I Am Divine (2013)
90%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 3 nominations
With warmth and affection, I Am Divine offers an engaging portrait of the complex personality behind a trailblazing cinematic figure.
I Am Divine is the ultimate tribute to the one and only drag queen who paved the way for all the fabulous queens we know and love today. This documentary is a must-watch for anyone who wants to learn more about the life and legacy of the original queen of filth. From the touching interviews with friends and family to the hilarious clips of Divine’s outrageous performances, this film has it all. So grab your wig, put on your best sequined dress, and get ready to worship at the altar of Divine!
Production Company(ies)
Perfect Day Films,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Apr 8, 2014
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, cultural icon, recording artist, actor, Divine, Jeffrey Schwarz, Lotti Pharriss Knowles, Michael Musto, Mark Payne, Greg Gorman, Mink Stole, John Waters, Vincent Peranio, reviewed by Kerensa Cadenas, Mark Kermode, Geoffrey Macnab, Donald Clarke, Mike McCahill, Patrick Peters, Nicholas Bell, Leigh Clark, J Hurtado, Dominic Mill, Adam Smith, Lisa Williams, 96% Tomatometer, 54 reviews, 83% audience score, $63.7K box office, English, 1h 30m, genre, biography, LGBTQ+, cult, budget, produced by Jeffrey Schwarz, Lotti Pharriss Knowles, directed by Jeffrey Schwarz, written by Jeffrey Schwarz, starring Divine, cultural icon, recording artist, actor, John Waters, Mink Stole, Greg Gorman, Michael Musto, Vincent Peranio, critic reviews, producer names, MPAA rating, LGBTQ+ icon, trailblazing cinematic figure, archival footage, outrageous alter-ego, poignant, humorous, glorious excess, influential figure, outsiders, shy man, family rejection, anger at society, celebration of life
Worldwide gross: $115,739
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $144,644
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,984
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 15,774
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Mark Payne – Self
Greg Gorman – Self
Mink Stole – Self
John Waters – Self
Vincent Peranio – Self
Jeffrey Schwarz – Director, Producer
Lotti Pharriss Knowles – Producer
Director(s)
Jeffrey Schwarz
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Jeffrey Schwarz, Lotti Pharriss Knowles
Film Festivals
South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (2)
After seeing the film premiere at SXSW, I asked a Divine-devotee friend of mine why she loves Divine so much. She simply said, “Because Divine’s the original.” If it wasn’t already obvious, Schwartz’s I Am Divine cements it.
January 15, 2021
Kerensa Cadenas
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
It’s surprisingly moving stuff – dressed up with just enough archival outrage to remind you how scandalous Divine once seemed.
July 20, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The interviewees and even his mother, with whom he was reconciled late in his life, all portray him as a generous and very sweet-natured man.
July 18, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This is, for the most part, a celebration of Divine’s life unencumbered by guilt or oppression.
July 18, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Schwarz offsets the camp with a sincere appreciation of both the obvious, larger-than-life personality and this performer’s oft-overlooked skills …
July 17, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Mike McCahill
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Touching and funny. Waters fans should sign up now.
July 17, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Patrick Peters
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
While it serves as a wonderful preface to Divine’s notable body of work, it’s equally enjoyable to revisit the infamous, intriguing, and incomparable career of a star whose life ended much too soon.
August 29, 2019
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
I Am Divine is a thoroughly optimistic and exuberant celebration of life that quashes any myths about transvestism and reveals a side to the icon, that had been previously unseen.
April 2, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Leigh Clark
CineVue
This is the film that Divine deserves.
November 6, 2017
J Hurtado
ScreenAnarchy
A fascinating larger-than-life portrait of its larger-than-life subject, I Am Divine is a beguiling blend of poignancy, humor and glorious excess.
August 9, 2014 | Rating: 8/10
Dominic Mill
We Got This Covered
Schwarz interviews friends and fans, piecing together a picture of a gentle, perhaps surprisingly shy man who channelled his family’s rejection and his anger at society into his outrageous alter-ego.
July 18, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Adam Smith
Radio Times
Despite the sadness, we are reminded of what an influential figure Divine was, and how his very presence continues to bring comfort to others who identify as outsiders.
July 18, 2014
Lisa Williams
Electric Sheep…
Plot
I Am Divine is a documentary that explores the life and work of the cultural icon, recording artist, and actor Divine.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary I Am Divine features interviews with friends and fans of the late actor and recording artist, including filmmaker John Waters and photographer Greg Gorman.
Jeffrey-Schwarz.jpg
