John Waters

John Waters

Directing

Biography

John Samuel Waters Jr. (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, writer, actor, and artist. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films, including Multiple Maniacs (1970), Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974). Waters wrote and directed the comedy film Hairspray (1988), which was later adapted into a hit Broadway musical and a 2007 musical film. Other films he has written and directed include Desperate Living (1977), Polyester (1981), Cry-Baby (1990), Serial Mom (1994), Pecker (1998), and Cecil B. Demented (2000). His films contain elements of post-modern comedy and surrealism. As an actor, Waters has appeared in Sweet and Lowdown (1999), 'Til Death Do Us Part (2007), Mangus! (2011), Excision (2012), Suburban Gothic (2014), and has appeared in the Child's Play franchise with Seed of Chucky (2004) and third season of the television series Chucky (2024). He hosted and produced the television series John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You (2006). Throughout his career, Waters has often collaborated with actor and drag queen Divine and his regular cast of the Dreamlanders. More recently, he performs in his touring one-man show This Filthy World. Waters also works as a visual artist and across different media, such as installations, photography, and sculpture. The audiobooks he narrated for his books Carsick and Mr. Know-It-All were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2015 and 2020, respectively. In 2018, Waters was named an officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.

Filmography Movies

Acting

Poster for Mommie Dearest: Joan Lives On

Mommie Dearest: Joan Lives On

Documentary which focuses more on the impact of the film upon its release and how it has seeped into the culture since that time. It is always fun to hear John Waters speak on a subject he is passionate about.

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Mommie Dearest: Joan Lives On

Poster for Seed of Chucky

Seed of Chucky

This time around, Chucky and his homicidal honey, Tiffany, are brought back to life by their orphan offspring, Glen. Then the horror goes Hollywood as Chucky unleashes his own brand of murderous mayhem!

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Poster for Something Wild

Something Wild

A free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-con husband shows up.

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Poster for The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground

Experience the iconic rock band's legacy in the first major documentary to tell their story. Directed with the era’s avant-garde spirit by Todd Haynes, this kaleidoscopic oral history combines exclusive interviews with dazzling archival footage.

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The Velvet Underground

Poster for Thinking XXX

Thinking XXX

For a book project, photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders took photographs of 30 stars of adult movies, each pair of photographs in the same pose, clothed and nude. This film records the photo shoots and includes interviews with the performers and commentary from eight writers (and John Waters). The actors and writers discuss economics, nudity and exhibitionism, careers, and private lives.

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Poster for Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida

Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida

Explore the independent horror film scene that Florida has been vigorously pumping out since the invention of film. Jam-packed with Interviews, exploitation, never-before-seen footage and cinema madness. Watch and learn about films new and old in this exclusive documentary made for cult horror fans.

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Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida

Self [archival]

Poster for Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea

Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea

The Salton Sea: An inland ocean of massive fish kills, rotting resorts, and 120 degree nights located just minutes from urban Southern California. This film details the rise and fall of the Salton Sea, from its heyday as the "California Riviera" where boaters and Beach Boys mingled in paradise to its present state of decaying, forgotten ecological disaster.

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Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea

Self - Narrator (voice)

Poster for Sweet and Lowdown

Sweet and Lowdown

In the 1930s, jazz guitarist Emmet Ray idolizes Django Reinhardt, faces gangsters and falls in love with a mute woman.

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Sweet and Lowdown

Poster for The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels

The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels

THE WILD WORLD OF TED V. MIKELS, a new documentary by Kevin Sean Michaels (no blood relation to Ted, but the same spirit), is a rollicking look at the independent cinema and film pioneering of Ted V. Mikels, who has been producing films for over 60 years. Way before limited-budget action films became termed as "grindhouse," Ted was wowing audiences with his own special brand of guts, gore, humor, violence and most of all -- style. THE CORPSE GRINDERS 1 + 2, THE ASTRO-ZOMBIES, 10 VIOLENT WOMEN, MISSION: KILLFAST, THE BLACK KLANSMAN, THE DOLL SQUAD, THE WORM EATERS and GIRL IN GOLD BOOTS are some of Ted's films that have made their cinematic mark.

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The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels

Poster for Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat

Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat

A cannibal caterer kills various young women in preparation for a ritual feast for a long-dormant Egyptian goddess that has him under its control.

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Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat

Production

Poster for Pink Flamingos

Pink Flamingos

Notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against Connie & Raymond Marble, a sleazy married couple who make a passionate attempt to humiliate her and seize her tabloid-given title as "The Filthiest Person Alive".

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Poster for Pink Flamingos

Pink Flamingos

Notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against Connie & Raymond Marble, a sleazy married couple who make a passionate attempt to humiliate her and seize her tabloid-given title as "The Filthiest Person Alive".

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Poster for Pink Flamingos

Pink Flamingos

Notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against Connie & Raymond Marble, a sleazy married couple who make a passionate attempt to humiliate her and seize her tabloid-given title as "The Filthiest Person Alive".

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Poster for Pink Flamingos

Pink Flamingos

Notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against Connie & Raymond Marble, a sleazy married couple who make a passionate attempt to humiliate her and seize her tabloid-given title as "The Filthiest Person Alive".

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Director of Photography

Poster for Hairspray

Hairspray

'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.

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Poster for The Diane Linkletter Story

The Diane Linkletter Story

This improvised film is based on the true-life suicide of TV personality Art Linkletter's daughter, Diane. Mr. and Mrs. Linkletter fret about their daughter's recent behaviour, which includes taking drugs and dating a lowlife named Jim. Eventually, the parents confront Diane… with tragic consequences.

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The Diane Linkletter Story

Poster for The Diane Linkletter Story

The Diane Linkletter Story

This improvised film is based on the true-life suicide of TV personality Art Linkletter's daughter, Diane. Mr. and Mrs. Linkletter fret about their daughter's recent behaviour, which includes taking drugs and dating a lowlife named Jim. Eventually, the parents confront Diane… with tragic consequences.

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The Diane Linkletter Story

Poster for The Diane Linkletter Story

The Diane Linkletter Story

This improvised film is based on the true-life suicide of TV personality Art Linkletter's daughter, Diane. Mr. and Mrs. Linkletter fret about their daughter's recent behaviour, which includes taking drugs and dating a lowlife named Jim. Eventually, the parents confront Diane… with tragic consequences.

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The Diane Linkletter Story

Poster for The Diane Linkletter Story

The Diane Linkletter Story

This improvised film is based on the true-life suicide of TV personality Art Linkletter's daughter, Diane. Mr. and Mrs. Linkletter fret about their daughter's recent behaviour, which includes taking drugs and dating a lowlife named Jim. Eventually, the parents confront Diane… with tragic consequences.

Login to unlock library

The Diane Linkletter Story

Poster for The Diane Linkletter Story

The Diane Linkletter Story

This improvised film is based on the true-life suicide of TV personality Art Linkletter's daughter, Diane. Mr. and Mrs. Linkletter fret about their daughter's recent behaviour, which includes taking drugs and dating a lowlife named Jim. Eventually, the parents confront Diane… with tragic consequences.

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The Diane Linkletter Story

Director of Photography

Gallery

John Waters portrait

John Waters portrait

John Waters portrait

John Waters portrait

John Waters portrait

John Waters portrait

John Waters portrait

John Waters portrait

John Waters portrait

John Waters portrait

John Waters | WatchedThis | WatchedThis - Movie & TV Discovery