But I'm a Cheerleader

Play trailer

1:41

But I'm a Cheerleader

R

1999

1h 21m

Comedy

Drama

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

92 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Megan (Natasha Lyonne) considers herself a typical American girl. She excels in school and cheerleading, and she has a handsome football-playing boyfriend, even though she isn't that crazy about him. So she's stunned when her parents decide she's gay and send her to True Directions, a boot camp meant to alter her sexual orientation. While there, Megan meets a rebellious and unashamed teen lesbian, Graham (Clea DuVall). Though Megan still feels confused, she starts to have feelings for Graham.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Too broad to make any real statements, But I'm a Cheerleader isn't as sharp as it should be, but a charming cast and surprisingly emotional center may bring enough pep for viewers looking for a light social satire.

Read Critics Reviews

Riese Bernard

Autostraddle

04/30/2024

The film manages to take these dark feelings of shame and confusion, of family rejection and religious persecution and betrayal, and make it funny and cool and even a little romantic.

Go to Full Review

Paul Tatara

CNN.com

03/31/2019

But I'm a Cheerleader is a smug little comedy that tries to mock other people's self-righteousness while ignoring its own.

Go to Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

03/31/2019

I would have preferred to know more in documentary terms about the actual reality of these terrible camps, rather than sit through this heavy-handed and oddly lenient comedy.

Go to Full Review

Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

Sep 30

2.5/5

But I'm a Cheerleader is an admirable attempt to tell the touching story of a young woman discovering her true sexual identity & potentially her true mate at the same time, but sadly it ends up being greatly hindered by rather poor execution.

Go to Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

Everything is Horrible (Substack)

06/25/2025

But I’m a Cheerleader insists on being big and weird and fake and sexual and joyfully itself.

Go to Full Review

Wayne Broadway

Black Girl Nerds

06/16/2023

3/5

1999’s 'But I’m a Cheerleader' had all the potential to be a devastating drama. With just a little tweaking here and there, the film’s campy, satirical edge could have been blunted into something more dire and harder to watch.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Dana

Jun 29

First time watching on the big screen and woah was that so worth it.

See more

Isabella

Jun 13

Please do more lesbian movies, amazing 10/10!

See more

Dani T

@RT26777647 Jul 1

I loved this movie. The bold colors and camp is what makes it what it is. Watch this movie for a good time.

See more

Greg B

Jun 27

Cult classic satire! What a fun film about the evils of a gay conversion camp. Ru Paul, Natasha, Clea are all amazing I this film! You can tell everyone had fun making this. Director Jamie Babbit and Produced Andrea Sperling were ahead of their time for this queer masterpiece!

See more

Natalie D.

@rueyouowememoney Feb 14

Amazing movie I love its representation, Megan is so fine she needs to marry me ASAP no rocky

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Nov 11

Funny in 1 hour, 25 minutes, and 02 seconds!!!!!!!! Rated R for Sexual Content/Nudity and Language Throughout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Copyright 1999-2025 by Lionsgate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jamie Babbit

Director

Natasha Lyonne

Megan

Cathy Moriarty

Mary

Bud Cort

Peter

Mink Stole

Megan's Mom

RuPaul

Mike

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Family Therapy

1:31

Now Playing

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Kissing and Dreaming

1:30

Now Playing

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Rediscovering Your Gender Identity

1:56

Now Playing

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - I Love You

2:05

Now Playing

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Foreplay is For Sissies

2:44

Now Playing

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - The Intervention

1:47

Now Playing

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - The Final Test

3:01

Now Playing

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Never Felt That Way Before

2:47

Now Playing

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - True Directions

2:54

Now Playing

But I'm a Cheerleader: Official Clip - Reporting Roots

1:19

Now Playing

View more videos

Get Real

79%

84%

Get Real

Watchlist

The Opposite of Sex

81%

60%

The Opposite of Sex

Watchlist

Your Friends & Neighbors

76%

64%

Your Friends & Neighbors

Watchlist

Transamerica

77%

83%

Transamerica

Watchlist

Boys on the Side

73%

69%

Boys on the Side

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Know Your Critic: Sharronda Williams, Founder of Pay or Wait

But I'm a Cheerleader: Trailer 1

1:41

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Megan (Natasha Lyonne) considers herself a typical American girl. She excels in school and cheerleading, and she has a handsome football-playing boyfriend, even though she isn't that crazy about him. So she's stunned when her parents decide she's gay and send her to True Directions, a boot camp meant to alter her sexual orientation. While there, Megan meets a rebellious and unashamed teen lesbian, Graham (Clea DuVall). Though Megan still feels confused, she starts to have feelings for Graham.

Director: Jamie Babbit
Producer: Leanna Creel, Andrea Sperling
Screenwriter: Jamie Babbit, Brian Wayne Peterson
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Kushner-Locke International, HKM Films, Ignite Entertainment, Cheerleader LLC
Rating: R (Strong Language|Sexual Content Involving Teens)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.2M
Runtime: 1h 21m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings