Hairspray (1988): cast, story & where to watch
1988 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1988, Hairspray is a comedy, drama, family and romance film directed by John Waters, running about 92 minutes. “The world was in a mess... but their hair was perfect!!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 'Pleasantly plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad achieves her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny Collins Dance Show. Now a teen hero, she starts using her fame to speak out for the causes she believes in, most of all integration. In doing so, she earns the wrath of the show's former star, Amber Von Tussle, as well as Amber's manipulative, pro-segregation parents. The rivalry comes to a head as Amber and Tracy vie for the title of Miss Auto Show 1963.
Who’s in it. Hairspray stars Ricki Lake as Tracy Turnblad, Divine as Edna Turnblad / Arvin Hodgepile, Leslie Ann Powers as Penny Pingleton and Debbie Harry as Velma Von Tussle, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, Hairspray has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $6.7M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Hairspray page.
If you liked it. Fans of Hairspray tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Hairspray (1988)?
- In US, Hairspray is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Hairspray worth watching?
- Hairspray holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama, family and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Hairspray?
- Hairspray stars Ricki Lake, Divine, Leslie Ann Powers, Debbie Harry and Sonny Bono.
- When was Hairspray released?
- Hairspray was released in 1988, with a runtime of about 92 minutes.