Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- campy
- witty
- irreverent
- pride month
- queer movie night
What critics said
Critics found the satire broad and superficial but recognized the charming performances and unexpectedly emotional center.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The conversion program's color-coded suburban world and choreographed heterosexual roles visually expose its artificiality.
Megan is sent to a sexual redirection school where homosexuality is treated as behavior to be corrected.
Megan's conflict comes from pressure to perform heterosexuality despite her attraction to women.
The film exaggerates cheerleading, heterosexual rituals, and conversion-school behavior into colorful comedic targets.
Films like But I'm a Cheerleader, and why
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
queer coming-of-age romance with witty social satire and a warm self-acceptance arc
D.E.B.S.
stylized queer teen comedy confronting homophobia through irreverent humor and emotional sincerity
Saving Face
romantic queer coming-of-age story centered on identity, friendship, and eventual self-acceptance
The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love
LGBTQ teen drama balancing comedy, shame, family pressure, and authentic self-discovery
Movie Details
- Director
- Jamie Babbit
- Release Date
- 2000-07-07
- Runtime
- 85 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (893)
Cast
- Natasha Lyonne
- Clea DuVall
- Cathy Moriarty
- RuPaul
- Melanie Lynskey
- Katharine Towne
- Katrina Phillips
- Joel Michaely
- Douglas Spain
- Kip Pardue
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is But I'm a Cheerleader about?
- A pastel, irreverent queer teen comedy follows a cheerleader whose forced conversion program unexpectedly becomes a path toward love and self-acceptance.
- What is But I'm a Cheerleader like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of But I'm a Cheerleader as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is But I'm a Cheerleader violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in But I'm a Cheerleader.
- What did critics think of But I'm a Cheerleader?
- Critics found the satire broad and superficial but recognized the charming performances and unexpectedly emotional center.
- Which films are like But I'm a Cheerleader?
- Films with a similar feel include The Miseducation of Cameron Post, D.E.B.S., Saving Face, and The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love.
- How long is But I'm a Cheerleader?
- But I'm a Cheerleader runs 85 minutes.
- Where can I watch But I'm a Cheerleader?
- In United States, But I'm a Cheerleader streams on Philo, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
