Desperate Living (1977): cast, story & where to watch
1977 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1977, Desperate Living is a comedy, fantasy, crime and horror film directed by John Waters, running about 90 minutes. “It isn't very pretty…” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A rich housewife enlists her maid's help to murder her husband; they go on the lam and end up in Mortville, a homeless community built into a garbage dump.
Who’s in it. Desperate Living stars Mink Stole as Peggy Gravel, Jean Hill as Grizelda Brown, Susan Lowe as Mole McHenry and Liz Renay as Muffy St. Jacques, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, Desperate Living has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Desperate Living page.
If you liked it. Fans of Desperate Living tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Desperate Living (1977)?
- In US, Desperate Living is available to rent or buy from Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Desperate Living worth watching?
- Desperate Living holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, fantasy, crime and horror. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Desperate Living?
- Desperate Living stars Mink Stole, Jean Hill, Susan Lowe, Liz Renay and Edith Massey.
- When was Desperate Living released?
- Desperate Living was released in 1977, with a runtime of about 90 minutes.