You are here:
The Queens

The Queens

2019

Director

Adrienne Gruben

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

This documentary chronicles over two years in the heels of four of the world’s most famous drag queens including former RuPaul’s Drag Race winners Jinkx Monsoon and Sharon Needles, former All Stars champion Alaska Thunderf*ck and season 7 and All Stars 2 contestant Katya Zamolodchikova. From performing across world stages to winning (and losing) Drag Race or dealing with major tragedies, The Queens lifts the lace front, giving an insight into one of the most fascinating and quickly ascending entertainment artforms.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

8.0/10

Excellent


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Excellent

The film offers a deep immersion into queer artistry and identity. By centering drag performers, the narrative critiques heteronormativity and explores non-cisnormative gender expressions.

Gender Representation

Excellent

The documentary disrupts traditional hierarchies by showcasing the fluid nature of gender. Subjects demonstrate professional mastery and creative agency, presenting gender as a malleable construct.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The focus remains primarily on the specific subculture of drag performance. The racial demographics of the four primary subjects are not explicitly detailed in the narrative.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film embraces a nuanced understanding of life by documenting personal tragedies. It highlights a community that often operates outside traditional Western religious or institutional norms.

Disability Representation

Minimal

While the film mentions subjects dealing with major tragedies, there is no evidence of specific physical or neurodivergent disabilities as central narrative drivers.

Strengths

  • Centering the agency of queer performers allows for a multifaceted character study.
  • The film effectively deconstructs conventional gender norms through performative artistry.
  • It provides a nuanced look at a community existing outside traditional Western institutions.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative lacks explicit detail regarding the racial and ethnic demographics of the subjects.
  • There is no clear representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the central story.

AI Analysis

The Queens provides a significant look at gender fluidity and queer identity through the lens of high-profile drag performers. By centering the agency of these artists, the film moves beyond surface-level representation into a detailed study of subcultural life. The documentary succeeds in subverting conventional gender expectations and exploring the complexities of individual truth. It avoids traditional moral frameworks, opting instead for a situational understanding of the performers' lived experiences. However, the film's focus on a specific subculture leaves questions regarding racial and ethnic breadth. While the subjects are central to the narrative, the specific racial demographics are not a primary focus of the documentation.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.