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John Waters

John Waters

Director & actor · born 22 April 1946 · Baltimore, Maryland, USA

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.

Where to start: This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006).

As director 21

As actor 135

TV shows 24

Frequently asked questions

What is the best John Waters movie?

By viewer score, This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006) at 7.1/10.

What are John Waters’s most popular movies?

Hairspray, Seed of Chucky, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip.

How many movies has John Waters made?

156 films on TMDB, 21 as director, 135 as actor.

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