‘The minute I had success, I stopped taking drugs’: John Waters on 60 years of screen carnage
John Waters built his reputation throughout the 1970s and 1980s by deliberately creating offensive films featuring shocking imagery and taboo subject matter. His transition into mainstream filmmaking with Hairspray in 1988 surprised even him, as the family-friendly comedy received a PG certificate—a stark departure from his earlier provocative work that had earned him the nickname "Pope of Trash."
Now in his 80s and based in Massachusetts, Waters has not directed a feature film in over two decades, though a proposed adaptation of his novel failed to secure funding. His influence remains visible through restored releases of his classic works and his continued presence in literary and performance circles, keeping his artistic legacy alive for both longtime followers and new audiences discovering his unconventional filmmaking.
- John Waters, the provocative filmmaker known for transgressive cinema, achieved mainstream success with Hairspray, which unexpectedly received a PG rating
- The 80-year-old director has not made films since 2004 but remains active through writing and touring spoken-word performances
- Criterion is releasing restored versions of Hairspray and Desperate Living, bringing his work to contemporary audiences