailand

24 Sep 1988

Theatrical

USA

16 Feb 1988

PremierePG Baltimore, Maryland

26 Feb 1988

TheatricalPG

92 mins More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Madison 🎭 ★★★★

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

what if straight people were gay
Review by demi adejuyigbe

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 Collins in this movie at all! Maybe that's the side effect of them casting actual stars in those roles for the musical, which is also why I think some of the edge has been taken off in Shankman's remake. No way John Travolta's gonna play Edna the way Divine does, or Allison Janney is gonna run screaming through the streets of Baltimore in fear of every black person she sees. Wish they would, though! Woulda been hilarious!
Review by matt lynch ★★★★½ 1

"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 battle against people who can't help but crave righteousness.
Review by nora ★★★½ 3

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
Review by single white femalien ★★★½ 1

"finally all of baltimore knows, i'm big, blonde, and beautiful!" was absolutely the most comforting thing to hear when i was a fat blonde teenager (living in baltimore!) who felt like a hideous unlovable freak
i will always love u, hairspray!!!
Review by kayla ★★★½ 8

She’s cute..... but she’s no Hairspray (2007)
Review by Jacob ★★★★½

John Waters' versatility is wild. Everything about Hairspray is in line with his other work, yet it exists in such a different context. How can you move from NC-17 to PG so smoothly? It's still just as campy and transgressive, but for kids! Waters took what could've been the straightest movie ever made and still made it gay as hell.
It's just so fun. The racial commentary is heavy-handed and smothered in ironic humor, but somehow that all works to make it even more effective. The eccentricity of every character makes even the villains hilarious to watch, the stylized performances and dialogue working wonders. The weirdly cluttered set design just makes everything feel so vibrant. There are some pacing issues, particularly in the dance sequences, but I was thoroughly entertained throughout. Even in a limited role, Mink Stole still steals the show. (There's an easy pun to be made there but I refuse to make it).
Review by john ★★★½

and that's how we ended racism in america
no, wait
Review by Josh Lewis ★★★★

Gives the Teen and Social Issue movie an infectious oddball energy and makes a better case for the collective joy and power of art than I anticipated. Totally delightful. More pop art by total weirdos pls.
Review by feat. dante from the dmc series ★★★★½

not many people know this, but john waters is actually my birth father
Review by Jerry McGlothlin ★★★

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