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Hairspray

PG19881h 32mJohn Waters
IMDb 7.0 · Rotten Tomatoes 98% · Metacritic 77

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Synopsis

"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.

ComedyMusicRomance
BombBaltimore, UsaCivil RightsRomcomRacial SegregationIntegrationInterracial RelationshipHairRacismDetention

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Frequently asked questions

What is Hairspray (1988) about?

'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…

Who stars in Hairspray?

Hairspray stars Ricki Lake (Tracy Turnblad), Divine (Edna Turnblad / Arvin Hodgepile), Debbie Harry (Velma Von Tussle), Vitamin C (Amber von Tussle), Sonny Bono (Franklin von Tussle). The film was directed by John Waters.

How long is Hairspray?

Hairspray has a runtime of 1 min and premiered in 1988. It is rated PG.

Is Hairspray worth watching?

Hairspray holds an IMDb rating of 7.0/10. On Rotten Tomatoes it scores 98. Fans of Comedy, Music, Romance are most likely to enjoy it — TasteRay can tell you how well it matches your personal taste.

Where can I watch Hairspray?

Streaming availability for Hairspray changes by country and service. TasteRay tracks where it is available across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, Apple TV+ and 50+ other platforms — the current options for your country are shown on this page.