The Celluloid Closet
1995 · Movie · R · 102 min · ★ 7.2 · 92% critics
This documentary traces a century of how gay men and lesbians have been shown in mainstream movies, using a huge range of film clips and interviews. It explores how portrayals shifted over time—from stereotypes and coded hints under censorship to more open stories and growing visibility in later decades.
Based on The Celluloid Closet
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Details
- Years
- 1995
- Release date
- 1996-03-15
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Critic score
- 92/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.2/10 (116 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want an accessible, entertaining look at LGBTQ representation in film history, packed with clips and commentary; Not for you if you want a fully up-to-date, intersectional view like Paragraph 175.
Pros: eye-opening history; tons of classic clips; engaging interviews | Cons: some speculative claims; feels dated now; limited broader LGBTQ+ scope
Themes
- media
- hollywood
- lgbt
Awards & recognition
- Peabody Awards
Cast & crew
Lily Tomlin
as Narrator (voice)
Tony Curtis
as Self
Susan Sarandon
as Self
Gore Vidal
as Self
Whoopi Goldberg
as Self
Antonio Fargas
as Self
Shirley MacLaine
as Self
John Schlesinger
as Self
Armistead Maupin
as Self
Arthur Laurents
as Self
Directed by Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman