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Paris Is Burning

Paris Is Burning is a 1990 American documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Paris Is Burning is a 1990 American documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston. It chronicles New York City ballroom culture in the 1980s, focusing on Black and Latino LGBTQ communities, voguing, and the social realities surrounding the scene.

Synopsis

The film follows ballroom houses and performers competing in fashion- and performance-based balls in New York City. It combines observational footage with interviews to explore identity, ambition, and community.

Production

Jennie Livingston filmed the documentary over several years in the 1980s. The long production period allowed the film to capture a detailed portrait of the scene and its participants.

Themes and cultural significance

The documentary addresses race, class, gender, sexuality, homophobia, transphobia, and poverty. It is frequently cited as a key historical document of queer and ballroom culture.

Reception and legacy

The film received strong critical attention and has been ranked by many publications among the greatest documentary films. Its preservation in the National Film Registry reflects its recognized cultural and historical importance.

Key facts

  • The film was shot over about seven years in the mid-to-late 1980s.
  • It documents the ballroom and drag-ball scene in New York City.
  • Its subjects include African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities.
  • The film is widely regarded as an important record of the “Golden Age” of the New York City ballroom scene.
  • In 2016, it was added to the United States National Film Registry.
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Canadian context

The film has been widely available in Canada through international home-video and streaming platforms, and it is of interest to Canadian readers as a landmark LGBTQ and documentary film with influence on queer culture and media discourse.

Frequently asked questions

What is Paris Is Burning about?
It is a documentary about New York City ballroom culture in the 1980s, especially drag balls, voguing, and the lives of Black and Latino LGBTQ participants.
Who directed Paris Is Burning?
Jennie Livingston directed the film.
When was Paris Is Burning released?
It was released in 1990.
How long is the film?
Sources list the runtime at about 71 to 78 minutes.
Why is Paris Is Burning important?
It is widely viewed as a major documentary record of the New York ballroom scene and a significant work on race, class, gender, and sexuality.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Is_Burning_(film)
    Supports: Director, year, subject, production span, cultural significance, National Film Registry inclusion
  2. German Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Is_Burning
    Supports: Year, runtime, documentary description
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100332/
    Supports: Release year and runtime
  4. Spanish Wikipedia — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_is_Burning_(pel%C3%ADcula)
    Supports: Director, year, ballroom culture, thematic description
  5. Film Streams — https://filmstreams.org/films/paris-is-burning
    Supports: Documentary subject matter and ballroom scene context
  6. MUBI — https://mubi.com/en/us/films/paris-is-burning
    Supports: Subject matter, key performers, ballroom scene description
  7. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/60036691
    Supports: Documentary description and release metadata
  8. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/paris_is_burning
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, runtime, release date