A Dirty Shame

A Dirty Shame

Threatening the very limits of common decency.

Directed by John Waters

Produced by Fine Line Features, This is that

200489 min5.4 / 10

A raucous, deliberately transgressive sex comedy that uses absurdist satire and high energy to mock sexual repression and class hypocrisy.

Sylvia Stickles runs a convenience store with her husband and mother-in-law. One day, Sylvia is hit on the head and transforms from an uptight prude to a sex-crazed lunatic. As she goes on a rampage through town, Sylvia attracts the attention of Ray Ray, a sexual healer and tow truck driver in search of the world's greatest orgasm. Their sexual revolution, however, causes a class war in their tiny Baltimore community.

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Questions people ask

  • Is A Dirty Shame one of a kind? Yes, very. More singular than 97% of films.

  • Is A Dirty Shame sad? Barely. Less sad than 89% of films.

  • Is A Dirty Shame scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 65% of films.

  • Is A Dirty Shame violent? Not especially. Less violent than 64% of films.

  • Does A Dirty Shame end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 64% of films.

  • Is A Dirty Shame easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

32/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

You have seen this shape before.

Rarity94

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise23

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love7

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like A Dirty Shame, and what each one shares →

Like A Dirty Shame

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as A Dirty Shame

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like A Dirty Shame, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like A Dirty Shame, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like A Dirty Shame, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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