Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

But I'm a Cheerleader

R Released Sep 12, 1999 1h 21m Comedy Drama LGBTQ+ List
43% Tomatometer 91 Reviews 75% Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

But I'm a Cheerleader

Fandango at Home Prime Video Paramount+ Apple TV

Watch But I'm a Cheerleader with a subscription on Paramount+, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

But I'm a Cheerleader

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 Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (91) Critics Reviews
Riese Bernard Autostraddle 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. Apr 30, 2024 Full Review Paul Tatara CNN.com But I'm a Cheerleader is a smug little comedy that tries to mock other people's self-righteousness while ignoring its own. Mar 31, 2019 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian 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. Mar 31, 2019 Full Review Wayne Broadway Black Girl Nerds 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. Rated: 3/5 Jun 16, 2023 Full Review Allyson Johnson Cambridge Day The film is infused with high-octane energy, larger-than-life humor and a cheeky John Waters aesthetic. Mar 21, 2022 Full Review Jack Hawkins HeyUGuys This new release has been given a great Blu-ray transfer, but this 90's teen comedy remains a vanilla pantomime. Rated: 2/5 Jun 28, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Johann D. M 🏳️‍🌈 This satirical comedy follows a naive teenager sent to a residential in-patient conversion therapy camp when her strait-laced parents and friends suspect her of being a lesbian. An entertaining movie that also acts as a humorous social commentary about the uselessness of therapy camps, discrediting them and raising awareness about them. The use of the colour palette is very smart and the cast is quite charming, even though their characters may seem a bit stereotypical. The bright aesthetic is generally delightful, the humour is great and its screenplay is quite impressive for its day, as it is a very original idea. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review Jeff M This is an entertaining movie that unfortunately suffers from lack of a consistent tone. It's neither outrageous enough to be an AIRPLANE! type satire nor dark enough to achieve the level of something like HEATHERS. And by the end, it loses all steam and actually turns into a cookie cutter romantic comedy. That's too bad, because in the right hands, this could have been something fiercely funny and irreverent, especially considering recent releases of films like BOY ERASED and THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST. The film does manage to create quite a surreal world filled with pastel colors and madcap characters - the look of it almost reminded me of something like EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. If only the filmmakers had decided what they wanted to convey, this would have been a recommendation. Unfortunately, sometimes it feels like they're just making it up as they go along. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/24 Full Review Laura D This movie is very odd and at times generic with overplayed stereotypes, but the dramatic in your face symbolism is definitely noteworthy. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/21/23 Full Review PridePosterStudios 1, 2, 3, 4, straight RuPaul says don’t explore 🙀 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/24/24 Full Review Scuba S Andre Charles is in it Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/07/23 Full Review Brendan K Of course the stupid critics gave this a rotten rating. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
But I'm a Cheerleader

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Get Real 79% 84% Get Real Transamerica 77% 83% Transamerica The Opposite of Sex 81% 60% The Opposite of Sex Boys on the Side 73% 68% Boys on the Side Outrageous! 100% 84% Outrageous! Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All Related Movie News
Know Your Critic: Sharronda Williams, Founder of Pay or Wait

Photos

View All But I'm a Cheerleader photos

But I'm a Cheerleader

But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) Cathy Moriarty, Eddie Cibrian oversee a person on a bed in Lions Gate's But I'm A Cheerleader Clea DuVall and Natasha Lyonne and in Lions Gate's But I'm A Cheerleader Clea DuVall as Graham in Lions Gate's But I'm A Cheerleader Melanie Lynskey, Clea DuVall, Cathy Moriarty and Natasha Lyonne and in Lions Gate's But I'm A Cheerleader View more photos

Movie Info

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
Ignite Entertainment, Kushner-Locke International, HKM Films, 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
Most Popular at Home Now