Paris Is Burning (1990) 

This documentary is itself legendary, for all times. The people. The stories. The dreams. The sheer humanity. The period in time. The timelessness of so much of this. You just can't but feel emotional and connected to them.

It's crazy how to this day we still talk like them , move like them , think like them . They truly will live forever.

Justice for my baby Venus! This movie breaks my heart every time! 😢

Hearing all their dreams of wanting to be a star and leave a mark on the world, and here we are 32 plus years later still watching this documentary. Movies and shows and books have been created about them all. They are remembered every single day. Their influence was ahead of their time. I only hope that some of them are still with us today to be able to see themselves become the stars they always knew they truly were.

It's amazing how POSE is almost a scene-by-scene replication of this film. Very much inspired that series heavily. Love it ❤

Venus' death was probably the hardest one to hear about, during the film. Of course many of the subjects in this doco have passed away. One can only hope for those who are still alive, that their lives turned out for the best. This doco was probably one of the best produced films in the last 50 years.

Sad that when people today think "Vogue" the dance, they think Madonna, not Willie Ninja.

This documentary should be part of every US history curriculum in high school. It is one of the most important pieces to the foundation of modern American culture.

Venus had a dream at that young age, and hearing her talk about what she wanted in life broke my heart ... she just wanted to live her life and sadly evil stopped her to achieve that ... I hope God made her dreams all come true

I love how POSE turned this into a TV show.. the real ppl involved would be so proud.. if they could see the world now!

Venus Xtravaganza was simply delightful, RIP

Willie Definitely spoke life into vogue. God I wish he was here to witness it.

not enough people talk abt the way class struggle defined ball culture. with how corporate and individualist pride has gotten i think we forget that queer culture comes from struggle, not just an obtuse form of homophobia but a larger system that punishes its marginalized people into homelessness, sex work, and prison. be gay do crimes is not just a saying.

Is anyone else still looking at this in 2023 wishing those people we use to see at the clubs were still here?

Pepper Labeija 1948-2003 was a staple in the ballroom community...

Idk why but Ms. Brooke and Carmen at the beach is EVERYTHING! Babygurl said she is as free as the wind ☺️🌸🩷

I love this movie so much. There is also a documentary/movie called "Queen" that features Crystal LeBeija in a drag beauty pageant in 1969. Also, "Split" which is a documentary about National Chrysis...She was Salvador Dali's Trans Muse.

This has been my favorite movie since the 90’s when I was a teenager. ❤ Rest in power to those that have passed on.

We live in a society where femininity is seen as a negative. Why can’t we just accept that being a human is balance of masculinity and femininity.

Pepper LaBeija was also an inspiration to Elektra’s character.

Seeing how much this inspired Rupaul's Drag race is impressive

Audio cuts out at 41:38 doesn't start again until 43:11 but great upload. 47:05 cuts out again. I dont know if that's the movie or the upload itself. Love it. 31 years later we still are reading, voguing, throwing shade, having balls and pagents and even more so. I love that!

“Why Y’all Gagging Tho⁉️”

I'm so tore up over this. What a revolutionary film and documentary.

Even with the audio- this was so incredibly moving. It’s always been a fight to be defined on your own terms - and not how the world sees you. You have to FIGHT to Be- and these were some of the baddest bitches to ever do it. This was so beautiful. I will be watching this over and over. Freedom is a fight til the bitter end- knowing that victory is almost never promised- but fighting and living and LOVING as big as your own fragile heart can dare. This was so beautiful

"If everybody went to balls and did less drugs, it would be a fun world, wouldn't it?" ---- Dorian Corey

1980’s NYC was dangerous as fu*k…but damn, those were some fun times. The city was vibing

Venus, you were a star. Rest in peace beautiful

Everytime I watch Paris Is Burning and Dorian comes up, all I can think about is that damn mummy in the closet...

Just watched for the first time… this is such an important glimpse into gay culture. All I can say is WOW… Definite must see.

BLESS YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!! my bisexual, drag queen-loving heart thanks you🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

“we’re Not going to be shady just fierce.”

I enjoyed this in black and white. Thank you for posting.

I did not see that last part coming, shook me a bit. such a shame. What a fabulous documentary, such a special moment in time that was captured here, you can almost smell the air from the streets thru the screen. I can’t believe it took me this long to watch it. I’m glad I finally did.

all of these souls are truly so beautiful and so unique. to not only know yourself truly and deeply but have the courage and confidence to be that person in a society like ours is a marvel to witness and behold.

A towering film. A true American document.

I made a point to watch this when it came up because it's culturally significant. It was so sad. The LGBTQAI+ community is still struggling, and though we owe so much to the foundation these people were continuing to lay, it makes me sad for them that they didn't get to see gay artists in the mainstream, gay marriage, corporate pride parades. Would they hate it? Would they feel vindicated? :(

Poor Octavia, she truly wasn’t appreciated forreal. Long live the Queen. She had so many innocent hopes and dreams but life has other plans

Oh Venus 💔 😢 Beautiful little doll, RIP

Love this have watched many times and the references from Pose and Terry Torrington No Shade are unmistakable!..But after I finish watching I'm always a little sad for Venus and Octavia.

