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John Waters

John Waters

Directing·1946·140 films

John Samuel Waters Jr. (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, writer, actor, and artist. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films, including Multiple Maniacs (1970), Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974). Waters wrote and directed the comedy film Hairspray (1988), which was later adapted into a hit Broadway musical and a 2007 musical film. Other films he has written and directed include Desperate Living (1977), Polyester (1981), Cry-Baby (1990), Serial Mom (1994), Pecker (1998), and Cecil B. Demented (2000). His films contain elements of post-moder…

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As Director

Cry-Baby
Cry-Baby (1990)
Serial Mom
Serial Mom (1994)
Pink Flamingos
Pink Flamingos (1976)
Hairspray
Hairspray (1988)
A Dirty Shame
A Dirty Shame (2004)
Cecil B. Demented
Cecil B. Demented (2000)
Female Trouble
Female Trouble (1976)
Pecker
Pecker (1998)
Polyester
Polyester (1981)
Multiple Maniacs
Multiple Maniacs (1970)
Desperate Living
Desperate Living (1977)
Mondo Trasho
Mondo Trasho (1969)
The Diane Linkletter Story
The Diane Linkletter Story (1970)
Eat Your Makeup
Eat Your Makeup (1968)
Hag in a Black Leather Jacket
Hag in a Black Leather Jacket (1964)
30/30 Vision: Three Decades of Strand Releasing
30/30 Vision: Three Decades of Strand Releasing (2019)
Dorothy, the Kansas City Pot Head
Dorothy, the Kansas City Pot Head (1968)
Kiddie Flamingos
Kiddie Flamingos (2015)
Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance
Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance
Nuart Theatre No Smoking PSA
Nuart Theatre No Smoking PSA (1982)

As Actor

Hairspray
Hairspray (2007)Flasher
Seed of Chucky
Seed of Chucky (2004)Pete Peters
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015)First Class Passenger
Jackass Number Two
Jackass Number Two (2006)Self
Serial Mom
Serial Mom (1994)Ted Bundy (voice) (uncredited)
Excision
Excision (2012)William
Pink Flamingos
Pink Flamingos (1976)Mr. J (narration) (uncredited)
Sweet and Lowdown
Sweet and Lowdown (1999)Mr. Haynes
Hairspray
Hairspray (1988)Dr. Fredrickson
Something Wild
Something Wild (1986)Used Car Guy
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)Self - Director of 'A Dirty Shame'
Cecil B. Demented
Cecil B. Demented (2000)Reporter
Pecker
Pecker (1998)Pervert on Phone (voice) (uncredited)
Suburban Gothic
Suburban Gothic (2014)Cornelius
Inside Deep Throat
Inside Deep Throat (2005)Self
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground (2021)Self
Thinking XXX
Thinking XXX (2004)Self
I Am Divine
I Am Divine (2014)Self
Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream
Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream (2006)Self
These Amazing Shadows
These Amazing Shadows (2011)Self
Mansome
Mansome (2012)Self
Tab Hunter Confidential
Tab Hunter Confidential (2015)Self
Homer and Eddie
Homer and Eddie (1989)Robber #1
Living with Chucky
Living with Chucky (2022)Self
This Filthy World
This Filthy World (2006)Self
Mondo Trasho
Mondo Trasho (1969)Reporter (voice) (uncredited)
Divine Trash
Divine Trash (2000)Self
Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat
Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat (2002)The Reverend
Lynch/Oz
Lynch/Oz (2023)Host (Chapter 3: 'Kindred') (voice)
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within (2010)Self
Little Richard: I Am Everything
Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023)Self
Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn
Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn (2019)Self
Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore
Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore (2010)
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006)Self
A History of Sex
A History of Sex (2003)Self
Beautiful Darling
Beautiful Darling (2010)Self
The Cockettes
The Cockettes (2002)Self
The Sarnos: A Life in Dirty Movies
The Sarnos: A Life in Dirty Movies (2013)Self
Anarchy TV
Anarchy TV (1998)
Love Letter to Edie
Love Letter to Edie (1975)Self
The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3D! On Ice!
The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3D! On Ice! (2010)Self
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007)Self
Blank City
Blank City (2011)Self
For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism
For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism (2009)Self
Welcome to Hollywood
Welcome to Hollywood (2000)John Waters
Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution
Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution (2017)Self
That Man: Peter Berlin
That Man: Peter Berlin (2006)Self
Mansfield 66/67
Mansfield 66/67 (2017)Self
Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh
Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh (2025)Stage Manager
Pie in the Sky: The Brigid Berlin Story
Pie in the Sky: The Brigid Berlin Story (2000)Self
In Bad Taste
In Bad Taste (1999)Self
It Came from Kuchar
It Came from Kuchar (2009)Self
Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea
Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea (2006)Self - Narrator (voice)
Scala!!!
Scala!!! (2024)Self
Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis
Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis (2007)Self
It Came from... Baltimore!!
It Came from... Baltimore!! (2005)Self
Seed Money: The Chuck Holmes Story
Seed Money: The Chuck Holmes Story (2015)Self
Wall Writers
Wall Writers (2016)Narrator (voice)
30/30 Vision: Three Decades of Strand Releasing
30/30 Vision: Three Decades of Strand Releasing (2019)Self
All the Dirt on 'A Dirty Shame'
All the Dirt on 'A Dirty Shame' (2005)Self
Doc of Chucky
Doc of Chucky (2024)Self
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp (2020)Host
Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness
Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness (2020)Host
Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi (2020)Host
Anthem
Anthem (1997)Self
Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press
Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press (2008)Self
Here’s Looking at You, Boy
Here’s Looking at You, Boy (2007)Self
Memories of Oz
Memories of Oz (2001)Self
Abby Singer
Abby Singer (2003)John Waters (uncredited)
The Last Impresario
The Last Impresario (2014)Self
TURA!
TURA! (2025)Self
Fragments of Paradise
Fragments of Paradise (2022)Self
The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels
The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels (2008)Narrator
Edith's Shopping Bag
Edith's Shopping Bag (1976)Self
The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo
The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020)Himself
Forever Hollywood
Forever Hollywood (1999)Self
The Junior Defenders
The Junior Defenders (2007)Narrator
The Advocate for Fagdom
The Advocate for Fagdom (2011)Self
Mangus!
Mangus! (2011)Jesus Christ
Tell Me Iggy
Tell Me Iggy (2022)Self
Sympathy for the Devil: The True Story of The Process Church of the Final Judgment
Sympathy for the Devil: The True Story of The Process Church of the Final Judgment (2015)Self
Each Time I Kill
Each Time I Kill (2007)Movie Watcher
Paul Bowles: The Cage Door Is Always Open
Paul Bowles: The Cage Door Is Always Open (2013)Self
Frankenstein: A Modern Myth
Frankenstein: A Modern Myth (2012)Self - Director
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage (2006)Self
Yesterday's Tomorrows
Yesterday's Tomorrows (1999)Self
It's Dorothy!
It's Dorothy! (2025)Self
Don't Fall in Love with Yourself
Don't Fall in Love with Yourself (2022)Self (Archival)
Whatever Happened to Gelitin
Whatever Happened to Gelitin (2016)Self
The Book of Harth
The Book of Harth (2022)Self
(buz'be bur'kle) n. A Study in Style
(buz'be bur'kle) n. A Study in Style (2006)Self
Gastronomic Getaway
Gastronomic Getaway (1991)
365 Day Project
365 Day Project (2007)Self
At the Video Store
At the Video Store (2019)Self
The 1000 Eyes of Dr Maddin
The 1000 Eyes of Dr Maddin (2015)
Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida
Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida (2021)Self [archival]
You Can’t Stop the Beat: The Long Journey of "Hairspray"
You Can’t Stop the Beat: The Long Journey of "Hairspray" (2007)Self
New Line Cinema: The First Generation and the Next Generation
New Line Cinema: The First Generation and the Next Generation (2008)Self
Mommie Dearest: Joan Lives On
Mommie Dearest: Joan Lives On (2006)
A Summer with Joe, Liz and Richard
A Summer with Joe, Liz and Richard (2025)Self
Sickies Making Films
Sickies Making Films (2018)Self
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World (2026)Self
Ballyhoo: The Hollywood Sideshow!
Ballyhoo: The Hollywood Sideshow! (1996)
Mary Woronov: Cult Queen
Mary Woronov: Cult QueenSelf
The Big Wet
The Big Wet (1993)Narrator
As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By (2024)
Joel Calls Indie Film Type Dudes
Joel Calls Indie Film Type Dudes (2020)
Jingle Bell Rocks!
Jingle Bell Rocks! (2013)Self
Footlight Parade: Music for the Decades
Footlight Parade: Music for the Decades (2006)
Sniffing Out ‘Polyester’
Sniffing Out ‘Polyester’ (2019)Self
The Brandon Novak Story
The Brandon Novak StorySelf
The Ballad of Sexual Dependency
The Ballad of Sexual Dependency (1985)
Jessica the Hippo
Jessica the Hippo (2007)Narrator (Voice)
In Conversation With Director John Waters, Actress Kathleen Turner and Actress Mink Stole
In Conversation With Director John Waters, Actress Kathleen Turner and Actress Mink Stole (2016)Self
Closer Than That: A Documentary on Low
Closer Than That: A Documentary on Low (2004)Himself
Baltigore
BaltigoreThe Broker
Gays Against Guns
Gays Against Guns (2026)
Mugworth
Mugworth (2018)Sir Butler
God Save the Queens
God Save the Queens (1995)
Velvet Vision: The Story of James Bidgood and the Making of Pink Narcissus
Velvet Vision: The Story of James Bidgood and the Making of Pink Narcissus (2025)Self
Meet The Kuchar Brothers
Meet The Kuchar Brothers (2006)
I, of the Cyclops
I, of the Cyclops (2006)
Way USA!
Way USA! (1988)
Growing Up with John Waters
Growing Up with John Waters (1993)Self
Coven of the Heathenites
Coven of the Heathenites (2008)Self
Nuart Theatre No Smoking PSA
Nuart Theatre No Smoking PSA (1982)Self
Female Trouble: On-Set Footage
Female Trouble: On-Set Footage (2018)

As Writer

Hairspray
Hairspray (2007)
Cry-Baby
Cry-Baby (1990)
Serial Mom
Serial Mom (1994)
Pink Flamingos
Pink Flamingos (1976)
Hairspray
Hairspray (1988)
A Dirty Shame
A Dirty Shame (2004)
Cecil B. Demented
Cecil B. Demented (2000)
Female Trouble
Female Trouble (1976)
Pecker
Pecker (1998)
Polyester
Polyester (1981)
Hairspray Live!
Hairspray Live! (2016)
Multiple Maniacs
Multiple Maniacs (1970)
Desperate Living
Desperate Living (1977)
This Filthy World
This Filthy World (2006)
Mondo Trasho
Mondo Trasho (1969)
The Diane Linkletter Story
The Diane Linkletter Story (1970)
Eat Your Makeup
Eat Your Makeup (1968)
Hag in a Black Leather Jacket
Hag in a Black Leather Jacket (1964)
Dorothy, the Kansas City Pot Head
Dorothy, the Kansas City Pot Head (1968)
Kiddie Flamingos
Kiddie Flamingos (2015)