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But I'm a Cheerleader

Play trailer 1:41 Poster for But I'm a Cheerleader R 1999 1h 21m Comedy Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
43% Tomatometer 92 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Megan (Natasha Lyonne) considers herself a typical American girl. She excels in school and cheerleading, and she has a handsome football-playing boyfriend, even though she isn't that crazy about him. So she's stunned when her parents decide she's gay and send her to True Directions, a boot camp meant to alter her sexual orientation. While there, Megan meets a rebellious and unashamed teen lesbian, Graham (Clea DuVall). Though Megan still feels confused, she starts to have feelings for Graham.
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But I'm a Cheerleader

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Critics Consensus

Too broad to make any real statements, But I'm a Cheerleader isn't as sharp as it should be, but a charming cast and surprisingly emotional center may bring enough pep for viewers looking for a light social satire.

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Critics Reviews

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Riese Bernard Autostraddle 04/30/2024
The film manages to take these dark feelings of shame and confusion, of family rejection and religious persecution and betrayal, and make it funny and cool and even a little romantic. Go to Full Review Paul Tatara CNN.com 03/31/2019
But I'm a Cheerleader is a smug little comedy that tries to mock other people's self-righteousness while ignoring its own. Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian 03/31/2019
I would have preferred to know more in documentary terms about the actual reality of these terrible camps, rather than sit through this heavy-handed and oddly lenient comedy. Go to Full Review Jeff Beck The Blu Spot Sep 30
2.5/5
But I'm a Cheerleader is an admirable attempt to tell the touching story of a young woman discovering her true sexual identity & potentially her true mate at the same time, but sadly it ends up being greatly hindered by rather poor execution. Go to Full Review Noah Berlatsky Everything is Horrible (Substack) 06/25/2025
But I’m a Cheerleader insists on being big and weird and fake and sexual and joyfully itself. Go to Full Review Wayne Broadway Black Girl Nerds 06/16/2023
3/5
1999’s 'But I’m a Cheerleader' had all the potential to be a devastating drama. With just a little tweaking here and there, the film’s campy, satirical edge could have been blunted into something more dire and harder to watch. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dana Jun 29 First time watching on the big screen and woah was that so worth it. See more Isabella Jun 13 Please do more lesbian movies, amazing 10/10! See more Dani T @RT26777647 Jul 1 I loved this movie. The bold colors and camp is what makes it what it is. Watch this movie for a good time. See more Greg B Jun 27 Cult classic satire! What a fun film about the evils of a gay conversion camp. Ru Paul, Natasha, Clea are all amazing I this film! You can tell everyone had fun making this. Director Jamie Babbit and Produced Andrea Sperling were ahead of their time for this queer masterpiece! See more Natalie D. @rueyouowememoney Feb 14 Amazing movie I love its representation, Megan is so fine she needs to marry me ASAP no rocky See more Stephen C @bob25009 Nov 11 Funny in 1 hour, 25 minutes, and 02 seconds!!!!!!!! Rated R for Sexual Content/Nudity and Language Throughout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Copyright 1999-2025 by Lionsgate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
But I'm a Cheerleader

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Cast & Crew

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Jamie Babbit

Director

Natasha Lyonne

Megan

Cathy Moriarty

Mary

Bud Cort

Peter

Mink Stole

Megan's Mom

RuPaul

Mike

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But I'm a Cheerleader

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But I'm a Cheerleader

But I'm a Cheerleader: Trailer 1 But I'm a Cheerleader: Trailer 1 1:41 View more videos
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But I'm a Cheerleader

But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) Cathy Moriarty, Eddie Cibrian oversee a person on a bed in Lions Gate's But I'm A Cheerleader Clea DuVall and Natasha Lyonne and in Lions Gate's But I'm A Cheerleader Clea DuVall as Graham in Lions Gate's But I'm A Cheerleader Melanie Lynskey, Clea DuVall, Cathy Moriarty and Natasha Lyonne and in Lions Gate's But I'm A Cheerleader View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Megan (Natasha Lyonne) considers herself a typical American girl. She excels in school and cheerleading, and she has a handsome football-playing boyfriend, even though she isn't that crazy about him. So she's stunned when her parents decide she's gay and send her to True Directions, a boot camp meant to alter her sexual orientation. While there, Megan meets a rebellious and unashamed teen lesbian, Graham (Clea DuVall). Though Megan still feels confused, she starts to have feelings for Graham.
Director
Jamie Babbit
Producer
Leanna Creel, Andrea Sperling
Screenwriter
Jamie Babbit, Brian Wayne Peterson
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Production Co
Kushner-Locke International, HKM Films, Ignite Entertainment, Cheerleader LLC
Rating
R (Strong Language|Sexual Content Involving Teens)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 12, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 5, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.2M
Runtime
1h 21m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround