Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- warm
- lazy sunday
- indie movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an amusing, gently subversive John Waters comedy with smart characterizations and pointed observations about celebrity and exploitation, though its humor can feel restrained and uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Pecker's family photographs are absorbed by galleries and collectors, shifting private family life into an art-market spectacle.
Pecker's strange Baltimore relatives provide both the photographs and the film's primary source of conflict and affection.
John Waters combines Baltimore eccentricity, queer nightlife, vulgarity, and deadpan social satire in a more mainstream comic framework.
Pecker's casual photography unexpectedly makes him an overnight sensation in the art world.
Films like Pecker, and why
Hairspray
subversive comedy, outsider characters, and satirical treatment of respectable social worlds
The Birdcage
eccentric family dynamics, queer cultural context, and irreverent but increasingly accessible humor
Ruthless People
artistic ambition, celebrity culture satire, and offbeat character-driven comedy drama
Movie Details
- Director
- John Waters
- Release Date
- 1998-09-25
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (216)
Cast
- Edward Furlong
- Christina Ricci
- Bess Armstrong
- Mark Joy
- Mary Kay Place
- Martha Plimpton
- Brendan Sexton III
- Mink Stole
- Lili Taylor
- Patricia Hearst
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Pecker about?
- A Baltimore sandwich-shop photographer turns his eccentric family into an art-world sensation, forcing everyone to confront the cost of being seen.
- What is Pecker like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Pecker as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Pecker violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Pecker.
- What did critics think of Pecker?
- Critics generally found the film an amusing, gently subversive John Waters comedy with smart characterizations and pointed observations about celebrity and exploitation, though its humor can feel restrained and uneven.
- Which films are like Pecker?
- Films with a similar feel include Hairspray, The Birdcage, and Ruthless People.
- How long is Pecker?
- Pecker runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch Pecker?
- In United States, Pecker streams on Philo.