Life changing documentary. Venus, rest in power 😢

Back when the Bodies were REALLY piling UP! A kid from my Neighborhood (I live in the Midwest)moved to South Beach and became a hairdresser. He was actually a Buff, competitive Diver (like Louganis-but, not at that Level.) Real Nice Guy. Then, back in 'early '93, my Dad called me long-distance, to tell me that he Died of AIDS. SAD. You KNOW...Gay Men may be Wild, and Junkies share needles (in part, because they cannot find Clean ones.) What REALLY sparked the AIDS Pandemic, however, was the Hemo-Caribbean Plasma Center in Port au Prince, Haiti. It was open from 1971-72, and they Never-or Rarely, changed out needles and tubing(!) Well, some Haitians had been guest workers in Africa-which has similar problems. About 7000 Poor People got the equivalent three American dollars/day to donate there, every two weeks or so. (You can give Plasma much more frequently than whole blood.) The American Company who ran the place imported thousands of gallons of the stuff back to the US, where it went into the veins of Hemophiliacs and others. Plasma contains clotting factors that keeps them from bleeding. ALL Hemophiliacs are MEN, and a certain percentage of them are Gay. Ask yourself why Haiti had such a Bad Epidemic, when the Dominican Republic-on the same Island, did NOT. NO Country in Central or South America had Anything approaching their Prevalence! There was a Death from Toxoplasmosis of the Brain, in Haiti, back in 1978. Grown adults do NOT get that Disease, unless they're Severely Immunocompromised. And, Decades Later, when Everyone Knew Better, Plasma Centers in Mexico City, China and India ALL sparked major local epidemics of HIV, from the same negligent practices. After you get infected with HIV, you have a Very High level of the virus in your Blood, and other bodily fluids, for about a month. Then, it goes down by a factor of maybe one thousand, and stays low, until eight to ten years later, when you begin to become Ill (but, not TOO sick to have Sex.) the HIV prevalence among high-risk individuals was only about Five Percent...as late as 1978. In 1983, in contrast-it was Sixty Percent(!) The found that out from a retrospective analysis of blood slides from the Hepatitis B vaccine study, which began, back in '78. The HIV test became available in early 1985. And, Yes, there were a few outliers, like the Teen Boy who lived in the Ghetto of St. Louis, and Died of it, back in 1969.

Love it! Anyone else have issues with audio? Several times there was no audio at all.

I randomly found this looking through film lists online and thought it sounded interesting. Wow, what a touching, eye-opening documentary. I never realized how little I knew about drag and ball culture. This is a totally new world to me. My heart really goes out to people needlessly struggle just trying to live their truth. Nothing but love and respect here

Thank you so much for spreading the legacy!

Wow thank you for having this on RU-vid! Saw this on Netflix years ago and I was so sad when they removed it.

Extraordinary movie. Beautiful. It transcends time, place, color, race...everything. Love conquers all!

reading up on them on wikipedia and not a single one of them grew old (several of them died only a few years after the documentary was released). iirc, carmen xtravagenza lived the longest and even she only reached 62. this documentary is so important capturing the life of people on the margins who had so many dreams (some seeming quite mundane to those outside of the community) but the odds were against them :(

This is hands down my favorite documentary of all time. I can't count how many times I have watched it in my life. What it captures is magical and very sad at the same time. Almost all of the featured faces are now resting and most of them passed not too long after the doc. The nyc sub-culture in the background is one that has shaped history and culture in general and not just gay culture. There is so much to break down, so much glorious content, so much wisdom, life lessons shared, so many amazing characters, in just about an hour. This is one is really life changing as someone stated here. God bless.

Current LGBTQIA are so lucky to have people who suffered and created under a heavier anti-gay gravity than we experience. This docu clears up any delusion that other gays are 'talking like me' All we can do is add to a language that existed b4 we were born. A blessing 🚶🏿‍♂️

Love the documentary 🫶🏾🫶🏾

Watching this because my professor assigned it, but I'm so thankful that she did. It's such a good watch. wow

Incredible work. Thank you.

It’s been so long since I have seen this… Had to click. Thanks for posting!

As a longtime New Yorker and clujbgoer, I remember fondly how, around 6 a.m. Sunday morning when Junior Vasquez was DJ'ing, the voguers would take over the back bar are at Sound Factory and do some serious runway.

I’m here after watching Rupaul drag race when it’s time for the reading challenge she always says in the name of Paris is burning so I decided to find it to see exactly what she meant and here I am ❤

I Love 💕 Paris is Burning ❤️‍🔥 thank you 😊😘

love this doc with all my burning heart

Beautiful! 💥💥❤️

Thanks man

...this is a great documentary that my friend Alex revealed to me, in the 90'. Thank you for bringing this post! Best regards from Paris France ! ❤❤❤❤❤

Thank you for uploading this! The quality is pretty decent too!

Very interesting film! Thanks.

