But I'm a Cheerleader

1999, Comedy/Drama, 1h 21m

89 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

What to know

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 critic reviews

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But I'm a Cheerleader Photos

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Movie Info

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.
  • Rating:
    R (Strong Language|Sexual Content Involving Teens)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama, Lgbtq+
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Jamie Babbit
  • Producer:
    Leanna Creel, Andrea Sperling
  • Writer:
    Jamie Babbit, Brian Wayne Peterson
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $2.2M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Lionsgate Films
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround

Cast & Crew

Natasha Lyonne
Megan
Cathy Moriarty
Mary
Bud Cort
Peter
Mink Stole
Megan's Mom
RuPaul
Mike
Clea Duvall
Graham
Eddie Cibrian
Rock
Julie Delpy
Lipstick Lesbian at Cocksucker
Jamie Babbit
Director
Jamie Babbit
Writer
Brian Wayne Peterson
Screenwriter
Effie Brown
Line Producer
Michael Burns
Executive Producer
Marc Butan
Executive Producer
Leanna Creel
Producer
Andy Kaplan
Co-Executive Producer
Donald Kushner
Executive Producer
Alexis Magagni-Seely
Co-Executive Producer
Andrea Sperling
Producer
Pat Irwin
Original Music
Jules Labarthe
Cinematographer
Cecily Rhett
Film Editing
Sheila Jaffe
Casting
Georgianne Walken
Casting
Rachel Kamerman
Production Design
Alix Friedberg
Costume Design
Rosemary Lawrence
Key Makeup Artist
Nicholas Serino
Key Hair Stylist
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News & Interviews for But I'm a Cheerleader

Know Your Critic: Sharronda Williams, Founder of Pay or Wait
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Critic Reviews for But I'm a Cheerleader

All Critics (89) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (52)
Full Review… Paul Tatara CNN.com Full Review… Peter Bradshaw Guardian Full Review… Jami Bernard New York Daily News Full Review… Lisa Alspector Chicago Reader Full Review… Monica Eng Chicago Tribune Full Review… David Edelstein Slate Full Review… Allyson Johnson Cambridge Day Full Review… Jack Hawkins HeyUGuys Full Review… Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia Full Review… Bianca Garner In Their Own League Full Review… Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Full Review… Michael J. Casey Boulder Weekly
View All Critic Reviews (89)

Audience Reviews for But I'm a Cheerleader

  • Aug 22, 2015
    funny satire that has grown into a very cult movie thanks to a very topical subject. great messages and characters are quirky and fun, nice twist to the normal romantic comedies
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
  • Jul 26, 2015
    Even as an exaggeration, with its overuse of pink/green and showing the rehab camp people as caricatures, this smart satire is actually sadder than funny when you realize it is not so far from reality, especially when you see that idiots like that really exist trying to cure gays.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Dec 07, 2011
    A lesbian cheerleader goes to a faith-based camp to "reform" homosexuality. When Ted Haggard claimed that he could essentially "pray the gay away," I thought that not only was it one of the most ridiculous things I had ever heard but that it would also work as fantastic fodder for satire. <i>But I'm a Cheerleader</i> should be that satire. It isn't. It ultimately fails because it reduces its homosexual characters to stereotypes that we've seen many times before, and the "villains," the evangelists who attempt to guide the main characters away from their tendencies, are reduced to hypocrites rather than earnest people committed to a social/cultural mission. Thus, every character becomes a type rather than a person, and the situations are so contrived and over-the-top that it becomes difficult to understand if the film takes its own subject matter seriously. Overall, I like the idea for this film, but the execution was sorely lacking.
    Jim H Super Reviewer
  • Nov 01, 2011
    This movie had potential, but stereotypical characters and a flat storyline stifle its development.
    Matt P Super Reviewer
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