Hairspray -1988-: Better

While more accessible than his earlier works, the 1988 film retains Waters' unique stylistic choices: Divine as Edna Turnblad

Hairspray is undeniably a love letter to Baltimore, Maryland—Waters’ hometown and the setting for almost all of his films. Specifically, it transports the viewer to 1962, a time suspended between the buttoned-up propriety of the 1950s and the chaotic social upheaval of the late 1960s. Hairspray -1988-

This juxtaposition—the frivolous teen angst of hair and boys set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement—is the engine that drives the film’s narrative. While more accessible than his earlier works, the

Watch the scene where Edna finally leaves the house to watch Tracy dance. Divine’s face shifts from terror to pride to joy. It is arguably the most human moment in any John Waters film. Alongside him, a 17-year-old Rickie Lake carries the film with an infectious optimism that never feels naive. Sonny Bono plays the hilariously square Frank Von Tassle, and Debbie Harry (Blondie) shows up as a drunk ex-convict. It is a perfect storm of underground cool and Hollywood weirdness. Watch the scene where Edna finally leaves the

The 1988 film , written and directed by John Waters , is a cult classic comedy that marked a significant turning point in Waters' career, moving from his "Trash Trilogy" origins into more mainstream, albeit still subversive, territory. Set in 1962 Baltimore, the film follows Tracy Turnblad, an optimistic teenager who becomes a local celebrity after winning a spot on The Corny Collins Show Core Themes & Plot At its heart, is a story of acceptance and inclusion

A hero is only as good as their villain, and Hairspray features some of the most entertaining antagonists in 80s cinema. The Von Tussle family represents the status quo: wealthy, blonde, bigoted, and obsessed with maintaining the "purity" of their segregated dance show.