I used to have this legendary film on vhs but that got lost in a house move. This is the first time in years that I’ve seen it again. My oh my, those queens were fierce. Paving the way forward for young queers to come out and be seen. Those moves are top runway stylee and Dior and Givenchy should take note!! It always makes me smile and cry seeing these beautiful girls and boys being staunch and real. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧💋💋💋💥💥💥👄💄💋👠👩‍❤️‍👩💏🦋🦋🦋🦋🦄🦄🦄🫎🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I thought POSE was brilliant but this movie/doco is out of this world. ❤. Love from Australia 🇦🇺

Thanks for posting. I remember when it was in the theater back in the day. I had no idea this world existed. Sadly most of the cast passed away years ago….RIP

Rewatching 30 years on (streaming vs hunting around for a video store who won't keep the record of the rental) I feel that having portions dubbed over or without voices is especially poignant. Thank you for posting. I hope that everyone who needs to has VPN and can see this post wherever they huddle together in the world.

THANK YOU! I have been looking everywhere and didn't find it! ❤ You've made my week!❤

Great to have this here so we can use it as an educational tool!

I loved this movie

This made me so emotional. I loved this so much.

It’s kind of giving me 90s vibes this Black & White version. Thanks for uploading!

WOW! 949 (including mine) upvotes and not a SINGLE down! Okay, so as a "cis white male" or whatever I have only recently come across the works of "The Queen (1968)" and "Paris is Burning" afterward and holy freaking shit... I am absolutely FASCINATED by this subculture, and "Voguing" and "Vogue Fem" dance style, like the bread crumb trail I've been lead on has honestly been awesome.

LOOK ON HERE for the entire cast on the old JOAN RIVERS show !! Joan is so nice to them all !!

Have always loved this movie ❤

Although, many websites refer to this documentary's official release date as 1991. I can tell you for a fact that this documentary was aired back in 1988, on PBS, in NYC. I remember clearly that Oliver North's Iran-Contra Affair, before his trial, was dominating all the TV channels. I turned the dial on the TV and stopped on PBS because there was a familiar face on TV talking. I was fixated because as young as I was, I clearly remember some of these faces from The Pier and yes, the club. This was my first-time viewing Paris is Burning. The documentary wasn't popular then and hadn't caught on until after Madonna's "Vogue" was released and then all of a sudden there was a resurgence of this documentary, and it became the classic hit that it is today. What I can say is that there is a lot of footage that did not make it on the re-released. I'll give you one example. There is a scene with Venus Extravaganza walking the runway in a beautiful brown dress, looking fabulous, and carrying some sort of orb in her hand. There was a moment where she stepped on the front bottom of her dress, tripped, and fell. This scene was removed from the reissued documentary, and rightfully so, out of respect for her. Sadly, we may never see what I would call the "Director's Cut" as much as I loved this documentary. I can say for sure that the original release would have been even more advantageous to our beloved Gay Community, simply because it was more revealing and telling than what is shown in the reissued version of this classic.

Absolutely magical

What an awesome time and a documentary forever etched in our collective (un)conscious.

what a gorgeous documentary

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS! I haven't seen this film in ages...I speak about to others that have never seen it but certainly need to. I remember going to some underground clubs in NYC back in the day and watched them vogueing for the first time! I was blown away! Never saw anything like that and I was an instant fan.

If this was made TODAY - it would win the OSCAR for Best Documentary . Back in the day ; the Oscars were all voted by OLD people . Siskel & Ebert At the Movies gave it THUMBS UP ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

It's sometimes hard to watch this as I was there throughout a lot of this, and so many are no longer here. You are missed.❤🙏

WoW.... Amazing and Wonderful to see the history.

You own everything everything is yours I hear opulence, every single time I step out. and I am a woman you hear me yesss opulence my favorite part 😊

I repect the older drag queens so much. The younder ones are undoing all the work the older ones did, all the hard work.

The best documentary ever made.

This film is such a part of my youth. So beautiful, heartbreaking, and inspiring. ❤

I've been looking for this movie a long time. So thrilled to find it here. What a glorious fabulous sickening fascinating poignant and yes! *legendary* group of people. I feel honored to be one of those remembering them all and treasuring their impact on the world.

Thank u so much

I remembered these days. This was my childhood. I miss the people.

This is why in 2023 I love my children xx thank you for you lovely people in this doc xx❤

So many are so young! So pure of heart and gorgeous souls Thank you for what you have done for the gay community, the culture, this is true history and can never be replicated True trailblazers and icons RIP to those who have passed your legacy will be remembered forever 🤍

My friend is in this movie. Looking all bangee but I love it 💜

This documentary is pure Gold

One o the best documentary ever

My gosh child, I'm Finally getting to See this film 🎥📽️,

It's a costume ball, but though it these people are baring their souls. The casual intimacy is very compelling. Watching this, I feel inspired to try to be more like myself.

Im 73 now and back in my day, mid 60's thru the disco ear, 'reading' and 'mopping' were very much there for us LGGT community.

Always a winning film.

Spectacular