IMDb > Hairspray (1988)
Hairspray
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Hairspray (1988) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   7,917 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

John Waters

Writer:

John Waters (written by)

Contact:

View company contact information for Hairspray on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

26 February 1988 (USA) more

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music more

Tagline:

Baltimore, 1962. The heyday of hair-dos and hair-don'ts, Heartthrobs and hefty girls, hot dates and hip talkers, beatniks and hair hoppers, and one magical potion that keeps it all together. more

Plot:

A 'pleasantly plump' teenager teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show. full summary | add synopsis

Awards:

7 nominations more

User Comments:

See This Movie! more (53 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:

White Lipstick (USA) (working title)
more

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

Ricki Lake began rapidly losing weight due to the intense dance lessons she had to take for the film. She reportedly had to "eat like crazy" in order to stay plump. more

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the closing credits, the 1988 production year is shown in Roman Numerals as "MCMDXXXVIII." The correct Roman Numeral equivalent for 1988 should be "MCMLXXXVIII." more

Quotes:

Tracy Turnblad: I'm an integrationist. We shall overcome someday.
Beatnik Chick: Not with that hair, you won't.
more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream (2005) more

Soundtrack:

Shake A Tail Feather more


FAQ

Both "Hairspray" films are rated PG. Why is this version more crude than the 2007 one?
Outline and a semi-official detailed chapter headings
more
21 out of 26 people found the following comment useful.
See This Movie!, 31 January 2000
10/10
Author: lisado from USA

I saw it when it first came out, I've seen it several times since, and my last viewing was just a few weeks ago. It never seems flat or old.

It takes a look at an issue that doesn't necessarily seem to be a goldmine of laughs (racial difficulties in the early '60s) and turns it into just that without robbing it of any dignity or sense of importance. John Waters seems to have pulled out all the stops to insure this outcome, and it really paid off.

The "pleasingly plump" pre-talk show Ricki Lake turns in a great performance in a role that's an inspiration to "chunky" girls everywhere.

As always, Waters picks cameo and supporting actors that are dead-on perfect. His own turn as a psychologist is an absolute scream! Brimming with hysterical lines and set-ups, this is a comedy you need to see, if you haven't already.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (53 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Hairspray (1988)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
FILMED AT MY HIGH SCHOOL!!! joymariah
Line from this film used in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles zeno1138
definitely not for kids! ironicshowchoir
Pia Zadora ahersh17
Am I the only one who loved both versions (1988 + 2007)? BroadwayLovex3
The Two Du-Tones... 'The Bird'??? magic-dick
more

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