A Dirty Shame

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A Dirty Shame

NC-17

2004

1h 29m

Comedy

LGBTQ+

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Popcornmeter

55%

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113 Reviews

51%

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10,000+ Ratings

Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) runs a convenience store with her husband (Chris Isaak) and mother-in-law (Suzanne Shepherd). One day, Sylvia is hit on the head and transforms from an uptight prude to a sex-crazed lunatic. As she goes on a rampage through town, Sylvia attracts the attention of Ray Ray (Johnny Knoxville), a sexual healer and tow truck driver in search of the world's greatest orgasm. Their sexual revolution, however, causes a class war in their tiny Baltimore community.

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Critics Consensus

John Waters casts his provocative eye toward libido in a sex satire that won't leave audiences feeling too Dirty, but this sophomoric farce doesn't strike a nerve like his best work -- a real Shame.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

03/13/2018

This exercise in bad taste is the Dawn of the Dead of nymphomania. Never mean-spirited, A Dirty Shame has some big laughs, but it's a one-joke movie that shows its strain well before the finish line.

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

10/19/2004

3.5/5

A genuine cri de couer in the director's long-running battle against the forces of censorship and a banal societal (and cinematic) status quo.

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Glenn Kenny

Premiere Magazine

10/06/2004

3/4

A welcome reminder that sex is sometimes too ridiculous to take so seriously.

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Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

08/07/2008

1/5

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

07/30/2007

B+

Waters has made a resolutely unsexy sex comedy, but he hasn't left out the comedy.

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Christopher Smith

Bangor Daily News (Maine)

11/18/2005

B

No shame here.

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adam T

@Henry_Bickle Mar 23

If you hate this film it is probably about you. I can't imagine knowing so little about John Waters I would intentionally view one of his films as a neuter. The very fact Tracy Ullman and Chis Isaak were cast as a married couple is radical right off the bat. I found it absolutely refreshing throughout. John Waters eats life! Suicide for celluloid!

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Michael C

@RT87248026 02/06/2024

I'm a lifelong John Waters fan and so I knew what to expect. This movie is trashy in the best possible way. Lots of bawdy humor and a star studded cast. See it just for the "Bears" 😂

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kirby p

@RT22297428 09/11/2022

Reminder to self: Never see another Waters movie.

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andrew k

@RT40967692 08/14/2022

If you don't like John Water movies, don't go anywhere near this one. And Hairspray alone doesn't count. If you legitimately love John waters movies, this one will be a lot of fun.

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Ted W

@RT84494621 05/05/2022

What a perverted movie. I thought this would be a satirical comedy about you know, perverted stuff but instead we got a kinda low budget spoof movie with pure cringe. Like when the main girl hits her head she turns into a crazy you know fiend. It's funny at first but it got old quick. Selma Blair is in this and she's funny but what's the reason for you know. Anyway in the end this movie is dumb and personally I'm not a fan.

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01/02/2021

Possibly one of the worst films ever made.

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Synopsis

Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) runs a convenience store with her husband (Chris Isaak) and mother-in-law (Suzanne Shepherd). One day, Sylvia is hit on the head and transforms from an uptight prude to a sex-crazed lunatic. As she goes on a rampage through town, Sylvia attracts the attention of Ray Ray (Johnny Knoxville), a sexual healer and tow truck driver in search of the world's greatest orgasm. Their sexual revolution, however, causes a class war in their tiny Baltimore community.

Director: John Waters
Producer: Ted Hope
Screenwriter: John Waters
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Killer Films, This Is That Productions, City Lights Pictures
Rating: NC-17 (Perverse Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 29m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)